Your Italian wedding, what to do and when?

Just engaged, planning advice

Your Italian wedding: what you should do and when?

18–24 months: Where & how
12–18 months: Who is making it happen
9–12 months: Tell everyone
6–9 months: Design the experience
3–6 months: Finalise the details
1–3 months: Lock everything down
Final 2 weeks: Final prep and enjoy it

Just engaged, planning advice

Your Italian wedding: what should you do & when?

Start with your wedding date and work backwards. Planning a wedding in Italy often involves more moving parts than a wedding at home, from venue contracts and vendor bookings to travel, legal paperwork and multiple events. Give yourself plenty of time, use a system like our Wedding Tracker to keep everything organised, and tackle each stage one step at a time. If you need extra guidance along the way, The Club offers tailored support to help you stay on track and enjoy the process.

18–24 months before

Start with the big decisions

Set your overall wedding budget
Decide roughly when and where in Italy you want to get married
Create your guest list and estimate numbers
Research regions and venue styles
Book your venue
Check what is included in the venue package — and what isn’t, this will affect additional costs and whether you have to ask guests to contribute for their rooms
Understand the venue’s vendor restrictions and accommodation options
Research planners and their services

Crucial advice: don’t book a venue based solely on beautiful photographs. Check the contract, payment schedule, cancellation terms, noise restrictions, accommodation, wet-weather options and what happens if plans change.

12–18 months before

Build your wedding team from our vetted vendors on The Directory

Wedding planner/coordinator
Photographer
Videographer
Catering, if not included
Florist
Music/DJ/band
Celebrant or church
Hair and make-up
Transport
Guest entertainment

Start thinking about guest travel and accommodation, particularly if you’re getting married somewhere remote.

9–12 months before

Make it real

Start moodboarding in your LL space (register now for free)
Send Save the Dates
Confirm your ceremony arrangements
Start the legal paperwork process if you’re having a legal ceremony
Choose your wedding outfits
Decide on bridesmaids/groomsmen
Help guests understand where to stay and how to get there
Start planning additional events — welcome party, pool day, BBQ or brunch
Create your wedding website
Get a bridal community behind you (accessible through your LL space, register now for free)

6–9 months before

The detail starts

Order invitations
Finalise the menu
Choose wines/drinks
Confirm flowers and styling
Plan music
Choose readings and ceremony details
Start planning your seating arrangements
Arrange guest activities
Check passports and travel requirements
Consider wedding insurance

This is also a good point to start getting your Italian wedding budget properly under control, particularly because destination weddings can accumulate lots of smaller costs.

3–6 months before

Finalise

Send invitations
Confirm guest numbers
Finalise accommodation
Confirm all vendor bookings
Finalise ceremony paperwork
Confirm menus and dietary requirements
Finalise flowers
Confirm transport timings
Create your wedding day schedule
Arrange payments due before the wedding

1–3 months before

Get everything locked down

Finalise seating plan
Confirm vendor arrival times
Share the schedule with your vendors
Prepare table plans
Confirm ceremony documents
Check weather contingencies
Prepare welcome bags or guest welcome information
Make sure everyone knows where they need to be and when

Final 2 weeks

Try not to make major decisions

Confirm every vendor
Make final payments
Final schedule confirmed with your planner or coordinator
Confirm airport/transfers
Check weather
Handover responsibility for last minute and on-the-day vendor questions if you don’t have a planner