How To Plan a Wedding in Italy – 7 Helpful Tips to Get Started

/in /by

Italy has forever been a place of wonder and romance. Home to some of the world’s most celebrated works of art, architecture, culinary creations, unique style and exquisite landscapes.

Exploding with culture being the birthplace of the Renaissance and having more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country on Earth. Italy is truly the perfect place to plan a wedding.

Planning your perfect day can be overwhelming so here is the perfect breakdown of how to plan a wedding in Italy:

  1. Choose a local wedding planner
  2. Pick your dream venue
  3. Decide on the number of guests
  4. Curate your ideal menu
  5. Time of year
  6. Have a unique Italian flair
  7. Legal and religious considerations

Choosing a Wedding Planner

When you are planning a destination wedding in Italy it is always a good idea to have a wedding planner. Finding one that will work well with you and deliver your aesthetic within budget can be challenging to find.

So here is what we suggest:

  1. Find a local wedding planner – having a local planner is indispensable. They know the lay of the land and should have connections to offer you more than commercial options on every aspect of your wedding package. They could even help you save money!
  2. How many weddings have they done?– It is imperative to have a planner that is experienced. The more weddings and events they have done the better!
  3. Look at their portfolio good wedding planners will have an endless portfolio displaying varied types of weddings. Look for their signature and the vendors they use, does their level of execution meet yours?
  4. Find someone you trust This is your big day and your wedding planner must be someone you trust to make it happen and reduce the stresses that come with it. Finding someone you can lean on and gel with will be a saving grace.

For more on the importance of hiring a local wedding planner.

A woman in a blue dress walks along a pathway, showcasing the well organized wedding events in Italy.

Picking Your Dream Venue

Picking your dream venue is one of the most important steps in how to plan a wedding in Italy. In Italy, the venue options are endless, from elegant villas, beachside balls to gorgeous grottos.

Finding what will be ideal for your big day can be overwhelming- here are our top tips to make it easier to pick:

  1. Talk to your Planner – before you lose yourself down a rabbit hole of links searching for the perfect place, ask your planner. Planners will generally have a list of possible venues. They will know the capacity and capabilities of the space. Also, they may have ideas on how to transform a certain space to make it uniquely you and meet your other criteria.
  2. Is it your taste?- Choosing a venue that fits your theme and has the vibe you want to deliver. If you want your guests to feel close and cosy an outdoor wedding may not be best suited.
    The same is true if you want a romantic, classic look a Villa filled with fresco paintings may fit the brief for instance. What is important is that you are true to yourselves and fits your taste as a couple and that you are not just recreating a Pinterest board.
  3. Know your Guest List It is helpful to have a rough grasp on the number of guests you will be expecting. This will dictate the size of the venue and the layout.
  4. Budget – this possibly may be the biggest decider on the venue selection. It is not just the renting of the space that you have to think of but also to consider, floral and decor that will be needed on top of that.

It is essential to find out what is and is not included in the venue cost i.e. tables, chairs and linens. This may also affect your budget whether or not you will need to bring in more vendors.

How to choose where to get married in Italy, and our top pics for where to get married in Tuscany.

Nighttime wedding dinner in Italy, with tables adorned with candles and flowers, offering a charming and intimate setting.

How Many Guests

Having a rough idea of the expected number of guests you wish to have at your wedding will help you not only with selecting a venue but to have better control of your budget.

The more guests you have the bigger the budget should be.

Having large weddings and sharing your wedding day with the world is amazing, the more the merrier. In saying this it is a special moment for you and your partner so being surrounded by your nearest and dearest is essential.

Often the guest list gets out of control so here are a few ways to get to grips with it when planning your wedding:

  1. Write two lists Your ‘Need to Have’ and ‘Nice to Have’ lists. Your Need to Have list is composed of people you can not imagine celebrating your wedding without – your immediate family, close extended family, best and long time friends.
    Your Nice to Have list is composed of further extended family, colleagues and friends that you are not that close to. If you need to cut, look at your Nice to Have list.
  1. Parent’s Invites Often parents are just as excited as you and your partner are for your union. However, this can get out of hand as they extend an invite to too many people that you may not be close to. A good way to be respectful and ensure everyone’s happy, is if you agree to give them a limited number of invites that they can send out.
  2. This is your wedding– It is okay to say no to people. To keep your numbers at bay you can limit the number of people who can bring a plus one. Perhaps only extending the invite to guests who are in a relationship or who have a plus one you know will get on with your other guests.

The last thing you want is your guest having to babysit their date and not spend time celebrating. Talking about babysitting you can also decide whether or not you want children present. This can also limit your numbers.

Food to Consider

Italy is exploding with flavour, with globally celebrated dishes rooted in tradition. Italians are fiercely proud when it comes to cuisine and their region of origin. They have every right to be, it is delicious.

It is important when planning your Italian wedding to infuse this passion into your menu. There is nothing better than local, fresh produce, to completely immerse your guests in a true Italian experience.

Depending on the region you decide to get married there are different flavour profiles for food and drink that are unique to that location.

The North including the region of Lombardy flavour profile is warm and cosy, comprising of dishes like Risotto and Pizzoccheri. The famous Panettone, the essence of Italian Christmas originates from this region.

Sprits are the perfect drink for an aperitif in the north of Italy Campari being born and still being produced in Milan. Aperol is a staple throughout the country but it does taste extra good in Venice.

Central Italy includes the Tuscan and Lazio regions rich in flavour. Celebrated for its production of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, truffles, Prosciutto, steaks and cheese. The home of beloved recipes like Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe and many more.

Admired for its Chianti wine region – a glass of red pairs perfectly with the rich pallet of flavour.

Southern Italy has diverse dishes to offer. Naples is the birthplace of Pizza, sweet cannoli founded in Sicily and the endless pasta seafood dishes all along the coast.

Southern Italy boasts its culinary creations and is topped off by the iconic tot of Limoncello from the Amalfi coast to digest.

You may even consider traveling to these destinations to try the food before you decide which region you want to have your wedding. Sampling the local food and cuisine is a very important step when starting to think about how to plan a wedding in Italy.

Time of Year

The perfect time to say “I do” when planning your Italian wedding. Having a Mediterranean climate of dry, hot summers and cool, wet winters.

Depending on what you are after the time of year is important to remember and note if the weather will work in your favour when planning your wedding in Italy.

Typically May and September are the most popular being at the tail ends of summer, the weather is pleasant, not overly hot. June, July and August are also favourable as there is less chance of rain but can be hot and humid.

Unique Italian Flairs

Another reason to plan your wedding in Italy may be to incorporate a unique Italian flair into the celebrations. This can not only be done through the wedding catering but infused into every element.

  • Location: Choosing a typical Italian Venue such as “masserie” in Puglia or Renaissance villas in Florence
  • Decor: Including local produce like lemons, olive branches, basil or Sicilian maioliche
  • Entertainment: Pre and post-wedding activities can embody the Italian dolce vita, with Italian vintage or supercar tours through the countrysides. Vespa tours in the cities or a Pizza night for the rehearsal.
  • Local Favors: Bomboniere made with Murano glass, Amalfi Limoncello, Tuscan or Apulian olive oil or bottle of Italian wine to thank your guests.
A wedding table display with fresh tomatoes, fine plates, and utensils, highlighting Italian wedding planning details.

Legal and Religious Considerations

Legalizing a marriage varies according to your residence. If you are concerned with the legalization of your marriage being a destination wedding, you can either:

  1. Get legally married in your home country and have your ceremonial wedding abroad.
  2. Talk to your wedding planner, who can lease between the two embassies to ensure the paperwork is in order. If you are planning a religious wedding in Italy it is also possible to arrange the appropriate officiant for the ceremony no matter your religion.

Start Planning Your Wedding

This article provided everything you need to consider for how to plan a wedding in Italy.

Planning a wedding in Italy is an exciting adventure that will leave you with unforgettable memories. It can be overwhelming to start the planning of it all, that is where VB Events steps in, to take the pressure off you and point you in the right direction! Book a free consultation now.

Italian Wedding Package – What To Look For When Planning Your Wedding

/in /by

When planning a destination wedding, it is essential to know what your wedding package includes so that all your needs and requirements are met for your special day. The uncertainty of not being on the ground can be overwhelming so having a wedding who you trust is imperative. 

What should you look for when choosing your Italian wedding package?

Our wedding experts have compiled a list of the top things you need to look for when starting to plan your luxury Italian wedding. Below is a list of things you must consider when you get started:

Find an experienced Italian wedding planner

  • Emerge yourself in the Italian culture and start reserving you locations and vendors
  • Consider the costs of an Italian wedding package
  • Infuse your personal style and taste
  • Consider the must have items: Venue, Photographer, Caterer & more
  • Other Items to Consider: Legislation, Accommodations, Transport & More
  • Extras in your Italian Wedding Package – the cherry on top (Fireworks, live band, &
  • Gifts)

Find an experienced Italian wedding planner

With VB-Events we are rather methodical and have perfected the steps of planning over years of experience. To start we always have a complimentary consultation where you and your partner get to meet our team. This allows both parties to understand the dynamic and get a feeling for each other. It is of great importance that you feel like you have been understood and your vision is seen. We want your wedding celebrations to be stress-free, allowing you and your partner to focus on each other and not all the nitty-gritty things. 

Emerge yourself in the Italian culture and start reserving you locations and vendors.

Once you have fallen in love with your planner and the excitement is bubbling, VB-Events makes a bespoke agenda. This well thought out plan includes everything from locations to vendors galore. When possible we encourage our couple to meet us in their Italian destination, where they can experience the sights, smells and tastes themselves. When it is not possible to be submerged in the environment we have multiple online meetings and video calls, where you take you through it all just as detailed.

Every aspect of the wedding is time-sensitive when it comes to booking. Reserving your ideal location and vendors early on is a must as this can dictate your dates. VB-Events only works with the highest level of vendors such as Waterfall Visuals and David Bastianoni.

An elegant outdoor wedding ceremony in a garden, with floral arrangements and guests gathered for the event.

Consider the costs of an Italian wedding Package

One of the most common questions about wedding packages is how much it is all going to cost. VB-Events specialises in bespoke luxury events, that are uniquely tailored to each couple, it would be impossible to give a cooky cutter figure for all the different events. Rather, during our consultation, we ask what you are prepared to spend and what you really want. Then we will make it happen.

Each couple we work with has a well planned and managed excel sheet. We manage all the quotes and contracts to best suit your budget. The budget is strictly managed to avoid any unnecessary costs and ensure complete transparency. After being in the industry for so long we are lucky to have built up amazing relationships with the Italies best vendors. This has proven to be an asset to our couples in not only being able to book them but get them at a competitive price.

A bride and groom joyfully cutting their wedding cake, showcasing their personal style from the Italian Wedding Package.

Infuse your personal style and taste

Each couple we work with is uniquely different and has their own personal style and taste that we infuse into their event. VB-Events takes special note of your aesthetics and needs, in our initial meeting. The VB team then carefully constructs a comprehensive mood board, that includes everything from colours and textures to lighting and layout.

VB-Events love to include hints of true Italian style into the styling of the venue to make it coherent within the location. This is often done with local produce and indigenous foliage and carried through into the menu and plating. After all, if you are wanting a wedding package, it is important to have a splash of Italian style to have la dolce vita.

Once aesthetics have been approved, the talented VB team will make sure that is consistently carried through every aspect of the wedding. For couples that possibly have not seen the venue in person or have intricate aspects such as lighting, the VB team renders scaled sketches of the space to better visualise what it will look like on the day.

Elegant wedding invitation with a watercolor design, highlighting an Italian wedding package including venue and catering services.

Consider the must-have items: Venue, Photographer, Caterer & more!

Venue:

One of the most important services needed in your destination wedding package is a variety of venue choices. Not being a local there yourself it may be difficult to know of every venue that is available to you. Having a local wedding planner can be vital to introduce you to less commercial options that may be better suited for your big day.

Selecting the dream venue is very time-sensitive and the availability of the location can affect your dates. We suggest reserving your venue 11-12 months before your dream wedding day.

It may be difficult to choose where to get married in Italy. As it is overflowing with beauty. You will not be disappointed no matter where you choose. Here are our top 5 places to get married in Tuscany.

A romantic wedding scene at Villa Gamberaia, photographed by an Italian wedding photographer, highlighting the beauty of Italy.

Photography and videography:

An absolute must. After building and your dream Italian wedding surrounded by your nearest and dearest, we guarantee that you will want to have these moments capture and reserved for years to come. This too is very time-specific, good photographers are generally booked year-round, so again start looking and ask the planner of your wedding package about this from the get-go.

Catering:

You can not get married in Italy and not think about the food. Italians pride themselves on their bursting flavours and wedding catering abilities. Every region has their own signature flavour profile. This distinction may prove helpful when deciding what region to wed.

The spritz and spirits of the north, the warm Tuscan red wines to the sweet limoncello of the south.

Having a local wedding planner will help bring out the famous flavours of your location, resulting in an unforgettable wedding experience.

Flowers:

An Italian wedding would not be complete without breathtaking florals and foliage. Having a reputable florist is essential, wedding arrangements are rather specific. We would hate to see wilting flowers or pollen dusted all over your precious dress or lapel. VB-Events has a long relationship with our florists who only deliver the highest quality.

Concierge:

Lastly and possibly most importantly, when looking for a wedding package make sure concierge is included. Being a destination wedding it is dier that your planner is reachable when you need them. VB-Events is available 24/7 so you can reach us from anywhere in the world.

We handle every meticulous detail to ensure that your wedding celebrations go off without a hitch.

Other Items to Consider: Legislation, Accommodations, Transport & More

Legalisation:

This is very important and something to double-check! Depending on where you are coming from it may be necessary to have all legal documents done in Italy to make sure the marriage is legal. VB-Events can manage all the legalisation processes of the day to make sure you have all the essential paperwork.

Accommodation:

Having accommodations will be necessary for you and your party, as well as all your guests. This may be difficult to manage and organise the logistics for all members, so it may be a stress reliever if it is included in your wedding package.

Transport:

No matter the size of your party it is always a good idea to arrange transport to and from the venue. This takes the stress of you and your guest and avoids guests from being late or getting lost.

VB-Events also organises luxury and vintage vehicles for the couple to leave the ceremony and celebrations in. The perfect cherry on top for a day of love and luxuries.

Lighting:

Depending on the venue and what you want, extra lighting can be added. As well as intricate or statement lighting that creates an awe-inspiring ambience.

Hair and Makeup:

VB-Events has worked with the best in the business when it comes to hair and makeup. This can often be stressful for the bride sourcing a reliable artist for her big day, so your planner must be someone you trust to refer you. After meeting with you and understanding your style the VB team will be able to select a professional artist that can deliver exactly what you want. We also suggest that you have a trial before the big day.

Extras in your Italian Wedding Package – the cherry on top

These are not often included in traditional Italian Wedding Packages but they can be the icing on the cake to your wedding celebrations.

Fireworks:

Typically done at the reception adding excitement and colour to the event. There is nothing more beautiful than the Italian night sky lit up celebrating your love.

Live band:

Feel like you are the main character of the night with the band serenading you and your partner. Playing all your favourite songs. This is the perfect way to make sure everyone is on their feet and dancing into the night. VB-Events manages one of the most talented bands with years of experience and the ability to pull off almost any genre.

Gifts and Favours:

Once the campaign has been drunk and the fireworks popped. It is a lovely sentiment to give your guests a little token of your thanks for celebrating your marriage. VB-Events and source and arrange that each guest gets a parting favour, unique to your event.

For a time-specific plan on booking and vendors see our other blog.

Trust The Professionals

There is an endless list of things VB-Events can offer you on your big day and having a tailored wedding package can ensure your dream day becomes a reality. Taking all the stress and panic away from you and making it appear like magic.