CASTELLABATE – ONE OF THE PRETTIEST VILLAGES IN ITALY

I remember the wedding enquiry landing in my inbox one March morning from a lovely Swedish couple, hoping to plan a wedding in Cilento with My Secret Italy. What I immediately noticed was that they were planning to marry in the very same year with a small planning window. I was not phased by this at all, as I had experienced this before with Claire & Dan who planned a wedding in six months with legalities and all. Michael & Malin were hoping for a symbolic ceremony, which meant they didn’t have to go through the process of obtaining legal documents which did help for sure.

From our very first conversation I was intrigued to hear all about how I could help this beautiful couple. I soon realised that in Sweden, the usual UK traditions did not apply and this would be a very different wedding. From the get go, photography was a very important consideration for Michael & Malin, so I recommended a few photographers.

One of my recommendations was for the wonderful DITA BOWEN whose style they immediately fell in love with. I had not worked with Dita before so we had lots of chats together to make sure she was a perfect fit. Dita’s style is light & Airy. (She is a true professional and was a joy to work with).

After a chat with the couple, I kinda had a plan for what would suit them best. We decided on a wedding ceremony at Torre Perrotti, a beautiful seaside tower dating back to the 16th Century. The dinner was then held in the prettiest of Italian villages, Castellabate. The village is a short drive from Santa Maria di Castellabate and Castellabate sits proudly about the seaside town and from where you get THE most amazing views of Santa Maria, and the Amalfi Coastline.

THE CEREMONY AT TORRE PERROTTI

BRIDAL PREP & FIRST LOOK

A few nights at the incredible Palazzo Belmonte for bridal prep & for their FIRST LOOK. The Palazzo Belmonte is another stunning venue for a wedding, A historic Palazzo dating back to the 17th Century.

In Sweden, quite often the couple see each other for photos before the actual ceremony.

DINNER AT PALAZZO GENTILCORE

What a magical spot for a wedding of up to 50 guests. Seated outside under an ancient fig tree & colourful Bougainvillea.. (for those of you that know me, you know how much this flower is weaved into our branding, and shouts Bella Italia). This beautiful boutique hotel sits on the outskirts of the village of Castellabate, and is breathtaking. The chef is a well known ambassador of the Mediterranean Diet, Pietro Parisi. Everyone sat down for dinner about six thirty and that is when the speeches began. In Sweden most of the guests will stand and say a few words and not much is planned. We had 17 speeches at least during the evening and in between courses, a real celebration of love, memories & congratulations.

After the dinner and the speeches, the party started with a DJ and a Sax player. Everyone partied until 01.00 when buses took the guests down for the after party in Santa Maria at the Cliff Bar. I believe guests saw the sunrise & had a memorable post wedding celebration.

So, take a look at this wedding. This is what we pulled off in a matter of just under six months, so don’t think it is not possible…. Michael & Malin opted for a symbolic ceremony and no documents are required for this type of ceremony as you would typically marry officially in your own town or country before or after the celebration in Italy. Even if you wanted to marry officially in Italy, the process does not start until six months before the date of the weddings, so rest assured it is not too late to plan a wedding with a six month window. Ideally you would give your guests more notice, but this blog post is to help you see what is possible booking a wedding in Italy with a small planning time-frame.

If you would like to find out more about a My Secret Italy wedding, then why not book a FREE Ciao Bella call with me? It is your chance to ask me anything about getting married in Italy. Click on link for a convenient time…

WORDS OF LOVE

It is very difficult to summarize this magical event.

We both had a Wedding and a birthday so it was a two day event. 

Julie and My Secret Italy was there from the start and made everything possible and it became very special.

All the guests were super happy with the result and several said it was the best wedding they event been too. Julie is a real talent, she is very accommodating, 100 % professional and very easy to work with.

JULIE really listened to what we wanted although we sometimes were very difficult.

We were her first Swedish couple but Julie was very open to how we marry in Sweden.

The locations were all great, All persons involved were great. The problem now is that we have too many great memories to choose from.

I imagine you have been dreaming about a romantic Italian wedding for as long as you can remember. You really do not know where to start with the planning procedure. Which venue, which planner, do you even need a planner? You can turn to a google search, but that will often mean you feel more overwhelm.

So, take a sip of wine, relax and enjoy this blog post. It has been written with love. Hopefully after reading it, your can confidently start planning your dreamy Italian wedding..

Close your eyes, how do you envisage your day? Are you near the sea? Perhaps in a vineyard or a city?

What 10 words that would describe your perfect Italian wedding day?

Dreamy, Sea side, Floaty Dress, Barefoot Luxury, Live Music, Great Food, Peonies, Love Hearts, Unique, Intimate

Once you are clear on what you want, then you can begin to tailor your search for the best wedding planner and venue..but before you do, a few more things to consider

BEST TIME TO MARRY

I would say June or September. Try to avoid the end of July and August as it is very hot and very busy. Even when the sun sets inJuly and August, it is still hot and humid.  If you decide on a September wedding, then from about the 10th September the days get shorter, so aim for a mid afternoon ceremony as the sun will set around 1900. Many couples go to Italy and expect sunshine, but it can rain. Remember though that in Italy there is a saying, “Sposa Bagnata, Sposa Fortunata”, which means wet bride, lucky bride.  We recently had a wedding in the rain (very soft rain), and it was one of the most intimate weddings ever. We supplied  brightly coloured umbrellas, and thankfully it did not rain for long, and we all enjoyed a beautiful sunset, but always consider the options for a plan B should rain be forecast.

DO WE NEED A PLANNER?

The answer, I believe, is YES. Finding someone to help guide you through the whole planning process is so important in making sure that you have the wedding of your dreams. There are so many different ways in which a planner can help you (some of which are listed below). All planners are different though, and some will do more than others, so when researching a planner, make sure they can assist you with everything that you need and that there are no limitations/restrictions.  Most wedding planners know who their ideal couple is and actually want to work with like-minded people. It is all about the connection, so read the planner’s BIO on the website, if you like what you read, you are half way there. Do you feel the connection? We all go on an incredible journey once the planning process begins and it is important that you are on the same page and that you will all enjoy the journey together.  Always try to ask your family and friends for recommendations too. They may have attended a wedding in Italy and may have a good contact for you.

Just a few ways, in which a wedding planner can help you..

* Language skills, translating your dreams into a reality* Helping guide your through the legal procedure for marrying in Italy
* Helping guests with their hotels and transfers
* Introducing you to their suppliers, that will be tried and tested and come highly recommended
* Being there for you throughout to help and assist with styling your wedding
* Being there in the lead up to the wedding, the wedding day itself and beyond.
* Wedding Planners in most cases can actually save you money

Choosing the perfect planner is essential, they can share all their secrets with you and help you plan the perfect day. A top tip is to choose a wedding planner that has specialist knowledge of the area in which you are considering. 

We know and love the Cilento Coast, which is a secret spot just south of the Amalfi Coast, glorious beaches, friendly locals, a great choice of hotels and apartments to suit all tastes.  Words that describe Santa Maria di Castellabate, our favourite town on Italy’s southern shores. 

Twinkle Town – Authentic – Real Italy 

Budget – This is a tough one, especially at the beginning when you are trying to get a feel for what a wedding in Italy may cost. Of course, some areas are less expensive than others. For example Tuscany is usually more expensive than nearby Umbria – Praiano on the Amalfi Coast tends to cost less than Positano.  If you have an idea of your approximate budget that will cover the wedding planning fee, venue/food, music, flowers, cake, hair/make up, photographer and videographer, then it is a really good start, and if you tell your planner what your budget is, she can suggest suitable venues in Italy that will work for you. At My Secret Italy, each and every wedding is tailored to suit you and your requirements, so once we have an idea of your budget, we can enthuse you with realistic options.  One of the biggest expenses is often the catering so the more guests you have the more your wedding is likely to cost.

Guests – One of the most important considerations – Take time to write a guest list and have an idea of how many guests will attend the wedding.  Choosing a town in Italy that is guest-friendly is so important. For example, if you know that you are inviting elderly guests, or parents with babies then perhaps a wedding in Positano would not be a good idea, as there are lots of steps. Finding somewhere that has a good range of hotels and apartments to suit all budgets and tastes too is important.  Most guests at weddings will stay at least 4 or 5 days (on average) and they often make a holiday of it, so are there beaches nearby, a good range of restaurants? possibilities for days out? When you send out your save the date cards, a useful tip (they will want to know) is to give your guests some information on the closest airport, average cost of a flight and a hotel, how far the venue is from the airport, and the cost of transfers. It will help them decide if they can afford to attend or not. Your planner can help you with collating this information. Another tip is to give your guests plenty of notice so they can plan and save. Most couples book their weddings AT LEAST one year in advance where possible.

Communication with guests is also important so setting up a Whatsapp group or secret Facebook group for the wedding guests is a good idea.

At My Secret Italy we do this for you, and post lots of information about flights, hotels and transfers.

Hair/Make UP – We have this covered

This is something many brides ask about in the early stages.  Most wedding planners work closely with a carefully selected team for your wedding, and can recommend fantastic hair dressers and make up artists for your wedding day. Both will include a trial before the wedding. It is a good idea to have images to show them at the trial and ask your planner to arrange for the trials to be at the same time. Normally we ask our make up artist to come an hour before the hair dresser, so you can get a really good feel for how you will look on the day.  Remember that a trial is just that, so if you are not happy with the first result, then point out what your like or dislike, and they are more than happy to keeping working until it is perfect

Photographer/Videographer – It is all about capturing memories

Choosing a photographer or videographer or both is such an important decision, and you need to choose carefully. For all our weddings, we use UK based creatives who are more than happy to fly out to Italy for the same price as a UK wedding. The reason for this is that they often want a destination wedding or two in their portfolio.  We have arranged the Secret Retreat Workshop for photographers in Italy for the last 3 years and we can recommend lots of really amazing people, that would love to shoot your wedding. However, I always explain to My Secret Italy brides that it is all about CONNECTION, so read the BIO’s.. then look at the photos/videos.. When you land on the creative for you…you will know and want to book them.  The really good guys do get booked up really early, so don’t leave this part of the planning to the last minute. Once your wedding is booked, start looking then.  When you book a photographer or videographer, ask how long you will need to wait before your images/film are ready. It can take 8-12 weeks (sometimes longer), so worth knowing.

Honeymoon – Before you leave for your honeymoon, stay on in the town where you are getting married for a few days once all your guests have departed, don’t rush off. During the wedding celebrations, you are busy catching up with family and old friends, and often don’t get that much time on your own to enjoy the setting…so my advice is to stay on a few days and really discover the town, just the two of you. Also to rest before you set off on a Mini Moon, possibly a few days somewhere else before you fly back to the UK?

We are happy to share our honeymoon hotels with you.. we know all the best places in italy, Indian Ocean and Santorini to name just a few …

Arrive in Italy at least a day before your guests – Try, where possible to fly out a few days before your first guests start to arrive. Just so you have some time with your planner to go over the final arrangements, soak up some sunshine, and have some time together before the celebrations begin.

Visiting the wedding venue before the wedding is optional. If you trust your planner, see photos, videos, and read testimonials, you may want to leave it to be a surprise. I would say 90 per cent of our brides DO NOT visit, and they always say after the wedding that everything exceeded their expectations, but it depends on you.. If you are going to visit, go as early as you can in the planning stages, and try to visit at the same time of year as the wedding date. This is not always possible and depends on when you book, but June and September are very similar months, May and October too.

A final note – Find a planner you connect with and a venue that you fall in love with at first sight. 

Remember it is all about connection. Trust your instincts and your planner.  Enjoy the process, remember that Italian’s are very laid back, especially in the South.

Find out more about a My Secret Italy Wedding

As always, written with love,

Julie x

EASIER THAN YOU MAY THINK…

I have been helping couples plan weddings in Italy for 20 years.

When you begin your wedding planning journey, you have to decide what type of ceremony you would like.

Many couples choose a SYMBOLIC CEREMONY, where you marry officially in the UK. Once the legalities are done in UK, then couples hold a celebration in Italy with their family and friends. Symbolic weddings are more and more popular each year.

A civil wedding means that the wedding is registered in Italy. A wedding certificate will be issued and held on record. It is optional as to whether or not you register your wedding in the UK. You are issued with a couple of wedding certificates which are translated into English. You would need these to change your name on documents when you return to the UK. The town hall will ask for 2 witnesses for your ceremony, The ceremony will be in Italian and then translated into English by an official Italian interpreter . The legal part will take about 20 minutes. The ceremony is fairly official so you may well want to ask your planner if it is possible to add vows and readings. Most town halls will charge a fee for the ceremony and sometimes it is known as a wedding tax, as often you pay the venue too.

WHAT DOCUMENTS WILL YOU NEED?

Here is a really useful video that explains the procedure. Don’t worry though, as your planner should guide you through the process. Remember any of the documents for the wedding, are only valid for 6 months (UK CITIZENS) from the date of issue.

CERTIFICATE OF NO IMPEDIMENT

This is valid for 6 months from the date it is issued. It takes 28 days for the document to be issued from the day when you have your appointment with your registrar. You would phone in advance to make an appointment. The cost is approx £35 per person, and each of you will be interviewed separately. The purpose of this form is to show that you are free to marry. After your appointment the notice to marry will be posted on the board of the town hall. Ask at your appointment if this will be posted out or if you have to collect it. Whilst you are waiting for the certificate to be issued, you can download a Statutory Declaration. This needs to be completed in the presence of a solicitor and signed and stamped by them. Costs to do this will vary, but estimate £10 each.

LEGALISING THE DOCUMENTS – FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Once you have your 2 certificates of No Impediment and 2 Statutory Declarations, signed by a solicitor, then you need to legalise your documents with the FCO. This used to take about 5 days but post covid, especially this summer, it has taken up to a month, so be prepared. Budget approx £30 per document.

WITNESSES

You need to choose 2 witnesses for your wedding. They can be friends or family, aged 18 or over.

SENDING THE DOCUMENTS TO ITALY

As soon as you receive the legalised certificates of non impediment and legalised Stat Declarations, then you need to liaise with your planner. The Certificates of No Impediment needs to be translated into Italian by an official Italian translator . The cost for this will vary so ask your planner. In some parts of Italy there are also local taxes that have to be paid for the legal process. Remember to ask your planner what charges will apply and how this has to be paid. Then you will send the documents to your planner in Italy in plenty of time for them to organise the translation of the certificate of non impediment in preparation of the wedding. You are usually asked to attend the town hall in Italy a few days before the wedding. This varies from region to region so ask your planner what is required locally.

YOUR PLANNER WILL HELP GUIDE YOU

This is one of the many reasons why I believe that you should always have a wedding planner, especially one that speaks Italian. Making sure you have the correct documents is so important, so make sure that you ask about the support you will receive with this when choosing a planner.

I wish you luck with this stage, it is not as daunting as it may seem, especially if you have the help of a wedding planner.

If you would like to jump on a call to discuss the legal process or types of ceremony, perhaps you are thinking about a church wedding, and the paperwork does vary for that. CIAO BELLA CALL.

as always, written with love

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT A MY SECRET ITALY WEDDING

Julie – My Secret Italy

We know just the place….

A coastline steeped in history, and known as the Mermaid Coast, just below the more well known Amalfi Coast.

Your guests have quite possibly never heard of it.. (My Secret Italy) but rest assured they will fall in love with this authentic part of Italy.

The coast is known as Cilento Coast and it is part of the Unesco World Heritage Site.  Along the coast line is the perfect little fishing village, called Santa Maria di Castellabate. I say perfect, because it is just that..

Perfect for a wedding in Italy, a great place for all your family and friends to find an amazing choice of hotels or apartments. Lots to do as well, from cute eateries and traditional bars, to state of the art spa, days out on boats, trips to vineyards and mozzarella farms.

 I am guessing that you love being near the sea? and that is why you are reading this blog post.. well, let me tell you that the beaches along this coastline are simply stunning.

Long sandy stretches of beach, glistening sea and views that will simply take your breath away..

Getting married on the beach is not for everyone. Hopefully this blog post will help you decide if a beach wedding is the best option for you.

BEST TIME OF YEAR 

The best time of year for a beach wedding is from May, June or September. Usually the weather is warm and days are sunny and warm. You want to avoid the heat and madness of the peak summer months in July and August. Santa Maria di Castellabate is an Italian holiday destination, so it gets very busy in peak season, and temperatures sore to 35 degrees on average.

TIME OF DAY

If you want to marry on the beach, we always suggest from 1730/1800 as the perfect time, when the heat of the day has subsided and the sun is just starting to descend. From the beach in Santa Maria, the sun sets over the island of Capri, so you really do have the most amazing view as you say your vows.  You can also choose a sunset beach wedding around 1930 when we light lots of tiny candles, this is surely the most romantic time of the day.

TYPE OF CEREMONY

Imagine, twinkly fairy lights, candles and views of Capri! 

You can decide what type of ceremony to have. A symbolic ceremony is one where you have completed your legalities in the UK, and your ceremony is a celebration of your love, where you can decide if you want an local celebrant or perhaps to ask someone close to you to be the celebrant. You can decide on the layout, the feel for the ceremony and it can last as long as you like. We recently held a symbolic ceremony that lasted over an hour, but you can keep it as short as 15 minutes, or anytime in between. It is up to you.

If you choose a civil wedding, where you do the legalities in Italy, we will send you a little video that will help you. The ceremony is read in Italian and then translated into English. You can add readings and your own vows, Of course, we help you with this and are with you every step of your journey.

The first questions I always a ask a bride to be – When you close your eyes what can you see?

If you are wearing a floaty dress, and perhaps no shoes – you a carrying a simply bouquet and have a small intimate group of family and friends there to celebrate with, then a beach wedding could be perfect for you.  Of course, no beach is private, but usually our little stretch of beach is virtually deserted around 6pm.  The photos you see of Amanda & Ryan’s beach wedding, were taken on the 27th May and their wedding was a 5pm.

If you have on a pair of Jimmy Choo’s, a long veil, a more traditional dress and want somewhere really private, then maybe a beach wedding is not for you. 

Here is what Amanda said about her wedding

We keep in touch with Amanda and Ryan and they have become good friends.

They even modelled for us at a styled shoot in Venice in the spring.  

Being near the sea, you can hear the crashing of the waves against the shore, so we make sure we provide a microphone so that your guests can hear the ceremony and your vows.  We would say that a beach wedding is more suited to couples looking for an intimate group of family and friends, and recommend no more than 55 guests at the wedding. Always consider anyone with disabilities.

From the beach setting, a short stroll through the streets to the town hall to sign the register.

Amanda is still barefoot, that is the spirit of a beach bride

If you would like to talk to Amanda about her experience, I can put you in touch with her.

You may be wondering what Amanda and Ryan did after the wedding? 

They headed up to the hill top village of Castellabate for dinner, but you can choose to stay at the beach, and enjoy a star lit BBQ. We supply the fairy lights, candles and you can top the evening with stunning aquatic fireworks. I have a little video, so ask me and I will send it to you. The aquatic fireworks are incredible.

Like all our weddings we have a million ideas that can help you create a magical beach wedding, that you and your close family and friends will remember forever.

E Mail -julie@mysecretitaly.com or why not pick up the phone and call me, I am in the UK until after Christmas.

Julie M 07843255000 (I love to hear from you and can promise that from the moment we start to speak, I can enthuse you with lots of ideas for a perfect wedding)..

I am Julie from My Secret Italy and I want to help you on our journey to finding the perfect planner and venue for your dream Italian wedding. I am in love with Italy and I have been planning weddings in Italy’s hidden spots for 13 years.

I imagine you have been dreaming about a romantic Italian wedding for as long as you can remember and now that you are engaged, you are sat there in front of your PC, red wine in hand, and you are feeling a little overwhelmed to say the least. You really do not know where to start with the planning procedure. Which venue, which planner, do you even need a planner? You can turn to a google search, but that will often mean you feel more overwhelm.

So, take a sip of wine, relax and enjoy this blog post, (which has been written with love) and hopefully after reading it, your can confidently start planning your dreamy Italian wedding..

What is your dream wedding in Italy, Do you even know? 

Before you even begin your search, it is worth investing in a beautiful wedding notebook and a pen (a sparkly one of course), and writing down, how you actually see your day in your mind, how you want the day to unravel and also taking the time to think about what is important to you both, have a clear idea on budget and ideally how many guests will attend your wedding.

Sometimes I ask brides to tell me how they envisage their wedding day. They may tell me in their initial enquiry, that they want to marry in Tuscany, (which to most people, means gentle rolling hills, vineyards, rustic farmhouses) but then when I ask them to close their eyes and tell me what they see, they are actually standing beside the sea. Granted, there is a coastal area in Tuscany, but most people imagine the rolling hills and they are nowhere near the coast. So what can you see when you close your eyes?

Another example, is when brides say that they want a beach wedding, but then describe their ideal wedding dress, their shoes, veil etc. Usually a sign that a beach wedding is not the best option, as beach weddings are more suited to those that want a floaty dress and a barefoot experience.

What 10 words that would describe your perfect Italian wedding day?

Mine would be ….Dreamy, Sea side, Floaty Dress, Barefoot Luxury, Live Music, Great Food, Peonies, Love Hearts, Unique, Intimate

Once you are clear on what you want, then you can begin to tailor your search for the best wedding planner and venue..but before you do, a few more things to consider

When is the best time to marry in Italy ? – I would say June or September. Try to avoid the end of July and August as it is very hot and very busy. If you are teachers or have children in your party that are of a school age, and have to marry in the school holidays, then make sure you marry as late as possible in the day to avoid the heat. Sometimes though, even when the sunsets inJuly and August, it is still hot and humid.  If you decide on a September wedding, then from about the 10th September the days get shorter, so aim for a mid afternoon ceremony, as the sun will set a lot earlier than say in June, when you have much longer days. Many couples go to Italy and expect sunshine, but it can rain. Remember though that in Italy there is a saying, “Sposa Bagnata, Sposa Fortunata”, which means wet bride, lucky bride.  We recently had a wedding in the rain (very soft rain), and it was one of the most intimate weddings ever. We supplied  brightly coloured umbrellas, and thankfully it did not rain for long, and we all enjoyed a beautiful sunset, but always consider the options for a plan B should rain be forecast.

Do you need a Wedding Planner for your Italian Wedding? – One of my favourite times during the wedding day, is taking the flowers to the bride.. it is at that moment..

She suddenly realises that today, all the love songs are about her

The answer is YES. Finding someone to help guide you through the whole planning process is so important in making sure that you have the wedding of your dreams. There are so many different ways in which a planner can help you (some of which are listed below). All planners are different though, and some will do more than others, so when researching a planner, make sure they can assist you with everything that you need and that there are not limitations/restrictions.  Most wedding planners know who their ideal couple is and actually want to work with like-minded people. It is all about the connection, so read the planner’s BIO on the website, if you like what you read, you are half way there. Do you feel the connection? We all go on an incredible journey once the planning process begins and it is important that you are on the same page and that you will all enjoy the journey together.  Always try to ask your family and friends for recommendations too. They may have attended a wedding in Italy and may have a good contact for you.

Just a few ways, in which a wedding planner can help you..

* Language skills, translating your dreams into a reality* Helping guide your through the legal procedure for marrying in Italy
* Helping guests with their hotels and transfers
* Introducing you to their suppliers, that will be tried and tested and come highly recommended
* Being there for you throughout to help and assist with styling your wedding
* Being there in the lead up to the wedding, the wedding day itself and beyond.
* Wedding Planners in most cases can actually save you money

Choosing the perfect planner is essential, they can share all their secrets with you and help you plan the perfect day. A top tip is to choose a wedding planner that has specialist knowledge of the area in which you are considering. 

We know and love the Cilento Coast, which is a secret spot just south of the Amalfi Coast, glorious beaches, friendly locals, a great choice of hotels and apartments to suit all tastes.  Words that describe Santa Maria di Castellabate, our favourite town on Italy’s southern shores. 

Twinkle Town – Authentic – Real Italy   

Budget – This is a tough one, especially at the beginning when you are trying to get a feel for what a wedding in Italy may cost. Of course, some areas are less expensive than others. For example Tuscany is usually more expensive than nearby Umbria – Praiano on the Amalfi Coast tends to cost less than Positano.  If you have an idea of your approximate budget that will cover the wedding planning fee, venue/food, music, flowers, cake, hair/make up, photographer and videographer, then it is a really good start, and if you tell your planner what your budget is, she can suggest suitable venues in Italy that will work for you. At My Secret Italy, each and every wedding is tailored to suit you and your requirements, so once we have an idea of your budget, we can enthuse you with realistic options.  One of the biggest expenses is often the catering so the more guests you have the more your wedding is likely to cost.

Guests – One of the most important considerations – Take time to write a guest list and have an idea of how many guests will attend the wedding.  Choosing a town in Italy that is guest-friendly is so important. For example, if you know that you are inviting elderly guests, or parents with babies then a wedding in Positano would not be a good idea, as there are lots of steps. Finding somewhere that has a good range of hotels and apartments to suit all budgets and tastes too is important.  Most guests at weddings will stay at least 4 or 5 days (on average) and they often make a holiday of it, so are there beaches nearby, a good range of restaurants? possibilities for days out? When you send out your save the date cards, a useful tip (they will want to know) is to give your guests some information on the closest airport, average cost of a flight and a hotel, how far the venue is from the airport, and the cost of transfers. It will help them decide if they can afford to attend or not. Your planner can help you with collating this information. Another tip is to give your guests plenty of notice so they can plan and save. Most couples book their weddings AT LEAST one year in advance where possible.

Communication with guests is also important so setting up a Watsapp group or secret Facebook group for the wedding guests is a good idea. At My Secret Italy we do this for you, and post lots of information about flights, hotels and transfers.

Hair/Make UP – We have this covered

This is something many brides ask about in the early stages.  Most wedding planners work closely with a carefully selected team for your wedding, and can recommend fantastic hair dressers and make up artists for your wedding day. Both will include a trial before the wedding. It is a good idea to have images to show them at the trial and ask your planner to arrange for the trials to be at the same time. Normally we ask our make up artist to come an hour before the hair dresser, so you can get a really good feel for how you will look on the day.  Remember that a trial is just that, so if you are not happy with the first result, then point out what your like or dislike, and they are more than happy to keeping working until it is perfect

Photographer/Videographer – It is all about capturing memories

Choosing a photographer or videographer or both is such an important decision, and you need to choose carefully. For all our weddings, we use UK based creatives who are more than happy to fly out to Italy for the same price as a UK wedding. The reason for this is that they often want a destination wedding or two in their portfolio.  We have arranged the Secret Retreat Workshop for photographers in Italy for the last 3 years and we can recommend lots of really amazing people, that would love to shoot your wedding. However, I always explain to My Secret Italy brides that it is all about CONNECTION, so read the BIO’s.. then look at the photos/videos.. When you land on the creative for you…you will know and want to book them.  The really good guys do get booked up really early, so don’t leave this part of the planning to the last minute. Once your wedding is booked, start looking then.  When you book a photographer or videographer, ask how long you will need to wait before your images/film are ready. It can take 8-12 weeks (sometimes longer), so worth knowing.

Honeymoon – Before you leave for your honeymoon, stay on in the town where you are getting married for a few days once all your guests have departed, don’t rush off. During the wedding celebrations, you are busy catching up with family and old friends, and often don’t get that much time on your own to enjoy the setting…so my advice is to stay on a few days and really discover the town, just the two of you. Also to rest before you set off on a Mini Moon, possibly a few days somewhere else before you fly back to the UK?

We are happy to share our honeymoon hotels with you.. we know all the best places in italy, Indian Ocean and Santorini to name just a few …

Arrive in Italy at least a day before your guests – Try, where possible to fly out a few days before your first guests start to arrive. Just so you have some time with your planner to go over the final arrangements, soak up some sunshine, and have some time together before the celebrations begin.

Visiting the wedding venue before the wedding is optional. If you trust your planner, see photos, videos, and read testimonials, you may want to leave it to be a surprise. I would say 90 per cent of our brides DO NOT visit, and they always say after the wedding that everything exceeded their expectations, but it depends on you.. If you are going to visit, go as early as you can in the planning stages, and try to visit at the same time of year as the wedding date. This is not always possible and depends on when you book, but June and September are very similar months, May and October too.

A final note – Find a planner you connect with and a venue that you fall in love with at first sight. 

Remember it is all about connection. Trust your instincts and your planner.  Enjoy the process, remember that Italian’s are very laid back, especially in the South.

It was not long after this trip to Rome, that I was speaking to a wedding planner in London and she suggested I visit Castellabate. I was like Where? I am a travel agent you know, and I have never heard of this place…The planner went on to describe a little bed and breakfast, in the hills overlooking Santa Maria, where all the rooms were named after flowers.  This is where the real adventure was about to begin, I had to go to this little village and the idea that the rooms were named, Rosa, Magnolia, & Lavanda, simply ignited my intrigue for this place, and I had to visit. So, my first visit to Castellabate was in 2002 (August) and I stayed in a little hotel room called “Rosa”. Emilie was 9 years old and we enjoyed a week in the sun in this gorgeous hilltop bed and breakfast…called Il Parnaso.  We had an amazing holiday, very relaxing and we pretty much stayed at the hotel, enjoying the peace and quiet and the lovely swimming pool.  We returned to the UK and I carried on working hard in travel (by this time, I had my own luxury travel business, specialising in Honeymoons)..a year passed and Castellabate popped back into my head and I decided to go back. So, Emillie and I set off, this time in June (a little cooler) and enjoyed another week at Il Parnaso. It is during this week, that the owner, suggested I do a wedding in the village. I was like, who me? I don’t speak Italian and I do not know the first thing about planning a wedding in Italy.  Despite my hesitation to jump in and say yes, yes, yes. (I wanted to).. I went along to meet the  mayor of the town, Costabile Maurano and the interpreter (who still translates for My Secret Italy today) Giuseppe Russo.  I was given a tour of the village, and shown a venue or two where weddings could take place. When I left Castellabate a few days later, I honestly had no intention of becoming a wedding planner but it had been lovely getting to know the village a little more. I got back to work, and had a call from Caroline Rough (maiden name) who worked for the BBC. She told me she was looking to get married in Italy, in June 2005, and was looking at inviting 35 Guests. She wanted something laid back, pretty, amazing views, authentic.. and you guessed it.. I was like, Castellabate would be the perfect place. I told Caroline, that I had just returned from Castellabate and that I would help her for no charge, BUT I was very honest and told her that this was my very first wedding.  Caroline, said okay, let’s do it. So we did. Caroline married David on 3rd June 2005, and there were 85 guests. They married in the Castello, (no longer a venue for weddings) and had dinner at Il Calesse.