Plan an Italian wedding without a wedding planner
Planning an Italian wedding is an extensive process - one with huge, sensational rewards at the end, but the road to reap these can get bumpy! If you are opting to plan your wedding solo, without a wedding planner, then you are going to need these tips to help you on your way.
Before we start, let’s bust a myth that wedding planners are crazy expensive! They are not - and absolutely worth the money to save you time, stress, effort and steer you away from making costly mistakes.
But we understand that for some a planner is not the right fit….so remember this: the foundations of any successful wedding - planning, venue and catering. Nail these and you are on your way to a unforgettable celebration. Let’s dive into the core principles of planning your own wedding.
It is noisy out there in the wedding world. Don't get bombarded with too much information, which is only going to confuse you further. Choose the right, professional sources to learn how to plan your wedding.
We at La Lista are experts at Italian weddings and being wedding planners too, we are very open and honest in the way we share information. Our pure intention is to help you by steering you through the maze and directing you to tools and information points.
Other directories exist but do be aware that the majority exist to make money. Suppliers and venues pay to be listed, making this system less about recommending trusted and known companies and more about filling their website.
Whilst you might not be using a planner, you can always reach out for advice, plus following them on Insta you'll see their tips and tricks! This talented bunch have the absolute inside scoop on what's going down in the wedding world. Not forgetting their network of suppliers positioning them at a central information point.
LL Tip: Check out which suppliers they rave about on the social and who they work with regularly.
Whether they are still in the planning stage or have graduated as Mr & Mrs, other wedding couples are a fabulous and very honest source of information. Here at La Lista we have an incredible Facebook community of over 900, so come and join the conversations.
Don't be afraid to DM a bride or groom who's wedding you have seen on Insta if you have questions about their chosen suppliers or venue. Just bear in mind that couples still planning a wedding haven't seen the full picture yet.
LL Tip: Remember that everyone has very different budgets, style, vision and own expectations of service. Try not to compare youself.
If you have opted to plan your own wedding, hopefully this means you are an organised person and enjoy this amount of coordinating!
1. Project plan: Make sure you have one, it will keep you on track, as all the glitzy side of wedding planning can be very distracting! Download our Ultimate Wedding Tracker which will take you through every step, breaking each element down so you feel in control.
2. Learn to be decisive: You need to work out how to find the right information and use it effectively to make the right decisions. Big questions - What do you want? Who can help you achieve this? How you can help yourself get this? Will it fit with your style and budget? Trust yourself and trust your suppliers.
3. Budget: Download our Budget Tracker and use our Supplier and Venue section on our site. Used together you can directly plug in the prices from the suppliers and venues into your budget tracker, instantly giving you an accurate budget estimate. This will also help you narrow down supplier and venue choice, as you can simply ignore any which are out of your price bracket. This may sound disappointing, but in fact it is a way to avoid feeling overwhelmed by too many options. Finally, speak to a wedding planner, they know how much things cost and have their ear to the ground for future price rises.
Your friends and family are a wonderful (and free) way to get an extra bit of support. Delegate jobs with a clear brief and timeframe for deadline. Other Italian wedding couples can offer such a great support network. Firstly, they love chatting about all things wedding! But they also are in same shoes as you.
LL Tip: Try and avoid asking your nearest and dearest to take on too many jobs on the day. They will bring the energy to your wedding and if they are running around with a list of jobs they need to tick off, they won't be enjoying the celebrations.
If a full service wedding planner isn't for you, consider these partial planning options.
1. Support in venue finding. Choosing the right venue has such an impact on your wedding and your budget. You need to get this investment right! A planner would accompany you on a venue tour, liaise on your behalf regarding contracts, visit the venue if you weren't able to.
2. Partial planning. Help finding suppliers and management on your wedding day.
3. Day management. Brief suppliers and manages the timeline of your wedding day.
4. Consultancy. A minimal fee, one hour call with a planner to focus on building a budget, troubleshooting an issue, styling brainstorm, or any other topic you need guidance on. By ironing out any queries or worries, you will build confidence and be able to move forward with your planning.
Trust yourself, listen to the RIGHT people and ask for help.
Do you want to find those wedding couples now? Keen to be part of a community? Come on over to our private Facebook group, and join the conversation with over 800 couples in your shoes.
Written by Emily Jennings, marketing person and wedding day-dreamer; lover of a boho vibe and a wedding night filled with a thousand lights.
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PLANNING | REAL WEDDING | BUSINESS | SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT | INSPIRATION |WANDERLUST
