Can anyone please give me advice?

Thanks.

Sounds like a good enough plan. I was in Calabria at the end of September 2010 and temperatures were in the high 70s-low 80sF. You could certainly swim in the sea, and sunbathe on the sands. If I were you, I would consider flying into Lamezia Terme, just a bit north of Tropea. And fly home, perhaps, from Catania.

Sorry..in the west, look at Scopello and San Vito lo Capo, both close to Palermo. Make sure to investigate the Couscous Festival in San Vito, as that is held the last week of September and supposed to be great fun.

Bus from Palermo:


http://www.russoautoservizi.it/orarien.html


http://www.sanvitoweb.com/english/events.php



Also, I believe that there are excursion boats/ferry from Tropea to the Aeolians, and possibly to Taormina. You could do only the one-way journey:


http://www.marasusatropea.com/things/during-the-day




http://www.comerci.it/escursioni-eolie-en.html


http://www.tropeamar.it/taormina.html

Hello pgriffin!
if you find a flight to Palermo is just as well start your honeymoon over there visiting Palermo (the place of Mondello have a beautiful beach) and Trapani (San vito Lo Capo the beach is very beautiful), and then continue with the Aeolian Islands (I advise you to the island of Salina is the greenest and produce excellent wine) and then visiting Taormina with Etna and Alcantara gorges! Your journey will continue in Calabria! ask if you need more info!

Many thanks for the recommendations guys!

Bearing in mind that Sicily is so big and seemingly so varied, I am now wondering would it make sense to stay there for the entire three weeks and really explore...what would you say to that? Would it be too much time on Sicily, esp for a honeymoon?

Three weeks in Sicily would be lovely. It would allow you to combine beach time and sightseeing and, IMO, would make a lovely honeymoon.

We spent two weeks in Sicily, and I left wishing we'd had more time for the Aeolians and several other places. Here's the link to my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/it-was-sicily-for-our-special-trip.cfm

I thought this was also a good report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/chilling-in-the-aeolian-islands.cfm

There's more than enough to keep you occupied in Sicily for three weeks. I spent part of my time there with a tour group and part independently, but it should give you a good preview of what's available:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/crumbling-palazzos-and-creamy-cannoli---savoring-sicily.cfm

However, I wouldn't use non-touristy and Taormina in the same sentence. One or two nights should be plenty. I'd recommend Ortigia as an east coast base instead, especially if you're spending 6 days on the islands - you might want to do that first to recover from the wedding! On the west, besides Scopello, take a look at Trapani and Erice.

Thanks again everyone!

So having done a bit more research, I now propose three weeks all spent in Sicily, flying into Palermo and out of Catania. Hire a car and spend approx one week in each of the following (with limited day trips obviously):

West coast: Trapani (have Erice, San Vito do Lobo, ruins inland);
North coast: Cefalu (Palermo, Aeolian Islands);
East coast: Siracua or Ortigia (Catania, Taormina etc)

What do people think? Is this better?

Thanks in advance!

I like it !

Here are some images to get your juices flowing.

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showgallery.php?cat=3828

Sicily is so beautiful, and there is more than enough to do and see for 3 weeks or more. Then you have time to see and explore and get a real feeling for the culture - so yes, stay in Sicily. Don't miss Agrigento.

It's a good plan but I would recommend a few things:
- While staying in Trapani also visit the Zingaro Reserve, the Reserve of Cofano Mountain, the saline di Trapani. In Trapani September 24 to 29 there will be the international festival of cous cous!
- to Palermo visit Mondello where there are white beaches, go Sferracavallo where you can eat good fish, go to Monreale;
From Palermo-Cefalù are not near the Aeolian Islands ....
- At Syracuse, in addition Taormina and Catania, take a trip to Etna, Gole dell'Alcantara and then the whole area of Modica-Noto-Ragusa-Siracusa.
Have a good trip! Giuseppe