Read This Before Attending a Wedding in Italy

First things first: where you should land depends entirely on where the wedding is. Italy is larger than it looks, so don’t pick an airport at random and assume you’ll drive the rest.

For Lake Como, flying into Milan – Linate (LIN) is closer and easier than Malpensa (MXP), and you’re roughly an hour from the lake.

For Positano and Capri, Naples (NAP) is your gateway; it’s the launch point for ferries and transfers down the coast.

Rome (FCO) is a tempting alternative since it has more direct flights from the U.S., but factor in a longer transfer of three hours or more to the Amalfi Coast. My advice? Pick the airport nearest the celebration, even if it means one extra connection.

Italy’s high-speed trains are a joy–clean, fast, and often cheaper than you’d expect if you book ahead. Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa and the private Italo line connect the major hubs, whisking you from Rome to Naples in about an hour and 10 minutes.

Reserve early for the best fares, and note that seats are assigned on high-speed routes, so there’s no need to scramble. Here’s the catch, though: trains will get you to the gateway city, but not to the wedding itself.

There’s no station in Positano, and you can’t take a train to Capri. Pack light, because most stations involve stairs, and the platforms aren’t always elevator-friendly.

This is the part American guests tend to underestimate: the last mile. From Naples, Positano is a winding 90-minute drive (a private transfer runs around €120-150, or $138-172, and if you get travel sickness, it’s worth it over wrestling luggage onto the SITA bus).

Capri is ferry-only (there’s no bridge), so you’ll catch a boat from Naples or Sorrento, then take the funicular up from the port. For Lake Como, take the train to Como or Varenna, then hop the ferries that crisscross the lake between Bellagio, Menaggio, and beyond.

Whatever you do, pre-book your transfers and build in buffer time. Ferries get canceled in rough weather, and roads get jammed in summer, especially around Amalfi.

Positano is famously built into a cliff, which means one thing: steps–and hundreds of them. Capri and the Como lakeside villages are much the same: incredibly charming yet not remotely flat.

Cars can’t reach most front doors, so porters often carry bags the final stretch (tip them well). The streets are cobblestoned, the alleys are narrow, and many historic centers sit inside ZTL zones where vehicles aren’t allowed at all.

None of this is a problem once you know to expect it; just know that what the happy couple may claim is “a short walk to the hotel” might mean a decent calf workout, and plan your footwear and your packing accordingly.

Speaking of footwear: leave the stilettos at home. Between the cobblestones, the steps, and the inevitable grassy or gravelly wedding venue, block heels or wedges will save your ankles (and maybe also your dignity).

Bring comfortable shoes for daytime exploring, breathable fabrics for the heat, and a wrap or shawl. These are especially useful for church ceremonies, where shoulders need covering, and for breezy evenings on the water.  

A light layer is smart for Lake Como, which can cool down at night. Most importantly, pack light. You’ll be hauling your own bags up those steps at some point, and a soft duffel beats a hard-sided suitcase every time.

Italian weddings run on Italian time, which is to say: later and longer. They’re also gloriously food-focused. Expect the celebration to stretch over many hours, with course after course and generous pours of local wine.

Aperitivo before dinner is pretty much a love language here. If the ceremony is in a Catholic church, dress modestly and cover your shoulders. And because guests have traveled so far, many couples turn the occasion into a multi-day affair with a welcome dinner the night before and a lazy lunch the day after.

Italians dress up, so when in doubt, lean elegant. You won’t be the only one in your finest.

Where you stay can truly make or break the trip. In Positano, the iconic Le Sirenuse is a splurge worth saving for, but smaller family-run hotels higher up the hill offer the same views for less–just be ready to climb.

On Capri, decide between buzzy Capri town and quieter Anacapri, and try to stay overnight: the island transforms once the day-trippers catch the last ferry home.

On Lake Como, Bellagio is the postcard, but Varenna is quieter and reachable by train. Whatever you choose, book early. Rooms in these towns sell out a year ahead during wedding season, and prices climb as the date nears.

A few practicalities to smooth the trip, especially if you haven’t been here before. Italy uses the euro, and while cards are accepted almost everywhere, it’s smart to carry some cash for small cafés, ferry kiosks, and tips.

Speaking of which: tipping is modest here. Rounding up the bill or leaving a few euros for great service is plenty, and a service charge is often included.

Don’t be alarmed by the coperto, a small per-person cover charge that appears on most restaurant bills–it’s standard, not a scam. Finally, it’s worth setting up an eSIM before you fly. You’ll want reliable data for navigating ferry schedules and finding your way through those maze-like streets.

You’ve crossed an ocean, so don’t rush home! If the wedding is on the Amalfi Coast, tack on a few days for Pompeii, the cliffside town of Ravello, or a slower stretch in Sorrento.

The adventurous can carry on south to Puglia, which is a gorgeous array of whitewashed towns and empty beaches.

If you’re up at Lake Como, Milan is an easy train ride for a dose of city life and serious shopping, or you can head into the Alps or over to Lake Garda. 

Either way, add three or four days to the back of your trip. A long-haul flight deserves more than just a weekend.

The Italian wedding sweet spots are late spring and early fall–May, June, September, and October–when the weather is warm but the crowds and prices haven’t peaked.  

August is hot, packed, and the month when many locals close up shop and head out themselves.

Above all, lean into the slower pace. Things start late, meals last for hours, and nobody’s in a hurry. You’ll want to build buffer time into every transfer, bring your patience along with your good shoes, and let yourself be swept up in it.  

That, after all, is exactly why the couple chose Italy.