Italian Wedding Traditions Guide

Confetti (almond candies, not paper), the bride's walk, and the 7-course dinner that lasts until dawn.

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The traditions

Confetti: Sugar-coated almonds given to guests. Five almonds per packet, symbolizing health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. White for weddings, pastel for other celebrations. The best confetti come from Sulmona (Abruzzo) — an entire industry built on wedding almonds.

La serenata: The groom serenades the bride under her window the night before the wedding. Still practiced in southern Italy. Friends and family gather in the street while the groom sings (often badly, always sincerely). The bride appears at the balcony.

The banquet: Italian wedding meals are legendary marathons: antipasto (3-4 types), two primi (pasta + risotto), two secondi (fish + meat), contorni, dessert table, wedding cake, caffè, digestivo. 7-12 courses, 5-7 hours. Guests pace themselves; nobody expects you to finish everything.

The bomboniera: A small gift from the couple to each guest — ceramic, silver, crystal — accompanying the confetti. Chosen to reflect the couple's taste and budget.

💡 If invited to an Italian wedding, clear your entire day (and the morning after). Ceremonies start at 3-4pm, the reception dinner begins at 8pm and continues until 2-4am. Bring a generous cash gift in an envelope (€100-300/person depending on your relationship to the couple). Dress formally. Eat slowly. Dance when the music starts. You'll experience Italian family culture at its most extravagant and joyful.

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