COUPLES hoping to tie the knot can now get paid £1,660 to get married in Italy.
The tourism board for one of Italy's most popular regions Lazio – which includes Rome – has launched a fund giving people the chance to have their dream destination wedding.
Italy is popular choice for couples looking to get married abroad, but the sector has been hit hard by the pandemic.
The 'In Lazio with Love' scheme aims to bring weddings back to the country by enticing people with a free €2,000 (£1,662) to spend on their wedding.
Nicola Zingarettie, president of Lazio, said: "The scheme is needed to support a sector that has suffered badly from the economic crisis.
"We have put the significant investment in place also with an eye on the tourism sector, and with the awareness and pride of being able to boast about every part of our region, with many locations among the most magical and fascinating in the world thanks to an unparalleled cultural heritage."
According to local media, 9,000 couples have wed in Lazio since the start of the pandemic, compared to more than 15,000 in 2019.
To bring weddings back to the region, a total of £8.3m has been set aside to help fund ceremonies, and both Italians and tourists can apply.
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Valentina Corrado, Lazio's tourism councillor, said: "Let's relaunch a sector that has been on hold for a long time.
"The whole wedding chain has suffered economically during the last two years."
To qualify for the grant, couples must get married anywhere in the Lazio region which includes Rome, Viterbo, Tivoli, Latina and Bracciano which is where Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes got married in 2006.
The money must be spent on Lazio-based wedding services, such as planners, venues, catering, and photographers.
Applications can be made up to the end of January 2023, or until the fund runs out.
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