Planning a destination wedding in Italy is exciting. You picture breathtaking villas, candlelit dinners under the stars, rolling vineyards and celebrations that last all night.

What many international couples don't realise is that weddings in Italy also come with local regulations, traditions and practical details that can be very different from what they're used to at home.

None of these are reasons to worry. In fact, they're completely manageable—as long as someone knows they're coming.

Here are five things that often surprise couples planning a wedding in Italy, and why they're exactly the kind of details you shouldn't have to figure out on your own.