Jess and Francesco met at university, but it was Italy that brought their story full circle. With Francesco’s Italian roots, the country already held a special place in their hearts. Planning from the UK, though, was a whole different challenge — until Jess joined The Club. With Lucy’s expert advice, vendor recommendations, and insider tips, their planning became a breeze, and they ended up with a dream celebration designed to truly wow their guests.

“I joined The Club a little later on in my planning journey, but wish I had joined from the start. I think it would’ve massively helped with the “where on earth do I even start” questions that come from planning any wedding, but particularly one that’s abroad.”

Love Story

“We met at university — I played netball, Francesco played rugby, so it was bound to happen! We started out as friends, but soon realised we liked each other a lot, and nine years later, the rest is history.

For our engagement, we booked a spontaneous, last-minute trip to Champagne in France. We spent a few days touring the Champagne houses before our final evening, where we’d managed to book dinner at a beautiful chateau in the countryside. It was there that he got down on one knee — I was SO shocked!”

Why Italy

“My husband is a second-generation Italian, so he’s grown up surrounded by Italian culture, with much of his family still living there. We’d attended a few family weddings in Florence before we got engaged, and we just fell in love with the idea of having our own Italian wedding. The setting, the food, the atmosphere — something about it just felt extra special.”

The Venue

“My first interaction with La Lista was when we started exploring venues. At first, it all felt really overwhelming — until I came across the Venue Directory and felt like I’d hit the jackpot! We were planning for around 120 guests, which narrowed our options more than I’d realised. We ended up choosing Castello di Petrata, in a town called Assisi in Umbria, which is also the birthplace of St Francis of Assisi. Since my husband is named Francesco, it felt like a really special, spiritual connection too.”

The Club

“I love getting a second opinion, and having access to Lucy and her wealth of knowledge really helped me feel confident about my vendor choices. My planner hadn’t worked with all the vendors I was interested in, so it was reassuring to hear from someone who had experience with them. The Club-only materials were fantastic too — I like to have plenty of information before making big decisions, and these resources made me feel much more confident throughout the process.”

The Style

“Instagram and Pinterest were my go-to sources — they really helped with potential themes, tablescapes, and overall ideas. I’d also flag that a lot of the styles on these platforms come from ultra-luxury weddings, even when they look minimalistic. But they’re great for inspiration, especially when it comes to figuring out the vibe and aesthetic, particularly for someone like me who isn’t naturally super creative.”

The Budget

“We started out with a much smaller budget — I laugh now, but when we first got engaged, we thought £30K would be a nice number to aim for! That was definitely a little naive, especially with Francesco’s big Italian family — the guest list was never going to be under 100. We soon upped it to £50K, but honestly, I was still plucking a number out of thin air. We probably could have done it for that, but I hadn’t fully appreciated what that would mean in terms of extras and vendor quality. Since we were already investing so much, I didn’t want to compromise on the important things, so in the end we landed around £63K for a two-day celebration.”

Catsello di Petrata Italian wedding venue in Umbria

Best Money Spent?

“Definitely our band, The Cool Boyz. It’s an area where you could easily save some pennies, but we’re so glad we made the investment. If you’re after a fun, high-energy vibe, a great band is 100% worth it. They nailed the slower songs during the ceremony, then had everyone on their feet through dinner and into the night. The Cool Boyz do such a brilliant mix of Italian and UK/US music — and honestly, what’s an Italian wedding without a few classics?”

For Future Couples

“Prioritise guest experience — Lucy in The Club taught me this! We put more of our budget towards the band and fireworks rather than flowers, since those had a bigger impact on the overall experience. They’re also the two things our guests still rave about!”

Stand Out Moment

“We had fireworks towards the end of our cake cutting — they took our guests completely by surprise, and I’d never seen a display like it. It was such a huge wow factor. All our friends and family surrounding us, with a beautiful show in the background — perfect!”

Fireworks at Italian wedding in Umbria Castello di Petrata

VENDOR TEAM

Want a wedding like Jess? Join The Club. Inside, experienced wedding planner Lucy White, LL founder and Italian wedding planner for over 10 years, coaches you through every decision, giving you a planner-in-your-pocket whenever you need.

Jess + Francesco’s Umrbian wedding for 63k

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Jess + Francesco’s Umrbian wedding for 63k

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The insider’s guide to Italian venues for every budget