Magical winter weddings in Italy

As August comes to a close and September is upon us, the quieter season is in sight. While in the office we don't have a 'quiet season' as it is in the winter months when we spend more time in the office putting together beautiful weddings in Italy. 

Most weddings take place between May and September as a lot of people think of Italy as a summer destination. However we have noticed a trend for weddings in the cooler months of October and November flowing in to the winter months. 

During October and November the south of Italy still offers warm days, with temperatures of around 20oc. Later in the year think chic winter weddings! There is something very glamourise about an Alpine wedding, with view which can boast to be amongst the best in the world, a magical atmosphere with roaring fires, candle light and mulled wines...

Cortina d'Ampezzo is a  picture-perfect Alpine town, with cobbled streets set amid the jagged Dolomites,  Italy’s answer to St. Moritz. Cortina d’Ampezzo is famous for its nightly passeggiata that turns the main street, Corso Italia, into a Milan-like catwalk while Ferraris jockey for parking spaces. The chic winter inhabitants sleep late, ski fast and socialise a lot. 

Then there are the gems of Italy... Venice, Verona, Florence, Siena and Rome which get decked out in Christmas lights making the city twinkle by night and with crisp blue skies by day not forgetting the amazing scenery!

In addition to the glamour of a winter wedding in Italy couples are weighing up the finical benefits in these hard economic times and not giving up on their dream wedding in Italy, they are opting for the low season to reap the benefits. 

In the 'quiet season' there are more opportunities to save in your budget, with cheaper flights and hotel accommodation it is also possible to negotiate on the cost of the meal right through to your photographer. This is great if your budget is a bit tight or if you want a little more for your money. 

For more information on winter weddings in Italy please e-mail us at info@theitalianweddingplanner.com 

The Festa del Redentore

Getting married in Venice at any time of the year is incredibly special, but there are a few dates throughout the year which depending on your point of view, could add to your very special day. This weekend has seen the Festa del Redentore, some of you may not have heard of this popular Venitian celebration as it is not as well known as the Venice carnival,but it is  a spectacular celebration that attracts thousands of visitors. 

I can imagine some of you might be thinking that the idea of this beautiful city filling with thousands of visitors on your wedding weekend might not be a great idea, but The Italian Wedding Planner would organise your wedding day so that you would get the opportunity to experience this spectacular festival without having to deal with the crowds or lose out on the romance of the city of Venice. 



Just picture a beautiful wedding celebration in Venice, this could be a civil ceremony, religious ceremony or a symbolic celebration, on the Saturday morning. After the ceremony celebrate your marriage with a mouthwatering lunch over looking the grand canal and then as the sun is setting, take to the water in a privately chartered boat and join the flock of boats who have taken to the water on this day as they have for centuries. 

 Cruise along with all the boats decked out with balloons, decorations and brightly coloured lanterns,  flock into St. Mark’s Bay and the Giudecca Canal. The boats then moor alongside each other and along with all the participants enjoy a sumptuous dinner of traditionalVenetian specialities while you wait for the firework display that begins at 11.30pm and lasts until well past midnight.

Depending on the size of your wedding and the size of boat you would like, it would be possible to arrange music and dancing onboard. You could be cutting your wedding cake as the sky erupts in colour... 


The following day enjoy a series of gondola races, organised as part of the “Voga alla Veneta” rowing season. 

The Festa del Redentore is a tradition that dates back to 1577. It was first held to celebrate the city’s deliverance from a terrible plague and the construction of Palladio’s “Redentore” (Redeemer) Church, commissioned for the same reason.
The Church, built on the Island of the Giudecca, can still be reached by pilgrims during the festival by means of an impressive 330-metre-long pontoon bridge.


If you like the idea of getting married in Venice during this historical event, please contact us for more information. Please note If you wish to host your wedding in Venice in the month of July, specifically during the Redentore, it would be advisable to start planning you wedding before the end of the year.

www.theitalianweddingplanner.com

Venice...

Last night I went to for dinner with friends in Venice. No matter how many times I come in to Venice, or have walked down the same street, I find myself having to pause to look at something that takes my breath away.

Yesterday it was the light of the setting sun on the buildings as we crossed the Rialto bridge, gondolas gracefully paddling along the grand Canal, couples smiling at each other and the feeling that there must be love in a city so magical!

Venice just feels... romantic, making it a fabulous backdrop for your wedding in Italy.

Please contact us for more information on hosting your wedding in Venice.

Carnevale di Venezia starts today!!!

Finally it is here! The much awaited Carnevale di Venezia starts today with the "grand toast," followed by music and dancing in St. Mark's Square. From today till the 8th March around one million visitors will flock to the Venice carnival.  

Everyone and anyone can join in and dress up for Carnevale!

The Venice carnevale is magical and if you get an opportunity to dress up and join in the fun you should jump at it. Even if you are not going to one of the balls you can still participate in Carnevale!

After all it is Carnevale!!!  

All photos by Kelly Hayes

For more information on the Carnevale di Venezia 2011 please see

 http://tiwp.blogspot.com/2011/01/carnevale-di-venezia-2011.html

Treviso Airport

Photo by Adrian Pingstone.

Treviso airport is going to be closed in the summer of 2011 for essential runway maintenance and possibly the installation of technology which will allow landings in heavy fog. Those of you who fly in to Treviso during the winter will be jumping for joy at the prospect of no diversions to airports on the other side of the country. Unfortunately those of you who have their wedding booked in the months of June, July and August (possibly September) and have plans to use Treviso airport for your guests, will be effected by this closure.

I spoke to Treviso airport this morning who inform me it is probable that all flights in to Treviso will be diverted to Venice airport. Although they cannot guarantee this and do not know what the schedule will be.

With wedding parties expecting to fly in to Treviso from London in June and August, and from all over Ireland in July this news is causing a little ripple in the The Italian Wedding Planner office today.

I have tried to get in contact with Ryanair but so far I have nothing to report. I did find a few contact details if anyone wishes to try:

greenc@ryanair.com  = Head of Customer Service (Caroline Greene)

KellyG@ryanair.com = Customer Service (Gemma walsh)

mcnamara@ryanair.com  = Head of Communications (Stephen McNamara)

PHONE NUMBERS FOR RYANAIR

+353 18121212 Head Office, Dublin, Eire; Fax: +353 18121213;

+353 12497791 Bookings, Eire;

+353 12497700 Customer services menu - Eire;

+353 18121228 Customer services; Fax: +353 18121230 - Eire

For further contact information for Ryanair please  click here  

As soon as I hear anything I shall be sure to post it and if anyone finds out anything please let me know via  e-mail or post a comment below.


For more information on Treviso airport please see our update:
http://tiwp.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-is-going-on-with-treviso-airport.html#more

Map of Treviso and Venice.

Wedding in Venice

Molly and Dave were married in the beautiful city of Venice