Planning a wedding in Italy from the UK might sound like a daunting and overwhelming task, or it might sound like the most exciting thing you could possibly do. To tell the truth, it’s likely to be both! Many couples embark on the wedding planning process full of enthusiasm, and quickly stumble across unexpected hurdles that are specific to wedding planning in Italy. As expert destination wedding planners with over a decade’s experience in Italy, we’ve seen a thing or two – and we’ve put together this guide to the reality of planning your Italian wedding from right here in the UK.
You’ll find our advice on whether or not to work with a wedding planner (and deciding where they should be based), and five unexpected things you should be aware of before you begin based on our experience.
Side note: we also work with English speaking couples from around the world, particularly the US and Europe!
Do you need a wedding planner if planning a wedding in Italy from the UK?
The short answer is an emphatic yes but, as UK-based Italian destination wedding planners, we would say that wouldn’t we? Our top three reasons planning a wedding in Italy from the UK is so much easier with an expert planner on your side are as follows…
Working on the assumption that you’ve never planned a wedding before, it’s hard to comprehend the amount of hours and energy that will go into it. Add in the fact that you’re marrying in a foreign country and you can easily 1.5x that. Just as you wouldn’t perform dentistry on your own teeth or install a new kitchen yourself, we don’t recommend trying to plan such an important life event with no prior knowledge either. Especially in Italy – you can jump ahead to our 5 unexpected things to be aware of when planning a wedding in Italy to see why.
Secondly, as wedding planning professionals we have a pre-existing bank of contacts and suppliers in Italy – people we trust and have worked with before, and therefore people we know will deliver beyond expectation on your wedding day. As a couple approaching supplier searching in Italy, you just won’t have the same access or options.
‘Michelle accessed suppliers that I couldn’t even get to answer the phone or send me a quote.’ – Mother of the Bride, recent Elegante by Michelle J wedding
Finally, you’ll definitely need to take at least a couple of trips to Italy during the planning process – I always accompany my couples on a venue viewing trip, and another detailed planning trip at the minimum – and organising an efficient itinerary for these visits is key. Going with your wedding planner means you get to have all the enjoyable experiences of menu tasting, soaking up the ambience of those magical Italian wedding venues, and tasting the wine selection at various beach clubs (research for your welcome party, of course), while we ask all the relevant questions, scour your contracts for issues, and make the best use of our time to progress your planning journey.
Should you hire a UK-based or local Italian planner when planning a wedding in Italy from the UK?
Deciding whether to work with a UK-based or local Italian planner is more of a personal choice, but we’re going to advocate for choosing someone in your home country. Planning a wedding in Italy from the UK with a planner close to home has the following advantages:
- We speak English, so there’s no communication barrier*
- We keep familiar working hours and are easy to reach via phone and email
- It’s easy for us to meet up regularly during the planning process
- We’re experienced and familiar with travelling to, from and around Italy as visitors, and so are well placed to help you and your guests with advice on transport and accommodation
*Did you know: when you work with Elegante by Michelle J to plan an Italian wedding from the UK, we work closely with our Italian planning associate as our ‘boots on the ground’ – the best of both worlds!
5 unexpected things to be aware of when planning a wedding in Italy from the UK
Italy makes people fall head over heels in love (myself included) and having your wedding there is the epitome of romance. However, couples are sometimes surprised when they begin the planning process and certain things are not as they expect. We’ve outlined 5 unexpected things to be aware of when planning a wedding in Italy from the UK, to make the road to your unforgettable celebrations a little smoother.
High-End, Italian Style
What does luxury mean to you? If you’re from London you probably associate 5* with the likes of the Savoy hotel – silver service, all the mod cons and a curated aesthetic. In Italy, luxury accommodation can look and feel different to what we’re used to – their very own charming version of high end. While the major cities will usually host well-known luxury hotels (the Four Seasons, for example), many top-class properties retain an authenticity that exudes its own very specific type of charm.
If you’re looking for a wedding venue that truly feels Italian, be prepared for the standard of mod cons and home comforts to be different – it’s splendour and excellence, just in the way only the Italians could possibly achieve.
Take a look at this Savoy hotel wedding we planned earlier in 2024.
Browse our 2023 portfolio of Tuscan weddings.
Seasonality
Naturally, most couples love the idea of getting married in the height of summer. If you’re planning a wedding in Italy from the UK on a winter’s morning, thinking about how lovely it will be in the middle of August in Florence, our advice is: don’t! The reason for this is twofold.
Firstly, it gets hot. It might seem like a great idea when you’re cuddling a cup of tea under a blanket, but the reality of being dressed in your finest wedding day outfit with makeup running down your face when it’s 35 degrees on your wedding day isn’t so much fun.
Secondly, if your wedding is taking place in a tourist hotspot such as one of the Lakes or a city like Rome or Venice, you’re going to be competing with hordes of tourists who also want to stay in the same hotels, eat at the same restaurants and perhaps even look around the area near your venue.
We recommend choosing the lovely shoulder season months like May/June or September/October, when the weather is perfect and the school holidays are over – you and your guests will be more comfortable and relaxed.
Choice and Standard of Suppliers
We’re going to be very frank with this one, and say that in Italy (particularly in the more rural or remote areas) you simply can’t expect the same variety or standard of wedding suppliers that you find in the UK, US or Australia. The wedding industry in Italy hasn’t expanded or developed at the same rate as ours, and couples often find that there are less options to choose from within a particular category (e.g. florists or make up artists).
To be clear, we’re not saying that suppliers in Italy aren’t as good as in the UK – far from it! We work with some truly world-class wedding suppliers on our couples’ celebrations in Italy, achieving incredible results with wow factor. The fact is though, there aren’t as many of them and the options for more bespoke or personal items is limited. Many of our couples choose to fly in at least some of their suppliers from the UK, as we’re often unable to meet all our requirements using solely local vendors.
Differences in Supplier Roles
On the subject of suppliers, it’s not uncommon to find that those in Italy can have very different ideas about who does what at your wedding. Examples of this include florists who are also responsible for all the decor at your wedding (candles, signage etc), strict lists of suppliers that are allowed to work at a particular venue, and even the role of your wedding planner. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it just means everybody needs to be very clear about who does what, when and how to avoid any confusion or mix ups on the big day.
Cultural Differences
Finally, when planning a wedding in Italy from the UK it’s important to remember that you’re not operating with British customs, traditions and cultural norms. You’ll need to respect and accommodate the Italian way of working, which means embracing long lunch breaks, different working hours and attitudes, and disparities in expected timelines.
Hiring expert help (in the form of a destination wedding planner) will assist with any language or cultural barriers and differences. We have been working in Italy for over a decade, and are well used to and versed in what needs to happen to ensure a harmonious and enjoyable experience for everyone involved!
Planning a wedding in Italy from the UK is an exciting experience, and one we love to give our couples. If you’re looking for expert wedding planning support to add a little dolce vita to your Italian wedding, get in touch below – we are booking for 2025 and 2026 dates.
CONTACT
You might also find the following interesting:
Our 5 tips for choosing your destination wedding planner – because we know we’re not the perfect fit for everyone!
The best European wedding destinations for US-based couples – Italy and beyond.
One of our favourite hidden gem wedding venues that allowed our couple N&M to marry in Italy in August with none of the tourist crowds.
With thanks to the following photographers for the images in this post:
David Bastianoni | Violeta Minnick | Charm Wedding Florence | Gabriele Fani | James Mason Weddings