Guest communications for your 2022 wedding
Photography: Andrea Pitti | Stationery: White Vines Studio
As we move closer to the 2022 wedding season, it’s clear that next summer won’t be ‘normal’. And until we have a clearer idea of what the travel and Italian event regulations are going to be for 2022 it’s quite hard to know what to tell your guests. We’ve made a guests communications plan, just for you.
Get the invites out so guests know you’re going ahead and can book accommodation and travel. Include a request to RSVP (ideally with a link to a wedding website so you can capture dietary requirements, accommodation address, transport needs - you name it) Make sure you collect everyone's email addresses so you can update them when you have more information to share.
Include a FAQ's page on your website, so you can easily update this when more Covid info comes out. In this section outline what the travel situation currently is so guests can get comfy with this. And let them know you’re staying on top of things and will update guests when travel rules are clear / there is more information.
Aim for a moment to confidently tell your guests the plan: that you’re going ahead and exactly what they need to consider to travel, and enjoy Italy.
Making it clear and easy for guests is the key to your sanity and your guest list coming to your wedding. We learnt this year that making things as easy as possible for guests, guiding them through the rules clearly, pointing them in the direction of testing kits etc. is worth it and there's no such things as over-communication when it comes to this.
8 weeks from your wedding date is when we’d suggest making a final call on your guest list, giving any outstanding guests (perhaps those in Australia for example) the final call to make a decision.
There are lots of other factors to consider when it comes to covid and weddings and we learnt these in 2021. If it gets to the point where you need to consider any tough decisions for your wedding, we’ll make sure La Lista is up to date with information and here to support you.
Stationery: LouPaper
For planning, it’s not urgent to know your guest numbers and you can finalise numbers, table layouts, stationery and transport 2 months from a wedding (or less in some cases). However, you may wish to know your head count from a budget perspective.
The reality is, depending on where your guests live, it’s very likely that if you put an early ’22 RSVP date, you will have some guests saying they can’t commit at that point. Are you up for letting them hold back on their decision and let you know say, 3 months from the wedding?
Trying to be sensitive to what suppliers have been through in the last 18 months will get you far. Yes, there has been a wedding season in Italy this year and suppliers have been busier than normal, but that certainly doesn’t mean they’ve caught up financially, mentally or physically. Patience and kindness goes a long way at the moment!
In 2021 many couples had 2 or 3 wedding scenarios in play at any given time, based on who might be able to attend (guests and suppliers!). That's 3 budgets, 3 table plans, 3 accommodation set ups, varying transport plans, decor needs, last minute décor orders…you name it, they had it. Having suppliers and guests on side to be flexible with plans is vital.
Speak to your suppliers and get your contract terms clear before heading in to next year. If you know by which date you’re committed to a certain spend (on food/flowers for example) AND how flexible your suppliers may be with changing plans/numbers you'll be in a much clearer and calmer position going in to the new year.
- Single/double vaccinated travellers – entry with proof of vaccination through your home country’s digital platform eg. UK NHS app.
- Non vaccinated travellers - quarantine for 5 days on arrival in Italy and test to release.
- Green pass needed to enter inside spaces from restaurants to theatres (QR code with proof of your vaccination will suffice)
For 2022 it is likely that booster jabs will be required for all guests – or a vaccination within 9 months of their entry to Italy.
If you’re currently on the look out for a fab stationer for those all important invites check out our recommended suppliers here.
Need a helping hand designing your bespoke wedding website? Check out recommended supplier White Vines Studio.
Written by Lucy White, Founder of La Lista & Wiskow & White, with over 5 years and 150 weddings worth of experience.
