Italy Destination Wedding Planning Tips

Start your research as early as possible. Visit the place with a co-ordinator or guide, take photos of everything, collect timetables, maps – everything and anything. It’ll make you feel more in control, and your guests will expect you to have this sort of information. Remember that if you want people to attend, you’ll probably have to book something in the school holidays.

Callie

You can never start booking or planning too early. We spent months just looking on the web at locations and doing some research. Find some good suppliers with excellent English who respond to your e-mails quickly and stick with them. You can find your dream location if you look hard enough so don’t settle for the easiest option – you can do something really different and amazing so keep looking and it will be worth it.

Caoimhe

Relax! If you’re a total control freak who wants to be involved at every stage, supervising every last detail, then this is not the wedding for you. Keep perspective about what the day is really all about, and if things go wrong remember that it’s not the end of the world! Have someone you trust who speaks the language of the country – our concierge was invaluable to us!

Rebecca

Organise paperwork before you go if you can, saves hassle when you get there. Research the area and restaurants in advance on the internet, check websites like tripadvisor for good hotel reviews.

Wendy

Just make sure your have enough time to organise your documentation, but your Italy Wedding Planner should inform you of this – ours did and they where fantastic.

Emma

Take the advice you are given and let someone else take the pressure off of you!

Jenny

I would strongly advise using a Wedding Planner. Make sure they come recommended and they can cater for your requests.

Samira

What advice would you give couples planning an Italy destination wedding? E.g. Dealing with the language barrier, local suppliers, best methods of communication, paying deposits & bills etc.

Know at least some of the language – it’s only polite. If you’re not fluent, don’t go somewhere people don’t speak English. If you have a Wedding Planner, they will know all the suppliers you’ll need and will have good prices. However, do some research for yourself so you know what the alternatives are.

Best communication method is email. Paying bills is a pain. It costs an awful lot in bank charges to raise foreign cheques, many places don’t take credit cards, and you can’t use internet banking unless you have an account in that currency yourself. As many suppliers have to be paid before the day, it means you have to have saved up enough money for the entire wedding before you go, and to circumvent the charges, take the payments with you in cash. This is often an awful lot, and you also have to pay exchange rates. However, I guarantee it’ll still work out cheaper!!!

Callie

I would say find a Wedding Planner and get a break down of all their cost before you book through them, decide what you want them to do and what you can do for yourself. Other than that you will quickly find out when you e-mail someone if they are helpful and speak English. Stick to those that respond quickly and efficiently.

Caoimhe

The language barrier wasn’t a huge issue for us, although our Italian is limited to very basic phrases. Most people spoke English (although they did appreciate our efforts at Italian) and sign language and drawings went a long way with those who didn’t. The concierge of the hotel phoned suppliers to clarify details where we were unsure if we’d been fully understood. We paid in cash upon receipt of the goods.

Rebecca

What advice would you give to couples on the legalities of getting married in Italy? Is there anything they need to be specifically aware of?

You really need a co-ordinator to make sure everything is in order for your Italy destination wedding. Residency requirements are four days before the wedding, but if you have a co-ordinator you can get round this, as they can present the documents to the Town Hall on your behalf. It’s unwise to give notice more than three months before the wedding, as sometimes the authorities like the notice to be quite recent. Don’t be tempted to change your passport to your married name before you travel. All your documents will be in your maiden name (birth certificate, notice of marriage, copies of passports etc.), and they will all be expected to match. Any name changes must be accompanied by a copy of a deed poll, so I’d avoid complicating things and keep your name as it is until you get back from honeymoon.

Callie

Just make sure you get your Nulla Osta organised at least 3-4 months before the wedding. This shows you have not been married before. We are both Irish citizens and had some paper work to do but not very much. Ours was civil ceremony and it is hassle free once you get in touch with the dept of foreign affairs.

Caoimhe

Italian law is fairly complex, with lots of paperwork needing to be submitted weeks in advance – I would hire a specialist to ensure it is all correct.

Rebecca