DORRIN
AND
LUIGI
SICILY | 2027
THE WELCOME
SEPTEMBER 4, 2027
The party begins.
THE WEDDING
CASTELLO XIRUMI | SEPTEMBER 5, 2027
The celebration unfolds.
FLIGHTS
CATANIA FONTANAROSSA AIRPORT (CTA)
The journey begins here.
TRANSPORT
TO & FROM THE WEDDING
One less thing to think about.
Transportation to and from the wedding will be arranged for all of our guests staying in Ortigia, so you can enjoy the evening without worrying about getting to or from the venue.
For those who prefer to drive, complimentary valet parking will also be available at the venue.
YOUR STAY
CURATED RECOMMENDATIONS AND ROOM BLOCKS AVAILABLE FALL 2026.
A place to unwind.
THE ORTIGIA GUIDE
EAT
Sicilian food is full of bold flavors, from eggplant and seafood to citrus and pistachio. As Persian and Italian food lovers, the shared love of eggplant and pistachio feels especially familiar to us. Try pasta alla Norma, caponata, arancini, then finish with cannoli, gelato or granita with brioche.
Regina Lucia Ristorante: Refined Sicilian cuisine overlooking the Piazza Duomo. Perfect for a special dinner.
Ortigia Fish Bar: Unpretentious and very local. Fresh fish without the fuss.
Caseificio Borderi: A must for a quick lunch in the Ortigia market. Freshly made Sicilian panini.
Piazza Archimede Caffe: Espresso and people-watching overlooking Piazza Archimede.
Levante Gelato: Cool down with a gelato, then take the long way home.
DRINK
Aperitivo hour calls for a spritz in hand. For wine drinkers, try the local wine, its character shaped by the volcanic ash and soils of Mount Etna. Best enjoyed outside, just before sunset.
Cortile Verga Cocktail Bar: A tucked-away courtyard with vinyl on the turntable and a Hugo Spritz worth seeking out.
Zefiro: Right on the water with a DJ, cocktails and a front-row seat to the sunset.
Il Club: A moody speakeasy with strong cocktails and jazz late into the night.
SWIM
The water around Ortigia is impossibly clear and turquoise. On the island, swimming is more about finding a dock to jump from or a rocky spot to slip into the sea.
For white sand and turquoise water, Fontane Bianche is about 25 minutes by car. Further north, Taormina has glamorous beach clubs, and beautiful beaches and coves scattered all along the coast. Renting a boat is another great way to see the coastline and find your own spot to swim.
Zefiro Solarium: Sun chairs, food and drinks, and a dock for jumping straight into the sea.
Spiaggia Diana nel Forte: Stone steps lead down to rocks to lay on, with a perfect spot to jump in and cool off.
Fontane Bianche Beach: White sand, calm turquoise water and plenty of restaurants along the beach. About 25 minutes from Ortigia and worth the trip for beach lovers and kids.
SHOP
Ortigia’s narrow streets are lined with independent boutiques, from hand-painted ceramics and leather sandals to jewelry and small pieces worth bringing home. For designer shopping, make your way to Taormina.
Ortigia: Handcrafted scents, ceramics and silk robes adorned with local Sicilian motifs. Beautiful pieces for bringing a little Ortigia home.
Il Sandalo Caprese: Custom leather sandals made to your foot in supple Italian leather. Pick your style and have them made while you wait.
Papini: A high-end boutique with a curated selection of designer fashion and accessories.
MAP
For a stay that stretches beyond the celebrations, our Apple Maps guide brings together favourite spots in Ortigia and across eastern Sicily. Venture north for Taormina’s ancient theatre and sweeping sea views, or south for Noto’s golden Baroque streets.
GETTING AROUND SICILY
FOR THE WEDDING WEEKEND WE RECOMMEND LEAVING THE CAR BEHIND
Ortigia is the perfect home base for the few days surrounding the wedding. Our welcome celebration will be there, and the island is easy to explore on foot, with plenty of restaurants, cafés, bars and places to swim all close by. With transportation provided to and from the wedding, there is no need to rent a car just for the weekend.
EXPLORING BEYOND ORTIGIA
If you're staying a little longer, renting a car is a great way to see more of Sicily. The island is expansive, with coastal towns, countryside, vineyards, beaches and cities all worth exploring at your own pace. If you plan to drive in Sicily, be sure to check the requirements for an International Driving Permit (IDP) before your trip and arrange one in advance if required for your license.
A few car rental companies to consider from Catania Airport but feel free to shop around:
ABOUT US
OUR STORY
We never expected Philadelphia to become the place where our story began.
Dorrin had moved from London to begin specialty training, while Luigi had decided to commute from Philadelphia to his work in New York. Looking back, it still feels wonderfully serendipitous that, out of all the places in the world, our paths crossed here.
Since then, life has taken us across continents and countless adventures. We've been fortunate to call many places home and to have family and friends scattered across the world. This celebration is our way of bringing those worlds together.
Our favorite moments are often the simplest: lingering over espresso, playing backgammon far longer than either of us would admit, and finding any excuse to swim in the ocean. We can't wait to share a little of that with all of you.
WHY SICILY
Choosing where to celebrate was one of the hardest decisions we made. We wanted somewhere that felt meaningful, not just beautiful.
With Luigi's Italian roots and Dorrin's Persian heritage, we wanted to celebrate somewhere that reflected both of our backgrounds. While unmistakably Italian, the island has been shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, including lasting influences from the Middle East that can still be seen in its architecture, cuisine, gardens, and way of life. It is a place where different cultures come together, something that felt deeply symbolic of our own story.
Bringing together our family and friends from across continents was always at the heart of this celebration. There is something wonderfully fitting about doing so on an island that has spent centuries connecting people, cultures, and traditions.
Above all, we hope you leave with full hearts, tired feet, and just enough saltwater to make you wish you'd stayed a little longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHEN WILL MORE INFORMATION BE RELEASED?
Over the coming months, we'll share additional details regarding travel, accommodations, transportation, local recommendations, dress codes, beauty services, and the events of the weekend.
For now, we invite you to save the date, begin dreaming of Sicily, and make note of the weekend.
Additional details will be shared in Fall 2026.
ARE KIDS WELCOME?
While we love all the children in our life, our wedding will be an adult only affair.
