From Homemade Confetti to Nonna’s Blessing: Family, Food, and Folklore in Southern Italian Weddings
Alessandra 24/04/2025 0
In Southern Italy, a wedding isn’t just a union of two people—it’s the joyous fusion of families, traditions, and deeply rooted cultural rituals. Particularly in the Amalfi and Cilento regions, weddings are steeped in folklore and family involvement, where every detail, from the food to the final blessing, is an expression of heritage and love
Family Comes First
Family plays a central role in Southern Italian weddings. It’s common for multiple generations to be involved in the planning and execution of the event. Nonna (the grandmother) is often seen as the guardian of tradition, and her blessing carries profound emotional weight. Her role might include helping to prepare symbolic dishes, offering heartfelt advice, or even gifting a treasured family heirloom to the bride.
Homemade Confetti: A Sweet Tradition
Confetti in Italy doesn’t mean colorful paper—it refers to sugar-coated almonds, a symbol of the bittersweet nature of marriage. In the South, it’s not unusual for families to make their own confetti, especially in small towns and villages. The almonds are carefully packaged in delicate tulle and tied with ribbon, often in odd numbers to represent indivisibility and good luck.
The Power of Food and Community
Food is the heart of any Italian celebration, and weddings are no exception. In the Amalfi and Cilento regions, wedding menus reflect local abundance and traditions. Dishes may include handmade pasta, fresh seafood, slow-cooked meats, and family recipes passed down through generations. Often, the women of the family come together days before the wedding to prepare traditional sweets like struffoli, mostaccioli, or cannoli.
It’s also common to have a pre-wedding dinner known as "la serenata," where the groom serenades the bride and both families enjoy a casual meal together. This moment strengthens the familial bond and honors the community aspect of marriage.
Symbolic Gestures and Blessings
Beyond the visible celebrations, Southern Italian weddings are full of symbolic gestures. A bride might wear a red ribbon under her dress to ward off the "malocchio" (evil eye), or carry a small image of a saint for protection. Before the ceremony, it’s traditional for the parents and grandparents to give a blessing, sometimes accompanied by a prayer or a kiss on the forehead—a moment filled with love, hope, and history.
A Celebration of Culture and Continuity
These rituals and traditions are not just charming—they're meaningful. They connect the present to the past, creating a bridge between generations. For couples choosing to marry in Southern Italy, embracing these customs can turn a beautiful wedding into a truly unforgettable cultural experience.
As a wedding planner deeply rooted in the Amalfi and Cilento regions, I help couples weave these heartfelt traditions into their celebrations in a way that feels authentic, respectful, and utterly enchanting.
Ready to bring some Southern Italian magic to your big day? Let’s make it happen.
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Alessandra 01/10/2024
Things worth trying on our Coast for an epic destination wedding
The seaside of our Coast it is not merely a stunning venue to tie the knot, this region has the 35% of the total touristic offer all over Europe. Here, the history calls: Pompei, Herculaneum, Paestum, Capri Island, Naples, Reggia di Caserta, Theatre of S. Carlo. The wellness calls: Spa Resorts,Thermal stations, Mediterranean diet. The food calls: olive oil, mozzarella cheese, wines, pizza, pasta, spaghetti, cooking lessons, parmesan, tiramisu and so on.
Since traveling to Italy for your wedding day is not an ordinary thing, on the contrary, it will be a perfect opportunity to spend time with your families and closest friends in a new country making your destination wedding even richer and more special! And why not think big for your wedding and turn it into an unforgettable travel-experience? Moments that your guests and you will cherish for years to come.
Have a look-see at my suggestions and get inspired. I’ll show you a few tailored activities that will keep your guests busy in the discovery of your location prior the big day.
Wine Tasting
The Amalfi Coast represents the ideal place to experience a wine tasting. This corner of land hosts so many vineyards where some of the finest Italian wines are being produced. Tasting this variety of flavors combined with typical snacks can be a real treat for your guests’ palate. They will have the opportunity to know more about the history of the wine production process and take away a traditional Italian souvenir on their way back.
Cooking Class
Italy is known world-wide for its vast culinary tradition, so what’s better than a cooking class? For those guests who want to test their culinary skills and know the Italian cuisine to the fullest, it will be possible to arrange real cooking classes in which you will prepare the typical dishes of the Amalfi tradition. A genuine taste of the Coast that will involve all 5 senses!
Boat Tour
From wherever you are on our Coast, you can plan boat trips to reach one of the most beautiful island of Italy, Capri, and wandering around narrow streets and go shopping.
Excursion & Daily Trip
Instead, for the guests that will be intrigued by the history of our Coast, between the hills and the seaside are hidden tiny villages surrounded by the charm of ancient myths and legends, just like the myth of the Nymph Amalfi. And again, for those guests with a more sporty and adventurous spirit, you will find many tracking routes such as the famous Path of the Gods, where you can reach points with a breathtaking view enjoying Italian routes and get in touch with the real Italian mood.
Creating dreams is my job, I can make this and more come true!
Alessandra
Alessandra 01/10/2024
Fall in LOVE with your Fall Wedding Ceremony!
When it comes to the best period of the year to get married, people usually tend to go for the Summer Season. And if I told you that Autumn is the most amazing time of the year to get married? Just like I said! There’re so many reasons why Autumn is one of the most popular Wedding Seasons: the mild weather, earthy warm colours, the wild foliage, the romantic atmosphere and… with all the restrictions the global pandemic have caused, forcing many couples to postpone their summer ceremonies this year, Fall Weddings have become more popular than ever!
Therefore, if you’re deciding your new date, you can’t go wrong with a mid-September, October or late November Wedding Ceremony… And of course, here come my tips!
Best places for a Fall Wedding Day
Doubtless, outdoor venues can worderfully fit with your Fall Wedding Ceremony. Especially if you’re getting married here, on Amalfi Coast, where leaves change their colors during the season offering exclusive venues with scenic views such as vineyards where some of the finest wines of our land are produced or ancient villas overlooking the sea.
Best Fall Wedding Colors
Traditionally, a respectable Fall Wedding Color Palette includes burgundy, purple, mustard yellow, rose gold, emerald green, navy blue, orange and ivory. All the shades that the landscapes of our Coast boast in every period of the year, between land and sea. Hence, you just need to think about colors that you naturally see during the Fall Season and build your color palette around those for a flawless Fall Wedding Ceremony.
Flowers, flowers, flowers
Your Fall Flower Setting should mirror the earthy and romantic tones of the current season, so you should choose the warmest blooms: dahlias, ranunculus, roses or sunflowers… Mixing fresh and dried flowers and filling it with wild coloured foliage and twigs of eucalyptus… And why not incorporating grape clusters, local chestnuts or tiny pumpkins.
Outdoor or Indoor?
Although our Coast is characterized by a mild climate throughout the year, the one thing about your Fall Wedding Ceremony will be unpredictable is definitely the weather, it could be very hot or very cold during the Fall Season. For your ceremony, I suggest you choose an outdoor space to fully embrace the backdrop provided by nature during the daytime and book an indoor space for the second part of your ceremony for the night.
Fall Decor
When it comes to Fall Wedding Decorations, the key is absolutely matching warm color tones and natural elements. In fact, you should go for a branch arch with an abundance of seasonal flowers and foliage, foliage, foliage in every nook and cranny for your civil or religious rite and opt for a rustic-chic style table-setting for your dinner following the Italian Tradition with wooden tables and wine barrels.
Cream or Not cream?
There are so many seasonal Fall wedding flavors for your Wedding Cake, you just think of all the in-season fruits and apple dessert recipes you can include. By the way, if you’re a classic dessert person who prefers a cream cake, you could opt for a natural naked cake dressed with fresh fall blooms and local fruits giving it that autumnal touch you want.
Embrace the Backdrop for Your Photos
One of the biggest perks of getting married during the Fall Season is taking advantage of the scenic backdrop that your venue provides, especially for your Wedding Photos. Greenery and natural lights will give you a stunning collection of pics.
Sparkle everywhere
Lighting will play an essential role in the setting of your Fall Wedding Ceremony, then use countless strands of fairy lights and lanterns throughout your ceremony in order to warm up the venue and make your guests live a magical experience…. and the light of a dusk on our Coast will bring an extra touch!
The beauty of our enchanting Coast will be the best scenario for your #destinationlove even during the Fall Season.
Make your Fall Wedding come true!
Alessandra
Alessandra 01/10/2024
Top-tips to choose your Bridal Dress!
For the majority of Future Brides, looking for the flawless bridal dress is the most dreamed moment of the whole wedding planning. As is usual, countless brides-to-be dream about their bridal dress for a very long time!
If you’ve planned to get married during the next season and you’re literally dying to try your dress on, browsing magazines and websites looking for your own style, I’m gonna give you my top-tips to jump into your search really ready for!
Research, research, research
Ball gown, a-line or mermaid?! First and foremost, you should have thought about what kind of dress you want, browse magazines and websites, set your Pinterest board up in order to collect your ideas and show it once in the showroom. The more details, the better!
Schedule different appointments
Once you have a clear idea of what you want, it’s time to schedule appointments! In case, you have specific designers or stylist in mind, find out which showrooms have their bridal collections. The day you first try on a bridal dress, it has to be a stressless one…Doubtless, the best day to try your potential bridal dress is Saturday. Go for it!
Less is more
Just like in the movies, the Bride tends to bring her team of maids or family members. Wait! Less is more when it comes to the most important choice of your life. I suggest to invite your dearest just to your last fitting and surprise them revealing your choice!
Don’t’ forget your Venue
Where and when are you getting married? Your Venue is the key thing and it will be helpful in your search. If you will be having an open-air ceremony on the beach or in a garden, you should avoid ball gowns with long trains…they would be ruined after your first steps. If you’re exchanging your vows in an elegant Cathedral, you should avoid short or backless dresses.
Try on everything
Even if you already have your style set, make sure you give other styles a go at your first appointment. You may be surprised by what you find!
Wear a light makeup
You’re going to try on expensive wedding dresses in ivory, white, champagne… Wear a minimal makeup in order to have a natural and candid look…just as you will be on that special day!
Say your YES out loud
Don’t be surprised if you find your dress at the first stroke! Trying on hundreds of dresses will not make your choice easier, usually it just complicates things. Hence, if you find the bridal dress you love the most, go with it and say your YES out loud!
Have fun
The choice of your bridal dress will be one of the best moment of your life. You’ll surely be the center of attention because you’re…the bride-to-be. Have fun!
For this and for many other important moments… I’ll stand by you for your #destinationlove
Let 2021 be the happy one!
Alessandra