How to plan a seamless Italian wedding day timeline
Photo credit: DoArt Photography
An Italian wedding day flows quite differently to weddings in other countries and this often catches couples off guard. You can expect to start you wedding day a little later than ‘normal’ and here’s why…
Italian wedding day timings depend on these key factors:
The weather
Sunset time (based on the month)
Whether the ceremony is at the same location as the reception
Your chosen meal, which will affect its length
Length of service booked for certain vendors (i.e. photographer, videographer, wedding planner)
Your venue rules: exclusivity and curfew
Your wedding timing affects everything — the vendors you book, your budget, even your guests. And flipped the other way, all of those decisions affect your timings too. That’s why it’s worth giving this some real thought from the very start and getting some professional help! The flow of your day sets the tone and atmosphere and directly impacts how much your guests enjoy themselves. It’s not something to rush.
LL Tip:
Ask your venue before you book whether:
They have any restrictions on timings for vendor set up or set down
If there is a music or party curfew
These can all add a) more to your budget if you have to request a longer hire period and b) disappointment later if you realise you can’t party until sun rise.
If you’re getting married in slightly cooler months (earlier in the season), you’ll want to maximise on the warmer weather in the day, as the evenings can get chillier - so you can afford to start your ceremony sooner. Dinner will sit in that gorgeous sunset period - a total vibe with the golden light, but having your chosen lighting create the mood once nature has done its thing. Equally having aperitivo outside and dinner can maximise both the indoor and outdoor spaces of your venue nicely.
LL Tip:
It’s a nice touch to have a Guest section on your wedding website, so you can include information on dress-code and advice for guests to bring suitable coverings or jackets for the evening, as it can get cooler.
Design your own Wedding newspaper with Notes Studio and ensure guests know exactly what is happening when.
It’s important to set some rough timings after you’ve booked your venue but before you start to book vendors. The timings of your day will affect some quotes thus influencing your decisions.
LL Tip:
Many vendors, particularly photographers, videographers, florists and HMUA have set service times in their contract. Be aware of these when considering who you book and whether you might need longer - which they might have to quote extra for.
For a very hot mid-July wedding, consider moving the ceremony back to 17.00 or even later. We know you want to enjoy the most of your day but guests sweltering in the heat is not pretty or enjoyable for them.
If booking a mid-summer wedding, make sure your curfew is late so your party can go on into the early hours.
Timings always floor couples - they don’t anticipate how guests after a few drinks don’t move as quickly as they had planned, that speeches are often WAY longer than promised and in-between moments or transitions have not been given enough time or factored in at all. Avoid panicking on your wedding day - work with expert planner, Lucy in The Club and get this all figured out in advanced so you can breeze through.
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