My fiance and I are considering getting married in June 2012 in Italy. We are interested in going to the Amalfi Coast, possibly Capri, or Sicily. We originally thought Croatia, but the research I've done, it looks like Italy is slightly easier with the required paperwork process. I'm not interested in having a ceremony in the states, then going there for the honeymoon. I would really like to have a simple ceremony done there, with just the two of us, photography, videography, and dinner. We are trying to keep the cost down as much as possible. We would like to spend a few days there as well as in Rome. Does anyone have experience in planning this? I'm so overwhelmed I don't know where to begin. Any recommendations on websites, planners, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

lenga99, if it were me, I'd probably do a web search on "getting married in Italy". I'm betting the bigger hotel chains probably have wedding planners who could help. I get the do-it-yourself cheaper part. But you could get some ideas by doing some more browsing. Also do a search here on Fodors for "wedding" in the Europe forum.

Good luck!!! I hope you'll write a trip report upon your return!

I thought eloping was all about running away from planning a wedding a year in advance!

I think if you pick and town and get the paperwork done, and bring along a video camera, you will have no trouble persuading bystanders to video your ceremony for you, or likewise take photos. Tell them you are eloping. They'll love it. Then go to dinner (make a reservation for that.)

There is usually plenty of information on line about getting married in Italy. It is a popular thing to do.

Assuming you are both American there's a lot of work to be done in the US before you can even consider a ceremony in Italy (copies of all the normal marriage documentation, translations into Italian, signed off by a notary and the nearest Italian Consulate) then you go to Italy where you do the Italian rules plus having it signed off by the US consulate.

Unless you want to end up as Bridezilla I'd recommend either hotfooting to Vegas and using the money saved for a better honeymoon or getting an expert in to handle everything.

BTW there used to be a law not allowing marriage involving divorcees until 300 days after the decree absolute. And if you want to marry in a RC church then neither can have been divorced.

http://italy.usembassy.gov/acs/marri...age-milan.html