Adam proposed to me in Rome, March of 2019, and it was then that we knew we wanted to get married in the most romantic and beautiful country, Italy. We initially wanted to get married on the Tuscany hillside, and met with a local wedding planner from Tuscany that I sought out over Instagram to show us a few different options through Tuscany. However, a few months later we thought that we’d jet out to the Amalfi Coast to check out the landscape and enjoy the scenery. As soon as we arrived in Capri, we knew that it was special and the place we wanted to say “I do”. We set a date for September 2020 in the Capri… a 3 day celebration that is! I decided that I did not want to hire a wedding planner and I would just reach out to each individual venue and supplier by myself to obtain quotes and work through the process. As you know, Covid 19 started in China and the next place it hit was Italy. We had to cancel all of our wedding plans and postpone for 2022. Although I was bummed, it was a blessing in disguise. We know had more time to plan, save, and rearrange the sequence of events and reassess hiring a local wedding planner
Planning a wedding can be a daunting and an overwhelming task, especially when considering a destination wedding in a beautiful location like Italy. After countless hours of research and consideration, I finally made the decision to pick a wedding planner in Italy. In this blog, I will share the thought process behind my decision-making and the factors that led me to choose a wedding planner and Capri as the perfect setting for my special day. I will get into what the site visit cost me in Tuscany and how much I paid for my Amalfi Coast wedding planner along with the price points that I was receiving.
1. Exploring the Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Planner in Italy:
Planning a wedding in a foreign country requires extensive knowledge of the local culture, legal formalities, and vendor networks. Let’s say that you plan on getting married in the United States — so you can take the legal aspects out of it! Thank goodness! Now, the next most important item to consider is vendor networks. Hiring an Italian wedding planner local to the specific region that you plan on getting married in is a crucial item. Not only will they provide you with valuable expertise but will also be able to curate a more tailored approach to match your budget. A local wedding planner is embedded in the community and will be able to lead you in the best direction.
“We can hardly wait for you to blow your tax refund on our destination wedding!”
2. Researching Wedding Planners in Italy:
To find the ideal wedding planner, I embarked on a thorough and extensive research journey. I did most of my research on Instagram, Pinterest, and of course Google. I found that the best way for me to get a feel for each wedding planner’s work was by going to their Instagram page and researching their tagged photos. I found that following hashtags and searching for “Amalfi Coast Wedding” or “Italian Wedding Planner” brought up a lot more recent weddings than what many of the wedding planners had showcased on their website. I also didn’t hesitate to reach out to other recent brides to ask them how their experience went with that said wedding planner.
3. Narrowing Down the Choices:
After shortlisting a few wedding planners based on their Instagram page, price sheet, reviews, and style, I contacted them directly to have a more in depth conversation. An in-depth consultation helped me gauge their understanding of my vision and their ability to bring it to life. Describe the process of evaluating each wedding planner’s responsiveness, professionalism, and alignment with my wedding aspirations.
If you are unable to make it to Italy or any other destination spot for that matter, to conduct site checks, then I highly recommend you setting up intro calls with at least 3 wedding planners. We met with one wedding planner in Ravello to show us Villa Ciambrone and Villa Eva, but she just wasn’t a fit for us. She was very kind, but I feel like she was just too “whimsical” for me. I know that may be harsh, but I preferred other wedding planners that were just straight to the point.
4. Matching the Wedding Planner with the Destination:
When we decided to get married in Capri, I asked my wedding planner in Tuscany, Olivia Sodi, to help me plan the wedding on the Amalfi Coast. However, due to her local networks being in Florence and throughout Tuscany, she was unable to help me and advised me to find someone local. The wedding planner I ultimately chose, Med in Style, is based in the Amalfi Coast. She and her team work around Napoli, Amalfi Coast, and all the Islands. They understood the local regulations, had established relationships with local vendors, and knew how to make the most of the island’s charm. Emphasize the importance of selecting a wedding planner who has worked in the chosen destination before and can leverage their knowledge to create a seamless and unforgettable wedding experience.
5. Collaborating with the Wedding Planner:
I strongly feel that you will have a great collaborative process with the wedding planner of your choice as long as in the early stages you make sure your personalities will be a good fit for theirs. Out of all the wedding planners that we met virtually or in person, I preferred the Italian wedding planners that were very direct and REALISTIC with me. Trust me, you want a wedding planner that will give it to you straight! And the biggest item that many brides have issues with is Pinterest vs. Reality when it comes to florals. Discussing themes and décor, and refining the wedding itinerary, will be less frustrating for you if you collaborate with someone that you vibe with. The advantages of hiring Med in Style, was that our team was deeply networked on the Island from everything from local restaurants, taxi drivers, and boutique hotels.
In conclusion, the journey of choosing a wedding planner in Italy and finalizing the destination of Capri was filled with a ton of research and digging. Through meticulous planning and collaboration with a local wedding planner, I know that our dream wedding on Capri was an unforgettable experience for all of our guests. The decision to hire a wedding planner in Italy was an investment that ensured a stress-free and joyful wedding week! If you are considering a destination wedding, I highly recommend exploring the possibilities that Italy and the expertise of a local wedding planner can offer. Remember, it’s your special day, and choosing the right wedding planner and destination will pave the way for a truly memorable wedding experience in Italy.
Tuscany Wedding Planner Recommendation: https://www.oliviasodi.com Amalfi Coast Wedding Planner Recommendation: https://www.medinstyle.it