Sicily wedding florists

A Sicily wedding

Sicily is big and varied. On the east coast is Taormina, with clifftop hotels and views of Etna. Further south are Syracuse, with the island of Ortigia, and the Val di Noto, with the baroque towns of Noto, Modica, Ragusa Ibla and Scicli. Catania has palazzi and villas on the slopes of the volcano. In the west, Palermo offers aristocratic palazzi and historic churches, with Monreale and Cefalù close by, while Trapani, Erice, Marsala and the Egadi Islands have salt pans, bagli (fortified courtyard farmhouses) and the sea. The Aeolian Islands, with Lipari, Salina, Panarea and Stromboli, are chosen for small, intimate weddings.

Typical venues are country masserie and bagli, villas among the citrus groves, baroque palazzi, sea-view terraces and wineries. The list includes many Sicilian floral designers: some work mainly in eastern Sicily, some around Palermo, and some travel all over the island.

Distances and logistics

Sicily is bigger than it looks: Palermo to Syracuse is several hours by road. Choose a floral designer close to your venue or ask how they charge for travel and accommodation. In Taormina and Ortigia the historic centres have restricted access and narrow streets: unloading must be agreed and the last stretch is done by hand. In the baroque towns, churches have grand flights of steps that become part of the design, and also of the set-up time.

For the Aeolian Islands everything travels by hydrofoil or ferry, with timetables that depend on the sea. You need a team that stays on the island, only essential materials, and a plan for cancelled sailings.

Climate, seasons and flowers

The season is long, from April to October and beyond. In summer the heat is intense and the scirocco, a hot wind from North Africa, can bring dry, gusty days: hardy flowers, water in the arrangements, sunset ceremonies. May, June, September and October are the easiest months.

Sicily offers very recognisable materials: citrus, zagara (orange blossom, the traditional bridal flower in Italy), bougainvillea, jasmine, prickly pears, olive, pomegranates, and ceramics from Caltagirone and Santo Stefano di Camastra. Use them if you like them, but Sicilian floral designers also work in very different styles. Read the guide to a Sicily wedding and the one on citrus and olive.

What wedding flowers cost in Sicily

Price ranges are indicative. A bridal bouquet is often between €100 and €350, low centrepieces between €40 and €150 each. Costs rise with long journeys, the team's overnight stays, the islands and large guest lists, which are common here too. Read the guide to wedding flower prices.

What to ask the floral designer

• Are you based near the venue, or is it a long journey?
• How do you handle unloading in Taormina or Ortigia?
• For the Aeolian Islands: who stays on the island, and what happens if the sea is rough?
• How do you protect the flowers from heat and the scirocco?

Once you have a date and a venue, request up to 3 quotes.