How to plan a wedding in Italy?

This question may make brides feel lost, but with the assistance of a local wedding co-ordinator, planning your dream wedding in Italy is much easier than you think. Just follow these simple steps to plan your Italian wedding with ease.

Choose the right planner

The key is to have a reliable wedding planner by your side, not only to convey the planning process, but also at the preliminary stage – estimating all costs involved in the organisation of your Italian wedding.

It is absolutely important to be able to trust the knowledge of a local who can provide you with some average costs for all the potential suppliers.

Be budget-conscious

Obviously, during the planning process each single service will be customised according to your specific requests, but at least you can have a clear idea from the very beginning of the approximate total budget you may require, eliminating any surprise costs at the end.

An experienced planner will surely be very helpful to cut costs here and there, if necessary, in order to respect the set budget.

What type of ceremony would you like?

I normally suggest my clients focus on the type of ceremony they would like because, in Italy, each type of ceremony has a different process to follow and different requirements.

For a legally binding wedding in Italy, the requirements for British citizens are quite easy. You should simply provide a certificate of no impediment and certified copy of your birth certificates that are issued by your local register office, normally 21 days after the day of application.

Once you get these documents, you should post everything, with the copies of your passports to the British Embassy in Rome. The Embassy will issue the “Nulla Osta”, a certificate that testifies that you are free to marry in Italy.

In England, you are normally free to get married in your venue of choice. In Italy, instead, the legally binding weddings are allowed only in properties selected by the town hall.

But this shouldn’t worry you at all because the venues that belong to the municipalities are some of the most historical and prestigious places Italy can offer you.

The location of the ceremony?

For example, if you want to get married in Florence there is, at your disposal, the magical Palazzo della Signoria located in Piazza della Signoria.

If you are considering a wedding in Venice, there is the elegant palace that faces the Rialto Bridge and Canal Grande.

If you wish to get married outdoors in the gardens of a castle then you should consider a wedding in Portofino in the Italian Riviera, in Lake Garda or even in the countryside in beautiful Tuscany.

Italy can also offer you some amazing seaside destinations for your wedding, such as having your civil service on a panoramic terrace overlooking the Amalfi Coast.

These are only a few samples, but the list is practically endless.

The location of the reception

Once you have decided on the location for your ceremony, I would suggest opting for a reception venue, possibly within walking distance (to cut down on transport costs and also to make things easier and more relaxing for guests) or relatively nearby.

Shortly after the confirmation of your Italian ceremony location and reception venue, I would suggest confirming the most urgent services:  the choice of your photographer and, if needed, your videographer.

Food

In Italy food is always a precise art that requires preparation, so it won’t be possible to order a different menu for guests for the same night of the reception.

It is preferable to confirm in advance if you would like some different foods on the menu. In the case of particularly fussy guests, you can provide a few different options, but have guests confirm in advance. This way you could make your guests happy and avoid problems at the venue on your special day.

The rest…

You may leave other items on your checklist closer to the big day, such as flowers, decorations, music and beauty services (make-up and hair). However, if you are anxious to have everything planned beforehand, let’s say three months before the wedding is ideal. Towards the end of this last period, you can concentrate on some little yet important details and leave your worries behind on your perfect Italian wedding day.

Federica founded The Italian Wedding Event in 2005 after four years’ experience with top American and British wedding planning agencies. Federica’s background in performing arts is noticeable in her approach to event design and organisation, characterised by an unmistakable mark of creativity and attention to detail for aesthetics.

Her Venetian origins spurred a passion for wine-making, and she had the opportunity to expand her knowledge of food and wine during her work with major hotels throughout the country.

For more information visit  italianweddingevent.com.

(Featured image by italianweddingevent.com)