The slogan, «Get married in Sorrento. It will be a treasured memory of beauty and romanticism», launched at the end of the 1990s knows no boundaries. Not only couples from the United Kingdom choose Sorrento. The civil register also shows records of American, Australian, German and Dutch weddings, organised by travel agencies along the coast. In collaboration with British tour operators, through elegant brochures, many combinations for a complete service are offered. This trend has opened up new tourism opportunities in and around Sorrento, in the wake of the fashion of celebrating weddings in Cuba, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries. Every year the number of foreign couples joined in matrimony in the Cloister of San Francesco or the Hall of Councillors at Sorrento Town Hall increases. Tourist weddings entered in the Sorrento civil registers are mainly British: the idea of joining this tourism bandwagon was that of Bebé Stragazi, launched in November ’97 at the World Travel Market in London.

It was finalised in 1999, with positive results every year since. Agencies guarantee a complete service to the couple, from all aspects, including arranging all the paperwork connected with the wedding, and relations with municipal offices and foreign consulates. Foreign tourist weddings on the coast have in effect become commonplace. Local agencies offer a tourist package to foreign couples including, among other things, a 7 or 14 night honeymoon. There is a basic package with travel, honeymoon and wedding ceremony, but it is also possible to add options such as photo services, reception, restaurant, wedding cake, horse and carriage and taxis. Along with the bride and groom, relatives and friends arrive in Sorrento for the event. On average around ten guests come, but there have been occasions when the guest list has reached 70-80. All in all, the simple slogan «Get married in Sorrento. It will be beautiful» presented through special brochures and distributed via international tourism circuits, in collaboration with travel agents and foreign tour operators, seems to be working!

© Copyright Surrentum March 2006