Planning an Italian Destination Wedding in Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast? Wedding Planner top tips to help you plan your dream day!
So you’re engaged! Congratulations! And you’ve decided the wedding destination has to be Italy! It’s always been the dream. Even if you’ve never visited before your Pinterest and Instagram has always been full of photos of Positano with its colourful landscape; Sorrento’s bustling cobbled streets and Ravello’s sensational coastal views. You’ve been secretly following an amazing Amalfi Coast wedding photographer before your engagement and you can visualise your wedding pictures already! So what’s next… how does the dream become a reality?
We share our top tips to make your destination wedding planning journey stress free and most importantly – fun!
Think about when you’d like to get married, consider your choice of locations and then book a trip!
So in the South of Italy, it is HOT in the summer months. A lot of people do underestimate how hot. Think carefully about how you are with the sun (will you cope in a wedding dress in the heat?) consider your guests when choosing your wedding month and then plan a trip to visit! Also do some serious research on the areas you have in mind for your wedding.
“There’s no denying that Positano, for example, in August is super busy as well as hot – so if you don’t like crowds it won’t be for you. It is also home to many steps, we seriously mean a lot of steps… and inclines, so if you have guests with mobility problems again this could be an issue. Ravello offers a much quieter vibe, with sensational views and high-end hotels so you’ll need a higher budget here.”
Sorrento’s hotels and wedding venues often offer discounts for low season weddings but consider that if you do opt for low season you may find that it’s too cold to be poolside or you run the risk of rain. The wedding season usually runs from the end of April to October. Read as much as you can online, from wedding blogs to travel writers, to try to understand each location as best as you can before visiting to get a sense of realistically what is going to work for you.
“When you arrive in Italy take away as much information away as you can. Chat to local people, try out public transport, visit different hotels, restaurants and bars – so when your guests ask you for advice you are well placed to answer any initial questions they may have”
Think about your budget
I know it’s not the easiest thing to do when you don’t know what prices to expect. But you need to have an idea as to what money is realistically available for your special day so as to not get your heart set on something that you cannot afford. If you have also gone through this carefully before hand, it saves time (and a lot less heartache) when allocating your spend in each area of the wedding.
Think about your guest list
This is important as it’s going to be a big budget affecting decision as to whether you invite 20 people or 70. Try to speak to your guests if you can beforehand to get a sense of who will likely be willing to travel to share in your most special day.
Hire a planner
I know we’re bound to say that but seriously it’s a wonderful investment. Do your research, check reviews, examples of weddings planned and schedule in a phone call. Be sure to hire someone who is local to the area you have chosen and experienced in dealing with local vendors and venues. It’s so complex and stressful trying plan a wedding in a foreign country without someone who knows the area and its customs. A good wedding planner will take time to get to know you as a couple, to understand your budget and to help ensure you have the perfect and most reliable team working with you. They will be your eyes and ears and your point of reference at all times, giving you the best advice in all the logistical, legal and creative aspects of your big day. Having someone working for you ensures that you do not loose precious time in the planning process and most importantly a great planner can often save you money, not forgetting being able to deal with the language barrier! They may also be able to suggest venues that you may never have discovered alone and help you understand how to allocate your budget wisely, offering invaluable advice from past experience. Make sure that you truly feel your planner will be a good fit for you. You will be communicating a lot over a good period of time so it’s important that you feel completely at ease with them.
Ensure you understand what the requirements are to legally marry in Italy and where you can legally marry
This is where having a planner certainly helps take away the stress. If you decide to have a legal wedding in Italy you will need to understand exactly what the process involves, how far in advance it needs to be started and what the costs are. Each nationality follows a different procedure and it’s vital that the stages are completed correctly and in time. You can also only legally marry in certain locations. If this sounds like too much hard work then consider having a symbolic wedding ceremony and complete the legal part of the wedding at home.
Trust the advice of the professionals
Take on board the advice given to you by wedding professionals in the area and be open minded to looking at their suggestions.
“Don’t settle for the easiest option or the first location you come across… there are so many amazing possibilities available. When considering the finer details of the wedding also work together to look at incorporating some traditional Italian touches to make your wedding day even more special – to create a truly memorable experience for your guests as well as you!”
