accurrate information

Any information presented today is only valid for the next few minutes and can change at any time, including up until you board your flight. For May, there simply no "accurate" information.

Right now, the airlines all seem to have extremely liberal cancellation and change policies, so one thought is to buy now, if you cancel or change, you are out nothing to very little. I have tickets for April, will it work out? Who knows.

As for current requirements, only critical, valid travel is allowed for US citizens and requires a 14 day quarantine. Basically, if you could travel, including an Italian Citizen returning home, to Italy, you need to Quarantine.

Probably the main thing to watch for a wedding, is even if travel is allowed for US Citizens, has the Quarantine requirement been lifted. If not, a short term stay just is not practical.

As said, nothing is more than a few hours as 'fact' these days.
I know this is possibly too brutally honest, for a wedding rescheduled from last year, but a prudent person would ensure there is a plan B and C for attending - and make one of those virtual. I don't say that to criticize decisions or to be a negative sort, but as a person who works in health care, May may be the cusp of allowances for many things - from the numbers allowed to gather for an event, to quarantine requirements, to flight availability - and those are decisions you may not want to be making at the last minute.
Flights, however, may be better booked only within a few weeks of the wedding (or your travel date with anticipation for in country quarantine). I imagine this week's advise is pretty restrictive, so develop a scenerio that works for that (as far as what paperwork is required to enter the country, what are the rules for quarantine. Will you be able to quarantine with family? If not, then what lodging is accessible? How do you get there and back (many don't allow public transit)? How do you get food? What is the current quarantine requirement to return to US? Do you have enough vacation or time to spend a month or more dealing with quarantine? We don't even know what the impact of vaccine will be on any or all of these restrictions, so you have to wait or plan for many eventualities.
You also talk about booking tours - well, so many companies have gone out of business or on some hiatus, it doesn't make any sense to make any commitments to anything like tours. Even hotels, in my mind, require 2 bookings both fully cancellable until a day or 2 before arrival. 2 bookings in case you prefer small family owned places that might not survive.
To me, the need to plan for the worst, and then scale back closer to time makes most sense....though more work. There is no harm in several plans - as they allow you to take action quickly once things are more clear for (hopefully) longer period of time. This won't be a time for cheap travel unless you are prepared to either lose $$ committed, or fight for refunds, or rebook with any credit provided.

Can you provide links to the conflicting information you are seeing? I suspect they are rules applying to different groups of people; be very careful about the way the various rules are numbered (and lettered). Most likely the quarantine requirement is for those arriving from a handful of non-EU countries with extremely low incidence of the virus. I believe Italy allows visitors from places like Australia and New Zealand if they quarantine. As far as I know, the US is not one of those countries.

You are right to seek information on a Italian-government website, but this is what the US State Department says at https://it.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/: "Non-essential travel (i.e., tourism) to Italy from most non-EU countries (including the United States) is prohibited. Essential travel is allowed and includes students, businesspersons, EU residents, and relatives of Italian citizens."

Keep in mind, too, that even if the current rules said US residents could be admitted, that would be no guarantee the rules wouldn't change before May.

For what it is worth, this website has been pretty accurate for listing the countries accessible for US travelers over the past 6 months. It is updated regularly, so may be one to use on a weekly basis for changes or updates.
https://www.traveloffpath.com/countries-that-have-reopened-for-american-tourists/
I use a similar page for Canadian travelers, as we had more access than the US over the summer.

Most of the countries' official websites I've looked at seem to cause the same confusion. Because there are some categories of people that are allowed in, only for very specific reasons, they list the rules that apply to them. Readers then infer that those rules apply to them, when the bigger restriction that leisure travelers (i.e., American tourists) are not allowed, actually controls. Thats the way Im reading it.

Have you considered that, even if you can get in in May 2021 (the current official guidance certainly doesn't sound promising), that there may be restrictions on the size of people gathering and a continuation of public health rules/ restrictions? I cannot imagine a typical wedding party given the current restrictions on locals. Of course anything can change, but better to be prepared for Plans B and C which, I am sure are not easy (and maybe not even possible) when it comes to weddings, unless it's a very small affair and you can somehow have a socially distanced wedding (is that possible? desirable?). I wouldn't put money down on anything or book anything because there are too many unknowns. How are the vendors you're working with communicating about expectations? I doubt everything will be refundable, right?

I would only use official government sources for accurate information. Unfortunately, the Italian website for COVID entry/ exit is the "accurate" source although the wording may seem confusing. If it says no entry for regular US citizens, I would take them at their word.

What is y'all advice on booking?

Make sure you understand what the change/cancellation rules are. Many airlines no have a 'no fee' change policy, but do not refund the money. Whatever has been paid becomes a credit ( voucher) for future travel. Be sure you know and understand the 'expiration date' for using the credit (voucher).

Rather than wear yourself out with planning a highly speculative trip to Italy in May, I would be inclined to plan a domestic wedding ( nearer term) and when there is clarity on foreign travel, have the 'party' then.

But Joe, maybe 'domestic' for her son (or to be DIL) is Italy....and we moms know we may have no say on the matter whatever the plans are. Though I agree with the essence of your advice. :-)

Thanks everyone for the advice. The couple is adamant that the wedding will take place in Italy. IDK. The wedding party is only 30 people so social distancing is doable. I just hate having another year of uncertainty. This whole pandemic stuff is driving my OCD right brain insane!

We are planning on having a "Barn" party/reception here at our house for family. So at least the couple will have those memories.

Stan has described the situation exactly right.

I doubt very seriously your son and his fiancée are going to be allowed into Italy in May.

cajun,

I'm a bit late getting into the discussion, but I have a few thoughts to add.

The couple may be "adamant" that the wedding takes place in Italy, but unfortunately they won't have much choice in when it takes place. If they can be patient, an Italian wedding should be possible but probably not at the time they would like. Given the current situation with a "second wave" (and now some chatter about a "third wave"), both a U.K. and South African variant, several countries going back into severe lockdowns and vaccinations taking place at a slower pace than expected, I really don't think that a wedding in Italy is going to happen this May. There are too many variables at the moment, and I doubt that even the Italian Embassy will be able to provide definite information at the present time.

My comments are based on the situation today, and of course things could (and probably will) change over the coming months. It might be "safer" to tentatively plan for Fall 2021 or May 2022.

Good luck!

cajun,

it sounds like you are US; are either of the engaged couple Italian citizens?

Do they intend to have a Catholic church wedding, or will they get married at home and then have a "ceremonial" wedding in Italy? What part of Italy are we talking about?

If its a legal marriage, check the laws. In Hungary for instance the red tape is enormous for two non Hungarians to become married.

Hello everyone,

As of now I don't see the wedding happening. I know things change daily. That's why I was asking about the most reliable place to find the travel information. I've been looking on the US Embassy/Italian page but found that it wasn't necessarily updated.

Maria recommended The traveloffpath website which looks like it is updated a couple of times a day. I will continue to check there.

The couple has to be legally married here in the states in order for the Roman Catholic Church to marry them in Italy. So the "wedding" in Florence with be for religious purposes. I'm just praying that the couple will be able to have the wedding they want someday. Money will be lost if it doesn't take place. Plus, I REALLY wanted to go to Italy.!!!

To add to the discussion, another source of information is the IATA (International Air Transport Association) and their "Travel centre" https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/#

The site is updated nearly daily, the information is collected for the member Airlines that depend on the information to allow, or disallow, boarding. In addition to Covid information, it has also always had good information on Passport and visa requirements.

It does vividly illustrate why many are confused about what they hear. It basically states that Passengers are not allowed until January 15, 2021...then begins to list many exceptions, then requirements to those exceptions, but if you step through everything you may be able to figure it out.

Of course, this only covers entry requirements, including a Self-Declaration for that must be filled out, Self-Isolation requirements, and Testing requirements; and does not go into movement, lockdown, gatherings, and other requirements imposed on all people in Italy.

Obviously, this might not happen either, but having the wedding in the fall might be a more realistic plan.

At this time, masks are required everywhere outside. It's not debated, it just done, or one could incur a hefty fine. Masks will probably be required for all of 2021.

Bride just called and stated that she spoke to the Italian wedding planner today. Italy just issued blocks for entry until July 2021.
So, No wedding. The couple will decide this weekend on which plan to go with now. Now we start from scratch again. It will be interesting to see what they decide to do.

hey hey cajuncarrier
sorry to hear about the florence wedding and the family trip. at least you all know what has happened and go from there. i know it's tough but give it a rest, let the soon to be bride and groom get married here in the states, is there a garden center/park near them to have a ceremony? maybe next year have their renewal vows when places are open and to see who and what survived this pandemic. making reservations too soon will just cause more stress which is not wanted at this time. when all is open go have a fabulous time in italy, you'll enjoy it all. just come back and ask questions and advice about your plans. we feel for you and everyone else that wants to travel. wait for that "GO" signal.
aloha

No matter what they do, they will have memories. The future family story decades from now will be how they got married in the middle of the 2020s pandemic but adapted, switched, made do with Zoom, but had a great time, just like the WWII couples did.

shame things have had to be cancelled, a friends daughter made the decision a while ago to cancel her wedding till summer of 2022.
here in Scotland we are advised to only book holidays this summer if we are guaranteed full refund if cancelled.

So it looks like the couple will have a church wedding here at home and possibly a one year anniversary renewal with everyone next year in Italy. Who knows what will happen.

Thanks for all the advice. It is greatly appreciated..

Thanks for the update. Very wise compromise.