Now that the words Italy Covid wedding rules 2021 are on top of Google trends as research we still want to continue sharing some real love. This has always been our passion , to celebrate love and life with our couples.

And as weddings are still going on ( even if in a different way ) today I want to show you the last ceremony we had in Fall with Jo and Dave, an amazing couple from Uk.I was  recommended to them by a friend who got married in Tuscany a few years ago with me in the beautiful abbey of San Galgano

Now that the words Italy Covid wedding rules 2021 are on top of Google trends as research we still want to continue sharing some real love. This has always been our passion , to celebrate love and life with our couples.

And as weddings are still going on ( even if in a different way ) today I want to show you the last ceremony we had in Fall with Jo and Dave, an amazing couple from Uk.I was  recommended to them by a friend who got married in Tuscany a few years ago with me in the beautiful abbey of San Galgano

A dreamy Tuscany

As Jo works in the tourism and hotels management and Dave is a chef they started 2 years ago to plan their destination wedding. They came to Italy just before the Corona Virus pandemic started: were lucky enough to see a florist, meet 2 caterers and other suppliers! I remember that day with happiness as even if it was in February we had time to drive around Tuscany.

It was a sunny day and do the most important parts of the planning . Then a hard period came and  some of the guests had to cancel their stay but the day before they had flights booked. The PM said british citizens were allowed to fly to Italy and they finally landed in Pisa!

The first day was relaxing and a nice dinner at the venue with all the friends and family. The weather was mild enough to allow them to have a swim and enjoy a bit of the famous Tuscan sun! 

The following day Jo got ready in the upper floor of their suite.In the meanwhile all guests were relaxing in the garden while Elizabeth was taking pictures of them all. 

Ceremony in Corona Virus period

The symbolic ceremony was celebrated in the garden under a romantic wisteria roof. All people were waiting for the bride to walk down the steps when a few drops of rain started to fall!!! It was just a moment and very funny as the bride started walking a bit faster trying to arrive down the pergola for the most exciting moment without being totally wet!  It was just a moment and then the sun came back again and with the amazing landscape of the Borgo it was the perfect scenery for the pictures!

The party go on respecting Corona Virus rules!

I was trying to check the aperitif buffet and the beautiful flowers decoration but as it was getting closer to 1pm. We decided it was time for a 5 minutes break and I had a spritz cocktail with my assistant Rebecca and the caterer ( I think really deserved it after all this period spent planning against Corona Virus and rules and laws changing every now and then!! ;-))))

If you want to know about rules you can see that they were all seated with more than a meter distance, (unless those who were family, of course….) and were wearing face masks when indoor. The venue gave us hand sanitizer and the guests brought some more from home, just in case there was not enough here  

The only negative point was all the stress we had before. They came here as we didn’t know if they were able to fly, or even to stay in Italy without having to quarantine once back home. But apart from this all the guests were so happy to be able to visit Italy and taste the food and wine that they offend during their stay!

Italian taste during wedding reception

They had a great lunch with a huge buffet of aperitivi as well as many cocktails and white wine, a first course of  macaroni short pasta with pecorino cheese, figs and rocket.and an. incredible Lemon risotto with chives herb, one of my favorite dishes!! The main course was a delicious Chianina beef fillet in Wellington crust even if some guests opted for a beef fillet in Wellington crust paired with some veggies and potatoes.

After cutting the millefoglie wedding cake the bride decided it was time for a dress change and decided to  go for a sequin outfit to get the party started.

I was home when Rebecca sent me some pics of the bar decoration and the guests having fun and dancing all together with the children. The day ended with an amazing landscape covered in pink and orange like the cocktails poured in the glasses.
And it was also when I realized that we did the right thing, always respecting rules to protect the health of all the people, the guests and the workers. We were able to create a day that will last in their memories forever. 

Hope you like my post and if you want to see more pics about the venue here is  a link to their website: weddingvenuesintuscany.info/listing-item/borgo-campanelli-2/

All the pictures in this post were taken from the super talented Elizabeth Armitage, an English girl living in Tuscany and the caterer is Class Ricevimenti . The gorgeous flowers you can see displayed were created by Bianchi Fiori, Poggibonsi.

See you on the next post about a wedding in Tuscany !!!

Wedding in Siena

September wedding in Siena

It was 2 years before their September wedding  when Janel contacted me for her special day in Siena. She wanted to be sure that all was perfect for such an important moment so we started the wedding planning a long time before. September weddings are lovely, mild temperatures, and chill nights to party with your guests. I really love this weather as it is perfect  to enjoy  every moment. I checked first Siena  availability and they confirmed that their wedding date and  time were free.

Civil wedding in Siena

One year before Janel got the list of documents for her legal marriage . As you surely know Brexit will be in just a few days, but at the moment, documents are still the same as I explained in one of my old posts . Be sure that the Officer knows that they have to put the whole address of the city .  Town halls  don’t accept documents that are not 100% correct ; but they only tell it a few weeks before the wedding! 

Wedding during Corona Virus

But then the Corona Virus  arrived! We all know how stressful these months have been Here in Italy we started with total lockdown in March;  suddenly no more requests, many couples asking to postpone their weddings and me struggling to rearrange all services! Then summer came, the season started and the first weddings with some restrictions were finally celebrated!! First small groups, 6,12 then bigger and then fall came, with more requests and big parties allowed! In September we still had some small restrictions for Covid but we were able to celebrate ceremonies also indoor.

Civil wedding in Tuscany
Siena’s town hall has an amazing Council room totally covered with frescoes:  Janel got ready in a beautiful suite at Campo Regio Relais very close to the Townhall. Janel walked down the aisle with her father: I love Scottish dresses and he was wearing a kilt with wool socks, perfect for this season!

The Civil Officer was waiting for us inside the majestic council room: the violin started to play when Janel walked down his husband to be. All the guests were seating  after all the months spent waiting and planning Graeme and Janel finally said I do!

It was a day full of emotions but all the guests were finally able to be in Siena for the big day!

A guide to men’s wedding ring styles 

Exchanging wedding rings with your partner is likely to be one of the highlights of your wedding ceremony. But shopping for a wedding band can be an overwhelming process. Especially if this is the first time you’ve chosen a ring for yourself. To help you get started, Jack Jahan, from Ramsdens Jewellery, explains what to look for in a men’s wedding band.

Your wedding band is likely to be the most meaningful and important piece of jewellery you ever own. And, not only does it have a lot of sentimental value. But you’re also going to wear it every day, so it’s essential that you pick a timeless style that you’ll love wearing for a long time to come. You’re also probably going to want to invest a fair bit of money in your ring to make sure it’s something that will last a lifetime. And all of this can mean that there’s quite a lot of pressure on you to make the right choice!

Different styles of wedding rings 

While most people tend of think of wedding rings as being quite plain and unassuming, there’s actually lots of choice out there. It can make it tricky to know where to start. In this post, I’ll take you through all the different styles of wedding band for men, so you can find a ring that you’ll love wearing for the rest of your life.

Choosing a precious metal for your wedding ring

Perhaps the most important decision you’ll need to make when ring shopping is which kind of precious metal you want. There’s a lot more to consider than simply whether you like the colour, too. In fact different kinds of metals have different properties, strengths, and weaknesses, so you’ll need to weigh up the pros and cons of each kind. Additionally, the material that the ring is crafted from can have a big influence on the price. Due to you’ll have to bear your budget in mind when making your decision, too.

A ring can of course be made from any kind of metal. But, for wedding bands, the following tend to be the most popular:

Choosing a style for your wedding ring

A plain, unadorned band is often the most popular choice for a wedding ring. But you don’t need to stick with the traditional choice if you’d rather have something a little less conventional. These days, there have never been more options for fashion-forward grooms who want to stand out from the crowd. If the classic plain wedding band isn’t really your style, you could also consider going for a:

Pick a profile for your band 

If you do decide to stick with the more traditional classic band design, you might be surprised to learn that there are lots of different profiles to choose from. This refers to the shape of the surface of the band, and it can have a big impact on both the look of the ring, and the way it feels on your finger.

One of the most popular profile styles are domed bands, which are shaped like the letter “D”. They have a smooth, rounded shape, which gives them an elegant appearance, and means they’re very comfortable to wear. At the other end of the spectrum, flat rings are the same width all the way around the band. This gives them a more chunky, masculine look, but some people might find that the hard edges are a bit uncomfortable when worn.

The best way to find a profile that you like is to try a few different styles on in person: this will give you a better idea of how each ring feels on your finger. It will also give you an indication of whether you prefer thicker, chunkier bands, or more delicate styles.

Making your ring your own 

A wedding ring is a highly personal item, so it’s only natural that you’ll want to make it your own. There are lots of ways to do this, but one of the most popular is getting your ring engraved with a personal inscription, like your partner’s initials, the date of your wedding, or a lyric or quote that holds a special meaning for you and your spouse. Plus, if your partner chooses to add a similar engraving, can be a really romantic way to link your rings together, even if you’ve gone for different styles, metals, or profiles.

Be sure to bear these tips in mind when shopping, and you should have no difficulty finding the perfect wedding ring.

Same sex wedding

Now that I have a bit more time to relax I started writing some posts about all the events I did last year. Samantha and Gia’s was surely one that I will never forget! It all began with a phone call.  I was driving when Stephanie called me to ask if I wanted to help her for her sister’s wedding  in Tuscany. She had already chosen a nice villa in the Chianti region. She was lucky because I know this area very well as I’ve been living there for many years. When I first visited the villa I discovered this luxury hamlet with a gorgeous Spa in some of the main Suites.

The panorama from the house is incredible as it leans all over the landscape of Panzano. The wedding day, as soon as I arrived I went to the suite of the girls where Suely was taking care of their hair and make up. The bridal party started and the photographer was there to take some pictures during the “getting ready”.

Being a wedding planner in Florida herself she carefully thought about all small details of the brides and tables. Gia and Samantha wore two white leather jackets with her name and wedding date on. This look matched with the same pair of white trainers made with lace in harmony with their dresses. It was a very emotional moment when Samantha read the letter that Gia wrote her the day before!!

The table was set up without tablecloth in the most typical country chic style. It was decorated with white ceramic dishes and ivory napkins, cristal glasses with gold rim and golden silverware. All the guests had a name tag made of transparent plexiglas that was paired with a small shot of liquor especially made for the wedding. Every  women had a pashmina scarf on their chair to cover her shoulders in case they get cold. The cocktail after the ceremony was served in the terrace area while the dinner was outside in the garden of the Villa Delle Donne.

Chianti Cooking experience took care of both moments, the pizza party on the day before and the wedding dinner. All the dishes they prepared were sooo good and  they had a a yummy 3 tiers wedding cake served with a nice transparent topper with the name of the brides. The sun shined during the whole day and all the guests ended up dancing under the starts with the music of Lorenzo Borneo’s dj. I am really thankful to Stephanie who invited me to this wedding and gave me the opportunity to know these two incredible families. I’m sure that Gia and Samantha will have a great future together and even more with the love of all their relatives and friends!

Vendors:

Brides: @samanthalmarion + @giacastellino
Planner + Stylist: @bystephaniemarion
Day of Coordination: @marrymeintuscany
Venue: Villa Delle Donne + Villa Le Scuderie @luxuryretreats
Floral Design: @lillaflorals
Catering: @chianti_cooking
Photographer: @kyaranatale
Videographer: @matteofotografia
Entertainment: #lorenzoborneo
Dresses: @inesdisanto   via @chicparisien   + @wtoowaters  via @baciobaciobridal
HMUA: @suely_hair_makeup
Stationary + Details: @brandspired

When you decide to plan a destination wedding, there’s a lot that goes into it. From the venue to airfare, and everything in between, it can be easy to exceed from the wedding budget when it comes to the planning process. To avoid overspending and draining your bank accounts before you even say “I do”, follow these tips when planning your destination wedding!

Set a realistic wedding budget

The most important part of planning any wedding, especially a destination wedding, is setting a realistic wedding budget that works with your personal finances. You’ll want to go over your savings accounts, debt, and bills before committing to anything. Figure out how much you have to spend so that you can stick to that dollar limit throughout the planning process. In order to avoid going over what you can afford, you can consider utilizing a low-interest loan to keep you in check and give you some wiggle room if needed.

Make it all-inclusive

With all of the moving parts of a destination wedding, try to cut costs by booking an all-inclusive plan. If you can find a bundle for you and your partner that covers your flights, hotel stay, and excursions around the resort, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of money. Encourage your family and friends who are attending to do the same so they can more easily afford your trip and increase their chances of coming.

Keep the guest list small

Both a blessing and a curse of a destination wedding is that everyone won’t be able to make the trip. While it will be a bit of a bummer to not have everyone you’ve ever met at your wedding, you’ll be able to save a lot of money by only inviting your closest friends and family. Keep your guest list as small as you can. You might still get “RSVP no”s from a couple of your guests, which will only shorten the list further. Check out this article for more tips on how to cut down your invite list.

Pick an unpopular date

There will likely be popular dates at the venue you choose for your destination wedding where the price is a lot higher than usual. Pick a less acquired date to save a big chunk of money. Instead of getting married on the usual Saturday, get married on a weekday to get a discount on your venue. If your schedule allows it, plan a wedding for a Monday or Tuesday.

Ditch the decor

A huge plus of destination weddings is that the beautiful location pays for itself! With a destination like Hawaii or Tuscany, your ceremony and reception will be decorated by nature. You won’t need to spend your money on decor or clever signs. All you need for a gorgeous wedding is the backdrop before you, so you won’t need all of those extra details most weddings do. For a fall wedding in tuscany, you could use leaves as your backdrop and decor to create a beautiful scene.

Go right into your honeymoon

Take advantage of the beautiful location you get married in, and continue your trip right into your honeymoon. You’ll cut down on costs by not having to fly elsewhere after your wedding, and you could inquire with your resort location to see if they give discounts on hotel stay or excursions when you book your wedding with them. Take the time to research unique activities or events in the area. Since you won’t have to travel to another location for your honeymoon, be spontaneous and leave the venue your wedding took place at to explore the location even more!

Photo credits Livio Lacurre 

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