Weddings in Friuli Venezia Giulia

Get married in Friuli Venezia Giulia

Magic in borderland

An hour drive east from Venice towards Croatia and you will be crossing the friendly border territory called Friuli Venezia Giulia. Neighbouring Austria and Slovenia, Friuli is a rare gem featuring an amazing variety of cultural and vegetation biodiversity.

This region has a bit of everything we love of Italy. Here you can spot ancient Roman ruins laying proudly next to Venetian-style architecture and strong signs of Habsburgian influence.

This unique cocktail of cultural dominion also impacted the character of the gastronomic and wine tradition. Sitting at the table of one of its familiar osteria with views on the grape-growing hills, or the majestic Dolomite peaks is our tip for you to understand the immense value of this area. 

Reasons why

5 reasons to have your wedding in Friuli Venezia Giulia

This unspoiled eastern Italian land will leave you greatly surprised by its humble beauty. The history that shaped her into a country of hard-working, honest people is just as rich as that of its sister regions, so prepare yourself for a wonderful trip through layers of heritage.

If you are still undecided, here are five good reasons to choose Friuli Venezia Giulia for your Italian wedding.

1

Take a detour on the wine route

There is no better place than Friuli-Venezia Giulia to take your guests for a gourmet  experience. Few other activities are as fun and community-bonding as going on a tour with your nearest and dearest to get to know the native wine and food exquisiteness, making this region as charming as it is.

You will encounter cheese and meat varieties that you have not heard of before: local producers from here take great pride in their niche specialties. Order a glass of Friulano white wine and a plate of San Daniele raw ham to cheer on your bright future ahead.

2

Ancient Roman landmark and World Heritage towns

15 minutes away from the south-west coastline lies the tranquil town of Aquileia, otherwise known as a miniature Rome. Aquileia retains in fact one of the largest archeological sites of northern Italy attracting a large number of turists for its smart position. A day cruising through the ruins of the Roman Forum and the large ancient residential area is well spent, particularly as a group.

If you are heading east from here, you would want to make a stop in Cividale. Ultra romantic and with a fabolous energy, you will have to cross a bridge to get to the historical centre from the outer roads, just like medieval standards. Cividale holds a strong Roman identity, and proudly goes by the name of Forum Iulii, a name given by the very Julius Caesar in 50 BC to the whole area. 

This town has made many couples happy with civil and religious wedding rituals. The gastronomic delicacies and the fairylike atmosphere can be the heart-warming backdrop you are looking for, for your wedding.

3

Charm on the cliff edge

Following the eastern coastline of Friuli, on the way to the capital city of Trieste you can spot some of the most magnetic wedding attractions of the whole area.

Renowned for its gorgeous interiors and the fabulous park, the 19th century Castle of Miramare is a real blaze of beauty and Romantic taste. It is simply perfect to let your guests enjoy a matchless extra activity during your special day and offers fabulous views for splendid pictures.

And if your dream is getting married in an actual castle, not far from Trieste is the gorgeous Duino Castle, a majestic architecture rising high above the sea. The castle is one of the most amazing wedding venues in the area, with romantic hills in the background and a stunning sea in the front. Perfect to enjoy an elegant outdoor party on the castle's ramparts overlooking the sea.

4

A paradise for nature lovers

Less tourism equals more opportunities for explorers like yourselves. Places like Friuli Venezia Giulia are a clean slate to cross through and through and enjoy to the fullest.

This region has it all, from mountains to lakesides, the depths of the sea and playful green hills. Activity holidays in such environment are a blissful paradise for couples and groups looking for hiking and extreme sports like rafting and paragliding over the wilderness of the Dolomites.

If it's not at one of the lakes enriching the beauty of the Alps, you can resort to the neighbouring seaside and test your adrenaline while playing some water sports. Everthing is within reach and very easily accessible. 

5

The perks of nice surroundings

Out of all the northern Italian regions, Friuli Venezia Giulia is definitely a satisfying discovery.

A quick drive away from the unique scenery of Venice, this gorgeous region is a proud display of nature and tradition.

From here you and your guests can easily continue your cultureful journey crossing over to the next-door Veneto and Trentino regions. Plenty of fun and activites await your visit.

Food

Foodie Guide

The gastronomic culture of Friuli Venezia Giulia proudly stands out from the other regional cooking recipes. Friulian cuisine has been heavily influenced by the Slovenian neighbouring presence and the Austrian-Hungarian pre-first world war dominion, as well as geography. The region tends towards cooler temperatures, so dishes are generally hearty and filling.

Friuli, as it is often referred to, is the homeland of worldwide appreciated specialties such as the sweeter San Daniele cured ham, an irresistible attraction for visitors and an absolute striker player for your wedding reception. An assortment of cured meat specialties and cheeses which are integral to the Friulian diet can work as a very happy accompaniment to the welcome cocktail party or any aperitif rituals you might engage in. 

With a mixed cuisine where lusty mountain dishes meet Mediterranean plates, Friuli's menus showcase a true cultural melting pot of dining excellence topped by a foreign flair  (Slavic, Central European, Venetian).

Stuffed pasta and risotto count amongst the most beloved primi piatti and offer countless ideas to create real Friulian-style wedding menus. Do not leave this magical land without trying polenta and frico, two of the most typical dishes of the area that can be prepared with a modern twist as classy finger food or savoury appetizers. In particular, the cheese-based frico dish has been served in the past as the main dish, in its soft version, or as a snack during your cocktail, in its crunchy variety.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia incorporates similar seafood plates as neighbouring Veneto and is home to the much talked salmon trout regional specialty product.

Don't miss

Goulasch triestino, trota di San Daniele, frico, brovada and muset, polenta, risotto con lo sclopit, blecs, cjarsòns, formadi frant, formaggi di malga, prosciutto di S.Daniele DOPspeck di Sauris, pitina, gnocchi di prugne, bollito, gubana, strucchi, presnitz

Wine 

Friuli in a glass

The very soul of Friuli Venezia Giulia lies in sharing a good tajut, a glass of wine, with a portion of tasty San Daniele ham. If you haven't heard of the name, you must have at least tasted one of its incredible white wines. Along with the rich customs and traditions that different populations brought over the border came foreign grape varieties, which gave life to a prosperous and diversified wine-making scene here in the North East. Friuli is particularly good at making refreshing, delicate white wines from native vines such as Friulano, Verduzzo and Picolit.  

The local Friulano is a fruity white with a flowery scent, a delightful company at the table for its versatile nature, easily matched with appetizers, fish and meaty main courses. Instead, the sweet aftertaste of Verduzzo and Picolit make these bottles better suited to cheese-based dishes and desserts.

Local red wines are no less exquisite and renowned. You will love Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, the local warm, spicy red with notes of plums and almonds. Refosco wines go hand in hand with lusty meats and are also high listed on regional wine tastings.

Among the local sparkling, we certainly have a sweet spot for the Ribolla Gialla. This dry example of Friuli excellence is always there for the cutting of the cake and other celebratory moments, like the official post-ceremony toast. This region is certainly a real wine heaven both for visitors and couples looking to put together a wedding wine list that is a little out of the ordinary.

RECOMMENDED WINES: Prosecco Brut, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay, Friulano, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Merlot, Pinot nero, Schioppettino, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Verduzzo, Malvasia.

The Arts

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is art

The layers of history that formed this region are colourful and extremely diverse. The returning element in Friuli's heritage is that this land, and the richness of its geography and soil, has attracted the interest of external players in search of control since the beginning of its time. The long list of invaders shaped the Friulian culture into a totally unparalleled mix of ethnic origins. From Celts, Lombards and Austrians, to Venitians, Romans, Byzantines, French and Slavs. The residents of this frontier territory sure carry a lot of untold stories in their DNA. The configuration that is visible today is in fact the result of hundreds of years of division, which had a significant impact on the cultural panorama belonging to the Friulians. This may be the reason at the roots of the slightly introverted character of the residents, known for their tireless work ethics and strong friendship values.

This is a land of UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the likes of Aquileia and its stunning Roman ruins, Cividale with its unparalleled picturesque vibe and littler historical sites, like the example of Palmanova, a Venetian fortress-town in the shape of a nine pointed star. Another charming town worth the mention is Spilimbergo offering a unique lookout onto the western Friulian hillside and a fantastic backdrop of palaces and frescoes as proof to its anchored mosaic crafts tradition.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a land where everything feels people-friendly and very genuine. 

Walking around its cities will bring about a feeling of comfort and belonging, beautiful churches and palaces dress up the streets and piazzas with finely decorated façades, stucco works, and statues. And once inside, the building's interiors will uncover hidden artistic treasures such as the mythological Tiepolo paintings in Udine.

All the ingredients are there, so create your mix and prepare yourself to celebrate a truly unique wedding.

Great artists inspired by Friuli - Venezia Giulia

  • Giambattista Tiepolo
  • Arturo Colavini
  • Reiner Maria Rilke
  • James Joyce
  • Ernest Hemingway
  • Tina Modotti
VIP Weddings

Celebs getting hitched in Friuli Venezia Giulia

One of the most glamorous events arranged in Friuli Venezia Giulia was the incredible wedding of Victoria Swarovski and Werner Mürz. A multiple-day event with a stylish dress code, the wedding took place in the area of Trieste.

Setting off with a welcome party the day before the wedding, by the name 'Pasta e Amore' was arranged in the classy piazza of Portopiccolo, a glamorous seafront hotspot next to the city centre of Trieste. The shades of the red and gold decorations were complementing perfectly the strictly white dress code requested to all gents, and passion red gowns for the ladies.

The wedding ceremony took place in the famous cathedral of San Giusto in the heart of town and the bride shining the venue in her bespoke million-dollar dress with inlaid crystals. The super private wedding celebrations picked up again in Portopiccolo where 250 guests were wowed by an extravagant, swarovski-themed menu and participated at the cutting of the 5-tiered cake moment while fireworks were set off in the sky.

3 days of infinite love celebrations, in a ultra chic location like Trieste. 

Italian wedding curiosities

Cutting the Cake. Cutting the cake has come to symbolize the first task in the couple's life together. Immediately after the cutting, the bride and groom feed each other the first slice. This action symbolizes the commitment to provide for each other that the bride and groom have undertaken. Today the first slice is cut by both bride and groom, but in the past this task was performed by the bride only: she had to show her ability in distributing food without waste, thus proving herself a good housekeeper.

What we do

How we make it work

This is where it all started. Friuli-Venezia Giulia is our homeland and the place where we began giving shape to our dreams. We set up office in 1999 in the town of Udine, from which we could strategically plan and coordinate every detail of our weddings, and at the occurrence, reach the nearby locations.

We know all corners of our region and we can recommend fun, local activities to make sure your guests will have a great time. Friuli is a destination of great beauty and romance. 

Counting on the assistance of a local expert in weddings is crucial in a secluded area like Friuli-Venezia Giulia, to make sure everything is taken care of from the early planning stages.

With the help of your wedding planner, you can make sure the choice of venue and vendors perfectly match the logistics requirements and aesthetic preferences. WeddingItaly and its team will be with you every step of the way, helping you to fully appreciate the entire wedding planning experience. Our mission, after all, is making sure that you and your guests live a once-in-a-lifetime moment.