Thinking of a wedding in Italy? Then you’ll definitely want to find an incredible wedding planner. They’ll be able to make your dream come to life with the best local vendors, venues and the experience your dream wedding needs to become reality. There are tons of reasons why, but once you hire them, how do you know the right questions to ask? Hopefully this list will get you started. Did you think of your own questions that you think are important? Add them in the comments section!
A local wedding planner will actually save you money! Although you can arrange the entire wedding yourself long-distance, hiring a local person means they’ll do all the leg work for you. Find someone local with a great reputation who knows what you want and can deliver it, otherwise you’ll be going on your own and just hoping for the best. Did you really get the best florist? The best musician? The right location? Let a planner who knows the best vendors in the area and works with local companies to save you money on every element, while also making sure the details are perfect.
If you are planning it all on your own, allow for 30 days (adding a massive expense). With the right planner, you can usually arrive just three days in advance, which is enough time to put your finishing touches on everything and make it your own.
There’s no bad time of year to be on the coast! The winters tend to be cool and rather cloudy, so you may not want to consider January, February or March. April, May and June are magnificent. The flowers are all in bloom, the days are warm and the nights are cool. July and August are warm – and if you do choose the summer months, you should be sure to plan your events near the sea – or better yet, ON the sea, on an incredible yacht. September and October are also prime months in that the tourists are gone and the days are still beautifully warm and sunny. If you want to take advantage of very good “off-season” rates November and December are an excellent choice.
That varies greatly. With the Amalfi Coast gaining in popularity, it’s never too soon to book – especially if you have a specific date in mind. Trust us, you don’t want to wait until the last minute, or your dream wedding may never become a reality!
Absolutely! From rehearsal diners on secluded beaches, hiking through the hills for incredible views, ceremonies in secret gardens, wedding receptions in elegant hotels, after-parties in spectacular night clubs, dancing until dawn in ancient towers, freshly cooked post-wedding brunches, or days of sailing in the Mediterranean, there are tons of options for events to create a full weekend (or week!) of events and activities for your guest. The list is endless.
Naturally this depends on the number of guests, and the various selections you want to offer. Most locations will go out of their way to make you and your guests feel they have been treated as very special VIPs, so many caterers offer options for vegetarians or guests with other special dietary requirements.
Here on the Amalfi Coast, venues are quiet relaxed about serving whatever liquor you want from offering full bars to offering limited or “light” bars, or just offering individual drinks. Again, the choice is yours here, and a great wedding planner can help you make sure you make the right decision based on your own idea of the perfect wedding.
If you have a specific connection with a vineyard and want to use a specific wine, let your planner know in advance so the proper connections and deliveries could be made in time. Venues try their best to be accommodating and can most likely get you anything you want. However, there is no way you can bring in your own alcohol, unless this has been organized far in advance. In Italy, as far as wine goes, wholesale and retail prices are very similar.
Vendors on the Amalfi Coast are generally very flexible. If you book a fabulous day of yachting and the weather turns against you, you can almost certainly get a full refund of any deposits you have given. A great wedding planner can find you a company with a flexible refund policy to ensure you won’t throw away any money due to conditions outside your control.
You can certainly make a site inspection, but many couples simply won’t be able to afford the luxury of checking out the area beforehand. A professional wedding planner, however, can be your eyes on the Coast and save you the trouble (and the money!) Your wedding planner should be in communication with you constantly about the venues, menus, available cakes, the best hair stylist, and the hundreds of other decisions that will need to be made. Of course, if you have the time and money to visit, it can only help, but most couples simply can’t afford this luxury in addition to paying for their dream wedding. Luckily, a great planner can do it all for you!
This post was written by Marianna Di Paolo from LA CALLA EVENTS, one of the wedding planners in the Amalfi Coast. They can help you plan the perfect destination wedding in Italy, from the photographer to the paperwork, from the food to the fun, and absolutely everything in between!