How to have the BEST ITALIAN WEDDING DAY EVER!
Overwhelming, stressful, testing - all words which might be used when planning a wedding.
Has anyone ever told you it doesn’t need to be this way? With our 7 top tips on what to focus the most on when organising your wedding you’ll get yourself set up properly from the start and everything else will flow out from there.
By implementing a few basic systems at the start you will have the fun, joyful wedding planning process you deserve.
Ditch the stress, rememeber why you are doing this, breathe and follow these top tips.
Boring we know! But if you think of all the elements of your wedding and set budget for each then from the beginning you will know where you stand. Prioritise your spend on your absolute must haves - the venue, the caterer you love etc and work outwards from there. But, please please please have it all set at the start - otherwise you'll be spending money and committing to payments which might risk you not having everything else you want further down the line.
If you genuinely have no idea how much a Tuscan venue for 100 guests is, or what you might look to pay for flowers for your ceremony and table - then do check out our venues section and articles section on our site for insight.
Photo: Diego Giusti
Don’t underestimate how much this team of experts massively impacts your wedding day. They are not just there to take photos or serve food but a huge part of their job is to set the tone of your day for everyone to enjoy.
The vibe they bring will be something you and your guests remember, so connect with them. Get to know your suppliers before booking - their service but also them as people and their company ethos. Don’t book suppliers you don’t feel you can work well with; after all, the whole wedding day is a collaboration.
Photo: Sasa Adamovic
The secret to plain sailing wedding planning is clear and concise communication.
Firstly, guest communication - this starts from that inital save the date or invitation and extends to the transport shuttles at the end of your wedding day. Guests will feel relaxed and ready if they know where they need to be and what they need to bring.
Communication between you and your suppliers/venue - you both need to be on the same page with their deliverables for the day; you must share timings of all other elements with them, so they are fully informed and verbalize your expectations of their service. If they are fully prepped and informed, they will feel empowered to deliver the best wedding.
Finally, communication between each other - make sure you are both on the same page throughout the planning, check in with each other, share worries and be sure to split the load...weddings are too complex to carry alone!
LL Tip: Make yourself a little comms plan - highlighting when you need to say what and to whom.
If you think of your guests from the very start and throughout the process you'll be onto a good thing.
First off, before even booking your venue consider guest transport and ease of getting to your wedding location - the venue but also the region in Italy. By planning stress-free travel and events for them they will come feeling calm, happy and ready to have an unforgettable time. Wedding day anticipation of not knowing everyone can easily be sorted by having a welcome event for everyone to mingle. You are creating your little wedding bubble - and it's good vibes only in here!
Photo: Taylor Hughes Photography
Did you know, not all venues make good wedding venues!? Don't be tempted to book a location which might look exceptional, perhaps even a bit different, only to find down the line that your chosen caterers won't be able to do work their magic there or that you have to fork out for so much more than you had originally budgeted to make it a useable space.
LL Tip: Check out this article on what makes a good wedding venue.
At the start of planning and budgeting, you need to decide whether you want and can afford support. And what this might look like for you. Italian wedding planning is hard to navigate and having an expert by your side will have a huge impact on the ease of planning but we undoubtedly on your frame of mind whilst making these epic decisions!
Sadly we see it so often that couples massively overspend at the start, make costly mistakes with their venue, resulting in sleepless nights and stress you don't need! We all know brides need their pre-wedding beauty sleep!
LL Tip: There is such value in having some form of support. This can completely depend on the amount of budget you have - so whether it's full planning, an on the day coordinator or an initial support call. Find out what is right for you!
By trying to include too many details on your day, you are creating additional pressure to get every single one perfect. And we all know what happens when you try and juggle too many balls at once! These details should not cause you stress but joy, as they are the personality and warmness you are injecting into your day.
LL Tip: We adore La Lista founder, Lucy White's thoughtful nod to all guests on her wedding day. A small book was included inside their order of service, which timelined when each guest had come into Lucy and Ben's lives. The details beautifully designed on a vine and for each guest to keep.
Now let’s go get you the best wedding day ever! Are you ready to start planning your budget - why not make your life so much easier and download our Budget Tracker now.
Even if your wedding planning is the slickest operation, feeling overwhelmed with decisions is normal! We have an absolutely incredible Facebook group, full of other Italian wedding couples in exactly the same shoes as you. Come and say Ciao!
Written by Emily Jennings, marketing person and wedding day-dreamer; lover of a boho vibe and a wedding night filled with a thousand lights.
Categories
PLANNING | REAL WEDDING | BUSINESS | SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT | INSPIRATION |WANDERLUST
