Location Location Location!

The idea of getting married in Italy is growing in your mind, for every individual Italy means so many different vistas... When you are just starting to think about getting married in Italy how do you know which one is right for your nuptials?

When you look up Italy you get the main locations of Venice, Florence, Rome, The Lakes and The Amalfi coast popping up. You might look at which one is closest to the airport you and your guests will be arriving in to or if you are from the USA, you might think what a small country Italy is and what a great opportunity it would be to spend a night in Rome or Florence before traveling on to where your wedding will be celebrated!

Italy has so many beautiful locations seeped in hundreds of years of history, amazing scenery, wonderful food, friendly locals, and if you are looking for a city wedding, a country wedding or a coastal wedding picking a single location containing the unique ambiance, atmosphere and romantic sensation for your wedding can seem daunting. 

At The Italian Wedding Planner we have a vast knowledge of wonderful venues all over Italy and are here to help you select from venues we trust to deliver you a  perfect wedding day! Please contact us to go over your ideas and for information on wedding venues all over Italy. 

How much does a wedding in Italy cost?

  What is the average budget for a wedding in Italy?...  It maybe the unromantic part of getting married but it is the most important element towards your wedding day.

Getting married in Italy does not always mean saving money, you will probably spend the same as you would at home. The difference is the quality you will receive for your money!

What it comes down to is you are just about to spend a chunk of your savings, so lets look at ways to make your money go further!

1. Research

Do as much research as possible on everything that you plan to spend money on and only use reputable firms/individuals for all your wedding needs. The Italian Wedding Planner is the only wedding planner in Italy, (to our knowledge and we have asked a lot of our suppliers to confirm this) who do not work on commission! Wedding planners who do work on commission can cost you up to 20% extra on everything from the florist to the venue! I totally disagree with this and the practice of mark ups and guarantee that we pass all the savings on to you!

2. Bank charges

You’re likely to get charged a foreign transaction fee every time you pay the venue, photographer, caterers and so on. High street banks often charge £25 or more just to transfer your money, and banks can also charge commission and take overseas delivery charges. By setting up an overseas bank account, and transferring your money in one go, you will incur less transfer charges, getting a better exchange rate and can make payments locally.

3. Fix your exchange rate

 Using a foreign exchange specialist can allow you to lock into an exchange rate for up to two years, so you can accurately budget how much things will cost. By doing this you won’t have to worry about rates worsening as you book the different elements of your wedding.

4. Using your credit card

 Be aware that credit cards can incur a transaction fee when paying for/booking venues or if paying for a wedding planner etc. Additionally, they can be even more costly when paying suppliers as they can charge commission and offer a poor exchange rate.

5. Hidden fees

 Watch out for extra costs involved when choosing a destination and/or venue such as document translation fees.

6.Check the small print

Most contracts will be in Italian, ask for them in English or get your planner to go over them with you.

 If you choose to arrange your wedding through a company/wedding planner, it’s also vital that you check the small print carefully. Check exactly what is and what is not included in the price.

7. Don’t forget the budget

 Set a budget limit and try to stick to it. This will help ensure costs don’t spiral out of control and you don’t overspend on the essentials or splash out too much on those luxurious extras.

8.Order your currency

You are getting married in Italy, the quotes you will be given are all in euro, please if you are paying suppliers in cash, do not turn up in Italy with dollars! I know that sounds so silly but trust me I have seen this happen! It is near on impossible to change large sums f money in an Italian bank with out a bank account. Please if you are paying in cash make sure you have ordered your euros at home to pay the suppliers in Italy!

Also remember your guests will probably require currency if they are travelling overseas for your wedding. Make sure they don’t get ripped off with charges and poor exchange rates; ordering currency before the wedding, for home delivery or branch collection, will mean their money goes further.

Top 5 reasons for a destination wedding



Wedding in Rome



Not that you need 5 reasons to have a destination wedding in Italy but we thought we would post this anyway...

1) You Actually Spend Time With Your Guests - At a destination wedding, your guests typically stay a day or two, so there is more opportunity to interact and spend time with them compared to a standard 5-hour wedding at home.

 2) Cost - Destination weddings are not as expensive as you might think. In fact, most destination weddings are considerably less expensive than traditional weddings (assuming you are not paying for travel for your entire guest list). You should also keep in mind even if it compairs to the costs of a wedding at home you get so much more for your money hosting your wedding in Italy!

 3) Every Wedding Requires Travel Now - When was the last time you went to a wedding and nobody had to travel?  No matter where you hold your wedding, over half the guests would have to travel somewhere. So why not have everyone travel to Italy? The location for your wedding shouldn't just be where it's convenient, it should be where you want to get married.

  4) You Like To Travel - If you are a person that wants to see the world, travel and experiance other coltures why not make it a part of your wedding? Few things in this world could be more romantic than a destination wedding in Italy. The country's natural beauty, rich cultural history, and fantastic food lend itself perfectly to a destination wedding.

 5) It Minimizes Tensions - Once you've made the big decision to have a destination wedding, everything else is easy. There's less to fight about with fiancé or parents or future in-laws. Really. I promise.


So, my recommendation to everyone is to have a destination wedding. Take a leap  of faith and be prepared to have the most amazing day of your life!

Kelly Hayes The Italian wedding planner

A small selection of photos of past weddings in Italy that make me smile!  Hope you enjoy!

Cocktails!

With the wedding season well and truly under way there are evenings when I enjoy sitting in my garden relaxing in the hammock sipping a summer cocktail!

Compliments of  web coist

Personally for weddings in Italy I think it is best to stick with Prosecco for the welcome cocktails and offer a selection of fun cocktails for after dinner when the dancing starts and you will need to quench your thirst! It also sets the scene for a kicking off your shoes and letting your hair down!

mionetto prosecco

Smokey Grapefruit Margarita

Compliments of Well Fed

Apple Raspberry Mojito

Compliments of The Mojito Company

Limoncello Lemonade

Compliments of The Noble Pig

Pimms!

Compliments of Essentially England

And finally the one that I think is perfect even if it is the only cocktail on offer...

The classic Mojito

Compliments of The Mojito Company

While the others may win with their looks, the simple Mojito seems to be a winner at weddings!

Wedding dress trends for 2011

www.verawangonweddings.com

2011 might seem like a long way off, but bridal gown designers are already hard at work creating the beautiful styles which brides next year will all be coveting. Set to debut in a few months, the first crop of 2011 gowns are embellished with many dimensional details, lots of hand stitched crystals, and large floral appliqués. Take a sneak peek into the romantic style of the latest wedding gown trends.

www.pronovias.com

For the last few seasons, ruffles have been one of the biggest ways that designers have chosen to add volume and visual interest to their gowns. The bridal gowns which are set to debut soon move away from the ruffle trend, but not from the idea of using embellishments to add volume and femininity. Instead of ruffles, look for gowns with hundreds of tiny three dimensional flowers stitched all over them. Soft petals are another favourite decoration for the romantic gowns for 2011. Oversized clusters of flower "corsages" are another big trend, and they are primarily being used as accents on waistlines or shoulders.

http://www.christosbridal.com

One thing you will not be seeing is a lot of plain dresses or those with simple lines although I personally think they are stunning. Asymmetry is still in, both in the form of the one shoulder gown and wedding dresses with asymmetrical draping on the bodice. Very low waistlines are in abundance, and most bodices have gathered, or draped bodices which hug the figure (the wrapped fabric does a nice job of smoothing over any figure flaws in these tight bodices). Certainly strapless bridal gowns are still a staple, and the one shoulder style is still in style. A new addition to the necklines for 2011 wedding gowns is the tip of the shoulder design which is very slim at the top and just barely grazes the edge of the bride's shoulder. It is a very flattering neckline for many women, and a nice alternative to the more typical strapless wedding dress.

www.carolinaherrera.com

With all the romanticism evident in the upcoming gowns for 2011, don't worry that all the petals and flowers mean less sparkle. You will be seeing Swarovski crystals stitched into the centre of tiny floral appliqués, as well as larger crystals used to embellish the entire gown, from neck to hem. The difference is in the way the sparkly details are being used: more organically and in clear crystal, rather than the icy silver of mirror backed crystals or rhinestones used to create a defined pattern. This will tie in beautifully with the Swarovski crystal bracelets which are one of the top trends for both 2010 and 2011 brides. Stacks of mismatched Swarovski crystal and pearl bracelets are a modern finishing touch for the romantic gown designs.

www.christosbridal.com

It seems as though all of the bridal designers will be crazy for texture in 2011. Not only will gowns soon be gliding down the runway embellished with floral appliqués and oversized crystals, but designers are using even more interesting accents to create gowns with dimension. Look for multiple sizes of palettes’ being used to create a shimmery, faceted appearance on gowns. (Palettes’ are essentially larger and nicer versions of sequins, and they are often drilled at the top instead of the centre so they can dangle and move.) Even feathers are making a statement as a trendy bridal gown embellishment. These fantastical details are being added to very soft and romantic fabrics like net, lace, and organza to create gowns which are like something out of a fairy tale. Lucky brides!

http://www.angelsanchezusa.com/

Italian weddings... Curiosities and superstitions

The Italian wedding planner

Italy has a very long history and with every region maintaining their own traditions there are many to choose from should you wish to incorporate some in to your wedding day in Italy.

The veil

The bridal veil not only hides her from her husband but more importantly protects her from evil spirits.

                        photo by Edoardo

The Groom

The groom carries a bit of iron in his pocket, also to defend against the "evil eye"

                         photo by Marco

Tying the knot

                  Photo by The Italian wedding planner

Bridesmaids and groomsmen

The bridesmaids and groomsmen, present because ancient Roman law once required 10 witnessed at any wedding, dress quite like the bride and groom in order to confuse... you guessed it: jealous evil spirits.

                                                                                  photo by Sim

Walking to the church

If the groom does walk the bride to church, she should leave, right foot first, from her front door, and the community should throw challenges in their path, such as a broom (she should pick it up, proving herself a good housewife) or a crying child (both bride and groom should prove themselves good potential parents by comforting it). If they meet a pig, their luck will be bad, but a black cat will bring good fortune. A funeral bespeaks ill, but sunshine or a rainbow forecasts fortune. The bride and groom might be confronted with a sawhorse, double-handed saw and a log; they must show their true spirit of partnership by sawing the log in half together. (Sometimes this is done between the wedding and the reception.)

                 photo by Joanne Dunn

Wedding favors

Today, the tradition of wedding favours has evolved to  giving thoughtful gifts, but traditionally in Italy each guest would receive five sugar coated almonds (Italian confetti) as a symbol of health, fertility, wealth, joy and long-life.

Why almonds? A Greek legend tells the story of a young man called Demophon, who fell in love with a Tracian princess, Phyllis. Before the marriage ceremony Demophon is informed that his father has died in Athens and he must return for the funeral. He promises to come back by a certain day but cannot return until three months later.

By this time Phyllis is sure that she will never see her lover again and hangs herself. The Gods, touched by her love, transform her into an almond tree. The desperate Demophon offers a sacrifice to the almond tree, declaring his undying love. In response, the almond tree blossoms.

Therefore the almond came to symbolize impetuous

                                              photo by Joanne Dunn

Bridal flowers

In ancient times bouquets were made with herbs and spices, because it was thought that strong smelling herbs would ward off and drive away evil spirits, bad luck and ill health. Garlic and chives were also popular for the same reason. During Victorian times, flowers took on an additional significance, due to the fashion of the flower language.

The Bouquet or Toss Bouquet

The bouquet was considered a symbol of happiness. Today the practice of tossing the bouquet is a derivative of throwing the garter. The single woman who catches the bouquet is believed to be the next to marry.

The night before the wedding

 The bride should wear green for good luck; green has long been the color of fertility!

                                                     christian louboutin

Why the bride stands on the left

Brides stand on the left because in ancient times grooms used to capture their bride by kidnapping her. If the groom had to fight off other men who also wanted the same woman, he would hold his bride-to-be with his left hand and fight with his sword in the right.

                                                Photo by Edoardo  

Days of the week to get married...

Monday for wealth.

Tuesday for health.

Wednesday the best day of all.

Thursday for losses.
Friday for crosses.

Saturday for no luck at all.

Sunday, in ancient times was the best day for getting married because most people were free from work.
Despite this rhyme most couples prefer to marry on Saturday.

Italian wedding feast

 It may consist of more than a dozen courses and was, in ancient Rome, preceded by the breaking of a loaf of barley or wheat bread over the bride's head! (Perhaps this showed who THOUGHT he was the master of the house, but then, there is the famous Italian saying, "La moglie e' la chiave di casa!" (:The wife is the key of the house.") The guests gather up the crumbs for good luck and to help the couple become fertile; the evolved into the gifting of guests with pieces of wedding cake, and some still believe that one who sleeps with a piece of wedding cake under the pillow will dream of his or her future spouse.

                          

                                                    photo by Edoardo

Over the threshold

The groom must carry the bride over the threshold so waiting evil spirits will miss their last chance to capture her.

photo by Edoardo

Wedding in Treviso part 1

 Wedding in Treviso part 1!
Sue and James celebrated their civil marriage in the town hall of Treviso before traveling to a nearby castle for part 2 of their marriage ceremony!

                                      

Fontana delle Tette dates from 1559AD

Wedding in Amalfi

Tiffany and Mike were married in a very romantic ceremony on the Amalfi coast

   

All photo's taken by Kelly Hayes