For anyone dreaming of having their wedding in close proximity to breathtaking historical monuments and culinary options that make their head turn, Italy is a dream destination.
But the pandemic has put a dent in how many people have been able to do so, and one Italian region is fighting to reclaim itself as a top spot for weddings in 2022.
The Italian region of Lazio is offering a refund of €2,000 (around $2,250) on wedding costs if couples get married there during 2022 (up to 31 December). This is the region that includes Rome, with its iconic Coliseum, the Trevi fountain and the Spanish steps–perfect inspiration for the classic obligatory wedding photographs.
The €10 million scheme is called “Nel Lazio con amore” (From Lazio with Love) and allows people (residents and foreigners alike) to claim back the money with just five wedding receipts that–as reported by The Guardian–can include wedding photographers, cake makers, caterers and bridal shops.
Nicola Zingaretti, the president of Lazio said that “the scheme is needed to support a sector that has suffered badly from the economic crisis. We have put the significant investment in place also with an eye on the tourism sector, and with the awareness and pride of being able to boast about every part of our region, with many locations among the most magical and fascinating in the world thanks to an unparalleled cultural heritage.”
Whilst the weddings must take place before 31 December 2022, couples have until the end of January 2023 to submit receipts (or until the money has all been used up). Local authorities hope the scheme will encourage couples to choose Lazio as they used to–since the pandemic began, just 9,000 couples have gotten married in the region, compared to 15,000 in 2019.
The coastal region includes medieval hillside towns, the Circeo national park and if the budget can afford it, the Orsini-Odescalchi castle in Bracciano where Katie Holmes married Tom Cruise in 2006.
