Tag Archive for: Wedding locations

Luxury Wedding in Italy – How To Make Your Wedding Luxurious

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How many people have dreamed about their wedding since they were little kids? What did you imagine for yourself? A luxury wedding in Italy?

Most people want their wedding day to be perfect. But not just perfect: they want it to be luxurious. As travel restrictions are lifted, luxury weddings in Italy have become the hot, new way to tie the knot.

Luxury wedding table setup with lilac candles, flowers and glass underplot

What Makes a Wedding a Luxury Wedding?

Is it the price tag? The decor? Is a wedding luxury if it has a certain colour scheme? Or if the dresses and tuxes cost a certain amount? What makes a wedding luxury is all of the above, and more.

There are 3 factors that make a wedding into a luxury wedding: the location, the details, and the entertainment.

Location is a big part of a luxury wedding. Imagine getting married on the Amalfi Coast in a historic Italian villa. Or in the middle of Rome, the most romantic city in the world, where you will be surrounded by centuries of art and history.

The best way to turn your wedding into the most amazing experience of your life is to tie the knot in Italy.

The second aspect that makes a wedding luxurious is the details. Bridal Guide suggests using lighting, a unified theme, bouquets for chairs, lounging furniture, and pooling table linens.

However, if this sounds like a lot of work for you and your beloved, that’s because it probably will be.

If you don’t want to worry about every little thing on your wedding day, consider working with VB Events to take the stress out of wedding planning.

The last aspect of a luxury wedding in Italy is the entertainment. Most people think they have to choose between a DJ or a band for the wedding, and that those two are their only options.

However, what makes a wedding luxury is going beyond just a band or a DJ. Luxury weddings in Italy often have live dancers, fireworks, and light shows to entertain the couple and wow the guests.

Top 5 Locations For A Luxury Wedding in Italy

The truth is that you can’t go wrong when it comes to wedding locations in Italy. Whether you want a vineyard wedding, a beach wedding, or a villa wedding, Italy is full of beautiful, historic wedding locations. Here are the 5 most luxurious venues for your wedding.

1. Donna Carmela

Donna Carmela wedding location surrounded by palms and mountains

Donna Carmela, near Catania, dates back to the 19th century. Since then, it has become a prime location for luxury weddings and for those who want to enjoy exquisite cuisine.

The resort sits on 550 hectares that are home to a nursery full of tropical Mediterranean plants, a vineyard, 26 private rooms, and a restaurant to give your guests a taste of Italy.

If you and your guests value your privacy, you will love Donna Carmela because you can rent out all 26 rooms for up to 70 guests.

This means that you will have the entire resort to yourself, where you can enjoy privacy with your closest friends on your special day.

2. Grand Hotel Timeo

Located in Taormina, the Grand Hotel Timeo has historically been home to artists, writers, and political thinkers.

Nothing is more luxurious than being surrounded by art! When you have your wedding at the Grand Hotel Timeo, you can book the exclusive Presidential Suite, which has its own private terrace, a jacuzzi, and panoramic views of both the city and Mount Etna.

Many couples choose the Grand Hotel Timeo for their special day because they want nothing but the best.

3. Villa Erba

Aerial image of a spacious mansion on a lake's edge, highlighting Villa Erba as a venue for a luxury wedding in Italy.

Villa Erba is an architectural gem on Como Lake in Cernobbio. Built in the 19th century, its carved ceilings, expressive frescoes, expansive gardens, and lakefront view make it the most luxurious setting for a wedding.

If you recognize the architecture, it may be because Villa Erba was the backdrop to Tess and Danny Ocean’s elaborate, heist-filled love story in Ocean’s 11.

Villa Erba is a popular destination for a luxury wedding in Italy because it is so large that you can walk the aisle in the garden, on a terrace, or inside one of many grand ballrooms.

4. Castello Odescalchi

Castello Odescalchi is just north of Rome, the eternal city. As one of the most imposing mansions in Rome, it provides a romantic setting fit for royalty.

The castle is large enough for weddings of up to 1,000 guests and has ample room for all your wedding festivities.

The castle is a popular wedding destination among the rich and famous, including Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, but you too can tie the knot within those historic walls.

5. Borgo Santo Pietro

Stunning aerial view of Borgo Santo Pietro, a luxurious estate in Italy, ideal for a beautiful wedding setting.

Borgo Santo Pietro is a 5-star luxury resort near Siena in the heart of Tuscany. At the centre of this beautiful resort is a lovingly restored 13th-century villa.

Couples from all over the world fall in love with Borgo Santo Pietro because it marries nature with luxury.

 The restaurant honours a “farm to table” tradition, so you will be eating the freshest, most natural food during your reception. Once you and your beloved are ready to unwind from the big day, visit the immersive spa for a complete healing experience.

Bride and bridesmaids with bouquet of buttercups and flowers

The Details of Luxury: How Decorations Can Transform Your Wedding

Luxury is all about the details. This is as true for weddings as it is for fashion. You don’t need to go big to enjoy a luxurious experience.

When it comes to the decorations, having a destination wedding in Italy takes care of most of that for you. When your venue is a stunning, historic castle, you really don’t need much else to tie the whole wedding together.

The experts at VB Events recommend that you let the natural beauty of the setting speak for itself and focus on the details of the reception instead. Here are some small ways to make your wedding a luxury wedding in Italy to remember:

  • Color Scheme – Pick colors that naturally fit well with the venue’s interior. Incorporate gold, silver, or rose gold accents into the color scheme to add that extra level of sophistication.
    It is best to avoid anything too garish. Using muted, classic colors that look good on everyone is the easiest way to elevate your wedding.
  • Elevate the Cake – Bigger is not always better when it comes to wedding cakes. The trick to a luxury wedding cake is incorporating classy details like intricate lace designs, real flowers, and edible gold leaf.
  • Wedding Party Styles that Fit Everyone – Identical bridesmaid dresses are out. Unique, personal, flattering dresses are in! The problem with identical bridesmaids dresses or groomsmen tuxes is that they don’t look good on everyone.
    A wedding can’t be luxury if everyone in the wedding party isn’t looking their best. When you style your wedding party in different complementary outfits, you can add layers of beauty to the wedding and highlight each person’s important role in your lives.
  • Big, Yet Simple – There is a rule in fashion that you don’t have to be over the top to be luxurious. It is the same principle for luxury weddings in Italy. Don’t overdo it.

For brides: consider wearing a simple dress that flatters you and pair it with a large, statement piece for the veil. For grooms, prioritize a tux that fits like a glove and is made from quality materials, over a glitzy outfit.

Here’s the most important thing you can do to have a luxurious wedding in Italy: don’t try to do it all yourself. There is nothing luxurious about being stressed.

Instead, hire the experts in luxurious wedding planning, VB Events. We will handle everything from the venue to the flowers. All you and your beloved have to do is enjoy your special day.

A beautifully arranged platter of fresh vegetables and cheese on a table, set for a luxury wedding in Italy.

The Best Food in Italy For Your Luxury Wedding

Food is a big part about what makes a wedding luxury. When you get married in Italy, the home of the best food in the world, no wedding would be complete without a locally sourced, custom menu from Italy’s best chefs.

This is where VB Events comes in. We specialize in handling all the catering. Our team will source the best chefs in Italy to cater your wedding and help them customize the menu to your tastes.

If your guests have any food allergies or preferences, we will ensure that everyone’s needs are met.

Some venues for luxury weddings in Italy come equipped with a farm-to-table restaurant on the grounds.

This way, you can enjoy the freshest menu with ingredients that are sustainably sourced. If your venue does not have a local restaurant, VB Events will help you find a caterer to make your wedding dreams come true.

The key to making your wedding luxurious in every bite is the details. No one wants anything mass produced or frozen on the most important day of their life. Gourmet is a must.

The ingredients should also be organic and locally-sourced. VB Events team also recommends tailoring the menu to tell your unique love story. For example, if you and your beloved have traveled extensively or lived in different countries over your courtship, consider having each course represent the cuisines of those countries.

Entertain Your Guests With These 6 Unique Ideas

There are so many popular games that couples can incorporate into their weddings. From the shoe game to lawn games like cornhole and giant Jenga, wedding receptions are as much about the activities as they are about the dancing.

These activities are fun and entertaining, but are they a good fit for luxury weddings in Italy?

The key to unlocking luxury is to think outside the box. For your wedding to be truly luxurious, it has to offer new, elevated forms of entertainment. Here are 6 unique ideas to blow your guests away during your luxury wedding.

  1. Fireworks – Nothing says grandeur like fireworks. A beautiful firework show across the sky is the perfect way to end the night for all guests.
  2. Light Shows – Light shows for weddings are a contemporary twist that will add a little something extra to your big day. If you are concerned for the local pets, a light show is a quieter, safer alternative to fireworks. Not only will you and your beloved get some amazing photos with the light show, it will render your guests speechless.
  3. Dancers – There is something so magical about a live performance. If you and your beloved are former dancers or if you just enjoy the arts, consider hiring dancers to perform at your wedding. A ballet performance will perfectly match the high-class venue by incorporating one of the most beautiful dance forms. Depending on the venue, you could book aerialists to perform a silk waltz in the air.
  4. Wine Tasting – Everyone loves to drink at weddings. The trick to elevating your wedding is to drink mindfully with a wine tasting. There is nothing more luxurious than wine tasting in Italy, especially when you say “I do” in a historic Italian vineyard. Your guests can experience world-famous wines while they celebrate your love.
  5. Classy Bars – Candy bars, ice cream bars, and cocktail bars are very popular at weddings. The trick to making them luxury is to give guests a chance to sample some of the finer pleasures in life. Consider offering a cigar bar, a whiskey bar, or a scotch bar. Guests can taste the woodsy undertones as they enjoy vintage bottles.
  6. Elevate the Music – You have more options than just choosing between a band or a DJ. Consider hiring a harpist or opera singers to perform at the reception. The music will echo all around your castle venue and wrap the guests in beautiful music.

Learn More About Luxury Weddings in Italy

Are you ready to feel like royalty for a day as you tie the knot? Planning a luxury wedding in Italy does not have to be hard or stressful.

When you work with VB Events, we will handle everything, including booking the venue, the decorations, the entertainment, and all your translation needs. Contact VB Events today to make your dream wedding a reality!

Beach Wedding in Italy – Locations, Tips & More!

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The beautiful blue sea as your backdrop with the fresh ocean mist in the air, we could not think of a more perfect place to say “I do” than on an Italian beach. Beach weddings are truly enchanting and although the outcome is light and easy, the planning takes a lot of consideration.

Here is our list of the 3 main things to focus on when planning a beach wedding in Italy:

1) Location, location, location

  • Where in Italy?
  • The degree of beach
  • Accessibility
  • Permit necessity
  • Avoid the crowds

2) Know your environment – prepare in advance

  • Beach set up
  • Sturdy seating
  • Prepare for all weather
  • Sound system for ceremony

3) Dress to Impress – Dress code

  • Light, easy material
  • Skip the veil, do an updo
  • Ditch the heels
  • Plan your tan
  • Brief your guests
Bride and groom walk hand in hand at their beach wedding in Italy

1) Where to have your beach wedding in Italy?

Italy has an abundance of breathtaking beaches for your wedding day. All with a unique twist and culture, completing the Italian wedding fantasy. If a sunny, amorous atmosphere is what you desire these are the ideal places to be wed:

  • Amalfi Coast – Filled with vibrant ceramics and zesty lemons.
  • Capri – True luxury in retail, cuisine, scents and views.
  • Puglia – With the longest coastline, boasting stunning beaches and exploding with flavour, known as the “breadbasket” of Italy
  • Sorrento – Known for its Lemoncello and historical landmarks
  • Italian Riviera – The home of Cinque Terre and beautiful fresh produce.
  • Sicily – Sicilian cuisine and sandy beaches
Belmond Hotel Caruso view in Amalfi coast, perfect for Beach wedding in Italy

The Degree of Beach

Having a beach wedding in Italy you are spoilt for choice, able to cater for any couples desire,even up to how much beach they want. 

With luxury villas and hotels resting on the seaside or mounted on the ocean cliffs, you have control of how sandy you want your toes to get. 

You could be fully immersed, saying your vowels next to the waves or miles above it on top of a cliff with the stretching ocean as your backdrop.

Vibrant houses on a cliff by the ocean, capturing the essence of a beach wedding in Italy's Riviera Liguria.

Accessibility

When planning your beach wedding in Italy it is vital to consider accessibility to your venue, for your vendors and guests, whether on the beach or miles above, accessibility should be the priority. 

If you decide to get married at Capri, an island just off the Amalfi coast, consider the logistics of getting all your guests there in time. The same is true with being on a long stretch of beach, make sure all your guests know how to locate the ceremony and have access to it.

Depending on your party you may have to think about putting in ramps or boardwalks to cater for the elderly or handicapped guests to make it out onto the beach safely.

Permits

Many beaches in Italy are open to the public, so you must get the relevant permits to have your beach wedding. This may not always be necessary but better to do your research to avoid any hick-ups on your big day, talk to your wedding planner about how to obtain permits if needed.

Avoid the Crowds

It is important to choose a location that offers a sense of privacy to avoid wedding crashers. The time of year and day you want to get married is vital to research beforehand.

2) Know your Environment

Being surrounded by nature on your wedding day is truly magical, with the sand between your toes, sun on your skin and wind through your hair. However, it can be unpredictable so it is essential to plan for all possible outcomes.

Let your location speak for itself and let its natural beauty show. You do not want to compete with it when it comes to extra decor, less is always more. You can, however have pops of colour in your flowers to contrast the sand and sea, think local and see what natural product is available to add this contrast.

Beach Set up

If you plan to be married on an Italian beach next to the lapping waves and in the sand, there are a few things one needs to consider when planning the set-up:

Sturdy seating

Being in the sand you must have sturdy seating for your guests. Look at seating that will not sink in the sand, be hefty enough not to blow away in the wind or collapse with the uneven grounding.

Changes like the weather

Regardless if you are on the beach or not, if you are outdoors for your ceremony, you are at the mercy of the elements. This includes everything from rain to shine. 

Consider planning your ceremony in the morning or late afternoon to avoid guests being in direct sun at midday. If it is expected to be full sun, think about providing favours to make your guests, keep them cool and comfortable such as Panama hats, day umbrellas or fans. 

With warmer weather, it may also be wise to have refreshments available at the beginning of the ceremony.

It is also wise to have a backup plan when it comes to an outdoor Italian beach wedding, in case the weather changes drastically with rain or wind.

Another thought for guest favours is to have a shoe changing station. If you are having a beach wedding, to avoid guests having sandy shoes you could gift them all a pair of flip flops to wear during the ceremony.

Hearing your vows

As soothing as the wind and waves may be, they can drown out your voices, leaving your guests strained trying to hear your vows. Having a sound system in place will prove hugely helpful for your guests and even your videographer.

3) Dress to impress with your wedding attire

Having a beach wedding in Italy will cause all your senses to be tantalised with calm and romantic vibes of tranquillity. Your attire should match this spirit of harmony, consider wearing lighter shades to keep you cool. Avoid stuffy suits and uncomfortable shoes.

We suggest ditching the heels and opting for delicate sandals or barefoot.

When selecting your dress, think about how the material will feel and flow on the day. Look for light, airy dresses that will have a playful element on the beach, with materials like chiffon or charmeuse. 

Trains and heavy gowns may be difficult to manoeuvre down the aisle, ultimately leaving you hot and flustered on your big day. When it comes to your hair, try an updo to avoid your hair blowing around during the ceremony, so you can focus fully on your partner and what they are saying, we also think this allows for unobstructed pictures. 

The same is true with a vail, more likely than not it is going to be a bit windy so consider skipping on the vail.

A small side note for you to consider before your Italian beach wedding is what swimwear and shirts you will be wearing before the wedding. Being in a sunny destination you are bound to catch a bit of sun, make sure you avoid tan lines that do not fit your dress style.

Consider a spray tan if necessary, always have plenty of SPF on and avoid basking in the sun days before your wedding, you would hate to be burnt walking down the aisle.

Bride getting ready with hair updo for her Beach Wedding in Italy

Brief your guests

When sending invitations out to your guests for your Italian beach wedding let them know the exact dress code for your big day. Depending on your location you may discourage heels and penguin suits.

Promate light flowing outfits to ensure everyone is comfortable throughout the day. You could even take it a step further and limit the colour pallet and aesthetic, this always results in having the most beautiful pictures.

A bride at a beach wedding in Italy, holding two wedding rings nestled in the sand.

Start Planning Your Beach Wedding in Italy

Beach weddings are always alluring and Italian beaches add that extra layer of romance and luxury with turquoise, blue waters and breathtaking views. The crisp air is transcending and you can not help but be infatuated with the whole experience of starting your next chapter together.

Italy is the perfect place to have a beach wedding and VB- Events is the perfect planner to help make your dream day a reality, stress-free. Book a free consultation now.