DRAEC Wedding Weekend

Worlds Collide on Mount Etna

7 to 9 August 2026

A long weekend at Cavanera Etnea Wine Resort in Verzella, Sicily celebrating Rae and Declan’s love story, as three worlds meet in one place: Sicily, Australia and America.

RSVP for the Wedding Weekend

Schedule & Dresscodes

welcome party

7 August 2026 dresscode: festive semi-formal

matrimonio

8 August 2026 dresscode: black tie optional

recovery festa

9 August 2026 dresscode: swimmers and sun protection

Getting There & Transport

Fly into: Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA)

Getting around: car hire recommended.

Accommodation Near Cavanera (Verzella)

Curated options within a short taxi ride from the venue
Nearby Accommodation

DRAEC Wedding

We’d love to know if you’ll join us in Sicily. Please reply by 8 April 2026.

Registry and gift philosophy

If you’d like to help us make more memories, we’ve created a Honeyfund for our honeymoon adventures.

Our Honeyfund

Frequently Asked Questions

Dates: 7 to 9 August 2025

Location: Cavanera Etnea Resort & Wine Experience, Mount Etna (Northern Slopes)

Closest Airport: Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), ~1 hour from venue

Transport: Car hire is recommended if you would like flexibility to explore the region.

We will provide:

  • Return transfers between the wedding venue and the hotels listed in our accommodation guide throughout the wedding weekend.

  • Return transfers from Troina to Cavanera on 8 August.

When should I RSVP? 

By 8 April 2026. We love you, but if we don’t hear from you by then, we won’t be able to save you a seat (or a spot on the dance floor).

7 August: Welcome Party

  • An alfresco gathering beneath the Sicilian constellations, on the slopes of Mount Etna—the beginning of a story we’ll write together.
  • Dress Code: Festive semi-formal. Visit our Pinterest Board

8 August: Wedding Day

  • Vows in the vineyards, aperitivo at sunset, and dinner by candlelight.
  • Dress Code: Black Tie Optional

9 August: Recovery Pool Party

  • Poolside breakfast with easy company. 
  • Dress Code: Bring your bathers!

Arrive at Catania–Fontanarossa (CTA), an hour from the vineyards of Mount Etna.

  • From Australia: Qantas has a seasonal non-stop from Perth to Rome. Otherwise, we recommend a connection via Doha or Dubai. 

  • From the USA: Delta flies direct from JFK to Catania (May–Oct). Otherwise, connections through London, Rome or Frankfurt.

Getting Around
Car hire offers freedom and discovery. 

If you’d prefer not to drive, our wedding planner Rosita Pace can help coordinate shared airport transfers. To request a transfer, please email Rosita no later than 30 May. She will be able to advise on details including fees. Please send the email to sales@firriatohospitality.it with the subject line: “Transfer Request – Rae and Declan Wedding 8 August”. Include:

  • Full name(s) of passengers
  • Number of seats required
  • Arrival airport and time
  • Number of pieces of luggage
  • Where you are staying
  • Contact phone number
Wedding transport

We will be providing:

  • Round trip transfers between the wedding venue and the hotels listed in our accommodation guide throughout the wedding weekend.

  • Round trip transfers from Troina to Cavanera on 8 August.

On-site
Immediate family and wedding party will be staying at Cavanera Wine Resort.

Nearby
For everyone else, we’ve curated a list of properties within a 10-minute drive in the northwest Mount Etna region. Options range from boutique villas and luxury agriturismos to family-friendly B&Bs. Each listing includes distance, approximate rating, pricing guide  and a direct booking link.

Italian is official, Sicilian sings in the background, English is common where tourists gather but thins out in the hills. A handful of Italian phrases will take you far—and sound particularly good over aperitivo.

Recommended app (Italian): Language Transfer

Gifts
Your presence is the treasure, but if you would like to give a gift, please visit our honeyfund.

Please don’t bring physical gifts to Sicily (our luggage would mutiny). Instead:

  • Send parcels to:
    Declan Norrie
    Parcel Locker 1007943034
    19 Jardine Street
    Kingston ACT 2604

As of this writing (September 2025) Australians, Americans, Europeans, Canadians and Brits may stay up to 90 days without one.

Cavanera and most hotels offer Wi-Fi. For short stays, check your phone provider’s overseas roaming costs per day, as this is typically most economical. For long-stay roaming, pick up an eSIM, we recommend Simify.

Euros (€). Visa and Mastercard are universal; Amex is not. Cash is king for espresso bars, markets, and buses. ATMs (“bancomat”) are plentiful.

 

Early August on Etna brings warm days (28–32°C / 82–90°F) and cooler evenings in the hills (16–20°C / 60–68°F). Pack light, breathable clothing, an evening layer and shoes that handle both cobblestones and vineyards. Don’t forget swimwear, sunscreen and insect repellent.

Event Dress Codes

  • 7 August · Welcome Party
    Festive semi-formal. 

  • 8 August · Wedding Day
    Black Tie Optional. 

  • 9 August · Recovery Pool Party
    Bring your swimwear.