The ultimate guide to elope in Tuscany – tips and ideas for an adventure elopement in Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in central Italy, whose diverse landscape is home to mountains, beaches, olive groves, and vineyards. Tuscany is best known for its capital city, Florence, which features the world’s most iconic art pieces from the Renaissance.
The idyllic countryside and picturesque villages make Tuscany the perfect place for a peaceful yet adventurous elopement. If you want to elope in Tuscany and love the idea of starting your day with a hike through the mountains and ending the night sipping local wine, keep reading! This guide will tell you everything you need to know to elope in Tuscany.
First, let’s be sure we’re talking about the same thing:
1) What is an elopement?
The meaning of the word “elopement” has changed a lot over the years. It’s gone from a quick, rushed ceremony to an epic adventure that lasts all day – or even more! Eloping means that you get to decide what matters to you, and leave behind everything that doesn’t. Your wedding day should be the best day of your life, not something you do to please everyone else. So whether you want to bring your closest friends to Tuscany and spend the day on the beach, or say your vows just the two of you on a mountaintop, anything is possible when you elope!
2) How to Legally Elope in Tuscany
You don’t need to live in Italy to elope in Tuscany, but if you’re travelling internationally, many couples choose to do the paperwork at home ahead of time so that they can spend the elopement day focusing on the fun part!
To get married in Italy, you will need to bring your passports and birth certificates, and schedule an appointment at the Marriage Office in the town or city in which your ceremony will take place. If you don’t speak Italian, make sure to bring a translator as well! You will receive a marriage certificate to be signed during your ceremony, which requires two witness signatures as well. If you aren’t planning on inviting any guests, your photographer and any other vendors can serve as witnesses!
3) Why Elope in Tuscany?
Gorgeous Landscapes
In Tuscany, you can elope amongst the mountains, natural hot springs, or on the beach, and then spend the evening of your elopement day exploring the bustling Florence, or one of the quaint villages. No matter what, you’ll find a stunning backdrop for your Tuscany elopement!
Local Cuisine
Need I say more? Pastas, soups, bread, and other Italian dishes taste even better in Italy! With local ingredients and artisan chefs all around Tuscany, you’ll be well fed during your stay, and you’ll want to try every delicious local winery! In fact, Tuscany is one of the world’s most famous destinations for wine.
Cultural Treasures
All over Tuscany, you can find historic and cultural remnants of the civilizations that lived there before. You can explore art museums, marvel at meticulously carved sculptures, and take in the history of this thousand-year-old country.
4) Where to Elope in Tuscany
Whether you want to elope amongst the mountains or in the rolling fields, you’ll find your elopement location in Tuscany! Here are a few to get you inspired.
Apuan Alps
This stunning granite mountain range is located entirely in Tuscany! You’ll have miles of hiking trails to choose from and caves to explore. Elope in the mountains at sunset, and you’ll be treated with a breathtaking view of the sky as it erupts in different shades or orange over the mountain peaks.
Mugello Valley
The Mugello Valley is close to Florence, and makes the perfect place to elope in Tuscany. The lush green valley is covered in trees and greenery, and provides a gateway to the Lake of Bilancino. There are even picnic tables around, perfect for cake cutting after the ceremony!
Elba Island
This island is trendy yet laid back, and offers one of the most relaxing stays in Tuscany. The crystal clear water could rival that of the Caribbean Sea, and the white sand beaches are perfect for an elopement ceremony. The beaches are bordered by bustling towns, quiet villas, and historic ruins, all of which you could explore for days!
Monte Capanne
The tallest mountain on Elba Island offers a hike up to the 3,343 foot summit, or a cable car for those who want to relax and enjoy the views on the way up. At the summit, you’ll be greeted with a bird’s eye view of Italy’s mainland, as well as the surrounding islands!
Giglio Island
On this island, you can explore beaches, ancient castles, and picturesque villages. It’s the perfect place to elope in Tuscany for couples who love the ocean (whether you take a dip or just admire from the beach), and those who love to hike!
5) When to Elope in Tuscany
Before you decide on a date for your Tuscany elopement, let’s talk about the weather!
Summer
Summer is Tuscany’s busiest season. While it is gorgeous, unless you plan to go swimming, the temperatures can be difficult to handle during the day, as it gets very hot. The sun shines all day, making hikes and other outdoor activities more difficult!
Fall
Fall is a tranquil time in Tuscany, as visitors depart and temperatures drop to comfortable levels. You’ll also get to enjoy the fall foliage all over, and even take part in a harvesting festival as the vineyards harvest their grapes!
Winter
Winters in Tuscany are gloomy. Temperatures drop, and most days see rainfall and sometimes flurries of snow. While the weather isn’t ideal, if you’re willing to brave the elements on your elopement day, you will run into a lot less tourists!
Spring
Spring is the perfect time to elope in Tuscany! The weather is warm but mild, and all the restaurants and hotels begin to reopen after the cold winter. Most visitors flock to Tuscany in the summer, so if you elope in the spring, you’ll get to enjoy these locations with much more privacy!
6) How Much Does it Cost to Elope in Tuscany?
High-end elopement
Travel to and from Tuscany: $1.000
Five nights in high-end accommodation: $1.800
Elopement photographer: $7.000
Private chef or full board: $2.000
Officiant: $1.000
Florist: $500
Rentals: $500
Wedding dress and accessories: $4.000
Suit and accessories: $1.000
Total for a high-end elopement in Tuscany: $18.800
Budget elopement
Travel to and from Tuscany: $1.000
Five nights in an Airbnb: $800
Elopement photographer: $7.000
Food: $600
Officiant: $500
Florist: $300
Wedding dress and accessories: $2.000
Suit and accessories: $400
Total for a budget elopement in Tuscany: $12.600
Avoid the stress, family drama and financial chaos that comes with traditional weddings. Surrender to a “just us” adventure elopement instead.
Hi! I’m Amber, your elopement photographer, planner and guide.
Together we plan your dream elopement itinerary in Tuscany over 1, 3, 7 or 12 days.
Let’s plan your adventure elopement in Tuscany
7) What to Wear
When it comes to eloping, you’ll need to think about how much adventuring you’ll be doing. Make sure your attire lets you sit down, walk around, and move freely! If you’re uncomfortable all day, your photos will show it, and your experience will be dampened by the discomfort – so break in your attire and your shows beforehand!
The Dress
If you elope in the summer, opt for a lightweight dress, with fabrics such as chiffon or tulle. In the fall or spring, you may want to add a cape or shawl to keep warm in the evenings and mornings when temperatures drop, but layers are perfect as you can remove them when it gets warm during the day!
Mermaid style dresses are beautiful, but they’re notoriously hard to move around in. Opt for princess cut or A line dresses, and keep the skirt flowy!
The Suit
If you elope in the summer, a jacket will be heavy and hot! But in the fall and spring, layers are perfect for cooler mornings and evenings, as well as the days where it’s warmer. A button up shirt and dress pants are perfect, but bring a jacket to carry with you!
The Shoes
For an adventure elopement, hiking boots are best – unless you’re eloping on the beach, in which case I recommend sandals or even no shoes at all! No matter what, make sure to break in your shoes before the elopement day – there’s nothing worse than blisters!
8) Elope in Tuscany – Your Checklist
Choose a Location
As an elopement photographer, a big part of my job is to help couples find the perfect place to say their vows. As a travel planner, I’m ready to go with all the best secret spots! Once you’ve decided to elope in Tuscany, don’t hesitate to get in touch for planning assistance.
Pick a date
After you’ve done some research on the weather and crowds in Tuscany, choose a date to elope
Learn About Travel Visas
No visas required to elope in Tuscany, so just make sure your passports are up to date!
Book Flights and Accommodation
Whether you want to stay in a quaint Airbnb or a luxury resort, I recommend shopping for flights and accommodation early! Especially in the summer, they book up fast!
Book Your Vendors
Hiring elopement vendors is one of the best things you can do for your elopement day. You should be focusing on having fun and getting married, not worrying about everything going according to plan! Reach out to your vendors as soon as possible – it’s never too early to inquire!
Elope in Your Dream Location!
Now you get to have the elopement day of your dreams!
Interested in adventuring with me as your Tuscany elopement photographer?
Fill out the form to get started!
12) Elopement Galleries
- Marine & Etienne – An overnight post-wedding session near Lyon
- Kristina & Tyler – A chateau Challain elopement followed by a 10-days honeymoon in France and Italy
- Imogen & Paul – An overnight mountain elopement near Switzerland
- Elodie & Dean – A post-wedding session in Scotland
- Laura & Ben – A forest elopement in the Highlands
- Misha & Chris – A 5-days elopement in the Japanese forests
How I Can Help Plan Your Peaceful Elopement in Tuscany
I.
Schedule a Consultation
I want to be clear – NOT a sales call! This is for us getting to know each other, and for me to learn about what I can do to make sure your elopement day is absolutely perfect.
II.
Book your date
After your contract is signed and the deposit is paid, your date is booked, and I’ll get to planning!
III.
I’ll plan your dream elopement
Every couple is unique, and every elopement day is different. I’ll work with you to figure out what your dream day looks like!
IV.
Live your adventure
Woohoo! Time to explore, have some adventures, and get married along the way!
V.
Relive this day forever
Through your photos, you get to remember everything about the best day of your life, and relive every amazing moment!
Let’s plan your peaceful elopement
Where you can be you. Feel. Breathe in each other’s love.
Experience a place close to your hearts, or a bucket list dream.
Need more inspiration for your elopement?
Check out this brand new article about the best places to elope IN THE WORLD
Have I won you over with Tuscany yet?
Tuscany is such an amazing destination for an adventure elopement!
As an elopement photographer and guide, I offer a range of option that all include planning and photography, from 5 hours all the way to your ultimate 14-day elopement and honeymoon gateway in Tuscany. As part of my photography service, I will help you choose and plan the perfect elopement day(s) from crafting the whole day program to helping you choose amazing vendors!
Contact me now to get started!
