Create the perfect intimate Italian wedding

If you’ve dreamt about a white wedding drenched in Italian sunshine but your budget doesn’t stretch to renting a small island then a luxury villa wedding may be an option. With many Italian villas enjoying perfectly landscaped grounds and enough room to host a party (and share the cost!) you could be enjoying your dream wedding sooner than you think. Here we present you with some of the best suggestions for intimate gatherings and ways to make your day one to remember.

Castello Bonaparte, Umbria

This really is a fairy-tale venue, a castle set atop a hill commanding views over the Tuscan countryside. Already fallen in love with the description? We did too! Not only is this luxury villa equipped with 14 en suite bedrooms and comfortably houses 28 guests, a large dining room is the perfect place to enjoy a wedding breakfast. If you want to make the most of the weather opt for a reception in the grounds which you can walk to after getting married in the on-site chapel. Let’s not forget the honeymoon suite – reaching the top of the 800 year-old spiral staircase you’ll find the master bedroom complete with Jacuzzi , shower and views over the Italian mountains and the pool.

Villa Letizia, Tuscany

With extensive gardens, plenty of outdoor space and its own pool, this villa is the perfect choice for those looking to make the most of the great outdoors on their wedding day. The villa’s location to the beach also makes it an appealing option for those with young children. Eleven full air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms cater for 22 guests and include a suite for the happy couple which overlooks the Italian gardens. A church is conveniently located next door to the property ensuring there’s no excuse for everyone to officially make it to the church on time!

Villa Vistarenni, Tuscany

Located in the heart of Tuscany’s wine producing region, a wedding at this villa will ensure that guest’s glasses are filled with the finest Italian wine. On request guests can have access to the property’s wine cellar. As well as sleeping 16 guests at the villa, further countryside apartments are also located on the estate to cater for an additional 19 guests. The finest point to note about the property is the beautiful chapel (dating back to 1584) which is located in the grounds. An on-site English-speaking concierge resides in a ground floor office, giving you complete reassurance that everything can be arranged as a moment’s notice!

Advice, hints and tips for getting married abroad:

• It’s difficult to pick all of the services as you would with UK providers therefore it’s best to ensure friends and family are also enlisted to take photographs and videos of your special day, particularly if there’s a budding David Bailey amongst them!
• Choose to get married a little later or a little earlier in the day. Depending on the heat and location you or your guests may be more than a little uncomfortable with a lunchtime wedding.
• There are different legal requirements when getting married abroad so be sure to check with the necessary local offices about paperwork that is needed prior to the event.
• If you’re unsure about what to expect or don’t have the time to plan a wedding, use the money you save on getting married abroad to hire a wedding planner to do all of the worrying for you leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the build-up to your special day.
• Be clear about what is expected from guests if you’re sharing a venue i.e. on the morning of the wedding you may require a wing of the property for the bridal party or need an area setting up early for photographs. Early planning will avoid family feuds as wedding tension rises.