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Planning a fairytale proposal in Tuscany

Plus, a small starter guide for those desiring a destination wedding.

Destination weddings are a booming business in Florence and greater Tuscany: countless churches and villas throughout the capital and its surrounding countryside make stellar venues for saying “I do.”
But besides being the perfect setting for the big day itself, the region makes a glorious backdrop for popping the question. If you’re wondering where to woo your loved one with the proposal of a lifetime, we’ve got several show-stopping ideas for you.
And if you plan to be back in bella Firenze for the nuptials, we’ll give you some starting knowledge to work with.


Perfect proposals

Who could say ‘no’ to a proposal made at San Miniato?
The breathtakingly beautiful basilica recently celebrated a full millennium of life. Besides its holy history, the green-marbled church is positioned perfectly for a quiet, romantic moment or for a proposal photo shoot if you’re planning something less private.
It’s just a few steps beyond the famous Florentine overlook of Piazzale Michelangelo, but has far fewer crowds and tourist-targeting street vendors.
As you ask the big question, you and your loved one can take in the Florentine panorama—with fewer obstacles in your way, and even closer to the heavens!


Another option is to book a boating expedition on the Arno River in one of the historic renaioli boats—think of them as a Tuscan version of the famous Venetian gondola.
What could be more romantic? Numerous tour companies offer evening river rides that can take you under magnificent monuments like the Ponte Vecchio and the Ponte Santa Trinita (the latter is the bridge where Dante is said to have met his muse, Beatrice—talk about ‘love that moves the sun and other stars!’)
Such tours connect you to Florentine couples of centuries past; or, more simply, they offer an exclusive chance to clink wine glasses with your loved one in an original setting, and toast to your future together.

Of course, for die-hard Florence lovers and art history buffs, nothing could beat a proposal atop Giotto’s bell tower, with a view of Filippo Brunelleschi’s iconic dome before you. Just be warned that you may have an army of onlookers, so this option isn’t for camera-shy, self-conscious couples! 


If you crave something lower-key for this special moment, consider an intimate outing to the Chianti countryside. Numerous small, family-run wineries in hidden hill towns just a few miles from Florence can accommodate couples for tastings for two—some might even allow you to enlist their help with setting the scene or photographing the response.


Initial tips for engaged couples

Now that she (or he) has said yes, it’s time to start envisioning your dream day! Plenty of villas in Florence, above the city in the hilltop town of Fiesole, and countless other locations compete for your attention for the post-ceremony party.
Note that getting married in a Florentine church typically requires being put on a lengthy wait list; climbing up to the top of it will also take longer if you are a foreign resident and thus not a member of the parish. There are legal considerations, too; organizing a ‘symbolic ceremony’ for the destination wedding and registering the marriage officially in your home country is usually more feasible for foreigners than trying to perform both a civil and symbolic ceremony on the ground in Florence or greater Tuscany.

Plenty of Florence- and Tuscany-based wedding planners work mainly with foreign clientele and can assist you with navigating these logistics, as well as with finding suitable florists, caterers and all the other ingredients of a memorable celebration of your marriage.

Long live the lovebirds, or as it’s said in Tuscany, viva gli sposi! 


Photo credits and special thanks to: Tuscany For Weddings