Hosting a Welcome Event for your Italian Wedding? We’ve got some ideas…

planning advice
Written By Lucy White

Venue: Villa di Ulignano| APE Van: Dolci Tradizioni Toscane | Photo: Benjamin Wheeler

Meeting up the day or night before your wedding is a wonderful thing to do. It’s the perfect way for all your friends and family to get to know each other and the area. It also takes the pressure off everyone (and yourselves!) to chat on the wedding day.

It’s a good idea to have a welcome event nearby your wedding location but not at it, saving the wow factor for the wedding day itself. Instead, consider drinks in town, or something at another villa that perhaps friends or family are renting. 

The type of welcome event you host really comes down to the budget you have to dedicate to this, when your guests arrive in Italy and the vibe you want to create. Our advice is take the pressure off, keep it informal. People just want to meet up for a drink and get to know each other better. 

These are our favourite ways to welcome your guests to Italy and to your wedding celebrations:
1. Informal drinks at a scenic bar

You can keep this informal and low cost - turn up and pour out on to a picturesque street or square. Booking a space isn’t always easy in Italy and most places want a commitment to spend on drinks and sometimes food. Expect to pay 20-30 euro pp for a 2 hour aperitivo with drinks and nibbles. Start early, leaving guests to go and enjoy a late dinner the Italian way.

2. Aperitif at your venue

You’ve got the venue, why not use it. The venue will feel really different when it’s dressed for the wedding day, so if you’re worried that it will ‘spoil the surprise’, fear not.

You could rent an APE van and have a lite aperitif or go all in and have a catered event. Traditionally caterers do pizza, pasta or BBQ, but of course this is flexible.

3. Wine tasting

Wine tastings, either at your venue or at a local winery are the perfect introduction to a wedding and to Italy. Often ranging from just 12 euro upwards, events like this are a lovely way for your guests to learn something, immerse themselves in the culture and of course try some delicious wine.

Photo: Red on Blonde

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Written by Lucy White, Founder of La Lista & Wiskow & White, with over 5 years and 150 weddings worth of experience.

Lucy White
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