The 5 steps to downsize your Italian wedding
Changing your plans isn’t easy and we’re sorry you’re dealing with this. A smaller wedding may not be what you’d originally planned but it doesn’t mean it will be any less epic. In fact, it can be even more special, considered and creative. We’re here to make this simple and make sure your wedding remains full of love and fun.
If you’re working with a planner to redesign your day, they’ll be of great help and guide you through everything you need to decide and consider. If you’re going it alone, you need to bear the following in mind:
1. Understand what you’re doing and why
If your heart is set on a large wedding, is the best option to reschedule instead? Or are you simply set on getting married this year and this is the way to make that happen.
Understand each other’s priorities so if it comes to making any changes, either cutting things or adding exciting new elements, you know where these could be. Expect your planning team to have some advice on this too.
Photo: Ed Peers
2. Be prepared
List all your questions and create a little tick list that you ask every supplier. There’s a lot of info to gather and coordinating the same responses from everyone will help you to make better decisions.
Areas of planning that can be directly affected by downsizing:
• Transport.
• Catering.
• Layout of wedding day.
• Décor required.
• Wet weather plan.
• Accommodation.
Photo: Riccardo Pieri
3. Discuss the implications with suppliers
This bit can feel scary, especially when there’s money involved. The clearer you are on priorities, the easier it will be for suppliers to know what to do.
Be fair to suppliers, they are invested in your day and this is their livelihood, consider this when you’re asking for cost negotiations.
Despite reduced numbers, some fixed costs will stay the same. Some suppliers may have minimum spends or fixed overheads that mean despite the changes, some costs won’t reduce much or at all.
TIP - Add a couple of columns to your wedding budget and a. track the new forecast and b. add notes of what’s been discussed with each supplier. You’ll have one place to look for all key info.
Photo: Sonya Lalla
4. Re-work your guest list
Now that you know what number you’re aiming for, it’s time to work out who is a non-negotiable on your guest list.
Let other guests know they’re ‘uninvited’ in these tough circumstances. Many couples have done this and reported that this isn’t as hard as they thought it would be. Guests truly understand.
Photo: Ed Peers
5. Focus on what excites you the most and max it out!
Now you know where you are with your plans, your reduced budget and you’ve let guests know. Now it’s time to craft your wedding to make it even more special. For Polly & Ben who reduced their wedding from 150 to 50 guests it was music. They had originally booked a UK band and decided to save them for their eventual UK celebration. As music is so important to them, they’ve added some energy to their aperitif as an exciting extra they hadn’t planned before and have gone all out on the décor for the day.
Photo: Sam Blake of The Wedding Artists
Join our Facebook group and meet likeminded couples who are going through the same experience. Couples have said it really helps to speak to others. We pop in now and then to give to the most up to date information on the situation in Italy and expert advice.
Written by Lucy White, Founder of La Lista & Wiskow & White, with over 5 years and 150 weddings worth of experience.
