Molly and Shawn’s Intimate Italian Destination Wedding couldn’t have been more perfect. Molly told me the first time we hopped on a call that she wanted to do things a little different. As the youngest of five siblings in a huge Italian Catholic family, all her siblings had large 200+ weddings. Instead, she wanted an intimate wedding with only close family members and a few friends. After living in Italy for 2 years, Molly knew that she wanted to have a European Destination Wedding. There was no doubt in her mind that returning to the most inspiring time in her life was the perfect fit for their wedding. I was all in.
European Destination Wedding & Elopements
I specialize in European Destination Weddings! If you are considering an Intimate Italian Destination Wedding or dream of getting married in Europe, I recommend reading my guide here. It can be a challenge to plan a destination in Europe if you live in the United States. My best recommendation is to plan your wedding at least 12 months in advance. Spending more time researching potential European wedding venues and vendors will be key. I highly recommend scheduling Facetime meetings or phone calls with every vendor. Also, Europe has a lot of hidden gems available for wedding venues. It’s more popular in Europe to get married at a Bed & Breakfast, a castle or chateau etc. where lodging is included along with the venue. Whereas the United States has strict rules, Europe has dozens of destination wedding venues where you can get married in the same place you can stay overnight.
How to Plan an Intimate Destination Wedding
- I recommend starting your intimate Italian Destination Wedding Planning by booking a venue. Yes, even before a date. Being flexible will be to your advantage as you reach out to Italy or European wedding venues for information!
- Get lots of quotes. Some of my clients reach out to 25-50 European Wedding Venues before landing on one. Some wedding venues sneak hidden fees into their overall quotes, such as extra fees for using certain spaces on the property or excluding the price of specific wedding vendors. There are some wedding venues that require a full hotel buy out. For others, you may have to book the hotel rooms separate from the venue. Every venue is different and having comparisons is helpful!
- If at all possible, plan a trip to look at wedding venues. Not everyone will have this luxury as traveling is expensive (especially when planning a destination wedding!), but seeing your venue in person is invaluable.
- If you can’t take a trip to visit your European wedding venue, hire a wedding planner who can visit the property for you. Being able to Facetime with your planner while they visit your venue is the second best thing to visiting in person!
- Set a date. Once you have chosen your venue, set your date!
- You will want your wedding guests and family to have as much notice as possible for your Italian Intimate Destination Wedding. Plan your engagement session as soon as possible and send your save the dates. It is standard to send your save the dates for a destination wedding 9-12 months in advance.
- Start hiring additional wedding vendors. Usually, I recommend booking your wedding photographer, caterer, florist as high priority.
Top 10 Intimate Wedding Venues in Tuscany Italy
If you love Molly and Shawn’s Intimate Italian Wedding in Tuscany, here are some spectacular Italy wedding venues to inspire you!
- Castello Di Celsa
- Borgo Pignano Tuscany
- Locanda in Tuscany
- Podere Calvaiola
- Dimore Di Poggianto
- Villa Daniela Grossi
- Tenuta Mocajo
- Castello DI Meleto
- Stomennano
- Castello DI Vicarello
Europe Destination Wedding Photographer
I am specialized in European Destination weddings as a photographer! I travel to Europe 3-4x per year and have traveled to Italy more than 10 times. After more than 12 years as a destination wedding photographer, I feel confident in my expertise as a traveling photographer. Prioritizing your memories together is my goal and making sure your day is as enjoyable as possible. Offering itinerary advice, locations, travel planning, and more, I am available to help you every step of the way. Contact me here about your Intimate Italian Destination Wedding or Elopement.
