Sicily Through a Wedding Planner’s Eyes: Our Top Venue Picks, Dream Destinations & Favorite Trends
As Sicilian wedding planners, we’ve had the privilege of curating extraordinary celebrations in some of the most breathtaking locations on the island. But if we were planning our own wedding? That’s a whole different story!
In this exclusive interview, we’re sharing our personal top five wedding venues in Sicily – the places that truly capture the island’s soul, blending history, beauty, and impeccable hospitality. We’ll also take you beyond Sicily, revealing the destinations we’d love to explore next for our couples and the wedding trends that have us most inspired right now.
Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate elopement in a historic abbey, a lavish affair in a clifftop palace, or a destination wedding that feels like an artfully curated experience, this is your insider’s guide to what’s shaping the future of unforgettable celebrations in Sicily and beyond.
Let’s imagine you plan your wedding for yourself. What will be the first 5 wedding venues on your list in Sicily?
Having planned so many extraordinary weddings in Sicily, selecting just five venues feels like an impossible task! However, if we were to plan our own wedding, we would choose locations that truly capture the essence of the island—where history, breathtaking landscapes, and impeccable hospitality come together. Our top five would be:
Dimora delle Balze – A beautifully restored 19th-century estate near Noto, where elegance meets nature in a refined and editorial-style setting.
Four Seasons San Domenico Palace – An icon of luxury in Taormina, offering unparalleled views over the Ionian Sea and an ambiance steeped in history and sophistication.
Tonnara di Scopello – An extraordinary seaside converted Tuna factory , where raw Mediterranean beauty and rustic charm create a stanning , exclusive celebration.
Abbazia Santa Maria del Bosco – A hidden Benedictine abbey surrounded by unspoiled nature, where timeless architecture and serene landscapes make for an ethereal, romantic setting.
Xirumi Castle – A magical Sicilian estate surrounded by citrus groves, offering a perfect mix of countryside elegance and authentic historic charm.
In which destination/country would you like to plan your next wedding for your client? And why there?
If we could plan a wedding outside of our usual venues in Sicily, we wouldn’t have to go far—we would take our couple to Pantelleria, an island that feels like a world of its own.
Pantelleria is unlike any other place in the Mediterranean. It’s raw, volcanic, and deeply evocative, with landscapes that seem almost lunar, yet bursting with natural beauty. The island’s dammusi: traditional stone dwellings,offer an intimate and design-forward setting for a wedding that is both luxurious and deeply connected to nature. From sunset ceremonies on dramatic cliffs overlooking the sea to candlelit dinners in lush vineyards producing the famous Passito wine, a wedding in Pantelleria is all about embracing the wild beauty of the island.
What we love most about it is the sense of total escape—it’s an island that invites you to slow down, immerse yourself in its rhythm, and create an experience that feels both exclusive and soulful. It’s the perfect destination for couples who want something bold, elemental, and unforgettable
At the opposite end of Italy, the Lake District in Northern Piedmont offers a graceful, cinematic alternative. With its grand villas, pristine waters, and Alpine backdrop, Lake Maggiore with the enchanting Borromee Islands and Lake Orta with the picturesque San Giulio Island exude old-world elegance and refinement. These lakeside settings are ideal for couples dreaming of a classic, romantic celebration infused with timeless Italian charm.
Piedmont is an undiscovered gem for wine lovers and nature enthusiasts. The rolling vineyards of the Langhe region, misty hilltop castles, and Michelin-starred cuisine make it a sophisticated, intimate setting for a gastronomic wedding experience. It’s perfect for couples who want to celebrate in an authentic, unspoiled part of Italy while indulging in some of the world’s finest wines and truffle-rich cuisine.
Each of these destinations offers something unique: Pantelleria is remote and elemental, and Piedmont is refined and immersive—a perfect spectrum of Italy’s most breathtaking wedding settings.
Which 3 current wedding trends would you highlight as your favourite ones?
We love when trends feel purposeful, timeless, and deeply personal. Right now, these three stand out as our absolute favourites:
Editorial Aesthetic & Artful Storytelling – Weddings are evolving into beautifully curated experiences that look and feel like high-fashion editorials. Couples are investing in intentional compositions, masterful use of light, and poetic floral arrangements that turn their wedding into a visual masterpiece.
For the multi-day wedding weekends, it’s not just the couple taking center stage: it’s the entire wedding as a curated, immersive brand. From bespoke crests and monograms to carefully selected fonts and typography-driven stationery, modern couples are crafting a cohesive visual identity that extends across every touchpoint. The branding journey begins with the save-the-date, seamlessly weaving through the wedding website, invitations, and even elements like seating charts and signage. A harmonized color palette and custom logos reinforce a sense of exclusivity and personalization, transforming the wedding into a fully immersive, signature experience for guests.
Farm-Fresh Décor & Sicilian-Inspired Wellness Cocktails
Weddings are embracing nature’s bounty in fresh and unexpected ways, with fruit and vegetable décor taking center stage. From heirloom tomato centrepieces and citrus-filled arrangements to wild artichoke bouquets, couples are infusing their celebrations with a farm-to-table aesthetic that reflects Sicily’s rich agricultural heritage.
Many couples are opting for dedicated mocktail stations, offering guests a refined selection of alcohol-free Sicilian spritzers, citrus-infused tonics, and herbal elixirs crafted with local ingredients like blood oranges, bergamot, and wild mint. These refreshing, handcrafted drinks bring an elevated yet authentic Sicilian touch, perfectly blending tradition and modern sophistication.
Takeaway Boxes: A Sicilian Treat
For couples looking to skip the traditional post-wedding brunch while still sending their guests off with something special, late-night takeaway boxes are the perfect farewell gesture. In Sicily, this means a morning-after treat rooted in local flavors: think freshly baked brioches paired with almond or lemon granita, a beloved island breakfast tradition. Other thoughtful additions could include mini cannoli, pistachio-filled cornetti, or artisanal almond and sesame biscotti, giving guests a sweet and refreshing start to the next day.
This trend adds a personal and indulgent touch, ensuring the celebration extends just a little longer, while honouring the island’s culinary traditions in a way that feels both elegant and deeply local.
Sincerely yours, Alessandra & Silvia , Wedding Sicily
