Italy Traditions: Clothing, Religion, Weddings (2024)

FAQs

What do Italians wear to a wedding? ›

The dress code for a Catholic wedding involves a semi-formal or formal attire, avoiding necklines and shoulders in plain sight: female guests can wear a jacket or a shawl. At a formal wedding, female guests should wear knee-length or long dresses, while at a more informal event they can wear shorter lengths.

The women wear colorful embroidered skirts and bodices over light-weight chemises or blouses, with elaborate hats decorated with flowers or fruit. Men's traditional clothing tends to be simpler, but doesn't lack from attention to detail, with embroidery and metal buttons and pins.

Marriage is a very respected convention in Italian society, especially among devout Christians. Ceremonies usually follow the Roman Catholic tradition and are often performed at the church of the bride's hometown. However, civil ceremonies are becoming increasingly common.

The amount of money you gift is also significant — in Italy, it's not unusual for guests to give over 200 Euro to the happy couple. Large amounts are well received by both families, so you should keep this in mind if invited to an Italian wedding.

There is no dress code when going to most restaurants but you might receive some funny looks if you show up in sweats. Dressing well is respectful and you'll want to try to blend in with the locals. Unless you're going to a very fancy restaurant, dark jeans or other slacks are acceptable.

1) Do Consider the Wedding Dress Code

Black Tie: floor length gowns, black ties, tuxedos. Formal: floor length gowns, tuxedos optional, black suits acceptable. Semi-Formal: below the knee dresses, dress shirts, slacks. Casual: sundresses, collared shirts, khakis.

The 2021 Eurobarometer estimated that 84.4% was Christian (with 79.2% of the population being Catholic), 11.6% was agnostic or atheist and 3.2% followed another religion.

Some important values and aspects of Italian lifestyle are family and spending time with them, religion and maintaining Catholic traditions, and the pleasure of eating good meals prepared with love and dedication. Gestures and body language are important in the Italian language to emphasize certain ideas.

Textile. Why is the Italian fashion industry renowned worldwide? It comes down to the textiles used which are synonymous with excellence, quality, and tradition. Italy has always been a master at sourcing the best fabrics to make handcrafted items with meticulous attention to detail and finishing.

Traditionally, a Catholic rite performed in a church is the Italian wedding ceremony par excellence. But times are changing, more and more couples are choosing a nonreligious legally binding ceremony, called civil rite. In recent years, symbolic ceremonies have also become popular among Italian couples.

What do Italian grooms wear? ›

Classic colors – black, dark blue or grey. For the summer wedding it's permitted to wear more bright colors. Classic choice – a white shirt with French cuffs. This is perfect for a black suit.

You will need to see your local parish priest and get his permission to marry abroad. You will then be given a religious no impediment certificate. In addition, you may need to attend a premarital course at your church, however, your priest will inform you exactly how to proceed.

In the south the Tarantella, a traditional wedding dance, is still an integral part of the celebration and throughout Italy it's common for guests to sing traditional wedding songs to the new couple about love, relationships and, of course, the wedding night.

The best man or witness may culturally pay for the wedding rings. The groom is known to buy the bride's bouquet. The groom's family pays for almost every wedding expense except for the bride's garment, wedding invitations and flower decorations which are settled by the bride's family.

Traditionally by the end of the Wedding in Italy the newlyweds are supposed to distribute to all the families a 'Bomboniera' which is a tiny wedding favour to thank the guests and keep the memory of that special day.

Choose lightweight and elegant clothing, especially for summer weddings in places like Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast. Opt for lighter fabrics, avoid dark colors that absorb heat, and consider longer dresses for formal occasions. Men should wear a smart linen suit, following the couple's specified dress code if stated.

Women should embrace wrap dresses, midi dresses or elegant jumpsuits. For men, if it's a daytime wedding, a light sport jacket, button-down shirt and relaxed chinos fit the bill. In the evening, go for darker colors, as later weddings tend to be more formal.

It is common for Italian friends and families to kiss on the cheek when they meet, irrespective of their gender. Stand up out of respect when an older person enters the room. It is important to dress neatly and respectfully. Cover your mouth when yawning or sneezing.