The pair have been together for around two and a half years. Speaking previously to Vogue about their engagement, Lipa said: “This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don’t know, be best friends forever, it’s a really special feeling.”
How big is the Palermo celebration expected to be?
The Sicily event is reportedly planned as a multi-day wedding celebration beginning Friday, is expected to bring about 300 guests to Palermo.
The Sun reports that the itinerary includes drinks near Palazzo Gangi and an event at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna. Guests are then expected to travel to the 17th-century Villa Valguarnera estate in Bagheria for the main ceremony.
That venue may look familiar to viewers of The White Lotus, since it appeared in the show’s opening credits. Because apparently one wedding setting was not scenic enough.
Officials have already restricted traffic in parts of the area, with the measures expected to run until June 8, according to local news outlets.
Why are parts of Palermo being closed off?
According to The Sun, the couple’s wedding planner has been handing out nondisclosure agreements to local residents as preparations continue.
A source told the outlet: “It’s all very, very off limits. It’s top secret. The security is private but the local police are involved with the organisation of the event.”
The source added that the squares being closed are already pedestrian zones, meaning no vehicle traffic is normally allowed there. They also claimed officials had described the activity as a “demonstration production in the square” in Piazza Sant’Anna and Piazza dei Vespri to justify putting up barriers and keeping pedestrians away.
The reported closures have added to the sense that this is less a reception and more a carefully managed production with floral arrangements.
Which celebrity guests and performers are expected?
The Palermo guest list is expected to include several high-profile names from music and fashion.
Reported attendees include:
- Olivia Dean
- Charli XCX
- Mark Ronson, who has performed with Lipa at the Brit Awards
- Donatella Versace
Sir Elton John, a close friend of Lipa’s, is also rumoured to be performing during the celebrations.
Versace is reportedly attending and is said to be involved in designing Lipa’s second dress. The singer has reportedly been flying to Italy to finalise details, including fittings.
A source previously said: “Dua and Callum have put together the most incredible itinerary for their celebrations in Sicily.
“The last-minute preparations have been hectic, and she’s been back and forth to Italy for dress fittings, but it’s all coming together perfectly.”
The same source described the event as a “true fairytale wedding,” with the couple reportedly renting multiple major venues for the celebrations.
Why the second celebration matters
For fans, the contrast is part of the appeal. Lipa and Turner have managed to have both versions of a celebrity wedding: the quiet legal ceremony with family, then the Mediterranean spectacle with famous guests, private security and enough planning to temporarily alter public space.
The London wedding offered the emotional center: family, a small room, and a couple making it official. Sicily appears to be the public-facing celebration, or at least as public as an event can be when residents are reportedly signing NDAs.
Either way, the message is clear enough. Lipa and Turner have married quietly, and now they are preparing to celebrate loudly, just with barriers, police coordination and very good tailoring.
