Trust your wedding planner when selecting your photographer...

Barbara Perotti Casagrande

I have learnt a lot from our Photographers and I have the deepest respect my wedding  photographers, however when we recommend a photographer it is because they are able to produce the images we think will best reflect the style of the bride and groom.

While the final product is the most important aspect in our decisions when we recommend photographers there are many other aspects that we take in to consideration. We select photographers who are professional, great to work with and understand what is expected of them.  We have worked with many different photographers over the years and have now weeded out the ones who don't fit in to our high expectations and have selected the ones we know produce amazing photographs, who connect with the couple and their guests and are professional but fun to work with.

Edoardo Agresti

Recently a photographer told me  that ''working with a wedding planner is amazing, they are like gold to be connected to. You know you are going to be working with a professional and in a great team.''

As bride and grooms trust their wedding planner 100%,when they receive a list of photographers or videographers they know they are getting the best of the crop. It is as simple as that. Our referral is a very strong referral, it is almost as strong as your best friend saying I used them and loved them they were great!

We always ask for a copy of the dvd of photos, so we can see the final results and make sure that the quality of photographs are perfect. That way we make sure the photographer delivers what they promise to deliver and what was expected of them.

We also only recommend photographers who we respect and return this respect, after all we work as a team and no one wants to work with people who are not team players. Our brides and grooms know when we recommend someone it is because they are the best in every aspect.

Neil Walker

When we recommend photographers we give our couples all the information so they can make a decision of the photographer who's work they like the best. They are advised to check out the photographers web site and blog, get  feel for them and if possible meet them. We understand when you are getting married in Italy the idea of finding a wedding photographer is overwhelming, which is why we have composed a list of the best photographers.  We work with photographers all over Italy, the UK, Ireland and the USA, selecting the right photographers to recommend for your wedding day inside your budget.

sim canetty-clarke

Once the photographer has been contracted we work very closely with them on the run up to the wedding day. As with all of our suppliers we send out a time line and arrange to meet in the weeks before the wedding to go over the game plan either in person or in that wonderful world of Skype. With photographers we talk about what the bride and groom have in their minds, if there is time to go to a location for a photo shoot before going to the venue for cocktails. We try and keep the photo shoot as short as possible after all it is the couples wedding day and they don't want to hang out with the photographer and the wedding planner, they want to be with their friends and family!

Carlo Carletti 

Occasionally we meet photographers that the clients have contracted independently, when it is someone who's work we admire and who's personality and professionalism is to our high standards, we make sure to keep in touch with them and are happy to recommend them to future bride and grooms. 

Occasionally we come across photographers who don't meet the standard, whose behaviour is not professional and can put a black cloud over the couples most important day. Those cowboys are the ones we make sure to never work with again. After all we don't work on commission or place mark ups on prices so for us we have only two invested interests in who the client engages as their wedding photographer.... Beautiful photos which show the couple and all our hard work in the best light possible and a happy respectful and professional working environment.

Alfonso Longobardi

Place your trust in your wedding planner and they will make sure you get the best service providers!

Wedding Day Checklist

Happy New Year!

For many of my brides the start of the Year in which they are to be married suddenly marks  the reality of only weeks or months till their wedding day!

Having a check list is imperative to ensure you don't miss out any of the essential elements for your wedding day, but as your day approaches the check lists continue ten folds to make sure nothing is missed or over looked.

Top 5 things to have on your wedding day in Italy check list:

1. Wedding documents! Double check you have all your original documents ready to be presented and that you have obtained all the correct permits for the wedding in Italy to be legally binding. Which also brings me to permits Have all the additional permits required by the town where you are to be married ready and on hand.  This includes parking and access permits for the bridal car, music in a public area permit, fireworks in the summer season and you should also check with your venue if you need to apply for additional electricity for the band and marquee. Do not forget to apply for the music tax forms!
2. Schedule. Write a time line and make sure everyone in the main wedding party receive a copy so they know where they are supposed to be and when.  A schedule is also really helpful for family members so they know what is going on and don't keep asking what happens next! I always make sure that all of the suppliers get a copy and that it has contact numbers for all of the suppliers listed. Make sure the schedule is as detailed as possible!
3.  Attire. Prepare all of your attire. This means: the dress, the undergarments, the makeup, the jewelry, the wedding shoes, the hair pieces. Start from top to bottom and make sure you have a full inventory of everything you will be wearing on that day. Don't forget the little details like undergarments. Also, don't forget anything else like stickies or that lipstick you want to use to reapply throughout the night. Put it all in one place, assign one of your bridesmaids or family members to make sure it is all there and to help you bring it over for the big day.
4. Photography list. Spend sometime writing out a list of all the photos you would like of your day and the people you would like to ensure are included in a photo with you. Send this to your photographer in advance AND make sure someone gives it to your photographer on the day. It is a good idea to have someone like the best man or one of your family members help identify the family members when the photos are being taken. It is a good time after the ceremony to have all of the group photos so people can let their hair down and kick off their shoes afterwards.  
5. Music. Preparing your music list in advance allows you to sit back, relax and enjoy your day and night! From what is to be played while you walk down the aisle to any songs you love to dance to! Also make a list of songs you do not want to hear! Make sure your musicians or DJ have this list in advance!

Bride ideas and frock ups!

When Amanda Lockhart, Susannah Frieze and the wonderful Sim Canetty-Clarke  published their book last year I was delighted. Full of funny stories and stunning photographs!

A must read for any bride to be!

http://www.brideideasandfrockups.com/

Why get married in Italy?

Maybe the question should not be why you should go to Italy, the birthplace of the phrase la dolce vita (the sweet life), but where in this country of art, ancient history, ethereal vistas, top-notch cuisine, and abundant wine (Italy leads the world with more than four million acres of vineyards) is the ideal destination for you!

                                                                       photo by Edoardo Agresti  

Northern Italy

From the small villages lining Lake Como to the cities of Venice, Milan, Padova, Verona and many more packed with art, architecture, fine dining, and fashion. Northern Italy offers old-world culture mixed with modern cities and historic attractions. On top of this the North of Italy is also perfect for white winter weddings in magical towns and villages in the Dolomites ...

Central Italy

Romantic cities of Florence, Siena, Roma shine out as the perfect locations for city weddings, cities that capture the magic that is Italy!


At the same time the countryside and small towns of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio offer a wealth of breathtaking views, venues and with the welcoming hospitality and mouth watering delicacies it is easy to understand why Italy is one of the most popular destination wedding locations in the world!

Southern Italy

 

When it comes to picturesque settings, it’s hard to beat southern Italy, with its majestic peaks, gentle valleys, and miles of lovely coastline. Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, the island of Capri all conjure up images of sparkling blue water and bright pink wild flowers, colourful hillside villas and churches with their gem like domes.

The south also offers the magical area of Pulglia The beauty weddings in Puglia is undeniable. The region is less crowded, the weather is (normally) perfect, clean ocean waters on three sides of the region. The wine selection is great, the food such as homemade pasta, seafood, and fabulous desserts is undeniably good and the people are extremely friendly.

                                                                                                  photo by Joanne Dunn