Exclusive Weddings in Italy - How To Make Your Wedding Truly Unique

If it seems like everyone around you is tying the knot this year or gearing up for a 2022 wedding, you are not wrong.

A wedding boom is indeed happening as couples from all over the world prepare to make the promise of a lifetime.

As you and your beloved begin thinking about your wedding, you may be realizing that, if everyone around you is getting married, how can you stand out on your special day?

The answer is not to go bigger or to invite more people. The key to truly memorable weddings is to make your wedding luxurious.

This is why so many couples are having exclusive weddings in Italy. With the glamour, the history, the art, and the culture, a destination wedding in Italy is truly a once in a lifetime experience for you and your beloved, as well as your guests.

Photographer: @davidbastianoni

Why Do Couples Have Exclusive Weddings in Italy?

Following over a year of lockdown due to COVID-19, couples all over the world are excited to tie the knot. But having a wedding isn’t enough. Many couples want a grand experience in a beautiful location, where they get a vacation for themselves as well as a romantic ceremony.

Every couple has their own reasons for why they chose to have an exclusive wedding in Italy, but here are the biggest benefits for choosing a destination wedding:

1. The adventure - For couples who love to travel, a destination wedding is a must. It will associate that city with amazing memories for both yourself and your guests. Destination weddings are also a great way to save on the honeymoon.

• Keeping it unique - If you have been to a lot of weddings, you will know that they all blur together. Especially when everyone you know is tying the knot in their hometown or choosing the same Pinterest-inspired color palette. The best way to make your wedding stand out is to book a Tuscan villa or a sunny Italian beach as the venue.

• Spend less time stressing and more time with guests - Exclusive weddings in Italy involve much less stress than a traditional wedding when couples work with an expert, local event planner.

• Destination weddings are more intimate - The nature of destination weddings means that your ceremony and reception will be more intimate, with only your closest friends and family members. Many couples prefer this because it can help avoid family drama, uninvited guests, and too many Plus Ones.

• Get the best for your budget - Did you know that exclusive weddings in Italy can actually be more affordable than traditional weddings? Here’s why: smaller guest lists and all-inclusive resorts that streamline costs. Other factors like the exchange rate of currency can mean that you get a grander wedding than you would have been able to afford if you stayed home.

Photographer: @atomingphoto

How To Determine The Best City For Your Wedding

The truth is that you can’t go wrong when it comes to having an exclusive wedding in Italy. Every city is full of history, art, stunning landscapes, and a variety of styles of architecture. For the perfect wedding, it is recommended that you tailor the location of the wedding to your unique love story.

When you and your beloved choose a city for your wedding, it is important to consider what landmarks and features are important to you.

For example, if you and your beloved love art and history, you may want to consider Rome or the Amalfi Coast for your wedding. The city of Rome was once the seat of power during antiquity, now it is the home of the most well-preserved architectural features in the world.

Seeing photos of these historic landmarks does not do them justice. You simply need to see the Domus Aurea, the Pantheon, and the Baths of Diocletian in person. Whether you want to have your own little Roman Holiday or to peel back the layers of history after the wedding, Rome is the perfect place to say “I do.”

The Amalfi Coast is the perfect wedding location for couples who are interested in a different era of history. Named one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this region is home to 16 communities that all have their own beautiful and enchanting architectural wonders. The Amalfi Cathedral is an especially breathtaking sight to behold. Built during the 13th century, this cathedral is home to centuries of art, as well as completely unique architecture that is guaranteed to leave you speechless.

For couples who want beauty and luxury, VB Events recommends Como Lake as the perfect location for your wedding. If this area sounds familiar, it may be because Como Lake is a popular wedding destination for celebrities. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh hosted their own modern day fairytale at Villa de Balbianello; Chrissy Teigen and John Legend also picked Como Lake as the backdrop to their special day.

Photographer: @davidbastianoni

The Best Venues For Exclusive Weddings in Italy

You’ve picked your city, now it is time to decide where you will walk down the aisle. The truth is that you cannot go wrong! Italy is home to hundreds of beautiful wedding locations, all with deep history and artfully restored rooms. Most couples should start by deciding what kind of location that they want: a resort, a vineyard, or a villa.

Resorts are ideal for couples who want to be pampered. Resorts like Borgo Santo Pietro in Tuscany, Donna Carmela, and Verdura Resort in Sicily can accommodate between 50 and 100 guests. They also have full amenities, including restaurants, pools, a spa, and exclusive events that you and your wedding guests can enjoy.

Vineyard weddings are a hot, new trend for 2021 and 2022 because they embrace a rustic aesthetic, while keeping it luxurious and exclusive. Consider having your vineyard wedding at Palazzo Pfanner in Lucca, Villa San Michele in the Fiesole hills, or Il Salviatino in Florence. Enjoy wine tasting, garden tours, and experience the best of Italian farm-to-table food with your beloved.

Italy is home to hundreds of historic villas that are the perfect venue for exclusive weddings in Italy. Nothing says “exclusive” quite like booking a villa as a private oasis for your beloved and your guests. VB Events recommends Villa Igiea in Sicily, Villa Clara in the heart of Rome, or Villa Aurelia for your dream wedding.

Photographer: @davidbastianoni

How To Cater The Menu To Fit Your Location

Once couples choose their city and their venue, the next step is to make some choices about the menu, the cake, and the drinks. Many resorts and vineyards have their own restaurants on-site, which can be available to cater weddings; this is called internal catering.

If you choose to have the on-site restaurant cater your wedding, keep in mind that it may be more affordable overall. The cuisines will also better match the feel of the location. Many vineyards have farm-to-table restaurants, so you can dine on delicious food that was grown only an acre away. However, internal catering can mean fewer options. Most internal restaurants only offer a handful of dishes and you may be unable to request a specific dish for your wedding.

Your other option is external catering, where the caterer is not associated with the venue. With external catering, the flavors may not match to the venue as precisely as it would if the on-site restaurant catered. However, when you work with external caterers, it is easier to customize the menu to involve all your favorite foods and to accommodate a variety of dietary needs. External catering will likely cost more because of set up and transportation, but this is worth it for many couples who want their wedding cuisine to tell their love story.

If you have questions about your options for catering, contact VB Events for more information. Our team is highly experienced at sourcing world-renowned caterers to take your wedding to the next level. All you have to do is tell our team what you want for your special day, and we will handle the rest!

How To Accommodate and Entertain All Your Guests

A common question for destination weddings is: what should we pay for and what should our guests pay for? The way Brides.com breaks it down is that the couple does not have to pay for the attendees’ flights, but they should provide accommodations that are free or at least affordable for the guests.

The best way to do this for exclusive weddings in Italy is to choose a venue that can accommodate your guests, such as Villa Balbiano which can hold up to 100 guests or Hotel De La Ville. This way, guests do not have to find their own hotels and can be nearby.

Most couples like to host additional events and activities in addition to the ceremony and the reception. These may be activities for only the wedding party or for the entire guest list. Because destination weddings are more intimate with fewer guests, it is easier to schedule and pay for activities for all the guests.Some popular pre- and post- wedding activities include:

• Having a wine tasting or a welcome dinner at an authentic, local restaurant.

• Go on a tour of the city to learn more about the architecture and history.
• A group hike or beach-side stroll.
• If you are near water, go on a boat ride.
• Attend a local festival, performance, or fashion show.
• Host a morning after brunch - your first breakfast as a married couple!

Planning extra activities around the wedding is not required, but it can make for a unique experience. Most guests will keep themselves entertained before and after the ceremony, but most couples want to have fun with their friends and family as part of the wedding adventure. If you need a helping hand, VB Events also does bespoke events, exclusive tours, and wedding activities. We can help wow your guests with the trip of a lifetime!

Photographer: @atomingphoto

How Exclusive Weddings in Italy Take it to the Next Level!

Here’s a secret about exclusive weddings in Italy: the key to a luxurious, exclusive wedding is all about going above and beyond to make your wedding unique and magical. This means booking the best photographers and videographers to capture every special moment. Imagine having a

world-renowned photographer shoot your wedding! You will always have the reminder of every special moment to frame at home or to post on social media.

It is equally important to have the right band for the wedding. The music sets the tone for the reception, and can make or break an after party. VB Events manages a band of eight talented virtuosos, who are well-known in the Italian club scene for playing elite clubs and events; this band can play all your favorite songs in any language to create the perfect, customized reception.

It is really the details and the gestures that count. Most exclusive weddings in Italy take it one step further. Here are ways that our clients perfected their luxury wedding:

• Firework shows - It is just like in a movie: imagine kissing our beloved under a stunning fireworks display. Or being sent off as a married couple to a brilliant fireworks show.

• Luxury transportation - If you have to travel, might as well do it in style. Whether you like sports cars, limos, or helicopters, the VB Events team will arrange for transportation in style!

• Unique entertainment - Everyone has a band at their wedding, so exclusive weddings often go above and beyond. Consider having an opera singer, a circus troupe, aerialists, dancers, gymnasts, or fire-breathers at your reception.

Photographer: @davidbastianoni

Want an Exclusive Wedding in Italy? Leave it to the Professionals

Exclusive weddings do not have to be a lot of work. It’s your special day and the trip of a lifetime, so you should get to enjoy it. When you work with VB Events, we will handle everything. Our team speaks the local languages, so we can easily coordinate with the best caterers, photographers, artists, performers, and florists to make your wedding dreams come true. Begin your wedding journey today!