Couples are being offered a grant worth up to £1,650 to get married in a picturesque area of Italy in an attempt to kickstart the wedding industry after Covid. All businesses involved with organising weddings took a big hit during the pandemic, with couples around the world cancelling or postponing their big day until most restrictions had been lifted.
Now the Italian region of Lazio, which includes the capital of Rome, is trying to boost the local economy by offering couples up to €2,000 to get married there. The grant is open to locals and international couples, as long as the wedding takes place before December 31, according to online booking platform Holiday Pirates.
Couples can redeem the money on any expense from cost of flowers, photography, a cake, honeymoon, wedding attire or catering. However, funding is limited, with €10 million available to cover the whole scheme, so when the cash is exhausted, the offer will cease.
Local suppliers must be used for couples to become eligible for the grant. Up to five separate items can be included as part of the plan to support industries particularly affected by the emergency.
Lazio region is in the centre of Italy and includes part of the nation's western coast. With so much investment, jobs and tourism concentrated in Rome, the surrounding region is often quiet, with large areas of unspoiled countryside, and historic small towns.
Further details on the scheme and a guide to applications is contained here.
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