Sometimes when you’re planning a wedding, what you think will be a “no-brainer” can sometimes turn out to be the most difficult to figure out. Every wedding has a few of those elements, and as trivial as they might be, they can take up a huge chunk of your planning time. One of the things I got so hung up on (as far as time spent looking) were napkins. It seems so simple, right? But for some reason I just couldn’t find what I wanted. Initially I was looking for vintage-y, floral napkins that I could actually keep (and wash, obvs) after the wedding as heirlooms. It sounds silly, but I was really into that idea. I even thought of making my own…going to fabric stores and measuring rolls of fabric and seeing if it would be most cost-effective that way. But trying to find 125+ napkins for under $300 was pretty much impossible, so I gave up on that idea.
We ended up going with an event rental company that let us rent them for around $2/each, and it worked out fine…but the patterns and colors were kind of blah, so we ended up just going with white. I would have much preferred to go with something a bit more rustic of at least colorful, and had I known about wash-or-toss napkins, I would have looked into them.
If you’re currently on the search for inexpensive napkins and don’t want to break the bank (or deal with a rental company), these are a great option. While one company seems to be the main manufacturer of them (MYdrap), they come in a several sizes (they have cocktail, luncheon and dinner), as well as colors and patterns (mostly for the luncheon napkins and placemats). Buy them here.
I’m on a little bit of a Nordstrom kick. We FINALLY got one in Nashville, and I love it. The store is nice to be in, the sales people are super friendly, there’s a great collection of Size 10 and 11 shoes…what more can I ask for?
After visiting the store and their website, I’ve noticed some great finds for bridesmaids dresses (the previous post, below, has one) as well as dresses that could easily look great for a wedding. I saw this Tadashi Shoji dress (from their latest Spring 2012 collection) online and thought it was gorgeous. I also saw this Robert Rodriguez dress in the store tonight, and it’s way more gorgeous in person. If you’re looking for a more casual/daytime/even beachy dress, this would be perfect. Bonus? They’re both under $1,000 (even way under, in the case of the Rodriguez dress).
I am definitely one of those brides who daydreamed about having an Italian wedding. If only I knew of a relative with a castle in Tuscany or a seaside villa in Capri! Then I woke up and realized I was a German Polish Jew and should snap out of it. But what if I didn’t want to?
If you have the time and resources (and a group of family and friends who are willing to make the journey overseas…who wouldn’t WANT to?!) planning an Italian destination wedding is not out of the question. But where do you start? I spoke with Bonnie Marie, an Italian wedding planner from My Weddings and More about the process, and her advice for brides-to-be looking to say “Lo Voglio!” in Italy.
Woman Getting Married: If a couple is dreaming about a wedding in Italy, where do they start?
Bonnie Marie: There seem to be two types of couples that want to get married in Italy: first time travelers and return travelers. The first-timers know they need a professional to help them plan their trip and wedding, so that’s what they begin researching online. Picking the right planner is a personal choice based on good ‘ole gut feeling because a destination wedding planner is much more than an event organizer. S/he is a travel planner, paperwork expert, personal assistant, bargain hunter, dream interpreter, hand-holder, family counselor AND multi-lingual! A destination wedding planner acts on behalf of the bride and groom until they arrive in Italy, so the relationship becomes very close to BFF’s.
The second couple type actually has a harder time starting off. Many have been to Italy before and fell in love with it, so they already have an idea of the atmosphere they want to relive on their wedding day. The problem is finding someone to help them do that within their budget. This couple usually starts off DIY and soon realize that the web offers too much for them to sift through, so they start looking for professionals as a second step.
How should they go about figuring out WHERE in Italy to get married?
Most full-service wedding planning sites promote a number of locations based on the atmosphere the couple is looking for (beachfront, lakeside, countryside) and the number of guests. You don’t have to have a large guest count to get married in a castle in Tuscany–castles come in all shapes and sizes! Paperwork logistics differ considerably from city to city and when requirements mandate going to the consulate in big cities like Rome, Naples, or Milan, the process takes up valuable vacation time from the couple. Although this is not a problem for UK couples since the UK Consulate mails paperwork directly to the wedding hall, it is a problem for US and Australian nationals who need to get a sworn statement from their embassies and then have it legalized at an Italian courthouse.
For a 100-person guest list, what’s a reasonable budget a couple should plan for in order to get married in Italy?
25,000 euros is a safe number to start at and that includes a photographer. What cannot be stressed enough is the sheer ecstasy of the locations, the exquiteness of the celebratory meals, and the overall style and elegance of the setup.
What services does your company provide? How much does it cost?
We provide a variety of options: full-service planning, day of only, paperwork only, location scouts, DIY referrals, plus travel and tour assistance. Wedding planning fees are a flat rate based on location, number of guests and type of ceremony, starting at 1,500 euros. There are no hidden costs with us, any discounts are passed on to the customer.
Is is difficult for U.S. citizens to obtain a marriage license in Italy? How does that process work?
The paperwork is much simpler than it seems and is very similar to what you would need to do at home to get a marriage license. The only extra steps are getting apostilles on birth certificates and divorce decrees and obtaining sworn statements from the Italian Consulate in the US and the US Consulate in Italy (the former can actually be done in Italy instead of in the US). Once you file paperwork with the wedding office they have the couple sign an ‘intent to marry’ (in lieu of issuing a marriage license). The civil ceremony in Italy is as old as the Colosseum, as are the articles of law governing married couples which surprisingly enough, reflect the deep-rooted sense of equality reflected in Roman law. For more info on these laws and customs (such as the fact that Italian women do not traditionally take their husband’s last names), click here.
What are some of your favorite spots in Italy to get married? If you had to choose, which one do you think is the most beautiful that couples wouldn’t automatically think of?
Wow, the million dollar question …. how to choose a favorite spot in Italy
I got married in Florence in 2003, so that is for sure the one location closest to my heart. The Red Room is fabulous because although it is a distinct color (all the upholstery and walls are really red!) and it contains some pompous baroque pieces (including a truly enormous mirror), it is an embracing ambiance even for elopements.Backstage bonus? Paperwork for US and UK is completed seamlessly in town, the wedding offices are easy to work with, pricing is average (700 euros), and they include music with the ceremony (usually Vivaldi or Verdi). A wide variety of backdrops are available for post-ceremony photos: strolling around town you’ll get the duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Arno Riverbank; walk across the bridge to the Boboli gardens or the Bobolino rose gardens for florals; hop in a car for a 15 minute ride to sunflower fields and vineyards for a Tuscan memory to last forever.
The Red Room (Sala Rossa) in Florence
The most heartwarming ceremony I’ve staged was on a boat off the Cinque Terre coast. There is a charming retreat where I put all the couple’s family, and the wedding day was a true blessing on the Mediterranean sea ending with a scrumptuous seafood feast at a local restaurant.
Cinque Terre
Location revival: Venice. I always thought it was too touristy, too packed, and too chaotic. But there is just no other place on earth like Venice. (I had two weddings there this year!)
The Rialto Bridge in Venice
Last but not least: The true lovers birthplace – Verona (where Rome and Juliet had their courtship). The city government has worked hard to offer a selection of historic and exquisite locations, service is top-notch, and the area is worth discovering.
Juliet's famed balcony in Verona
If I could, I’d get married a million more times in Italy!
Thanks, Bonnie Marie!
To find out more about Bonnie Marie and My Weddings and More, visit their website.
NOTE: This is NOT a sponsored post…We don’t have any of those on WGM. I simply interview companies/event designers/planners, etc., that I think are good at what they do!
The NYPost is reporting that the cake for Kim Kardashian’s wedding to Kris Humphries on Saturday is costing the reality star (or, the reality network E!, most likely) $20,000. That makes Chelsea Clinton’s $12,000 cake look like a clearance item from Filene’s Basement!
The lucky bakery making the 10-tier white cake plus chocolate chip frosting is Hansen’s in Los Angeles. Apparently it’s going to be modeled after Princess Catherine’s wedding cake (that’s Kate Middleton to you and me). Maybe they need to make it that big so Kim Kardashian can jump out of it?
I paid a quick visit to Hansen’s website, and let’s just say I hope it comes out better looking than this $37 birthday cake they offer…
Other costs for Kim Kardashian’s wedding include a $25,000 Vera Wang dress (which is not, I heard, edible).
As a newly engaged writer, I had a hard time finding the practical information I needed to plan my wedding. While the wedding books, magazines, and websites I read had pretty pictures, they seemed to just skim the surface when it came to providing helpful ways for me to create the wedding of my dreams. Now that I'm married, I hope this blog serves as a resource for all you other bride-to-be's, with unique ideas for wedding venues, wedding decorations, wedding dresses, and more!
Follow Us!