For most people, January is a month of diets, saving money, and going back to work after a busy festive period. For brides, however, it’s all systems go, as they kickstart their planning for a 2020 wedding, or gear up for their 2019 wedding. It’s an exciting time, that’s for sure, wherever it is in the world you’re getting married – but it can also be stressful.
That’s why, at Zankyou, we love to help out brides and grooms with recommendations from around the world on our international wedding platform. And since the majority of destination wedding couples in the UK choose to get married in beautiful Italy, here’s our 2020 recommendations for creative planners, transport methods, beautiful venues, talented photographers and first-class caterers.
Transportation
It may sound relatively unimportant (aside from the airplane of course) but your style of transport really does add a touch of personality to your special day. If you’ve jetted off to such a beautiful country, you’re going to want to arrive in style. From classic cars to shiny red buses, vintage VW’s to snazzy moped’s – how will you make an entrance?
One company we love for travelling in style is Slowhills, who offer the most gorgeous vintage Fiat’s and mopeds in the popular wedding region of Tuscany. Chose from statement colours like a deep red or turquoise – or go classic with a glamorous off-white.
Once you’ve sorted your stylish arrival, now it’s time to think about your guests. When bringing them to a foreign country, you can’t expect them to navigate their own way and book cars for themselves. So if you’re getting married in breathtaking Sardinia, make sure you give your guests the gift of comfort with the luxury service of Transfer in Sardinia. Sleek black cars, available whenever you want them, how’s that for an easy ride?
Planners
When it comes to destination weddings, we cannot recommend a local wedding planner enough. If you seek the help of an expert who is based in Italy, you won’t need to worry about planning a wedding far from home.
If it’s Sicily your looking at, or more specifically, the majestical Aeolian Islands (the Volcanic archipelago, situated north of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea), then enlist the help of Wedding Eolie. This wedding planner, Rosy Gallo, was born and raised here, and so knows all about the islands, their charm and their special characteristics. Her love and passion for her home territory allows her to create special and unforgettable destination weddings surrounded by the most beautiful of views. You’ll fall in love all over again!
Alternatively, you could get married on the dreamy island of Capri, with the help of Capri My Day. This friendly duo, Giusy and Elena, put their creative heads together to design an event from A-Z. Think of a flawlessly planned wedding, with fresh blooming flowers, vibrant colours, exquisite service, and some authentic Italian food and style, overlooking the glistening waters of the Mediterranean. These experts will not only plan the day itself, but the whole travel experience on the island for you and your guests, from accommodation and transport to unforgettable excursions, how does that sound?
There is also the brilliant team at Vis a Vis WeddEvent – an agency that will support you step by step, right from choosing the bridal gown and wedding rings. Every minute detail will be covered, thanks to their multicultural experience with couples from all over the world. Innovation and style are two of the many words to describe their decoration aesthetic, and when it comes to the co-ordination of you big day, absolutely nothing will be left to chance. Also on offer is a honeymoon planning service, so you can start your new life together as newlyweds with complete ease.
Venues
Next, with or without the help of a wedding planner, you need to choose a venue. To start this process, first consider your own personality, your style, your wedding size, your budget, and whereabouts in Italy you dream of getting married – from the vineyards and the mountains to the coastline or the lakes.
With a panoramic sea view, the incredibly luxurious Villa Balke is located in the the Gulf of Naples, with Capri in the background – so it really is beautiful both day and night, especially for an outdoor ceremony and reception. The villa boasts a 15,000 square meter park, with serene gardens, as well as large indoor spaces within a modern and elegant structure. There is also a team of award-winning chefs that will wow all your guests with fusion cuisine created from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
Or, how about getting married in a castle? If it’s a fairytale wedding that you’ve always dreamed of, then let us show you Il Castello Borghese. Located in a beautiful Nature Reserve facing the Circeo and Pontine Islands, this venue boasts one of the best views of the Lazio Coast. This 16th century venue can host up to 380 people for a grand banquet, and you could even say your vows on a seaview terrace, surrounded by pretty Italian gardens. You guests will be both inspired and amazed.
To be immersed in lush greenery and a natural landscape as far as the eyes can see, consider Parco Del Principe Restaurant, also in the Lazio region, the heart of Italy. Expect a really elegant location where fountains, statues and nature become the perfect setting for your ceremony and reception. Here, the team can turn original ideas into reality – no request is too big or too small! And every inch of these beautifully landscaped gardens will become the perfect backdrop to your wedding photos and party.
If you would prefer a view that combines both city and sea, take a look at Villa Andrea di Isernia. Nestled between the lava rocks and the blue sky of the Mediterranean, this venue overlooks the glittering lights of the Gulf of Naples, as well as the rugged coastline. The pool terrace is a great setting for welcome cocktails, and for cutting the cake against an unforgettable backdrop, and then there are multiple indoor and outdoor spaces for the ceremony and reception.
In Tuscany, there’s the truly authentic Relais La Corte dei Papi, situated in a valley and surrounded by rolling hills. This countryside residence dates back to the 1700s, and still maintains many original feature, perfect for a rural-chic wedding style. Your guests will get the full Tuscan experience, in an oasis of peace and tranquility. You can have your romantic ceremony amidst an aromatic garden of fragrant flowers and olive groves. Then celebrate by the luxury pool, underneath the stars.
How about a wedding in one of Italy’s most beautiful wineries? The historic vineyards of the elegant Villa Mosconi Bertani make the perfect backdrop to a rural-chic destination wedding. Home to the Bertani family’s Amarone and Valpolicella wines, there’s no better place than here to have a really delicious celebration of love and romance. This exquisite venue dates back to the sixteenth century, so your experience will be truly authentic!
For an incredibly romantic medieval experience, Resort Borgo San Pietro in the Umbrian countryside has it all. While the former Romanesque church was born as a place of worship and a fortress of faith, the whole estate has been transformed seven hundred years later to be the fairytale venue of your dreams. Amid the beautiful structure of an authentic village-style complex is a large square that overlooks the valley below – a perfect spot for welcome drinks, canapés or an alfresco reception meal and party. There is also a boutique hotel, swimming pool and wellness centre for you and your guests to enjoy maximum comfort.
Last but not least, Gattarella Resort, is a destination wedding paradise, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Italian life on a charming cliff overlooking the ocean of Gattarella Bay. Immersed in 15 hectares of Mediterranean greenery, the structure has even received the Unesco award for the best compromise between structure and nature. For your wedding you can choose between two reception rooms, a panoramic terrace, a lounge bar directly on the Sea and a private beach. There is also 118 hotel rooms and 160 residences to suit all your accommodation needs.
Caterers
A typical celebration in Italy is, more often than not, entirely centred around indulgent food. Fresh tomatoes, regional cheese, cured meats and the greenest of herbs are just some of the usual ingredients to make hearty Italian cuisine, which is known and loved around the world.
Mencarelli Group offer this and more, with over 40 years of experience. A 5-star catering service, with friendly yet incredibly attentive staff who understand that good food and wine is what brings people together in celebration. With them you can carefully personalise a menu exactly to your tastes and requirements – they can also help with the overall planning of your big day!
Photographer
Then it comes to finding the right person to preserve all of your special destination wedding memories through an artistic lens. A talented photographer can capture the most spontaneous of moments, which you will want to remember for a lifetime.
Biagio Sollazzi specialises in a reportage style, documenting every unique moment of an event through a type of photo journalism – telling your love story through his art. According to him, joy and excitement are the fundamental emotions that characterise an important day like marriage, which he strives to preserve. Based in Salerno, Sollazzi and his friendly team operate across the Amalfi Coast and Positano.
So now you have no excuse not to consider Italy – with all its beautiful places and talented wedding professionals, as your wedding destination. We hope our recommendations have inspired you!
Don't want to miss out on the latest trends for your wedding?
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Leave a comment