Ceremony in the heart of Valle d'Itria

On Friday afternoon, 24 July 2026, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alessia Elefante exchanged vows in the church of San Giorgio Martire in Locorotondo, a whitewashed hill town in Puglia's Valle d'Itria. The bride, an interior designer, arrived with a long veil covering her face; the groom, Italy's national team captain and Manchester City goalkeeper, wore a white suit. Crowds of locals and fans lined the narrow streets behind barriers, waiting for over four hours to catch a glimpse of the couple and their famous guests. The religious ceremony, held in the late afternoon, was the culmination of a relationship that began when both were teenagers in Castellammare di Stabia, near Naples. After the service, the newlyweds and their guests departed for the reception.

A guest list of 300 with football royalty

Around 300 invited family members, friends and a select group of sports figures attended the wedding. Among the most cheered arrivals were Erling Haaland, Donnarumma's teammate at Manchester City, former Italy head coach Roberto Mancini, and Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic. The three football personalities drew chants and autograph requests from the crowd as they made their way through the historic centre. The couple had kept the guest list secret for weeks, aiming for an intimate celebration despite the presence of international stars. The evening before, a welcome dinner had already brought together many of the attendees.

A decade-long love story

Donnarumma and Elefante have been together since their early youth, a relationship spanning about ten years. She has been by his side through his rise from AC Milan's youth academy to Paris Saint-Germain and then Manchester City, as well as Italy's triumph at Euro 2021. The couple have a young son, Leo, who served as a witness to their union. Throughout their relationship, they have maintained a low public profile, avoiding media attention and rarely sharing details of their private life.

Why Puglia

Although both are from Campania, the couple chose Puglia for its landscapes, hospitality and atmosphere. The wedding blended Neapolitan roots with the traditions of the Itria Valley, a region increasingly popular for exclusive weddings among sports and entertainment figures. The evening before the ceremony, a welcome dinner gathered guests ahead of the main event. After the church service, the party moved to the Pettolecchia masseria in Fasano, a luxury resort set among ancient olive trees that has become a favourite venue for high-profile weddings in the region.

Fashion and the evening celebration

For the ceremony, both bride and groom wore Dolce & Gabbana. Later, Donnarumma changed into a Bottega Dalmut outfit for the reception. The event was organised by Dascanio, a wedding planning firm, and combined the feel of a village festival with an international fashion moment. The day was not without a minor mishap: a Rai journalist covering the event reportedly mistook the wedding for a funeral in an on-air gaffe.