Operational questions about the service
These are the questions I get most often about practical service details. For informational topics (costs, best season, documents, ceremony types) see the blog, which covers those in depth.
What exactly is included in the full wedding planning service?
Full planning includes: initial consultation and budget setting, location research, contract negotiation with all vendors, complete design (concept, colour palette, decor, stationery), management of legal paperwork for the chosen ceremony type, rehearsal dinner coordination, and full direction on the wedding day from dawn to the last guest. It does not include: venue and vendor fees (these are invoiced to you directly by the suppliers), travel-team costs for preliminary site visits, and optional add-ons (extended welcome party, brunch, pre-wedding events) which we cost out separately if desired.
What's the difference between wedding planner, wedding coordinator and venue manager?
A wedding planner follows you from beginning to end: designs, selects, coordinates. A wedding coordinator steps in during the final 2-3 months (or only on the wedding day) to execute a plan you've already built yourself. A venue manager represents the venue and handles only what concerns the physical space — not the other aspects of the wedding. I work as a full-service wedding planner, but I also offer coordination-only packages if you've already planned everything on your own.
How quickly do you respond to emails during planning?
During active planning (the last 3-6 months before the wedding) replies come within 24h on working days. In earlier periods we work with monthly scheduled emails and video calls. The week of the wedding I'm fully available on WhatsApp and phone. I work with a limited number of weddings per year precisely to guarantee this level of responsiveness.
What happens if it rains on the wedding day?
Every project always includes a Plan B for bad weather, defined from the early planning stages. We select locations that offer refined covered alternatives (indoor halls, gazebos, porticos, elegant tent structures if needed) and we define a day timeline that allows flexibility. On the wedding day I decide with you at the latest possible moment whether to activate Plan A or B, based on real-time forecasts: the call is made no later than 4 hours before the ceremony.
Do you work with your own photographers and florists, or can we bring ours?
I work with a trusted network of vendors I've built relationships with over years: people I know well, whose quality and reliability I trust. If you already have a photographer (or other vendor) you absolutely want to bring, we evaluate it together: I try to be flexible, but the important thing is alignment with the project. For international weddings it's common for couples to bring their own photographer from abroad — I'm happy to work alongside them.
How many hours do you work on the wedding day?
On the wedding day I'm present from early morning (usually 8-9, depending on the ceremony) until the end of the party (typically 1-2 a.m., later if a long celebration is planned). For multi-day weddings I'm also present on the days before and after. A junior planner / assistant is always with me for operational support.
Can we organise a multi-day wedding (3 days)?
Yes, more and more international couples choose a full weekend: welcome dinner on Friday, ceremony and reception on Saturday, farewell brunch on Sunday. For many guests travelling from abroad this format turns the wedding into a small shared trip. I can also design events distributed across different locations or experiences (winery tastings, guided tours, cooking classes) in the days leading up to the wedding.
How do you handle guests' special dietary requirements?
We collect all requirements (vegetarian, vegan, intolerances, allergies, religious) during the RSVP phase and share them with the caterer to build a menu that works for everyone. For couples with international guests we're used to handling kosher, halal and regional variations. All the caterers I work with have menu-personalisation experience — this is part of the standard service, not an extra.
How does the first discovery call work?
It's a free, no-commitment half-hour video call. You tell me your idea — even loosely sketched — and I tell you about my approach, the planning process, and how we'd work together if you decide to proceed. There's no sales pressure: it's a conversation to find out if there's a good match. If we feel aligned, I send a personalised proposal within a few days of the call.
Can I see a sample contract and proposal before starting?
Yes, after the discovery call I send a detailed proposal with included services, the quote, financial terms and a draft contract. You have all the time you need to read it and ask questions before signing. There's no rush: I want both sides to make an informed choice.
What happens if we need to cancel or postpone the wedding?
The contract has specific cancellation and postponement clauses. If you need to postpone for force majeure (pandemics, serious family events) we work together to find the best solution, typically rescheduling without additional planning penalties. For cancellations the financial terms depend on when it happens and how much work has already been done. Details are always set out transparently in the contract.
What happens if you fall ill on the wedding day?
For every wedding I have a senior colleague as dedicated back-up, who knows the project in detail thanks to a thorough handover we do in the final weeks. If for any reason I can't be present (rare, but it can happen) she takes over without the wedding being affected. It's a guarantee I believe every serious professional service should offer.
How many weddings do you take on each year?
Maximum 8-10 weddings per year. This is deliberately limited: it allows me to guarantee the presence, attention and quality I believe are essential to this work. It also means dates fill up quickly, especially for the most popular months (May-June, September-October). It's wise to get in touch early.
Do you work with couples on lower budgets?
I work on bespoke, refined projects, and that requires an investment consistent with the type of service. For weddings with budgets significantly below my standard tier, I'm honest about it during the first call and — where possible — point you to colleagues better suited to your range. I'd rather be upfront than mislead a couple.
Do you work with LGBTQ+ couples?
Absolutely yes. I've had the pleasure of planning weddings for same-sex Italian and international couples, both civil ceremonies (recognised as civil unions in Italy since 2016) and symbolic ones. I only work with locations and vendors who share values of inclusion and respect — this isn't an add-on, it's a baseline requirement when I select partners.
