Italy Wedding Traditions & Ceremonies

The newlyweds and bridal party exit the church in reverse order of the processional, often accompanied by music.

The age-old custom of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding is a tradition known worldwide, but in some Italian regions, the bride is not even permitted to see herself before the wedding.

This wonderful tradition dates back and is one of the most romantic Italian wedding traditions. La Serenata is the custom of having a pre-wedding night serenade under the bride’s window.

There are some Italian regions where it’s believed that wearing gold jewellery, other than your wedding ring, of course, can bring bad luck.

You’ll need to get married in a Catholic church if you really want to stick to Roman Catholic wedding traditions. Many dioceses demand that marriage occurs in a physical church because they are “settings created for worship and prayer” that ensure Jesus Christ’s genuine presence.

As the catholic wedding ceremony comes to an end, the priest will recite a final prayer and bless the new union and the entire assembly. The couple may choose to sign the marriage certificate at this time, and then the priest will dismiss the congregation.

An authentic Italian Catholic wedding cannot lack liturgies and religious songs. Traditionally, this is how it is done: it starts with the Liturgy of the Word, which consists of various readings performed by the priest or the couple’s chosen friends or family members.

The Lord’s Prayer is spoken or sung in unison by the entire congregation. The newlyweds will next kneel in front of the altar to receive the priest’s blessing on their nuptial blessing.

Following the vows, the rings will be exchanged and blessed as the priest’s symbols of love and fidelity.

First up are the guys. The groom and the best man will enter from the side of the church.

The couple may choose to include communion or the Eucharist; this event represents the Last Supper where Jesus broke bread with his disciples before his death. Guests will leave their seats to line up before the priest and wait for their turn to receive bread and wine.

If the couple opts for a nuptial mass, this is the point at which the wedding service begins to resemble a Sunday mass. This starts with the preparation of the altar for the Eucharistic Liturgy,  or communion.

Although the kiss is not part of the religious ceremony, it is commonly practiced and a part of most rituals.