Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Destination Wedding in Italy
Congratulations on your engagement! Planning a wedding is an exciting journey, and when it comes to destination weddings, few places can compete with the romance and charm of Italy.
In this ultimate guide, I will take you through everything you need to know about how to plan your dream destination wedding in Italy. Whether you're envisioning a grand celebration in a historic villa or an intimate ceremony overlooking the Mediterranean, I’ve got you covered. From navigating the legal requirements to choosing the perfect venue and embracing Italian traditions, I will help you turn your wedding dreams into reality. While my blog focuses on Italy, these factors can be considered for any out-of-town destination weddings.
So, grab a glass of Chianti, and let's embark on this unforgettable journey together!
Are Destinations Weddings worth it:
Let's dive into one of the most fundamental questions that may be in your mind: Should I opt for a destination wedding or stick to tying the knot in my hometown?
Destination weddings offer a unique opportunity to celebrate your love in a truly intimate setting, surrounded only by those nearest and dearest to your heart. Unlike traditional weddings that often involve inviting a large number of acquaintances, a destination wedding allows you to focus solely on sharing your special day with those who matter most. When you plan an out-of-town or country wedding, the people who are close to you will be the ones willing to spend the money and travel miles for your wedding, pay for their travels, and their hotels, and often will plan their vacation around your wedding dates.
There are several factors to consider when planning a destination wedding such as selecting your preferred location, the time of the year, the number of guests, and the budget involved, there is a lot to think about. However, remember planning a destination wedding is not just about the big day but it is about creating unforgettable experiences for both you and your guests as the events often span over multiple days, these celebrations allow for cherished moments and lasting memories with your closest family and friends.
It is essential to recognize that planning a destination wedding comes with its own set of challenges. That's where having a trusted wedding planner by your side becomes invaluable. With their expertise and guidance, you can navigate the complexities of orchestrating a memorable event.
Where in Italy should I get married:
Italy is one of the popular destinations, as it has so much to offer. With its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and delicious cuisine, Italy is the perfect setting for a truly unforgettable celebration of love. While I am just starting with some guiding points, Italy has a lot of destinations to explore.
If you imagine yourself drinking wine and exchanging vows in a charming vineyard, or a historic castle, then Tuscany is where you want to focus your research. If you imagine yourself in the romantic seaside, then look at the Sardinia, Ravello, or Amalfi coasts, which have some of the venues with breathtaking views. Maybe you are in love with the serene lakes and your partner may be in love with the mountains, then you may want to look at Lake Como which offers you a picturesque lake surrounded by mountains.
When selecting a destination for your special day, be sure to choose one that aligns with your unique style and vision and something you both are equally in love with.
Why hiring a Wedding Planner is essential and what to expect:
When you start planning a wedding the initial questions that come up are, what comes first; the wedding venue or the wedding planner? Another common question is, do I even need a wedding planner or can I plan everything myself?
Often people don't talk about and what they learn the hard way is when you are planning your destination wedding, miles away from the location where you don’t know anyone, nor you speak the language, it is highly recommended you hire a wedding planner first who can help you through your wedding planning journey.
Here is why I say that a lot of logistical planning goes into creating your magical day. From researching various venues, finding different vendors, selecting accommodations, and coordinating with vendors in different time zones. There are so many decisions that go into planning the wedding. As a bride and groom, you want to focus on yourself and not stress about the logistics. Also, consider that you are not only planning for your event and where you will be staying but also planning for your guest's travel and lodging. Believe it or not from the time you send those ‘Save the Date’ invites for your destination wedding, until the day off, you will be dealing with your guest's countless questions. Now you are planning your wedding and helping your guests plan their trip. One more thing to keep in mind, you are asking your guests to fly to a different country. You not only need to think about the wedding day but what you will do with your guests the day before and the day after the wedding.
When you hire a wedding planner, they often have a good relationship with the venues and the various wedding suppliers. They can remove the hassle of you researching tons of venues and individual suppliers and can help you select your dream venue, by showing you various options, along with doing the site visits for you. They will guide you through the legal aspects of planning your wedding in another country. They would help you estimate the right budget for your wedding as per your guest count and assist you through the contract negotiations and payment coordination with the venues and the suppliers. A wedding planner will have a contingency plan for your wedding day and be responsible for the coordination between the venue, suppliers, and you. In short, a wedding planner will take over all the organization and coordination details that go into a wedding, while you can focus on getting married.
The best time to hire a planner is at least 12 months from your date so they can come in during the start of your wedding and take away all the work that goes into planning your wedding through the execution on your wedding day. They would be able to guide you with your accommodation on where to stay, as well as your guests. You can talk to the planner about your welcome event and the post-wedding events like brunch parties and ask them for various ideas possible as per your selected area.
We at destination-wedding-italy.com offer you a full-service wedding planning package and will help you plan your wedding as per your vision and your budget. You can contact us for a free consultation.
Selecting a venue for the wedding and what to expect:
When selecting a location it is important to choose a venue that resonates with both of you, after all, it’s a big day for you both. Start with two things in mind: First is what is your budget, how much are you willing to spend to rent the venue and how much do you want to spend in total for the wedding day itself which includes your catering, decorations, music, ceremony setup fees, etc
Few venues charge you separate rental fees which only include the hire of the venue, everything else comes at a cost. Some venues that have accommodation will include the rental cost and provide you with an all-inclusive package, but they may require you to book them exclusively for a 2 to 3-day event. However, there may be additional charges for separate events such as welcome parties, and post-wedding events such as brunch parties. Read the fine print.
The second is to keep your guest count in mind when researching the venues. Often venues do have a capacity limit on people they can accommodate at the venue, if you exceed the capacity, it does come at a cost. The venue will also have a limit on how many can sleep in the venue. So, you will have to arrange where the remaining guests can sleep. Venues may have recommendations or relationships with the nearby properties for the remaining guests.
Selecting Wedding Suppliers:
You will want to start researching different suppliers such as florists, decorators, catering, musicians, stationary providers, and photographers that cater to your wedding area. If you have a wedding planner, they can take care of researching the suppliers for you and negotiating the contracts. You can also check with the venues on supplier recommendations or the preferred supplier list if it applies to your venue. There will be some venues that would only work with preferred vendors.
We at Destination Wedding Italy have an extensive network of wedding suppliers.
How many days should a destination wedding typically be:
Normally you want to think of a two to three-day event. Day 1 would be the day before your wedding, where you can host a welcome event for your guests where both the groom's side and the bride's side of the family and friends have an opportunity to mingle. Depending on the location you select, this could be a pizza party or an evening barbecue at your wedding venue or the venue you are staying. If you are around the lakes or coastal area you can rent out a sunset cruise for your welcome party or select a winery to host tastings for your welcome event.
The 2nd day would be your wedding day and the 3rd day would be a post-wedding event such as a brunch where you would thank your guests for being part of your celebrations and bid them farewell. This event could be set at your hotel or the accommodation you are staying at. This is when your guests will be leaving on their vacations, and you will be starting your honeymoon.
Budget Considerations When Planning a Destination Wedding:
The budget is an important factor, what you spend on the destination wedding will be less than the amount spent at your hometown, as your guest list will be only intimate friends and family members. Some budget considerations are venue cost and wedding supplier's cost, wedding planner fee, guest events, and catering for additional activities for your guests. Always keep additional funds for unexpected expenses.
Additional costs while not included in your wedding budget but should be accounted for the overall expense are Bridal clothing and makeup, Groom's clothing, Travel and lodging costs for the destination, and Honeymoon.
Wedding and legal requirements to consider when selecting your destination:
Every country has a different law for legal wedding ceremonies. You will need to research the legal information in the selected destination when planning your wedding. If you decide to legally marry in Italy it is a process and it is often recommended for the couple to be there a week before the wedding. You will have to arrange a translator and some paperwork is required in advance. You can do this through your wedding planner as it's a service they would offer upon request.
If you are already planning to be legally married in your home country and want to do a symbolic wedding ceremony in Italy in front of your family and friends, this will be a much simpler process. All you need is a wedding officiant or a family or friend to officiate your wedding. Check our website for detailed legal requirements:
To Conclude: I hope you have a good start on considerations for planning your destination wedding and what to expect when you start to plan your wedding. The key is to start planning, hire a planner to help you, and be by your side so you don't have to do this alone.
As you embark on this journey to plan your destination wedding in Italy, remember that the most important thing is to cherish each moment with your partner. From the initial excitement of choosing your Italian wedding venue to the joy of saying "I do" surrounded by loved ones, your wedding day will be filled with unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
Destination Wedding Italy is an American-based company, our team is dedicated to planning your dream wedding in Italy. Email us for a free consultation on planning your wedding. info@destination-wedding-italy.com and visit us at https://www.destination-wedding-italy.com/