What to Wear to a Wedding in Italy: A Guest's Guide

For a wedding in Italy, dress one step smarter than you would at home, cover your shoulders if the ceremony is in a church, avoid white and cream, and choose shoes you can walk in on gravel, cobbles and a boat deck. Bring a light layer for the evening, especially on the lakes, where the air cools quickly after sunset.

We film weddings in Italian villas, gardens and churches every season. These are the things we see guests get right, and the few that catch them out.

What is the dress code for an Italian wedding?

Italian weddings lean formal. Unless the invitation says otherwise, think of it as cocktail attire at the least: a dress or a smart jumpsuit for women, a suit for men. Many destination weddings at Lake Como villas and in Tuscany are black tie in the evening. If the invitation names a dress code, follow it; if it doesn't, ask the couple, because a garden lunch and a villa dinner are very different days.

What should you wear to a church wedding in Italy?

Cover your shoulders inside the church. A shawl, a light jacket or a dress with sleeves is enough, and you can take it off for the reception. Very short skirts and deep necklines are best kept for later in the day. Men wear a jacket in church even in summer. Many Italian churches are also tourist sites with their own dress rules, and the priest decides what is acceptable on the day.

Which colours should you avoid?

White, ivory and cream belong to the bride. Many Italians also avoid all black at a daytime wedding, keeping it for the evening. Beyond that, colour is welcome. In summer light, soft colours and prints look beautiful on film, and they stand out against stone, cypress trees and the lake. Very bright neon tones and large logos are the only things that photograph badly.

What shoes work at an Italian wedding?

Many Italian venues are not flat. Villa gardens have gravel paths, old towns have cobbled lanes and steep steps, and on Lake Como you may arrive by boat. Thin stilettos sink into lawns and slip on boat decks. Block heels, wedges or elegant flats are the safe choice, and many guests bring a second pair for the dancing. If the couple has planned a boat transfer, keep in mind that you step onto the boat from a moving jetty.

How hot is it at a summer wedding in Italy?

In July and August, afternoons in Tuscany, Rome and the south often pass 30°C, and ceremonies in the sun can feel hotter. Linen, silk and cotton breathe; polyester does not. Men can choose a lighter suit in linen or a wool blend made for summer. On the lakes it is often a few degrees cooler, and after sunset the evening air off the water can feel cold, so bring a wrap or a jacket you are happy to be seen in. We explain how the light and the seasons work on the lake in our Lake Como destination guide.

What to wear for a wedding weekend

Many destination weddings in Italy now last two or three days: a welcome dinner, the wedding, and a brunch or a boat day after. Pack a different outfit for each event. The welcome dinner is usually smart casual, the wedding is the most formal, and the day after is relaxed. For a boat day, choose flat shoes, a layer for the wind and something you don't mind getting a little splashed. If the couple has planned a day at a lido or a beach club, the invitation usually says so: bring swimwear and a cover-up.

What should men wear to a wedding in Italy?

A well-cut suit in navy, grey, beige or a soft summer tone, a shirt and leather shoes or loafers. Ties are expected at formal and church weddings and often come off after dinner. For black tie, a tuxedo. Socks are optional with loafers at a summer garden party, never at a black tie dinner.

FAQ

Can you wear black to a wedding in Italy?

Yes, especially in the evening and at black tie weddings. For a daytime ceremony many Italians prefer colour, so add a bright accessory or choose navy instead.

Do you have to cover your shoulders at an Italian wedding?

Only inside a church. A shawl or a light jacket is enough, and you can take it off at the reception.

Can women wear trousers to a wedding in Italy?

Yes. An elegant jumpsuit or tailored trousers are perfectly fine at most weddings, including formal ones.

What should guests wear to a Lake Como wedding?

Smart and light, with comfortable heels for gravel paths and boat jetties, and a layer for the evening by the water. Black tie is common for evening receptions at the grand villas; our list of Lake Como wedding venues shows what each one is like.

Is red a good colour for an Italian wedding?

Yes. Red is welcome at Italian weddings and looks beautiful on film. The only colours to avoid are white and cream.

What should I wear to a symbolic ceremony on a terrace or a boat?

The same as for any wedding, with flat or block-heeled shoes and something that holds its shape in the wind.