I lived in Italy for 5 months as a student, and fell head over heels in love with it! I still speak enough Italian to get by, but the thought of planning a wedding, even with the little experience I have, is a bit scary. I have huge admiration for Michelle Jacobs, owner at Elegante by Michelle J and the UK’s very best Italian wedding planner. (I also love scrolling through the stunning photos of weddings in Italy on her socials – they’re always breathtaking.) I spotted a blog by Michelle where she talks really honestly about the reality of planning a wedding in Italy from the UK. It’s brilliant, super useful and I wanted to share some highlights with you on here (with Michelle’s permission of course).

1. Avoid the hottest months if you’re travelling to Italy to get married

August sounds nice… imagine the hazy evening sunshine over vineyards as you celebrate your wedding with al fresco dining. However – August is super hot: like, reliably and consistently VERY hot.

Avoid melting in the sunshine by choosing a wedding date in a slightly cooler month!

2. Could peak tourist season impact your Italian wedding?

The simpler answer is yes: busy airports, packed hotels and sightseers around your venue might all change the vibe of your day. Opting for a less manic time of year than high summer will feel more relaxed, so avoid school holidays (in both countries!) when booking your wedding.

3. Embrace Italian charm and luxury

5 star luxury in Italy won’t be the same as it might in London; especially in rural areas and countryside destinations. High end and sought after wedding venues come with a dose of Italian charm which might not feel ‘perfect’ by UK city standards. Embrace the splendour and excellence the Italians adore their venues for; rather than expecting the same luxuries as you’d find at the Savoy.

4. Know what to expect from your destination wedding suppliers

There are some incredible Italian wedding suppliers whose work we’ve featured in our destination weddings category for years. However, Italian weddings are different, and you’re very likely to find your choice of suppliers is limited, compared to what is readily available in the UK. Michelle speaks really openly about the choice of Italian wedding suppliers on her blog:

“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.”

This is worth knowing, so you can relax your expectations a little and embrace the location itself perhaps, rather than breaking yourselves trying to achieve perfection or Pinterest-level wedding style for your destination wedding!

5. Supplier roles are different in Italy!

I always find this really interesting. An Italian wedding florist will often be responsible for venue styling in its entirety, providing all the hire items. Knowing supplier roles can be so different makes communication really important – and this means effective, crystal clear communication so you and all of your suppliers know exactly who will be doing what on the day.

6. Communication will be crucial every step of the way

Little things like booking processes, paying deposits and signing contracts – even if they’re translated into English for you – won’t be as simple as they can be for UK weddings. You’ll also have to be aware of Italian working patterns, bank holidays and long lunches (I loved lunchtimes when I worked in Italy!) as you work with suppliers to plan your wedding.

A stress-free, relaxed wedding planning experience?

Following Elegante by Michelle J for the last few years has convinced me – utterly, 100% – that a wedding planner is absolutely crucial for destination weddings. If I was looking to get married in Italy I wouldn’t think twice, and this is why:

• I wouldn’t be confident communicating with suppliers without professional help
• I’m sure there are dozens of things I don’t know about how Italian weddings work
• Having someone with a trusted network of suppliers – able to pick up the phone and ask questions – feels invaluable
• Language barriers are real! Knowing someone whose team includes fluent Italian-speakers, is managing key aspects of planning, would be everything

Of course, I’m biased: I love Michelle’s approach and have the utmost respect for everything she does. I’m not saying every couple has to hire a luxury wedding planner – that’s for you to decide! But I will leave you with these wise words, which I think are worth bearing in mind:

“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” ~ Michelle Jacobs, destination wedding planner at Elegante by Michelle J.

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