Valentina’s Blog

There is an Italian expression that has followed me since childhood: “Sei come San Tommaso, che non ci credi finché non ci metti il naso.” It translates, roughly, as: “You’re like Saint Thomas, you don’t believe it until you put your nose in it.” The saying draws on the biblical story of the apostle Thomas, who refused

If there's one question that gets asked before any other it's this one: "How much does a luxury wedding in Italy cost?" And I get it. You have seen the villas, saved the photographs, started a Pinterest board and probably fallen in love with at least three different parts of Italy. At some point, though, you need an actual number

Trusting people you’ve never met, in a country that runs on its own clock. You’ve never met them. They live an ocean away. They took eight days to answer your email, and the quote arrived as a PDF called “preventivo_def_2_FINALE.” And now they’d like a deposit. Sound familiar? Trusting Italian wedding vendors from the US is one of the

There is a moment that comes up in almost every planning conversation I have with American couples. We are talking about a venue, maybe a villa on the water, a terrace overlooking the lake, dinner outside. Then the questions start. Who sets everything up?Who takes it down?What happens if it rains?When is all of this confirmed?Who is actually responsible if

Discover the key differences between Italy's most iconic lakes and how to choose the best one for your wedding style and guests.   Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, or Lake Garda How to choose the right Italian lake for your wedding   Italian lakes are often grouped together in online searches, as if they were interchangeable. From a planning perspective, they are not.

Lake Maggiore Wedding Guide for US Couples: Venues, Costs and Planning Advice The lake even Como lovers wish they'd found first. If you ask wedding planners familiar with Northern Italy where they'd send a couple looking for beautiful villas, historic hotels, Alpine views and a proper Italian lake experience, Lake Maggiore would come up in the conversation pretty quickly. At

What to ask before you fall in love with a villa on Instagram. Somewhere right now, a couple is saving their fifteenth historic villa on Instagram. Frescoed ceilings, a pool, a sunset that looks edited. It also has a gravel courtyard that will swallow every stiletto in sight, no indoor space big enough for rain, and a rule that

You've decided to get married in Italy. Maybe it was the olive groves, the centuries-old villas, or just the idea of your guests toasting with Prosecco as the sun sets over Lake Como. Whatever pulled you in, now comes the practical part: how do you actually plan a wedding in Italy when you're living thousands of miles

What Getting Married on Lake Maggiore Actually Feels Like An Italian wedding weekend, from someone who calls this place home.   Close your eyes for a moment. You're standing on a terrace above the water. The lake is completely still. The mountains behind it are turning pink. Behind you, candles on every table. Your guests, the people you love most, are laughing

In 2025 Italy hosted about 16,700 weddings for couples from abroad, and the United States was the largest market, with close to a third of all requests. So if Italy is on your list, you are in good company. Most couples arrive with a clear picture in mind, a long dinner by the water with everyone they love