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Real Taormina Elopement in Sicily - Jayme & Lucas
Why Jayme & Lucas chose to elope in Sicily
A real Sicily Elopement story planned and captured by Elopement photographer & videographer duo Katja & Walter | Wenola Weddings
From the very beginning, Jayme & Lucas knew they wanted their wedding day to be different. Not a big celebration, not a packed timeline, and not a day spent worrying about everyone else’s expectations. When we asked why they wanted to elope in Italy instead of planning a big wedding, this was the answer:
“I (Jayme) have always wanted to elope and have it just be the two of us, so in love, and not worried about anyone else.”
And as passionate travelers, they were immediately on the same page.
“Lucas and I LOVE to travel, so luckily we were very much aligned when it came to eloping.”
Together, they spend their free time exploring the world, especially warm destinations where they can relax on the beach, soak up the sunshine, and discover amazing local restaurants. For them, travel has always been about experiences, slowing down, being present, and creating memories together.
So when it came to choosing where to get married, we talked about different sceneries in Sicily and Taormina felt like the perfect fit.
Taormina is a beautiful coastal town overlooking the Mediterranean. There is incredible food around every corner and charming streets to wander hand in hand. Beaches, sea views, sunsets, and that unmistakable Italian atmosphere that makes you want to stay just a little longer.
Meeting for the First Time felt like Meeting Old Friends
For almost one and a half years, we planned this day together. We exchanged countless messages, shared ideas, searched for the perfect locations, and slowly built an experience that felt completely like them.
And when we finally met Jayme & Lucas in person for dinner the evening before their elopement, it didn’t feel like meeting clients for the first time. It felt like meeting old friends.
We laughed, shared stories, talked about the adventure ahead, and instantly knew the next day was going to be something special.
Planning an Italy Elopement: How We Help Our Couples
One of the biggest myths about eloping is that it means no planning at all. And while planning an Italy elopement is definitely much more relaxed and intentional than organizing a big wedding with hundreds of guests, there are still a few moving parts behind the scenes.
The good news? You don’t have to figure it all out on your own, because we’re also offering full planning assistance. This means we’re guiding our couples through the entire experience and we’re taking as much stress off their plate as possible – so they can stay focused on what truly matters: enjoying Italy and soaking in every moment together.
For Jayme & Lucas, we helped them with:
- Location scouting (private ceremony spots & scenic backdrops, where to stay,…)
- Timeline planning that flowed naturally with light, energy, weather and emotion
- Vendor research (from florals to private chefs)
- Guidance on how to logistically elope in Italy and how to get from A to B
So instead of spending months overwhelmed by endless research and decisions, these two got to fully enjoy the experience while we helped bring everything together behind the scenes.
If you’re just starting to dream about an Italy elopement, but don’t know if Sicily is the right place, reach out to us and or read our Sicily Elopement blogpost with the best places, tips and costs here.
J & L's Feedback to their Preview Gallery
One thing that’s incredibly important to us is helping our couples relive their day as soon as possible. That’s why every couple receives a preview gallery shortly after their elopement, including a beautiful selection of images and a short highlight film to bring all those emotions back while they’re still soaking in the experience.
Seeing our couples’ reactions is one of our favorite parts of the entire process! When Jayme and Lucas received their preview, this was their response:
“We appreciate you two more than you will ever know. We will definitely leave you an amazing review. I cannot thank you enough, from the bottom of our hearts you made our dreams come true. Literally crying my eyes out at the one minute video! We cannot believe you sent us that many photos already!!”
Messages like these mean the world to us because they remind us why we do what we do. Your elopement isn’t just one incredible day, it’s a collection of memories you’ll want to revisit for the rest of your lives!
How your Elopement in Sicily can look like
Getting Ready and First Look at the Terrace of Sparviero
Jayme & Lucas’ day started slowly with an easy breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean. While hair and makeup were underway, we captured details, handwritten vows, rings, and the beautiful surroundings of Sparviero Suites. Their first look took place on the terrace pf Sparviero Suites overlooking the coastline and it was absolutely magical! Imagine just the two of them together and the Mediterranean sparkling in the background!
Explore Taormina Together
Instead of rushing straight into the ceremony, we spent some time exploring the charming streets of Taormina and of course this typical Italian elopement included pizza to-go, Aperol Spritz and gelato.
Photo Stop at Villa Comunale
After that we stopped at Villa Comunale. This historic garden offers some of the most beautiful viewpoints in Taormina and creates an incredible backdrop for couple portraits.
Visit Taorminas Beaches
Later we headed down to the coast for beach photos, and as you can see: it was absolutely stunning!
Private Ceremony overlooking the Ocean at Sunset
Back at Sparviero Suites, everything was ready and as the sun began to soften, Jayme and Lucas exchanged personal vows overlooking the sea, accompanied by the beautiful melodies of a private violinist who made the moment feel even more intimate and unforgettable.
Private Dinner Under the Stars
The evening ended with a private dinner on the terrace of Sparviero villas – with a 4-course-Sicilian menu.
Jayme & Lucas’ Taormina Elopement Timeline
Wondering how a Sicily elopement day in Taormina can unfold when you have a full 10 hours of photo and video coverage? Here’s the timeline of Jayme & Lucas’ day. We intentionally created a timeline with plenty of space and no rushing from location A to B or stress. Instead, we focused on being present.
7:30 AM – Have easy breakfast together
8:00 AM – Getting Ready Starts
9:30 AM – Photo & Video Coverage Starts
9:30 AM – 10:15 – Detail photos of your vows, the surroundings, drone photos,…
10:15 – 10:45 – Getting Ready Photos & Portraits Lucas
10:30 – HMUA Jayme done
10:45 – 11:30 – Getting Ready Photos & Portraits Jayme / Final HMUA Touch-Ups
11:30 AM – 12:00 – First Look at the Terrace of Sparviero
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Time to Explore the Town, Grab a Pizza to go, Aperol, Gelato,…
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Explore Villa Comunale (a beautiful park/garden with views)
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Beach Elopement Photos
4:30 – 6:00PM – Head back to Villa, Styling Change (time for us to prepare dinner and ceremony set up)
6:00 PM – Private Ceremony at Sparviero Suites (vow reading, ring exchange, popping champagne)
7:00 PM – Private Dinner under the Stars
7:30 PM – Photo & Video Coverage ends
Jayme & Lucas’ Kind Words
Taormina Elopement Cost Breakdown
One of the biggest advantages of an elopement is that you can choose exactly where you want to invest. Instead of spending your budget on a large guest list, you can create an experience focused entirely on the two of you!
A Sicily elopement can look completely different depending on your vision and what you’d like to do. Here’s an example of what a beautifully planned, intimate elopement in Taormina could cost:
- Accomodation: ~€1,200 – €2,000 for 3-4 nights in a boutique hotel, apartment or romantic suite
- Hair & MakeUp Artist: ~€600 -€1000
- Florals: ~€250 for a bridal bouquet with seasonal flowers and additional flowers for the dinner table
- Private Chef Experience: ~€500-€800 for a private Italian dinner prepared just for you and all the ingredients
- Live Music: €200–€700
- Symbolic Officiant: €500-€1000
- Photography, Videography & Planning Assistence (hey, that’s us!): our Italy elopement packages start at €9,200 including everything you need for a stress-free day
Additional costs to consider are flights, transportation and food & drinks during the day (pizza, gelato, Aperol Spritz). To sum up, the estimated total investment for a beautiful, intimate Taormina elopement experience could start around €13,000-€18,000+ (excluding flights).
A Few More Taormina Elopement Planning Tips
If you’re planning an elopement in Taormina, here are a few more extra tips you should know:
Taormina Gets Busy
Cruise ship visitors typically arrive from late morning until around 6 PM. If you want the charming streets mostly to yourselves, sunrise and early mornings are absolutely worth it.
Sunrise Light is Incredible
Taormina faces east. That means the famous golden light illuminating the town and coastline happens at sunrise. If you’re dreaming of those warm, glowing photos overlooking the sea, sunrise is your best friend.
Sunset is Better Elsewhere
For sunset views we recommend Castelmola, a private boat tour or a mountain viewpoint nearby. These locations offer much better sunset perspectives than the town itself.
Transportation Takes Planning
Taormina is mostly pedestrian, parking is limited and it is in general a bit tricky. Although you can rent a cute little Ape that can drive you through a few streets. The town is reachably by public transport (bus or cable car though). Uber is also possible, but very expensive (20€ for 3km). For your elopement day, we’d recommend traveling by local taxi or hiring a driver.
More Beautiful Taormina Elopement Locations to Consider for Your Day
San Pietro Terrace
The San Pietro Terrace is one of the most beautiful ceremony spots in town with panoramic sea views.
Grand Hotel Timeo
Grand Hotel Timeo is a legendary luxury hotel overlooking Mount Etna and the coastline. Perfect for couples looking for an elegant, high-end elopement experience.
Villa Sant’Andrea
Villa Sant’Andrea sister property of Grand Hotel Timeo. Located directly by the sea, it offers a completely different atmosphere while maintaining the same level of luxury.
Elopement Activities in Taormina
One of the best things about eloping is that your wedding day can be about so much more than a ceremony. Some of our favorite Taormina elopement activities include:
- Sunrise or sunset ceremony
- Private boat tour
- Dinner on a boat
- Private cooking class
- Wine tasting
- Gelato tour through town
- Sunrise hike
- Piaggio Ape tour
- Vintage Vespa rental
- Classic Italian car rental
- Mount Etna helicopter tour
- Helicopter flight followed by a private vineyard dinner
Thinking about eloping in Italy, too?
Jayme and Lucas reminded us exactly why we fell in love with elopements: They trusted the process, slowed down, focused on what truly mattered and because we had time, we also could be creative. We weren’t rushing from location to location. Instead, we laughed together, explored together, and created images and films that genuinely reflect who they are. This sounds like your dream elopement day too? We can’t wait to hear from you!
Taormina Elopement – Vendor List
Photo, Video & Planning: Wenola Weddings | Accomodation: Sparviero Luxuryapartments | Flowers: Petali e Capricci Weddings | Violinist: Emilia Belfiore | Private Chefs: Chef Marco Dagati | Officiant: Rita Ziino | HMU: Ilona Muah
