L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2022 www.italoamericano.org 22 L'Italo-Americano M a r r i a g e t o t h e r i g h t person can r e a l l y p a y o f f . C o m - panionship, a built-in cheer- leader, a shoulder to cry on, s o m e o n e t o r e m i n d y o u where you left your glasses – all perks of saying "I do." Marriage can pay off in o t h e r w a y s , t o o , i n t h e Italian region of Lazio. On February 28th of this year, a n i n n o v a t i v e p r o g r a m launched offering lucky cou- p l e s 2 , 0 0 0 e u r o i n r e i m - b u r s e m e n t f o r w e d d i n g - r e l a t e d e x p e n s e s . T h a t dreamed-of destination wed- ding is suddenly more realis- tic! In Lazio alone, Italy's cap- i t a l r e g i o n , w e d d i n g s declined from an average of 15,000 a year in pre-pan- demic 2019 to approximate- ly 9,000 over the ensuing two-plus years since Covid restrictions went into effect. With matrimonial dreams put on hold, the vast array of wedding-related businesses in Lazio suffered greatly. Possibly taking a cue from t h e " o n e - e u r o h o u s e " schemes adopted by many Italian regions, local author- ities created In Lazio with Love, a program offering ten million euro in grants t o w a r d s w e d d i n g - r e l a t e d expenses. As a result, a lucky 5,000 couples now have the chance to bolster their bank accounts for expenditures r a n g i n g f r o m p h o t o g r a - p h e r s , v e n u e s , w e d d i n g attire, flowers, catering, and even wedding rings…with the one caveat being that all services must be obtained from Lazio based business- es. N o t a b a d d e a l - - b u t what's the catch, one might warily ask? Other than the requirement to work with Lazio providers of services and products, the remaining h u r d l e s a r e n o t t e r r i b l y d a u n t i n g , c o m p a r a t i v e l y s p e a k i n g . C o u p l e s , b o t h Italian and foreign, who wish to be candidates must marry b e t w e e n J a n u a r y 1 a n d December 31, 2022 (transla- tion: hurry!), and the online application for reimburse- m e n t m u s t b e c o m p l e t e d between February 28, 2022, and January 31, 2023. Up to five receipts can be submit- ted totaling no more than 2,000 euro, along with docu- mentation verifying purchase within Lazio, a product or service's relevance to the wedding, and proof of com- pletion of required tax forms. These and a few other nitty- gritty details, along with the application, are found on t h e N e l L a z i o c o n A m o r e o f f i c i a l w e b s i t e (www.regione. lazio.it/nel- lazioconamore). While loaded with roman- t i c c o n n o t a t i o n s – w h o wouldn't love to get hitched in the shadow of the Trevi Fountain? – the program's intent is pure and simple economics. "The scheme is needed to support a sector that has suffered badly from the economic crisis. We have put the significant invest- ment in place also with an eye on the tourism sector, and with the awareness and pride of being able to boast a b o u t e v e r y p a r t o f o u r region…," Lazio Governor Nicola Zingaretti recently shared with The Guardian. And really, it's quite brilliant. Along with destination wed- d i n g s a n d t h e a s s o c i a t e d trappings come guests who typically stay awhile, leaving behind a trail of tourist dol- lars/euro to bolster a sagging industry. T h e I n L a z i o w i t h Love program is innovative, but not the first novel idea i n t e n d e d t o b o o s t t h e r e g i o n ' s e c o n o m y . I n t h e summer of 2021, Governor Z i n g a r e t t i l a u n c h e d the More Nights, More Dreams program offering tourists an extra free night's accommodation if three or m o r e c o n s e c u t i v e n i g h t s were booked, and two extra nights for those booking five c o n s e c u t i v e n i g h t s . W i t h major attractions such as R o m e s u f f e r i n g a C o v i d - related eighty percent reduc- tion in tourist traffic, these programs are hopeful anti- dotes to an ailing economy. While Rome is the star in Lazio's crown, the region has a vast array of romantic loca- t i o n s t h a t p r o v i d e a f i n e backdrop for sharing nup- tials, especially for those wanting to avoid a large city. A dramatic hilltop town is more to your liking? Nothing could be more breathtakingly dramatic than pledging your love in Civita di Bagnoregio, a tiny town so enchanting they charge an entrance fee. If waterfront is more appeal- ing, Lake Bracciano offers surreal beauty alongside the c h a r m i n g o l d v i l l a g e o f Bracciano. And just a bit fur- ther north is Bolsena and its lovely lake and nearby moun- tains – imagine the photos! If your wedding would not be complete without sand and the chatter of gulls, con- sider Santa Marinella on the T y r r h e n i a n S e a . A l l t h e amenities of a seaside town await, as well as wine trails tucked in the nearby moun- tains of Tolfa. Other beach destinations exist all along L a z i o ' s c o a s t l i n e , a l a r g e number qualifying as coveted Blue Flag beaches for their cleanliness and beauty. F o r t h o s e p r e f e r r i n g a q u i e t b a c k d r o p t o p l e d g e t h e i r l o v e ( a n d m a y b e a n a d d e d t o u c h o f h i s t o r i c m a c a b r e ) , c o n s i d e r t h e Etruscan necropolises found in Tarquinia and Cerveteri. Perhaps the longevity vibes from these two and a half thousand-year-old tombs will rub off on your marriage… chissà (who knows). W h i l e n o t e x c e e d i n g l y complex in comparison to many government-affiliated endeavors in Italy, the appli- cation process for In Lazio with Love is definitely time- sensitive and funds are limit- ed. When those 10 million euro have been handed out, the gravy train stops. Take note, too, that the online forms and details are all in Italian. Improper filling out d u e t o l a n g u a g e b a r r i e r s could cause a deal-killing delay. Y o u ' l l c e r t a i n l y s p e n d more than 2,000 euro on a destination wedding, but if the notion of pledging your love in a romantic Italian set- t i n g i s c a l l i n g , t h a t e x t r a refund can further sweeten the already-sweet pot. Here's to the payoff of happily ever after! PAULA REYNOLDS Getting married in Rome and everywhere in Lazio could cost less than you think (Photo: Boggy/Dreamstime) LIFESTYLE FASHION FOOD ARTS ADVICE In Lazio with Love: get paid for tying the knot in Italy

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