Our dress code is simple: out-dress the bride.

We want glitter, sequins, bold colours, statement looks and a little bit of drama — this is your excuse to really go for it.

Think joyful, glamorous and unapologetically dressed up. The brighter, bolder and more fabulous, the better.

Our only request is that you please respect the bride’s wishes and do not wear white.

Most importantly, wear something you feel amazing in and come ready to celebrate.

Which airport should we fly to?

There are three main airports in Sicily, but we recommend flying into Palermo Airport wherever possible.

From Manchester, Jet2 flies directly to Palermo, and this is the route we’ll be taking ourselves on 28 July. Palermo is also the most convenient option for the wedding weekend and for making use of the transport we’re arranging.

Trapani Airport is another good option and is the next closest airport to the venue, with flights available through Ryanair.

We would only recommend flying into Catania if you’re planning to explore more of Sicily before or after the wedding. It’s on the other side of the island and is around a three-hour drive from the venue, so it’s much less convenient for a short wedding trip.

That said, Sicily is a big island with so much to see. If you’re planning a longer holiday, flying into Catania and making your way across the island towards Palermo can be a lovely way to experience more of it — just make sure to plan your route and travel time in advance.

It’s also worth being aware that Catania Airport can occasionally experience flight disruption due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna, particularly during periods of increased volcanic activity.

Our recommendation:
Fly into Palermo if you’re coming primarily for the wedding. If you’re turning the trip into a Sicilian adventure, then Catania or Trapani may work well depending on your itinerary.

Not necessarily.

If you’re mainly coming for the wedding and are happy to explore around Palermo and the surrounding area, you can absolutely manage without one. There’s plenty to do using public transport and organised trips, from Mondello Beachand a train to Cefalù, to boat trips around Favignana and the Egadi Islands.

Sicily also has a good network of trains, coaches and local transport, so hiring a car isn’t essential.

That said, if you’re a confident driver and planning to explore more of the island, having a car will definitely make things easier and give you more flexibility.

A little warning though — driving in Sicily is not for the faint-hearted. Roads can be busy, parking can be interesting, and some towns have extremely narrow streets.

If you do hire a car, we strongly recommend going small. A Fiat 500, Fiat Panda or similar is ideal and will make navigating the smaller roads and villages much easier.

Our recommendation:
You don’t need a car for the wedding weekend, but if you’re planning a longer trip around Sicily and feel comfortable driving abroad, it can be really useful.

Yes! We hired through Sicily by Car and had a really good experience. Collection was quick and straightforward, everything was clearly explained and we didn’t encounter any unexpected charges, so they would be our personal recommendation.

We also previously used ECH (Easy Car Hire) and, based on our own experience, it isn’t a company we would personally use again.

You’ll also find most of the familiar international rental companies operating across Sicily, including Sixt, Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar and Enterprise, so it’s worth comparing prices and pick-up locations before booking.

One thing to watch is one-way rental fees. If you collect your car at one side of the island and return it somewhere else — for example, picking up in Catania and dropping off in Palermo — you’ll usually pay an additional one-way/drop-off charge.

From what we’ve seen, it’s worth budgeting at least around £100 extra for this, although the exact cost will depend on the company, route and dates.

And as mentioned above, the smaller the car, the better. A Fiat 500, Fiat Panda or a similar sized automatic will make Sicilian streets, parking and little hill towns much easier to navigate.

Yes — the hotel has a lovely outdoor pool in the gardens, with sun loungers, deck chairs and tables available for guests to use.

If you’re short on suitcase space, just ask a member of staff and they can provide pool towels for you.

There is also a BBQ on-site, which guests are welcome to use if you fancy cooking something for yourselves and spending a relaxed afternoon by the pool.

As the venue is surrounded by countryside and open water, the hotel does treat the grounds for mosquitoes and other insects, but we’d still recommend bringing some insect repellent with you — especially for the evenings.

Yes — you’re welcome to bring your own drinks to enjoy during the weekend.

The hotel has just asked that guests don’t bring their own alcohol into the restaurant or during dinner service.

You’re absolutely fine to enjoy your own drinks in your room or in the hotel’s shared communal spaces, including the various living areas around the property and the pool.

Most guest rooms also have fridges, which are handy for keeping drinks and snacks chilled during your stay.

During the wedding celebrations themselves, an open bar will be provided, so there’ll be no need to bring your own drinks to dinner or the evening party.

Yes — free Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue for guests to use during their stay.

A little bit of both.

We purposely visited the venue in summer 2026 to get a real feel for the heat at that time of year. The abbey sits high up in the mountains and the grounds are very spacious, so although Sicily will be warm, the setting feels much more comfortable than you might expect.

The ceremony will take place indoors at 5:00 PM, and dinner will be served later in the evening once the sun has gone down.

There will still be plenty of time outdoors throughout the day, so we recommend dressing for warm weather and bringing SPF.

Yes — parking is available at the venue.

When you arrive, simply press the buzzer at the main gates to enter the abbey. The reception team will then direct you to the guest car park.

Item descriptionAccommodation is £150 per person for the two-night stay, including breakfast each morning.

Payment can be made by bank transfer, and your individual accommodation details and balance will be shown when you complete your RSVP.

We have kept the contribution at a flat rate for everyone staying on-site. This helps us cover part of the cost of the accommodation, breakfast and the wider wedding weekend, including the open bar on the wedding day.

We really appreciate your contribution and hope you understand — our main priority is having everyone together and making the weekend as special as possible.

We’ll be providing coach transport from Palermo to the wedding venue on Saturday 31 July, so if you’re arriving into Palermo for the wedding weekend, you won’t need to worry about arranging your own onward transport.

The coach will also stop at our recommended nearby hotels, Fattoria Gorgo and Don Giovanni Hotel, for guests who are staying off-site.

On Monday 2 August, after check-out, the coach will make the return journey back to Palermo.

You’ll be able to let us know whether you need a seat on the coach when completing your RSVP. We’ll share the exact pick-up location and timings closer to the wedding.

If you’re hiring a car or making your own way to the venue, that’s absolutely fine too. There is parking available at the abbey, and the reception team will direct you once you arrive.

Our recommendation: if you’re flying into Palermo and are primarily visiting for the wedding, make life easy and use the coach — we’ve got you covered.

Absolutely.

Alongside the open bar, there will be a selection of alcohol-free drinks, soft drinks and mixers available throughout the wedding celebrations.

If you don’t drink alcohol, are driving, are pregnant, or simply fancy something different, there will still be plenty of options available for you to enjoy throughout the day and evening.

Our wedding will take place at Abbazia Santa Maria del Bosco, a historic abbey located in Contessa Entellina, near Sambuca di Sicilia, in western Sicily.

The abbey will be our base for the whole wedding weekend, from Saturday 31 July to Monday 2 August 2027, with the wedding taking place on Sunday 1 August.

It’s a beautifully secluded location surrounded by countryside and mountains, so we recommend saving the venue on Google Maps before you travel.

The abbey is also only around 25 km from Corleone — the Sicilian town famously associated with The Godfather — making it a great little place to visit if you have a car and some spare time during your trip. Allow roughly 35- 40 minutes each way from the venue if visiting.

Please don’t feel that you need to give us anything.

We know travelling to Sicily is a big commitment, and having you there to celebrate with us is genuinely more than enough.

If you would still like to give us a gift, we would be incredibly grateful for a contribution towards our future together.

You’re very welcome to send this by bank transfer to the same account used for accommodation payments, or bring cash on the day if you prefer.

More than anything, we’re just so happy to have you with us.