From, Your Italy Destination Wedding Photographer & 2025 Italy Bride

As a fellow destination bride, believe me when I say I know how daunting it can be to get started with planning your intimate destination wedding weekend or week! There are so many different logistical pieces to planning a destination wedding or elopement compared to a traditional, local wedding, and if you don’t know any fellow destination brides you’re often left with so many unanswered questions.

When I started planning my 2025 Italy wedding weekend, I joined so many different Facebook groups to get opinions on venues, locations, and vendors. But I so badly wished there was ONE central place for all of these answers, inspired by fellow destination brides! 

So today I’m drawing from all of my experience as a destination wedding photographer and fellow destination bride, giving you ALL the answers and behind-the-scenes information here in one place! This is specifically geared towards international destination weddings but nearly all of the information is still applicable to domestic destination weddings!

**Fun fact that all of my destination brides get access to our exclusive “EA Destination Wedding Vault” that’s filled with SO much more in-depth information and FAQs about destination weddings (everything from “How soon do we send out Save the Dates?” “What do example destination wedding week/weekend itineraries look like?” “How many meals do destination couples usually provide their guests?” “How do I make loved ones who couldn’t make it to our wedding feel included in our day?” “What info do I include on my save the dates / invitations?” and so.much.more.)

Nine Steps to Planning Your Dream European Destination Wedding 

• Step 1: Narrow down location 

Narrowing down the scope from all of Europe to Italy or South of France for example, will make your search process SO much easier! This will also help in deciding on what season/month you want. 

Once you have a specific country/state in mind, be sure to research their climate in certain months to ensure it aligns with your preferences.

• Step 2: Reach out to your top vendors as soon as possible for their availability (Hot take: NOT always the venue first!)

A common misconception is that your venue should always be the very first vendor that you secure in the wedding planning process. For some couples who have their hearts set on one specific venue this approach makes sense, however, if you don’t have your heart set 100% on one venue, I would actually recommend reaching out to your top 1-2 vendors first to check in about their availability before securing your date. 

For example, if photography or videography is a top priority for your day, I would recommend first reaching out to your top contender(s) and asking about their tentative availability for the month you’re looking at getting married. Then, you’ll know in advance which weekends to look at when booking your venue. It can be heartbreaking having your heart set on a certain vendor and finding out they’re booked after you’ve already solidified your date & venue! 

• Step 3: Decide on if you will be hiring a wedding planner / coordinator 

There are SO many opinions out there on if you “absolutely need” a wedding planner or if you’ll be fine without. In my opinion, you will never regret hiring a skilled planner, especially with the logistical nature of a destination wedding. However, I also know that with destination weddings fees can add up quickly! At the minimum, I would highly recommend at least having a day-of-coordinator to assist with the flow of your day. Here are some guiding questions / tips to help you decide on if a full service planner could be a good choice for you: 

• How well-versed are you AND your guests in international travel?
• How much time do you have to devote to planning, inquiring, researching, etc.?
• Is your tentative itinerary fairly simple and laid back (primarily staying at the villa or exploring areas within walking distance) OR does it have quite a few moving pieces, sites, activities, etc.?
• Pro tip: Many international venues come with on-site planning and fees range, but it can sometimes be incredibly affordable! For example, my Italy wedding venue offers on-site planning (spanning from booking to day-of) for only 500 Euros!

• Step 4: Secure your venue and date 

Your venue can feel like the most exciting yet daunting decision in the wedding planning process since the venue has such a huge impact on the overall vibe of your day and your photos. However, I always reassure my couples that once you decide on your venue—SO much falls into place from there! Here are some guiding tips to help in your search process for your destination wedding venue:

• Consider a venue with on-site accommodations for destination weddings, especially if it’s international. This can make the overall flow of your wedding week/weekend SO much more relaxed and seamless!
• A few of my favorite websites for searching for Italy / European wedding venues are: Air b n b, Emma Villas, HomeInItaly
  • Inquire or email me today for a list of my favorite Italy / European wedding venues and European-inspired venues in the United States! 
• Consult with previous brides / couples from this venue! Previous couples will almost always be more than willing to share about their overall experience. Especially if you’re planning a destination wedding where you won’t be able to visit the venue in person before your wedding, this can seriously put your mind at ease!
  • Pro tip: In order to speak with previous brides from my Italy wedding venue, I went to the venue’s Instagram page and looked at their tagged photos–then searched until I found a bride and slide into her DM’s!  
• Ask to see example photo galleries to better envision the space. Seeing a full wedding gallery from a venue can help SO much in envisioning the space and seeing what a full wedding day would look like there. 

• Step 5: Finalize your guest list and send Save the Dates
  • Be sure to inquire with your venue about guest number limits and/or potential fees depending on guest number. For example, my Italy destination wedding venue had an extra fee for weddings above 40 guests, so since we were already planning on going the intimate wedding route, we decided to stick to 40 as our limit
  • Depending on your overall budget, it can be helpful to price out the cost per guest (e.g. meals, any favors, any activities, etc.) then work backwards to see how many people you want to invite
  • EA Destination Wedding Vault: Recommendations for all of my favorite save the dates and invitations, as well as helpful tips on timelines for sending Save the Dates/Invitations 

• Step 6: Book the rest of your vendors 

Here’s a helpful checklist: 

• Photographer (hi there!) 
• Videographer 
• Planner/Day of Coordinator
• Catering (if they do not offer internal catering) 
• Hair and makeup 
• Florist 
• DJ/Musician 
• Officiant (pro tip: have a friend/family member get ordained online before your wedding for a personal touch) 
• Table/Serveware Rentals (if your venue is an Air b n b/Villa that doesn’t already have these rentals on site)
• Car rentals/Shuttle (If you will need a rental car to get around your venue/villa throughout your stay)

• Step 7: Create a wedding website to communicate details and logistical information to guests 

For destination weddings, a wedding website can be SO helpful to communicate all of the travel information, itineraries, etc. with your guests.

• Step 8: Think of personal touches that make this day feel like YOU

I’m a firm believer that there are no “rules” or “shoulds” in weddings–The best weddings are those that so clearly radiate the couples’ unique personality, values, styles, etc. 

Want to get ready together/have breakfast together instead of waiting until halfway through the day to see each other? Do it! Want a gelato cart instead of cake? Go for it friend! Want your grandparents to toss petals instead of a flower girl? Obsessed. This is YOUR day, there is no script.

• Step 9: THE BEST WEEK/WEEKEND OF YOUR LIFE! 

Any other questions about planning your European / Italy destination wedding? Feel free to send me an email and I’m happy to help! 

Ciao,
Erin