Sicilian Wedding Traditions: Customs UK Couples Can Bring Into Their Day

One of the loveliest things about getting married in Sicily is that you are not just borrowing a beautiful backdrop. You are stepping into an island with centuries of wedding customs, many of which are still very much alive in Sicilian families today. Weaving a few of them into your day makes it feel rooted in the place, and your guests will remember them long after the tan has faded.

This guide walks through the Sicilian and Italian wedding traditions our UK couples most often ask about, what they mean, and how to include them naturally, whether you are planning an intimate elopement or a big three-day celebration. If you are at the very beginning of planning, our complete guide to getting married in Sicily as a UK couple is the best place to start.

Why Sicilian traditions matter on a destination wedding

A destination wedding can easily feel like a lovely holiday with a ceremony in the middle. Traditions change that. They give your guests something to take part in, they create natural moments for your photographer, and they gently tell the story of where you are.

You do not need to adopt everything. Most couples pick two or three customs that feel like them, and we help adapt them so they sit comfortably alongside British touches such as speeches, a first dance or a cake-cutting.

Confetti and bomboniere: the sugared almonds

In Italy, confetti are not paper. They are sugar-coated almonds, and they are one of the most recognisable Italian wedding traditions of all.

Guests are traditionally given an odd number of almonds, usually five, wrapped in a little pouch or box. Each one is said to represent a wish for the couple: health, wealth, happiness, fertility and a long life. The bittersweet almond inside the sugar shell is a reminder that married life holds both.

The almonds usually come as part of the bomboniera, the wedding favour. Sicilian bomboniere can be anything from a simple tulle pouch to a small ceramic piece. Ceramics from Caltagirone or a little Sicilian lemon motif make lovely choices, because they double as a keepsake of the island.

Many weddings also have a confettata, a table laid out with jars of coloured confetti and sweets for guests to help themselves. It looks gorgeous in photos and is a gentle nod to tradition without any fuss.

La busta: the wedding envelope

In much of southern Italy, guests traditionally give the couple la busta, an envelope with a card and a monetary gift, rather than choosing from a gift list. You may see a decorated box or a little post box on the reception table to collect them.

For UK guests this can feel unfamiliar, so if you would like to include it, it helps to mention it kindly on your wedding website or in your guest information pack. Some couples combine it with a honeymoon fund, which suits travelling guests who would rather not carry presents on the plane. Our guest accommodation and travel guide has more on what to share with guests and when.

Rice, petals and "Evviva gli sposi!"

As you leave the church or town hall, Italian guests traditionally throw rice over the newlyweds as a wish for abundance and fertility. Today many venues and town halls prefer petals or biodegradable alternatives, so we always check what is allowed at your ceremony location.

You will also hear the cheer "Evviva gli sposi!" ("Long live the newlyweds!") ring out at the ceremony, during the meal and whenever a toast is raised. It is a wonderful, easy tradition for your UK guests to join in with. We often suggest your best man or maid of honour teaches it to the room at the start of the reception.

The tarantella and a night of dancing

The tarantella is the folk dance most associated with southern Italian weddings: a fast, joyful circle dance with guests holding hands and speeding up as the music builds. It is a brilliant icebreaker for a mixed British and Italian crowd, because nobody needs to know the steps to have fun.

Some couples book live folk musicians for a short tarantella set between courses. Others simply ask their band or DJ to slip one in after the first dance. Either way, it tends to get even the shyest guests on their feet.

Food as a tradition in its own right

In Sicily, the meal is the celebration. A traditional Sicilian wedding feast is long, generous and unhurried, often running over several hours with many courses, and couples who embrace that rhythm tend to have the most relaxed days.

A few food traditions worth knowing about:

• A lavish aperitivo: Guests often enjoy a generous drinks reception with Sicilian street food such as arancini, panelle and local cheeses, sometimes more abundant than a British wedding breakfast.
• Local wine: Sicily's vineyards, from Etna to the western coast, give you plenty to choose from, and a wine pairing with each course is a lovely way to introduce guests to the island.
• Cannoli, cassata and granita: Sicilian sweets are famous for good reason. Many couples add a late-night dessert station, with cannoli filled on the spot, alongside (or instead of) a traditional cake.
• The Sicilian cart: A painted carretto siciliano, the island's traditional decorated cart, is often used as a striking street-food or sweets station and makes a beautiful backdrop for photos.

Your menu is built with your venue and caterer, and a food tasting is usually part of the planning. If you are choosing between a countryside estate and a coastal setting, have a look through our venue spotlights to see the kind of places we work with.

La serenata: the night-before serenade

In some Sicilian towns there is a custom of the groom serenading the bride beneath her window on the evening before the wedding, often with musician friends and family gathered round. It is less common today, but some couples revive it in a playful way at their welcome drinks, with a singer or a few musicians performing a classic Italian love song.

If you are planning a welcome evening or pizza party the night before, it is a charming moment to build in.

Superstitions and dates

Sicily has its share of wedding superstitions. The best known is the old proverb "Né di Venere né di Marte, né si sposa né si parte", meaning you should neither marry nor set off on a journey on a Friday (Venus's day) or a Tuesday (Mars's day). Plenty of modern couples happily ignore it, but Sicilian relatives may raise an eyebrow, so it is worth knowing about if you have family on the island.

Your choice of date will matter far more for weather and availability. Our month-by-month guide to the best time to get married in Sicily covers that in detail.

Religious, civil or symbolic: traditions work with every ceremony

Many of these customs began in Catholic church weddings, but they fit just as well into a civil ceremony at a town hall or a symbolic ceremony at your venue. Confetti, the tarantella, "Evviva gli sposi!" and a Sicilian dessert table work beautifully whatever your ceremony.

If you would like a symbolic ceremony, Sabina, our wedding celebrant in Sicily, leads them in English and Italian.

If you are still deciding which ceremony suits you, our guide to civil vs religious weddings in Sicily explains the differences. And if you are dreaming of something tiny, see how to elope in Taormina.

How we help you include Sicilian traditions

Because we are a bilingual team, Lina in the UK and Sabina based in Sicily, we can explain each custom to your guests in plain English and arrange it properly on the island. That might mean sourcing confetti and bomboniere locally, booking folk musicians for a tarantella, arranging a Sicilian cart for dessert, or simply making sure your Italian relatives feel the day honours their traditions.

You can see how other couples made their day their own in our real weddings.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most popular Sicilian wedding traditions?

The most popular are confetti (sugared almonds) given as favours in odd numbers, la busta envelope gifts, throwing rice or petals after the ceremony, the cheer "Evviva gli sposi!", the tarantella dance and a long, generous Sicilian feast with traditional sweets such as cannoli.

Why are five sugared almonds given at Italian weddings?

Five is the most common number, and each almond is said to represent a wish for the couple: health, wealth, happiness, fertility and long life. An odd number is used because it is traditionally thought to be indivisible, just like the couple.

Can we include Sicilian traditions in a symbolic or civil wedding?

Yes. Most customs, such as confetti, bomboniere, the tarantella and a Sicilian dessert table, work with any ceremony. We check any venue or town hall rules, such as whether rice or petals are allowed, in advance.

Is it unlucky to get married on a Friday in Sicily?

There is an old Sicilian proverb advising against marrying on a Friday or a Tuesday. It is a superstition rather than a rule, and many couples choose these days, but older Sicilian relatives may mention it.

How much does it cost to add traditional touches to our wedding?

It depends on what you choose and the scale of your day. Please contact us for current rates and we will put together options that suit your plans.

Bring a little Sicily into your wedding day

Whether you want a single nod to tradition or a celebration steeped in Sicilian culture, we would love to help you shape a day that feels personal and truly of the island.

Enquire with Marry Me in Sicily to tell us about your plans and we will be in touch.