From personal experience planning my own destination wedding in Italy, I’ve created a step-by-step guide that will take you through the timeless magic of an Italian fairy tale wedding. With it’s stunning vistas, undeniable charm, and unforgettable food, Italy is the perfect setting for a breathtaking wedding. I always dreamed of having my wedding in Italy – and at an affordable cost. I’m Italian after all. I dreamed of having it on Lago Maggiore in an old historic building. I wanted to bring to life my childhood fantasy of marrying a prince in the most idyllic setting brimming with elegance and good taste. So? How does my story go? How did I plan a destination wedding in Italy? I got married in one of the many places the Prince of Monaco and Countess Beatrice Borromeo celebrated their marriage – at the iconic and historic Grand Hotel Majestic on Lake Maggiore, next to Lago di Como and Garda.
The lake boasts its own culture, traditions, and landscapes: the delicacy of the lake contrasting with the majesty of the mountains on the horizon, or the enchantment of the villages with stone alleys lulled by the sound of music that carries across the lake. This guide on how to plan a destination wedding in Italy is accompanied by sumptuous photos from my own experience to help you imagine how your perfect Italian-inspired wedding could be. Everything is covered, from practical tips for the location to planning and event details from the food, décor, flowers, wedding favors, and of course, the all-important wedding dress. Ever thought about how to bring a wedding dress across seas? Yea, well you’re thinking about it now! That and more is answered in this guide.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents: How to Plan A Destination Wedding in Italy
- Location
- Type of Ceremony
- Venue
- Wedding Planner
- Videographer
- Vendors
- Communication with Guests
- How to Carry A Wedding Dress Oversees
- Timeline & Planning
- The Final Product…
1. Location
It Matters More Than You Think – It Impacts Budget. Choosing Where In Italy You Want to Get Married Makes All the Difference.
How Much Does A Wedding In Italy Cost? Budget And Where to Do It.
Two things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing your destination wedding in Italy is cost and location. Where you choose to have your wedding will determine the cost – popular destinations means expensive venues, expensive fees, bookings made way in advance, and a lot more headaches that come with it. So what are some good alternatives? When you picture your wedding in Italy, what do you see? Do you see mountains, beautiful vineyards, palm trees on a lake, and lots of Aperol Spritz enough to go around for you and your guests? Then Lago Maggiore is the ideal location for you.
2. Type of Ceremony: Religious, Civil, or Symbolic
How to Get Married in Italy: Religious, Civil, or Symbolic Ceremony
The article is a guide on how to choose the right wedding ceremony for couples who want to get married in Italy as Americans. As an Italian-American, I explain the different types of ceremonies available, specifically religious, civil, and symbolic ceremonies. There are many requirements and processes involved in each type of ceremony, including gathering necessary documents, obtaining permissions and licenses, and hiring wedding planners or local lawyers. You can go with the most tedious, yet rewarding, religious and civil both in Italy, or the easiest, a civil ceremony in your hometown and symbolic in Italy. Whichever way you choose to go, this article helps you navigate the complex process of getting married in Italy, including letters such as la Nulla Osta, and choose the best ceremony that suits your preferences and values.
3. Find Your Venue
Why You Should Choose A Hotel Over A Villa: Pre-Planning Visit, Property Tour, Food Tastings, Costs & What to Watch Out For.
Small Wedding Venue on Lake Maggiore
When determining the venue for the destination wedding in Italy, one of the first things Pat and I did was fly to Italy and meet with the small wedding venue and hotel, do a food tasting, wine selection, and property tour to start planning a destination wedding in Italy. Small weddings in Italy means 80 people or under. Most small wedding venues in Italy are private villas or intimate hotels that can host a group of people, like Grand Hotel Majestic. By choosing an intimate and small wedding venue in Italy, you can ensure guests stay at the same venue with you. And if budget is a problem, well, not here. Continue reading to uncover the cost of a small wedding venue in Italy.
4. Hire A Local Italian Wedding Planner: It’s A Necessity, Not A Luxury
Why You Need to Hire a Wedding Planner in Italy
Don’t even think about it. I’ve been there and thought it. I’ve worked events, I’ve planned events, heck – I’ve worked WEDDING events. I am a travel blogger and plan my own trips as well as my client’s trips all the time. Why would I need a wedding planner for my destination wedding in my family hometown of Lago Maggiore, Italy? I can do this myself right? Absolutely not. And here are 4 reasons why you need a wedding planner in Italy, on the ground, not in your home country, and why I’m glad I used one.
5. Find A Local Videographer
One That Can Capture All the Local Intricacies Alongside Your Wedding Day.
My Wedding on Lago Maggiore As Captured By Studio Dolce Vita
Is a wedding videographer an unnecessary expense in an already expensive affair? No – and here are reasons why you should hire one. I can confidently say that hiring Studio Dolce Vita was one of the best decisions we made. The doubts I had initially were completely dispelled as I watched the beautifully crafted video that captured the essence of our special day. The video was able to bring to life my passion for storytelling and love for Italy. It wasn’t just a recording of events; it was a visual love story that transported us back to that magical moment on Lago Maggiore at Grand Hotel Majestic.
6. Vendors: Local Ones
From the very beginning of the planning process, our goal was always curating a wedding weekend that immersed guests in our favorite places and things to do on Lago Maggiore. Working with local vendors, planners, and of course, Grand Hotel Majestic, we devised a destination wedding where friend and family could be together on an international mini holiday. The vendors you choose to work with are critical. Why? Because if you’re getting married in Italy, I’m assuming it’s because you want to experience the local culture and experience and mingle it into every detail of your wedding. Everything from the food, drink, design, music, and language needs to be integrated into the wedding.
We have a celebrant that will be doing parts of the ceremony in Italian. DJ who will play some Italian music for us. Photographers and videographers from local Italian regions. Design touches that are exclusively Italian like lemons and chamomiles in place of more traditional floral arrangements. Think lemon trees next to the altar. In order to best integrate culture, you need to hire the right team, a local team to execute. One that speaks the language, understands the nuances, and can bring the destination to life. We will be touring the Borromean islands on an old school steamship to add history and exploration of il territorio for our guests. Of course, celebrating local cuisine muse be done. You can also support the community by buying immersive thank you gifts from local artisans or shops in the community that give them a piece of il territorio.
7. Over-Communication with Guests Via Wedding Website
Think of Every Possible Planning Detail They’ll Need to Know.
I’m a travel planner for some of my readers, so they know how much attention to detail I put in making sure every question they may have is answered. When it comes to a wedding website for a destination wedding in Italy, there are plenty of things you should include in your website to avoid people asking you questions (even though those will inevitably come, in that case – redirect them to the website! You’ll be surprised to see how many people don’t read through it all when every question is answered in it). Information to include on your destination wedding wedding website:
8. How to Carry A Wedding Dress Overseas
Bet you hadn’t thought about that yet right? Buying a wedding dress garment bag is super important. In addition, I would call your airline beforehand and let them know you’re traveling with a wedding dress. They may have special accommodation options for you. Note, they can’t guarantee it though. I had called ahead of time, but when I showed up, there were another 3 girls flying to Italy with wedding dresses. I guess it was first-come, first-serve so 2 of us ended up putting them up in the carry-on compartment. It worked out fine honestly, people made space for us and were very considerate.
9. Timeline & Planning
Start planning about 1 – 1.5 years before your wedding day, especially if you’re planning your wedding during high season. You’d be surprised how booked up venues get and vendors. Vendors I spoke to were booked up for my date so I ended up having to look double as hard for some of them. Additionally, response time in Italy…well…you’re on Italian time. So you know, things are naturally slower to move. You’ll want to bake in extra time. This is where the wedding planner did most of the heavy duty for me. My job was to get the guest list in order and get a number to commit too. She did the more difficult job finding all the local vendors.
10. The Final Product…
My Wedding In Italy at Grand Hotel Majestic, Lago Maggiore
We exchanged vows June 24, 2023 for our destination wedding in Italy at Grand Hotel Majestic on Lake Maggiore—my Italian hometown. I walked down the aisle to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley. The happy hour took place on an old steamship ferry and the Italian reception took place lakeside and featured a sax player and DJ duo, a 4-course wine and food pairing. The night ended with a dip in the private beach lake of Grand Hotel Majestic. The whole weekend was an out-of-body experience. The immense beauty of Lago Maggiore and Grand Hotel Majestic coupled with the presence of all of our loved ones created an energy like no other. For the first time, I’m allowing everyone who wasn’t able to attend the destination wedding in Italy, to relive every moment with us.
>> Next: Everything You Need To Know About Grand Hotel Majestic, Lago Maggiore
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