What You Need to Know About Covid-19 and Weddings in Italy - latest news

UPDATED 7 JANUARY 2022

It’s hard to believe that we have almost two years of the pandemic behind us. Negotiating our way through restrictions has become part of our every day routine; grabbing a mask with your keys as you head out the door has unfortunately become as routine as grabbing a coffee to-go.

If you're planning your wedding in Italy, then of course you need to keep up to date with the latest rules and regulations surrounding travel and also weddings/events. So, what do you need to know about Covid-19 and weddings in Italy? As your wedding planner, my role extends beyond just planning the fun things - I'm here to help guide and support you through these very important details and ensure that whatever the pandemic throws at us we navigate our way through it together.

Here below is an outline of the current guidelines surrounding Covid-19 in relation to UK clients :

1. travel to italy from the uk

• If you're fully vaccinated, you'll need to have proof of your vaccination status with you, showing that you are fully vaccinated.

• You must show a negative test result from within a 24-hour period before departure (for rapid antigen tests, also known as lateral flow tests) or 48 hours before departure (for PCR tests).This test needs to be from a private provider and currently you can not use the free NHS tests for this.

• You must complete a European Digital Passenger Locator Form (dPLF) prior to travel.

• If you are unvaccinated you must follow all steps that apply to fully vaccinated travellers as above.

  • Additionally you must quarantine for 5 days upon arrival in Italy.

  • You will also be required to carry out a negative test in Italy on day 5 to end your quarantine.

Italy currently defines a full vaccination cycle as two doses of a jab approved by the European Medicines Agency (Pfizer, Moderna or Astrazeneca) or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

2. Travel to Italy from the USA

• Passengers from the US who are fully vaccinated must present a Covid recovery certificate or proof of vaccination when entering Italy.

• A negative result of a molecular or antigenic swab test must also be carried out within 72 hours prior to entry into Italy.

• The Ministry of Health website makes clear that arrivals from all List D countries, including the US, Canada, and Japan are subject to the five-day quarantine rule if they don’t have both proof of vaccination (or in the case of the three aforementioned countries, recovery) and a negative test result.

• Arrivals from all the countries listed above are also required to fill out a passenger locator form.

3. green pass / super green pass

To attend a wedding in Italy you will be required to be compliant with Italy's 'green pass' meaning you will need to show proof of vaccination, proof that you have had and recovered from Covid-19 in the last 6 months or show a negative test performed by a healthcare professional within 48 hours prior to the wedding. This applies to all guests over the age of 12.

From December 6th, Italy will introduce the ‘super green pass’ which is only available to the vaccinated or Covid-recovered.

Here are all the venues to which the ‘super green pass’ requirement will be added from January 10th, according to the latest information on the government’s website (here in Italian):

• All restaurants and bars, for both indoor and outdoor dining, including in hotels

• All public transport, including local buses

• School buses serving children aged 12 and up

• Hotels

• Ski lifts

• All indoor and outdoor swimming pools, wellness centres, gyms and team sports facilities, including changing rooms

• All indoor and outdoor spas and thermal baths except for “essential rehabilitation or therapeutic treatments”

• Museums, exhibitions and cultural venues, including libraries

• Celebrations relating to religious or civil ceremonies

• Fairs, festivals, conventions and conferences

• Theme parks

• Indoor and outdoor cultural, social and recreational centres (excluding educational centres for children)

• Games rooms, betting rooms, bingo halls and casinos.

4. face masks

You'll need a medical grade mask on during your flight to Italy. Italy has also brought back a requirement to wear face masks in all outdoor public spaces, even in the lowest risk ‘white’ zones.

FFP2 masks are now required in certain venues including cinemas, theatres, sporting events and on “all means of transport”, the decree states, until March 31st.

5. testing

Order your pre-departure and post-return test arrangements well in advance. Don't be afraid to ask your airline if tests are something they can include in your flights package. If you're booking tests yourselves, then treat it like any other purchase and don't be afraid to shop around to find the best value. Just make sure they're all booked before you set off from home.

6. Go with the flow

No couple wants their wedding to be remembered for the wrong reasons. We recommend all guests attending a wedding take a quick and easy lateral flow/antigen test before the wedding takes place. That way you can dance on down the aisle knowing you’re in safe, happy company and let the embraces and laughter last long into the night.

7. heading home (UK)

When you land back in the UK after your wedding in Italy, there are different rules depending on your vaccination status. If you are fully vaccinated, you must take a COVID-19 test. This is the test that you booked before travel.

This must be a PCR test if you arrive in England before 4am Sunday 9 January. If you arrive after 4am, 9 January you can use a lateral flow test. You will be able to book lateral flow tests from 7 January.

You can take the test any time after you arrive and before the end of day 2 at the latest. The day you arrive is day 0.

If your test result is positive, you must self-isolate.

From 4am 9 January you can take a lateral flow test instead of a PCR test. If the result of the lateral flow test is positive, you must self-isolate and take a PCR test.

If you are not fully vaccinated this link shows the current testing and quarantine requirements Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

8. heading home (USA)

U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) who are eligible to travel but are not fully vaccinated will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test one day before their flight. U.S citizens and LPRs who are fully vaccinated will need to present airlines with proof of vaccination and of a negative COVID-19 test three days before their flight.

Covid-19 and weddings in Italy- further reading

Of course, if we've learned one thing from the pandemic, it's that things can change and often quickly. We have prepared this information in good faith but we cannot guarantee complete accuracy of the information provided here.

Please always check for updates from the following official government websites:

UK : Italy travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

USA : COVID-19 Information - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy (usembassy.gov)

And for Italy’s latest news in English check out The Local - Italy's News in English