Tag Archive for: Book a wedding in Italy

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

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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.

The bride and groom exchange vows in the presence of guests on the background of the coast

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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
The bride and groom are in the courtyard of an ancient villa, near a decorated table
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.

A charming wedding setup in Italy, showcasing rows of chairs surrounded by beautiful floral arrangements.

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

Decorated table for a celebration in the garden of the villa, surrounded by green trees

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!

A beautifully arranged long table with a white cloth and vibrant red and green plants, perfect for exclusive weddings in Italy.
Photographer: @atomingphoto

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!

A romantic wedding scene at Italy, highlighting the charm of exclusive weddings in a stunning location.

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.

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!

How to Book a Wedding in Italy – 5 Tips From A Wedding Planner

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Being surrounded by phenomenal scenery, with the warm sun on your face and delicious Italian aromas in the air. Booking a wedding in Italy is a dream come true.

However, planning a destination wedding in Italy may seem like a steep hill to hike to make this a reality. But we are here to help your dreams come true! When booking your wedding in Italy, there are a few key steps that you need to consider:

Top five steps for how to book a wedding in Italy:

  1. Find a local wedding planner
  2. Set a realistic budget
  3. Find the best location
  4. Come up with your theme
  5. Execution and final decisions

1. Find a Local Wedding Planner

A bride in a wedding dress looks out at the city, representing the dream of an Italian wedding destination.

When you first start looking into how to book a wedding in Italy, it is imperative to have a local wedding planner that is on the ground and that you trust. A good wedding planner is an extension of you.

They will need to understand your needs and your desires. They will make decisions on your behalf when you are unable to, so you must find a planner that gets you and that you work well with.

A local wedding planner will help you exorbitantly when booking your wedding in Italy. They have spent their careers building strong relationships with reliable vendors and they will know the ins and outs of what you have access to with your budget, ultimately giving you a bigger bang for your buck.

Not only will having a local wedding planner help you save money and keep within budget, but they will also be able to give you access to venues and vendors that are not publicly advertised and have restricted access to.

A local wedding planner can help you book your wedding in Italy and make it a reality as they have the experience and know each step required.

They will be able to take an enormous amount of pressure off you and allow you to enjoy your time as an engaged couple.

Finding a planner may seem daunting as you are giving up some of the control of your day to someone else, but it will be so worth it.

Here are our top three steps in picking the perfect planner:

  1. Look at their portfolio – Look if they have done events similar to your style and to the party size you estimate your wedding to be. Also take note if they can cater for different religions and cultures if that is something you want as part of your day.
  2. Read their reviews – Of course, every planner will say they are the best, but hearing couples reviews who have worked with them in the past proves their reliability and will hopefully put you at ease.
  3. Schedule a meeting – Sitting down and having a conversation with potential planners will be the final tell if you will be able to work together.

For more information on wedding planners and if you need one, click here.

2. Set A Realistic Budget for your wedding

A wedding ceremony taking place at Italy, characterized by sophisticated decorations and a stunning outdoor environment.

Once you find your perfect, local wedding planner you can rely on, it is important that you sit down with them and have a frank conversation about how much you are willing to spend.

This is one of the most important steps when looking into how to book a wedding in Italy – and is vital as this will dictate all your decisions moving forward.

Having a set budget allows you to work with your planner in dividing and prioritizing what you want to spend on and where you can cut back, for example, what type of entertainment you wish to have.

Breaking down your budget will allow you to see each section of your wedding and help manage expectations of delivery. Your segmented budget will help your planner propose ideal venues that fit your budget and meet your taste.

3. Find The Best Location

A scenic wedding ceremony in Italy, highlighting a lovely outdoor space decorated with flowers and a stunning arch for vows.

When it comes to booking a location for your wedding in Italy, this should be one of the first steps tackled. Venues are often snapped up quickly and availability is scarce. It is imperative that you reserve and book a venue as early as possible.

The availability of the venue may also affect the date of your wedding, so if you can not be flexible with your dates booking the location months in advance is a must.

This may seem overwhelming but this is the exact moment you need to lean on your planner for support. They will have the contacts and the knowledge of when venues will be available at the most competitive price.

Working with and sharing your expectations sincerely with your planner will also help them find a venue that suits your style, party size, entertainment and most importantly budget.

The best location for you and your partner will be able to cater for your needs and not bust the bank. And lucky you, to book a wedding in Italy with the top wedding destinations in the world finding the perfect venue will be a joy as we are spoiled with choice in this beautiful country.

4. Coming Up with Your Theme

A table set with wedding invitations and two fans, illustrating a theme for booking a wedding in Italy.

Now the fun begins!

Another important step when you start looking into how to book a wedding in Italy is coming up with your theme. Once the budget and venue have been ticked off the list you can work with your planner to start visualising how your venue will be laid out and transformed into your perfect day.

A professional wedding planner will develop bespoke mood boards for you; curating all your colours and textiles to develop your theme.

If the space is large or hard to imagine how the layout will work; your wedding planner can draft mock-ups and wireframes of how tables, lighting and floral arrangements will be placed. Doing this allows you to see all available options and use the venue most optimally without the cost and all the labour.

When coming up with your key colours and theme there are a few things that can help you create cohesion throughout:

Firstly, develop a theme that works in harmony with your selected location, use the surrounding landscape to inspire your creative decisions. Bring in natural elements to pull in your theme and make it flow through the venue.

Be respectful of where you are and give simple nods to the location. You could do this simply by adding olive branches in your arrangements if you were in Tuscany or make a statement with bold, bright ceramics local to the Amalfi region.

Secondly, curate a theme that is natural and genuine to you as a couple.

  • Do not try to recreate a Pinterest board.
  • Make something special to you two and your union.
  • Incorporate elements of your relationship and things that you love.

You can do this simply through your stationery choice, your favourite colours or a nod to how you met. By adding these quirky elements that are authentic to you, it will make your day that more memorable and special.

5. Executions and Final Decisions

A beautiful wedding scene at Italy, featuring stunning floral arrangements and a charming outdoor setting.

Lights, camera, floral, food and action… Once you tackle the first three steps in booking a wedding in Italy, the fun of creating it and seeing it come together is euphoric. Making the final decisions or what florals to include, the lighting set-up and what food to serve your guests is all just the cherry on top.

Booking a wedding in Italy should be a joyful experience and a chance to delve into the culture.

Take advantage of your wedding planner’s knowledge to curate an unforgettable day for you and your guests. The same is true with the vendors you collaborate with; ask your florist their suggestion on ideal flowers for the day, as well as your caterer for traditional flavour profiles.

Booking a wedding in Italy will be one of the most special things you do in your life. This country of pure love and passion will be the perfect start to your chapter as newlyweds. We would love to be a helping hand in writing that chapter. Please feel free to schedule a free consultation with us here; to help you book your dream day and make it a reality. Or read more about how to plan your luxury wedding in Italy in 12 months.