What to wear to a destination wedding in Italy

Men have it easy when it comes to what to wear to a wedding!

It is January and I have just received the first wedding invitation of 2011 to a friend’s wedding. I was delighted to see they stipulated the dress code (white tie) and it made me think, what will I wear! You would think when it comes to the question of  what to wear to a wedding I would not have to even think about it, but unlike my staple wardrobe of dresses and outfits for work, when I am climbing up ladders and carrying massive vases of flowers, not to mention the running through the streets of Siena in 40 degrees heat, this time I am a guest and I need to find a full length evening gown!

I think because I think it is so important that guests also look fab, I put a lot of pressure on myself. There is a need for extra effort to be put in so that my friend knows it was an honour to have been invited to her very special day and as a mark of respect I will dress up and look glam for the occasion!

It has made me think about the guests who will be receiving their invitations in the post in the near future for a destination wedding in Italy. How to make it easier for them to decide what to wear? What should they take in to consideration? Below is some ideas that will hopefully help your guests get ready for your destination wedding in Italy!

Nothing is more garish at a country wedding than edgy couture. Stick to pastel tea-length or eyelet dresses and peep-toe flats so you don’t get you Louboutin heels stuck in the cobbles in the sleepy Tuscan village!

Designer: Carolina Herrera

The long, print maxi dress was made for hot destination weddings and prints are back for 2011. Since you've spent your savings on a ticket, skip the shoe splurge and slip into metallic gladiator sandals. The 5'4" groomsman will thank you.

Designer: JS Collections Print Chiffon Gown 

This season is full of colour and in the chic cities of Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice, make a statement with a splash of colour!

Designer: Versace

Jemma Kidd and Arthur Wellesley at Prince Nikolaos wedding

Remind your guests if you are having a Catholic Church wedding in Italy, to bring something to cover their shoulders. On a practical note a shawl will also keep the sun off delicate pale skin and as the sun goes down keep the evening chill away!

Wedding in Positano
Walking back down the hill from the town hall of Positano located at the top of the town... resulting in rushing in to shoe shops on the way down to buy flip flops!



Wearing closed shoes in the summer time in Italy is a definite no no! It is just too hot!  With the amount of walking I do on the day of a wedding  a pair of flip flops or elegant sandals to slip on is a must. Let your guests know if the streets are cobbled or if there is any walking involved on the day of your wedding so they are forewarned and can decided on the correct foot wear.

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!

15 good reasons to get married in Italy

                                          Wedding's in Italy

I read the following list in Joanne Dunn’s wedding photographer’s blog and well could not have put it better so I am borrowing it!


15 good reasons to get married in Italy...
1. Weddings are an institution in Italy and therefore are super organised. Large Italian weddings are notorious all over the world (they take their traditions with them where ever they go). So everybody from wedding planners, venues, hairdressers and florists work a lot. Practise makes perfect and so it’s safe to say Italy offers some of the world’s finest wedding service providers.






2. Italy is seriously beautiful from Lake Como (where George Clooney lives) to Sardinia and everywhere in between. It seems to have many worlds contained in one, so no matter what your taste; your desires can be satisfied.



3. The food is amazing and is so varied from one neighbouring town to the other. Johnny Depp can be quoted as once saying “it hard to get a bad meal in Italy”.



4. It’s about as romantic as it can get. From the old architecture to the old folks sitting watching on the piazza. Can’t really beat Italy for a little bit of “amore”.



5. If you like fireworks Italy has a long fireworks tradition and just about any venue can organise a fireworks display.



6. The live music which is available is quite astounding even in little towns like Ravello. You can find just about anything imaginable from classic to jazz, from Opera to Hip Hop. Just as Justin Timberlake discovered last summer when he was caught getting down to the tunes of the local Ravello DJ at Villa Cimbrone.



7. Delicious wine and “prosecco”.
 8. Some of the most beautiful cities in the world are in Italy. Cities adored with amazing architecture and art. The streets bustle with life and history. Hours can be spent sipping wine at the café on the piazza.



9. The weather is mild and a delight with most of the rain coming in Autumn and winter. But we do not recommend August because it can get very hot.

10. Venues which are quite sublime, there is with something for everyone.



11. It’s a great people ‘weeder’. The reason so many couples choose destination weddings, is that for the same price of having a big ‘come all’ wedding back home, they can have a smaller wedding with only those they really want at the wedding.
 12. All your guests will be in a holiday spirit and way from their reality. They are therefore far more likely to let down their hair and kick off their shoes. SO not only will you be giving your guests a dream wedding to attend but also a little holiday in the mix.
 13. Italians understand and love, LOVE. The have written, sang and died in the name of love for centuries. They are a passionate and emotional bunch, if you are in love you will feel at home.



14. Italians are warm and very hospitable. They welcome foreigners and pride themselves on being friendly. Doesn’t hurt that the men are shall we say sensitive to a girls need for a little attention.



15. Italians are known for their style and taste. Which will naturally be infused into your wedding and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

SAVE THE DATE CARDS!

WINSLET SAVE THE DATE CARDS BY EB1 WEDDING INVITATIONS

Sending out 'Save the Date' cards to your guests are a wonderful way to generate excitement and, most importantly, allow your loved ones plenty of time to make arrangements to share in your special day. Especially important for friends and family who will be traveling to your wedding in Italy, Save the Dates encourage travelers to take advantage of travel deals, book flights, and make any other necessary plans sooner than later.

If your wedding date falls on or around any holidays, or if it's taking place at a popular vacation or destination spot, you should consider sending out your Save the Dates at least five months in advance. In these situations, your guests will likely be thinking of your event as a vacation and will appreciate having the time and information to plan accordingly.
When should Save the Dates be sent?


Think of your Save the Date cards as a preliminary invitation to your wedding. They should be sent at least four months before the wedding date. Your wedding invitations should follow about two months later.
If you are asking guests to travel a great distance, take time off work, or travel during peak seasons, the sooner you can let them know the better! In these circumstances, it's not uncommon to send Save the Date announcements as much as twelve months in advance!!

Wedding in Siena

Janine and Ashley were married in a beautiful ceremony in Siena followed by a lavish reception in a Tuscan castle... 

Janine and Ashley were married on a beautiful summer’s day in my favorite Tuscan city of Siena.

Watched by 120 of their closest friends and family they exchanged their vows. The wedding ceremony was translated to them by Kelly Hayes from The Italian Wedding Planner, who after months of working closely with Janine and Ashley felt honored to be asked to perform this service inside the wedding hall of Palazzo Pubblico.

Photographs by Edoardo

Beautiful wedding photography in Italy

Photographers...

Almost as important as the wedding itself, quality wedding photographs help your memories last a lifetime. Long after the ceremony is over and as you spend the rest of your lives together, you'll gaze fondly at the pictures taken on your wedding day. You'll want photos to share with friends and family, to display in your home, and to fill your wedding album which you may share with future generations...

Since photographs are such an important and lasting keepsake, you want them handled well. With such an important occasion as your wedding, you cannot afford any slipups, mistakes, or mishaps. Poorly taken wedding photographs are not just a disappointment; they can ruin your chances of revisiting the many beautiful details of your wedding day, long after your memory has begun to fade.

Over the years we have composed a list of wonderful photographers. We like to create a TEAM with solid and trusted partners and all the photographers we recommend have a long and successful relationship with us: we enjoy their friendship as much as we love their photos!

Photo by Sim

Kelly Hayes The Italian Wedding Planner

I have lived and worked in Italy since 2004. I set up the business in June 2005 and have rapidly increased our profile in the wedding industry here in Italy not only by hard work, but mostly by being so passionate about what we do.

I started by thinking about why I wanted to jump off my career path in the UK. And the conclusion I came to was that I had lost the passion for what I was doing.

Then I thought about what made me feel passionate – and I decided that anything to do with people and organising really excited me. Anything to do with weddings appealed to my romantic side and anything to do with Italy makes me happy.

I had seen friends, colleagues and associates rushing around like mad things planning their weddings and not always getting ‘stuff’ done. I heard so many people complaining there just weren’t enough hours in the day. And I also noticed that people getting married in Italy found it a minefield of paperwork on top of the stress of dealing with Italians and their unique quirky ways!

I knew I couldn’t physically make the day longer, make the paperwork go away or make the Italians work faster. But I could offer practical help. Someone to do everything for them, organise things, make things happen; someone who they could trust 100% and who had a passion for getting things right – first time, every time; someone who was not going to put mark up’s on the quotes but who would be honest with them and work to organise their wedding as if it were my own.

With a father who was an executive head chef and mother a florist, I feel as if I have grown up in this business, managing 'on-the-day' is what I have done my whole life. My passion for the designing and planning never dims; add to this, my cheeky side and my outspoken and honest nature...and you can be sure I get the job done with ease and a smile. My team and I excel at it... it gives us a buzz. And so the ideas develop…

We believe every wedding is unique and it is for this reason we do not offer ‘wedding packages’. We help the bride and groom achieve a wedding day that is as unique as they are. 
 

As a wedding planner it is not about my personal style, it is about being able to recognise the style, tastes and wishes of any prospective couple and bring them into being. Consequently my styling may sometimes be very traditional; other times I may style a wedding in a modern and contemporary manner. If I had to sum up my preferred style for a wedding I would say: elegant, simple and timeless.
Italy the perfect backdrop for your wedding all year round...

Getting married in Italy

So what is it that makes Italy the perfect back drop for your wedding? There is something very romantic about Italy, maybe it is that special light, the wonderful food or something you just cannot put your finger on. Italy is such a very special place a mix of old and new. A wonderful land that opens her heart to all, but especially those who enjoy fine wine and mouth watering delicacies!

The breathtaking churches and town halls, the venues with views out over the sea or one of the beautiful lakes, not to mention the beautiful countryside or sophisticated cities. Not only will you have a beautiful wedding, your guests shall be left with wonderful memories of your wedding in Italy....

Most couples plan a three day event, for example:

Friday - Welcome cocktails or BBQ

Saturday - The Wedding

Sunday - Lunch or dinner by the pool


We have in the past organised a vast range of fun events to entertain wedding guests during their stay: early morning hot air ballooning; wine tours; dinner onboard an old sailboat as it cruised around the Venetian lagoon.; cocktails on roof top terrace looking out over Florence; a welcome dinner on the beach with guests arriving by boat; Pizza in the Piazza and drinks and salami in the local village bar just to mention a few!

Italy, think Venice, Florence, Siena, Rome and don’t forget Amalfi, Puglia and the many islands ...

Why engage a wedding planner?

Planning a wedding takes a little more than picking a date, showing up and walking down the aisle. For one thing 90% of the couples we work with live in the UK, USA, Ireland and Australia! Then there is that not so small detail of dealing with the locals, the language barrier as well as the cultural differences which can cause confusion and frustration.

There was a time when wedding planners were an extravagance reserved for the mega rich and famous. These days hiring a coordinator is, if not commonplace in your home country, increasingly popular when getting married abroad.

Why? Well apart from the paperwork and the language issues, most couples have full time jobs that do not allow them a lot of free time. When planning a wedding from thousands of miles away having a cool headed, organised professional around to take on some of the burden is still a luxury, but many brides feel the payoff- less time focused on the little details, more time focused on the big day – is priceless.

What can we do for you? We will introduce you to beautiful locations or work with a venue of your choice. We will suggest vendors and negotiate with them for the best price and service; take care of the responsibilities you’d prefer not to tackle; be there the day of your wedding (and other events around your wedding if required) to make sure everything runs smoothly; and serve occasionally as an impromptu therapist when mounting stress turns you into a crazed tulle-obsessed mess.

Part of our job is to deliver your wedding within budget and to utilise our relationships with vendors to save you money. So if you are a bride or groom who gets hives just thinking about negotiating costs with vendors you many appreciate having an unabashed and experienced third party around to talk numbers.
Beautiful bespoke weddings in Italy… Expertly planned