The choices available in terms of setting, mood, and venues are endless.
“Finding the right wedding venue is one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make, and it can be hard to know if a place will be the right fit for you. That’s why I’ve putted together a list of the essential points to consider when choosing your wedding venue in Italy.”
I am so thrilled and excited to start this adventure called “Blog” because I feel like I have so many things, experiences and tips to share with you, and I also love writing so much!
Planning your wedding in Tuscany has to be one of the most exciting times in your life, and also the most frustrating. This is the most popular and also meaningful reason to have a wedding planner as a guide and much more than this… but this is another topic and this post is supposed to be regarding “how to choose the wedding venue”, right? …
10 Tips to select your Dream Wedding Venue in Tuscany
1. Start Your Venue Search Early
A quick tip before you begin is “take your time” because finding the venue is a decision that reserves the most of the time you can dedicate, to be sure you pick the perfect place for both you and your fiancée.
Italy is an extremely popular destination for weddings and the best venues get booked around 18 months in advance.
2. Hire a Wedding Planner First
It’s engagement season out there and I am pretty sure there are a lot of couples just engaged that are starting the process of finding a venue. But if you are thinking of hiring a planner and you are not sure of what comes first: planner or venue? I always recommend to hire your planner first, because there are so many things, through years of experience, she has learned to look for when picking up a venue. So, hiring a wedding planner first is very helpful and important.
3) Venue Capacity & Guests List
One of the first things that I look for and maybe that seems obvious (but it’s not) is “How many people can the space truly accommodate?”…. it’s so bad when a couple is just looking at venues without making a guests list first, because what can happen is that you can fall in love for a place and book it, and realize after that it doesn’t work for you because you want to invite too many people for it or your budget is not enough…there are so many reasons why to do your guest count first and then find out the capacity…
And mostly, I usually don’t want to be at the max capacity of any space that I am in, so I always ask the venue “What the comfortable max capacity is?” And then you should consider also the space for the musicians if there are, even during the dinner or the other entertainments…
4) Plan B
An other thing that I want to find out when picking a venue is what the indoor and the outdoor options are. If you have a venue that you fall in love with, and you are obsessed with the outdoor spaces that they offer, you need to love the indoor spaces that you’re going to have in case of bad weather, as much as the outdooor spaces. So if you find a venue that you like these both spaces equally, you’ll never feel upset on your wedding day if you have bad weather. And you know, you can never know about what the weather is like, even in Tuscany!
5) Bathrooms
Another thing that I never forget to check about a venue is to see what the bathrooms are like!
Some places have really luxurious bathrooms or you could be surpised to find some venues that have just two little and basic bathroom, so it’s important to check it out when you look for a venue, to assure the most comfort to your guests.
6) Venue Staff
A quality that I look for in a venue’s team and manager, is the flexibility. If you work with a kind and flexible and responsive staff, it’s quite important…or just essential I should say!
7) Logistics
There’s a lot to consider when choosing where you’d like to tie the knot. Whether it is a farmhouse among vineyards and olive trees, a romantic castle in Chianti, an historic villa or a luxury hotel in Florence, Tuscan wedding venues sound like every girl’s dream come true!
Things to consider when you choose a location are “how close it is to the nearest airport?”; if there are hotels or accomodations close by for all your guests; what’s the parking situation; and finally which kind of activities, city tours are there for your guests nearby?(especially if you will have a week wedding).
8)Choose a Venue that aligns with Your Vision
I always recommend and guide my clients to seek out venues that fit the aesthetic they have in mind. For example, if you’re planning a modern wedding, look at well-designed resorts in Tuscany, or renovated modern country style locations in Umbria or Val d’Orcia. A wedding incorporating more natural elements works well with outdoor venues such as farmhouses in the countryside. Choosing a venue that fits in with your theme will enable your wedding to feel more connected to the space and will enhance it.
9) Think About What Is Included
There are basically two kind of venues: those that have an inside catering and others where you can bring in your own vendors and catering, In the first option, the included rental items are often more basic (white linens, standard flatware, banquet chairs, etc.), so you may still pay more to rent items that fit your vision better. You should know that some venues accept just a short list of trusted vendors (such as catering, lighting services, music, etc.).
10) And last but not the least: The Budget!
The best thing about getting married in Tuscany is that you don’t need a big budget to score a splendid venue. Even if you’re on a smaller budget, you might find the wedding venue of your dreams. First of all I suggest to break down your overall budget by category, prioritizing more funds for vendors that are a higher priority. If you select your venue first, and then realize it’s more than you should have allocated, it’s an uphill battle to stay within your budget when you still have a dozen other people to hire. There are many ways to safe money…some example? choosing a venue in the countryside in Tuscany is usually less expensive than a city centre wedding venue. A midweek wedding will cost less than a weekend wedding.
I could probably write for days about this topic, but I am really grateful if you have read until here!!
So, thank you for reading my post and feel free to share it or asking any questions!
Happy evening!
