5 top tips to plan an intimate destination wedding in Italy
Dreaming of a destination wedding in Italy? It's little surprise that Italy is top of the wedding location wish list for so many couples, with grand villas on the shores of glittering lakes and nestled in rolling hills to ancient abbeys and medieval castles. And let's not forget the incredible food and wine!
With more and more of people opting for intimate weddings in favour of big soirées, destination weddings in Italy are further within reach. So where do you start? We asked European fine art photography duo Jacob and Pauline for their 5 top tips to plan an intimate destination wedding in Italy.
1. Decide on the region
There's no shortage of stunning wedding venues in Italy, in fact there are so many it can be difficult to know where to start. So think about which region you want to travel to and what kind of experience you want for you and your guests. Will it be the Amalfi coast in the south, with its sheer cliffs and rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches and pastel-colored fishing villages? Or perhaps Tuscany in central Italy, home to dramatic landscapes, hilltop towns and the historic cities of Florence and Siena? Or perhaps Lake Como is more your style, an upscale resort area located in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region and known for its dramatic scenery, set against the foothills of the Alps.
2. Draft your budget and guest list
It's important to figure out how much you can spend early on to keep your wedding expectations in check. You'll also need an idea of how many guests you'll be inviting to celebrate with you, so you can focus on venues that have the right capacity and fit within your budget. Small weddings will open up the option of private villas, where you can host close friends and family in on-site accommodation for the duration of your stay.
3. Hire an Italian wedding planner
Hiring a wedding planner with knowledge of your chosen region will be invaluable, particularly if you don't speak Italian and don't know the country well. From venue scouting and hiring vendors, to legal paper work, budget management and ensuring your wedding vision comes to life, we can't recommend hiring a great Italian wedding planner enough.
4. Choose your dream wedding venue
Now you've chosen the region, sorted your budget and guest count, you're ready to start narrowing down your venue options with your planner. There's lots to consider, such as catering and decor services - are they offered by the venue or do you need to hire them separately? Plus transfers and accommodation for you and your guests, as well as activities for before and after the wedding like local tours, wine tasting, boat trips and wellness spas.
5. Hire your destination wedding photographer
Many great photographers travel to capture weddings around the world so you don't need to choose one based in the region where your wedding is taking place. That said, aside from choosing a photographer whose aesthetic you love and you have a nice rapport with, you'll need to factor in additional costs for anyone coming from out of town, such as travel, food and accommodation. Use Instagram and Pinterest to look for photographers who have worked at your venue or in the general area before as their experience and knowledge will help ensure you get beautiful images.
vendor details
Photography: Jacob and Pauline | Decor and flowers: Flowers Living | Venue: Villa la Massa | Make-up artist: Valeriya Beauty | Cake: Villa la Massa | Band: Florence String Quartet | DJ: Dj Crescendo | Wedding gown: Lee Grebenau | Engagement rings: Blue Nile Diamond | Wedding rings: Cartier | Bride's shoes: Jimmy Choo | Jewelry and hairpieces: Nea Milano | Bride’s accessories: Daily Sleeper and Simone Perele| Groom's suit: Inventory Co. | Groom's shoes: Shoe Passion | Stationery and calligraphy: Laura Mazzetti
