How to Find the Italian Wedding Venue of Your Dreams | SposiamoVi

So, you’ve set your heart on a romantic Italian wedding? Congratulazioni! Now here comes the tricky part – where to do it?

Italy is brimming with beautiful wedding locations, from magical medieval castles to luxurious coastal resorts. Never fear, your wedding planning Fairy Godmothers are here! At SposiamoVi, we have over 10 years’ experience of helping couples around the world find their dream Italian wedding venue.

Here’s our ultimate guide to finding your perfect venue match.

1. Pin Down Your Style – Close your eyes and picture the style of your wedding. What do you see? An elegant celebration at a castle in Tuscany? A glamorous wedding at an Italian lakeside villa? A laid-back, boho wedding at an Italian country house surrounded by olive groves? Start by finding your wedding style and searching venues that align with your overall vision.

 SV Tip: Need help to find your wedding style? You’ll find oodles of gorgeous Italian wedding inspiration at @Sposiamovi  

2. Budget Planning – We’re sorry, there’s no way of softening this but your budget is one of the biggest deciding factors for deciding venue choice. Sit down with your partner to discuss how much you have to spend and sift venues that suit your style and budget range. That said, if you’ve fallen for a venue with a higher price tag, don’t be afraid to negotiate with their wedding coordinator. See if they can apply a special rate by opting for a date out of season or a weekday. Also, ask for a breakdown of all fees – you might be able to forgo certain items (who needs a cake cutting service anyway?) to reduce the cost.
3. The Numbers Game – Next make a list of how many guests you’re planning to invite. It could be 10, it could 100, but whatever your magic number is will make a vast difference to your venue selection.

When writing your invite list, think about the size of wedding you’d like – an intimate, familial gathering with your favourite people or a large, lively wedding party? Knowing roughly how many guests you intend to invite means you can start short-listing venues that can accommodate. The aim is to find to the right fit, you don’t want a venue that’s too small (squeeze the guest!) or too big (spot the guest!).

Choose Your Vendors – No wedding is an island. Multiple different vendors come together to make an epic event, from photographers and filmmakers to invitation suppliers and musicians. If you have certain suppliers in mind, make sure your venue allows you to work with them. Some venues don’t mind which vendors you bring in, while others insist you use their preferred suppliers, so scope out what’s possible early on.

Find Your Flow – Think about how you would like your day to flow. One way to keep things simple is to hold your ceremony and reception at the same venue – just check it has ample space to manage both. Alternatively, you may want to hold your ceremony at one of Italy’s charming local churches or town halls before heading to your reception elsewhere. Think about how this might work and the logistics of getting yourself and friends and family to and from locations. Also, consider where you and your guests will stay. For example, do you envision your guests staying with you at the same venue overnight? (Which can make for a very fun but *very* late wedding night!).

SV Tip: Once you’ve decided on one or two venues, walk through them a few times to pin down where you’d like the different moments of your day to take place in the space.

6. Indoor or Al fresco Wedding – If top of your wishlist is a sun soaked outdoor ceremony with all that entails (sweeping views, magical light, starlit reception, barefoot dancing) we should let you know that the Italian weather can be unpredictable.

Italy’s mediterranean climate means hot summers and cool winters but unfortunately, even booking a summer date doesn’t guarantee glorious sunshine on the day. Before shortlisting outdoor venues, check that it has an equally lovely indoor space (one that you adore just as much as the outside!) that you can use if it rains. While some locations will have indoor ‘Plan B’ spaces, others may ask you to hire a wedding marquee or yurt.

7. Music Curfew – Great music and a jumping dance floor make for an awesome wedding celebration but before you speed dial your favourite band or DJ, check your venue’s music policy. Most only allow outdoor music until midnight, so if you want to party on, check what arrangements are in place.

SV Tip: If you want to party past midnight, check if you can play music indoors. After the band finished, this fabulous wedding party in an Italian castle continued with a late-night DJ in the cellar.

8. Give a Great Guest Experience – Naturally your wedding is about you and your beloved but it’s also about your guests. If you have a lot of out-of-town guests coming to celebrate with you in Italy, try to make things as smooth and stress-free as possible for them. Choose a venue that’s within easy reach of the airport (or other major travel hubs) and provide a handful of comfortable, affordable accommodation options close by. Giving family and friends a great guest experience [link to https://sposiamovi.it/six-ways-to-create-the-best-wedding-guest-experience-ever/] will make your wedding extra memorable and show you’re thinking of them.

 

9. Light it Up – Lighting at an Italian wedding is key. It casts a magical glow and sets the stage for stunning photographs. Before finalising your venue, find out what indoor and outdoor lighting (such as, festoon lights, fairy lights or hurricane lamps) they offer, and whether real candles are permitted. You’ll be surprised how many Italian venues won’t allow even small candles, like votives. If real candles aren’t possible, see how your ceremony and reception space work in natural light and explore alternative lighting options.

SV Tip: No candles? No problem. LED candles have evolved and now come in an array of soft tones and even have a natural ‘oh, what a lovely breeze’ flicker. Your guests will never know!

10. Food Choices – Along with your dress (and the comfiness of the beds) one of the things your guests will always remember is the food! Luckily most Italian food is like a hug for the soul. Each venue will handle catering differently. While some will harvest vegetables grown in their kitchen garden, others will partner with top chefs in the country. Whatever your preference, choose a venue that will deliver your guests mouthwatering food they’ll never forget.

 

Ready to find your perfect Italian wedding venue? You’re guaranteed to find the one with SposiamoVi’s exclusive Venue Selection Service. Our vast experience of the Italian wedding industry and close-knit relationships with the most sought-after venues means we can provide you with a selection of hand-picked, stunning wedding venues that meet your every criteria. To find out more, get in touch today: hello@sposiamovi.it