Plan Your Italian Wedding from the US

Dreaming of getting married in Italy but living in the United States? Distance doesn't have to make i it harder. Italian Style Weddings is a boutique destination wedding studio based in Italy, and we plan weddings for American couples who are on the other side of the Atlantic for most of the process.

You'll work with a planner who understands how US couples and their guests think about weddings, and with a team who handles every detail on the ground: venues, suppliers, logistics and the legal paperwork for marrying in Italy.

We work across time zones. Italy is typically six hours ahead of New York and nine hours ahead of Los Angeles, so we schedule around your working day rather than the other way round. Most of our calls take place in the evening in Italy, which falls in your morning. Calls outside our working hours are the norm and you can always reach us by email and WhatsApp.

Your planning journey begins with a free video consultation. We talk through your vision, guest list, preferred regions and budget, and we tell you honestly whether your plans are realistic for your chosen date and location. From there, we meet by video as often as you need. Venue shortlists, design boards, supplier proposals, floor plans and budgets are all shared online, so you can review them together and make decisions without flying to Italy.

Most couples are not able to fly to Italy to see the shortlisted venues in person before signing a contract. During the venue search we will provide images and videos and guide torus can be arranged with the venues or by us in person. However we do recommend at least one visit before the wedding, ideally throughout the planning so we can make the most of your time. We usually organise a two or three day visit that covers venues, food tasting, hair and make up trial and a florist, if and when necessary. We will accompany you on all these visits, throughout the planning and on your events.

A destination wedding is a big ask for guests, and the way you support them makes a real difference.

We take care of:

• Where to stay. When possible we negotiate room blocks at hotels near your venue, across a range of budgets. Please note that room blocks are not common in Europe, in which case we will provide a list of possible Hotels to add onto your wedding website.
• Getting there. We advise guests on the best airports for your venue and arrange airport and venue transfers.
• A guest information pack. We work with our couples to add all the relevant information on their wedding website. This include travel documents, what to wear, the weather, local customs and suggestions for extending the trip.
• The wedding weekend. We plan welcome drinks, a rehearsal dinner or farewell brunch, and activities for guests who arrive early. Most American guests arrive two or three days ahead, which also helps with jet lag.
• Italian wedding customs that may surprise guests. For example, the long, multi-course dinner, the aperitivo before it, and the fact that tipping works differently from the US. We explain these in advance so there are no surprises.
• Guests' special requirements. Dietary needs, mobility, children and guests with specific questions all go through us, so you don't have to deal with each message yourself.

Wedding costs in Italy vary a great deal by region and venue, from €1,500 pr person of a wedding weekend in Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily to considerably more on Lake Como and Amalfi Coast. During the venue search we will create a budget breakdown for every venue of interest so you can see what's realistic before you commit to anything.