The ultimate guide to weddings in Sorrento.
 

Close your eyes. Whisper the words “I do” and imagine yourself gazing into your partner’s eyes in one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world. It’s easy to understand why weddings in Sorrento have caught the imagination of couples who want to make their special day even more memorable.

Sorrento has always been a dreamy location thanks to it’s Mediterranean climate, stunning views and warm hospitality but its popularity, far from waning, appears to be increasing year on year.

Getting married in Sorrento is a wonderful way of enhancing what will already be a very very special day and it also offers families and friends of the couple an opportunity to share in the magical atmosphere of a Sorrento wedding.

We will try and walk you through, step by step, what you need to consider, how you need to plan and what to expect from your dream Sorrento wedding.

Why choose Sorrento for your wedding day?

1. Warm, blue skies and sunshine!

Sorrento is located in the south of Italy and enjoys a Mediterranean climate. You can expect warm ,and often hot, weather from May through to the end of September.

The weather, especially RELIABLE weather, is very important when you’re planning a wedding abroad. Part of the pleasure of getting married in another country is that it feels different to the changeable and cooler weather back home.

Wedding guests, and even the bride and groom, can dress differently, perhaps choosing light coloured linens or a more summery style wedding dress for the bride.

2. Achingly beautiful scenery

Sorrento is located on the Bay of Naples, across from the volcano, Mount Vesuvius.

The clifftop roads and towns that snake their way to Sorrento provide stunning views along the way and from the water.

There are many, many places in Sorrento where the views are breathtaking and the wedding venues in the town make no apologies for highlighting the views as a backdrop to your wedding celebrations.

3. Some of the best restaurants in the world!

Sorrento and towns on the Amalfi coast lay claim to having some of the finest restaurants in the world. Within this relatively small geographical area are an excellent selection of Michelin star restaurants and an even greater number of excellent and reputable restaurants to suit everyone’s budget.

4. Only a three hour flight time away

Naples is the closest international airport to Sorrento and the Amalfi coast and from most UK airports you’re only looking at a three hour flight (or less).

Compared to flying away to the Bahamas or somewhere equally as exotic it makes practical sense to have a wedding with family and guests that is a little closer to home.

Who can get married in Sorrento?

Anyone can get married in Sorrento. The question you need to be asking yourself though is what type of wedding ceremony do you want and do you want it to be legally binding or just symbolic?

Different types of wedding ceremonies available in Sorrento

Catholic Wedding Ceremony

If you do not have Italian citizenship then unfortunately you cannot have a Catholic wedding ceremony in Sorrento. Unfortunately, Sorrento falls within a church diocese which prohibits Catholic foreign nationals from having a Catholic wedding ceremony in Sorrento.

This isn’t a problem in other towns on the Amalfi coast, for example in Amalfi, Positano or Ravello, it is possible to have a Catholic wedding ceremony.  You could even have your wedding ceremony in one of these towns and then have your wedding reception in Sorrento.

Civil ceremony for Catholics

Non-Italian Catholics can still be married in Sorrento through a civil ceremony. Obviously these cannot be held inside a church but Sorrento has some truly beautiful outdoor venues which will not disappoint.

There are three approved civil wedding venues in Sorrento.

Villa Fondi
Villa Correale
Chiostro di San Francesco

Civil weddings in Sorrento are limited to the venues which have been officially approved. If you’re looking for more flexibility as to wedding venues then a symbolic wedding ceremony would be your best bet. A symbolic wedding ceremony would not be legally binding whereas a civil ceremony would be legally binding.

Legal requirements to having a civil wedding ceremony in Sorrento

The bride and groom both have to be over 18 years old or written parental consent if between 16 years old and 18.

If the bride is divorced or widowed, under Italian law, she would have to wait until 300 days have elapsed before re-marrying. A divorce certificate or death certificate would also be required.

* A valid passport

* Original birth certificate

* You will need to make an appointment with your local Registrar (in the UK0 to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI). It is critical that the names you give the Registrar for the certificate as exactly the same names which appear on your passports. For example, do not give your name as “Tom” if your passport name says “Thomas” as otherwise the Italian authorities would reject the document.

Please note that the CNI will only be valid for six months.

A Statutory Declaration. This will need to be done before a public notary or solicitor in the UK. A bilingual form can be downloaded from the government website (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/italy-bilingual-statutory-declaration-for-marriage).

* Once you have your CNI and completed the steps for your Statutory Declaration they will need to be sent to the legalisation office in Milton Keynes for a formal approval known as an “apostille” (the formal authentication of a document for use in a foreign country).

* You will need to get the CNI translated into Italian by an official translator (based in Italy). As the Statutory Declaration is already bilingual then no further translation is required.

All of these steps are perfectly doable by yourself but I think you can see why so many couple prefer to use the services of a professional wedding planner as it makes it so much easier and stress free when somebody else is coordinating everything for you!
 

Protestant Wedding Ceremony

Unfortunately, there are no Protestant churches in Sorrento so it is not possible to have a Protestant church ceremony there, however, Amalfi cathedral DOES allow Protestant wedding ceremonies if you have a strong preference to be married in a church. 

Alternatively, the same options area are available to Protestant couples as Catholic ones in that legally binding civil weddings and symbolic weddings are possible (with the same legal requirements). 

Non-Denominational and Same Sex Wedding Ceremonies

For same sex couples and couples who are not affiliated with any religion it is possible to have a legally binding civil wedding ceremony in Sorrento.

The same requirements typically apply as described previously.

Best Wedding venues in Sorrento

Chiostro di San Francesco

Sorrento is blessed with stunningly beautiful views almost around every corner so it isn’t difficult to find a wedding venue that can provide a breathtaking backdrop to your wedding ceremony. 

Popular with civil wedding ceremonies is the Chiostro di San Francesco, Situated next to the Villa Communale in the centre of Sorrento, the Chiostro di San Francesco is a 14th Century built cloisters. 

The open aired courtyard is surrounded by ancient arches and Mediterranean foliage and despite being in the middle of town provides a peaceful and quiet refuge for those seeking some peace and quiet or…….for those wanting to hold their civil wedding ceremony there. 

Despite being metres away from one of the most popular beautiful views in Sorrento the Cloister itself doesn’t have a view of the Sorrento seascape as it’s more of an internal courtyard. However, there the space does have a feeling of being in a church and for couples who want the next best thing to a Sorrento church wedding then the Chiostro di San Francesco is a very good alternative. 

Villa Correale

The Villa Correale is the cultural hub of Sorrento and regularly plays host to a full calendar of cultural events throughout the year. 

The 18th Century villa is also one of only three venues in Sorrento officially allowed to perform civil wedding ceremonies. 

Wedding couples can choose between having the ceremony in the dignified Hall of Mirrors inside the villa or having the ceremony in the beautiful gardens outside including the Belvedere Terrace which has jaw dropping views of the Gulf of Naples. 

Villa Fondi

Located just outside of Sorrento in Piano de Sorrento the Villa Fondi offers spectacular views over the Sorrentine Peninsula and remains a favourite amongst couples choosing to have a civil wedding ceremony in Sorrento. 

The venues we have mentioned so far as being the best in Sorrento are for those couples wanting civil ceremonies i.e. a legally binding ceremony. If you choose to opt for a symbolic ceremony (non legally binding) then the options available to you really start to open up.

Many of the luxury hotels in Sorrento offer wedding packages such as Grand Hotel La Favorita or Mediterraneo, in Sant Agnello.

If you have a decent budget then the Grand Hotel Excelsior has to be one of THE most iconic locations, not only in Sorrento but in the entire Amalfi region as you can follow in the footsteps of Sophia Loren, Jack Lemmon and drink in the views and ambience of this historic and achingly beautiful classical hotel.

Sorrento wedding price packages

We all have dreams for many of us being able to get married in a beautiful part of the world is one of them. The question is whether the dream of a wedding in Sorrento is an affordable one or not. 

There are many wedding organiser companies who will put together a price package for your Sorrento wedding. These packages differ from company to company and dependant upon the services included and the minimum number of guests the price is based on.

We cannot give you a definitive price list due to the variety of services and venues but we can share with you examples of some of the wedding price packages available for a Sorrento wedding ceremony. 

As you can see above the prices range dramatically depending on what you would like included in your wedding package and the actual wedding venue. 

Small weddings in Sorrento are possible, but wedding packages will typically be based on a minimum number of people. Generally, 25 adults is considered to be the minimum number of wedding guests (including bride and groom).

If you wanted a micro-wedding i.e. a very small number of guests, perhaps even only the bride and groom then it might be more cost effective to try and plan the wedding yourself without the need of a wedding planning company but beware of the many regulations and types of paperwork you would need to organise yourself.

In our price package graphic above we have collected three different Sorrento wedding price packages.

The first package, from the Wedding Travel Company, shows what you can get for a relatively modest amount of money. This first package is priced at £ 3999 (based on a minimum of 25 adults).

This includes a civil wedding ceremony at the old monastery at Chiestro di Francesco , in the heart of Sorrento.

A UK based wedding planner and a Italian based wedding coordinator are all included in the price as are the bridal flowers.

This particular package does not include any post-ceremony events but that does give you the opportunity to book your own restaurant or venue which a lot of people prefer.

The second price package option is from a company called Ionian Weddings. There’s no disguising the fact that this price package is significantly higher, at £ 14995, than the first wedding package we have just discussed but when you look at all the additional services included then it begins to look more appealing. 

The package from Ionian Weddings also includes a civil wedding ceremony at the monastery cloisters in the middle of Sorrento (Chiestro di Francesco) but the additional extras included demonstrates why this is a good option for couples wanting more than a “no frills” wedding ceremony.

This package includes a Mercedes limo to the wedding venue AND two mini buses to take wedding guests after the wedding to the wedding reception.

Musicians are even included for the duration of the wedding ceremony at the cloisters and a DJ is provided for the reception.

This price package includes a three course meal for 30 guests as well as the wedding cake and cocktails and canapes and table dressing.

As you can see, it is a much more comprehensive package, and this is reflected in the price. 

The third package option we have featured is from the Wedding Travel Company again. This is similar to the package provided by Ionian Weddings but this is for a symbolic wedding ceremony, rather than a civil one.

This ceremony is at the most famous hotel in Sorrento, the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. This is a stunningly beautiful hotel set amongst lush gardens with breathtaking views from the terrace. 

The package includes a aperitifs, canapes and tapas as well as a three course meal and a reception in the hotel’s Orange Grove. 

We hope we’ve been able to give you an idea as to some of the approximate wedding costs if you’re planning on getting married in Sorrento.

The budget is whatever you decide it to be. The main thing is to ensure you have a memorable time.

List of live webcams in Sorrento.

Wanting to see pictures or a video from a live camera in Sorrento is an increasingly popular way for people and “tourists to be” to check out what is happening in this beautiful part of the world-ALL in real time!

Maybe you have a holiday already booked to Sorrento and you’re wanting to check what the weather looks like before you finish all your packing or maybe you are indulging in some harmless day dreaming, wishing that you could be there.

You may also have returned from a recent holiday in Sorrento and seeing webcams of your favourite places is a way of revisiting those places in your memory.

Whatever your motivation, it’s all good-we get you 🙂

We have collated all the Sorrento live camera shots and Sorrento webcams that we could find and after hours of research we list them all below for you.

Marina Grande-Sorrento. Live Cam

The Marina Grande is a very pretty historic fishing village in Sorrento.

This is one of the more popular streams. The webcam here appears to be located somewhere around the Ristorante Zi ‘Ntonio Mare and the camera is facing towards the yellow building of La Luella holiday apartments, close to the Bagni Delfino restaurant. 

Grand Hotel Aminta-Sorrento. Web Cam

Although the hotel is sited further away from the centre of Sorrento this actually gives it an advantage when it comes to views as it offers beautiful views over the rooftops of Sorrento as well as Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples.

Unlike the Live Cam at Marina Grande, the Grand Hotel Aminta does not have a live video feed. Instead, it updates the images every 60 seconds. It’s still worth taking a look and refreshing your page to see what’s happening.

Here is the link to their web cam

Piazza TassoGrand Hotel Aminta-Sorrento. Web Cam

The Live Cam here is smack bang in the heart of Sorrento on Piazza Tasso. The camera is located at the nearby restaurant, Ristorante O Canonico 1898.

This webcam is one of the better ones in Sorrento as it doesn’t just show a pretty view over the sea but shows you the beating heart of Sorrento in the main square.

Surprisingly, there are very few decent Sorrento live webcams. For such a beautiful and popular place one would think that there might be more live streaming cameras around.

The live camera links we have given you for Sorrento are the best ones currently available and we think the last link, for the Piazza Tasso, is the best webcam in Sorrento as it provides a view from the unmistakable heart of this charming town.

Sometimes the links and the streams go down so we’ll continue to look out for the best and most reliable Sorrento webcams and will keep you updated.

Why Sorrento Webcams Matter

• Instant escapism: Whether you’re stuck at work, feeling homesick, or just seeking inspiration, these webcam feeds offer a soulful escape.

• Trip planning tool: Not sure what area to stay in? Watching the webcams helps you understand which views or vibes you’d most love to wake up to.

• Architecture, landscape, and local life on display: From citrus groves to coastal towns, historic squares to volcanic views—Sorrento’s essence is captured in varied, dynamic frames.

• Accessibility: No app, subscription, or travel is required. Just open a webcam and you’re there—in spirit and scenery.

Things for kids and families to do in Sorrento.

Sorrento may be perceived as this beautiful, romantic getaway for couples wanting to sample some of the magic of Italy and the Amalfi region but many people also bring their children and families to Sorrento and so we thought it might be useful to list some of the options of things for kids to do in Sorrento.

Sorrento enjoys a very long tourist season from mid April to mid October making it ideal for families wanting to bring their kids to this breathtaking part of the world.

With its mix of beaches, history, food, and fun day trips, there’s no shortage of things to do in Sorrento with kids.

Whether you’re planning a weekend break or a longer family holiday, this guide covers the top family activities in Sorrento to keep children of all ages entertained.

Family friendly beach clubs

We’ve previously written about Sorrento beaches on our page “things to do in Sorrento“.

Sorrento and nearby Sant Agnello have some fantastic beach clubs and although the beaches in Sorrento and the greater Amalfi area may not be very large they remain extremely popular with tourists and Italian families who bring their own kids here.

The water temperature often reaches 26°C which is welcomingly warm and with marked shallow and deep areas then you know how far you can safely play with your kids.

Although many people staying in Sorrento will have swimming pools at their hotel the sea water at Sorrento’s beaches acts as a strong buoyancy aid making it much easier to stay afloat.

The beach clubs will also have an on-site restaurant or snack bar so you always have somewhere to go if your kids are feeling a little bit peckish. They also provide service to your sun lounger if you don’t want to lose precious sunnbathing time!

Boat ride to Capri

There’s really no getting away from it but if you’re in Sorrento then the water is going to play a pretty large part of what you do or spend your time around.

Taking a boat ride to Capri with your kids can be an exciting adventure and the boats and ferries run regularly between Sorrento and Capri.

Although Capri itself isn’t particularly “kid friendly”, due to a lack of any proper beach and plenty of steps, there are a few things which kids would love.

The chair lift to the top is very popular and it’s not a scary ride (like some chair lifts can be). At the top, at AnaCapri, there is a public park with a small playground for kids.

A trip to the Blue Grotto is also a good option as many kids love transferring onto the smaller rowing boat and then floating into the cave and gasping at the azure blue waters. It might only be a short trip but it does live long in the memory.

Pizza Making Class

Most kids love pizza, right?  When you’re in the home of pizza then why not grab the opportunity to learn how to make an authentic Italian pizza by signing up to a pizza making class. The classes are primarily focused on having fun and kids especially love the hand on approach to making pizza!

Visit to Pompeii

Pompeii is a fascinating place for kids to visit as it connects the visitor to history in a deeper way than any other indoor museum.

Pompeii is easily reached from Sorrento, either by public transport or booking an organised tour.

If your kids don’t already know about the history of Pompeii then it’s a good idea to give them some background information, to fuel their imagination ahead of their visit.

There isn’t much shelter from the sun at Pompeii so it’s advisable to bring plenty of liquids and to dress appropriately.

And….there’s always ice cream

Ice cream, or “gelato”, as they say in this neck of the woods (and yes, there IS a difference) is a happiness balm for adults and kids alike and nobody quite does gelato like the Italians.

A mouth wateringly array  of flavours and colours will make your kids eyes pop out and the flavours do not disappoint.

Do not just order an ice cream after your meal in a restaurant and then think you’ve had the real gelato experience.

Take your kids to a real gelateria e.g. Raki, Gelateria David, Fresco Sorrento etc and sample the difference between ice cream and and Italian gelatio-a gelato has less calories than an ice cream!

Final thoughts on things for kids to do in Sorrento

Sorrento may be best known for romance and scenic views, but it’s also a wonderful destination for children. From splashing in hidden coves and making pizza to exploring ancient ruins and enjoying gelato in lively piazzas, there’s something for every age group.

The secret to a successful family holiday in Sorrento is balancing sightseeing with relaxation. Slow down, embrace Italian family traditions, and let kids enjoy the simple pleasures of la dolce vita. With so many options, you’ll find plenty of unforgettable things to do in Sorrento with kids.