When to start planning a wedding in Italy: the guide to moving at the right time | en

You said yes. Or perhaps you are still savouring it — that proposal, that ring, that certainty that changes everything.

And then, in the middle of the joy, a question appears. Quiet, but present: where do we even begin?

If your dream is a wedding in Italy — and in particular in Tuscany, among the hills of Chianti, in a historic villa, surrounded by the cypress trees of Val d'Orcia — that question has a precise answer. And the answer is not "as soon as possible", nor "when you are ready". It is: now. Or close to it. This guide will walk you through the process step by step. If you are still deciding which season to choose, we recommend reading our complete seasonal guide first — it will help you get your bearings before diving into the planning.

You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. You just need to have a dream. We'll take care of the rest.

The first misunderstanding we need to clear up is this: many couples believe that 6 months is enough time to plan a wedding in Italy. In some cases, it is. But it is almost never enough to plan it well — with the venue you dreamed of, in the season you prefer, with the right suppliers.

Here is what actually happens, year after year:

• The most beautiful and sought-after venues — historic villas, castles, private estates — work 12 to 18 months in advance for peak season weekends. Those who arrive at 6 months often find only the remaining dates.
• High-quality photographers and videographers — the ones whose portfolios made you fall in love — book up just as far in advance. They are professionals who work by reservation, not on availability.
• The best catering teams — those who transform a wedding dinner into an authentic Italian gastronomic experience — have demanding schedules, especially in the peak months.
• The paperwork for a legally binding civil wedding in Italy requires at least 6 months of preparatory work on its own. Starting late means rushing — or giving up on a legal ceremony in Italy.

If you haven't yet decided whether to have a civil, symbolic, or religious ceremony, our complete guide to the legal requirements for getting married in Italy answers all of these questions — including nationality-specific requirements for US, UK, Australian and EU citizens.

The good news: 12 to 18 months is the ideal timeline for a wedding in Italy. With this margin, you can build something extraordinary — without rushing and without compromise.

The short answer is: between 12 and 18 months before your desired date. But the complete answer is more interesting.

The ideal moment to make first contact is not when you have already decided everything — the venue, the season, the guest count, the style. It is when everything is still open, and you want someone to help you understand what you truly want.

This is precisely the work we do in the early stages: not executing instructions, but asking the right questions. How do you want to feel on that day? What is truly important to you, and what can you let go of? What are the real constraints — budget, guests, logistics — and where can we actually exceed your expectations?

The sooner this conversation happens, the more the wedding we build together will genuinely resemble you.

If you have 12 to 18 months: the ideal margin
With 12 to 18 months in advance you have access to everything: the best venues, the most sought-after suppliers, the time to do a site visit without pressure, to change your mind about something without consequences, and to savour each phase of the planning rather than chasing it.

This is the timeline we recommend to all couples who want to experience the planning process as something beautiful — not as a source of stress.

If you have 8 to 10 months: still very feasible, with the right priorities
With 8 to 10 months it is entirely possible to build a stunning wedding, but the first decisions need to be made immediately and in the right order. The venue is the absolute priority — everything else is built around it. Within this margin we work with more directness, but the final experience is no less extraordinary.

If you have less than 6 months: possible, but with realistic expectations
We have organised wonderful weddings with just 4 to 5 months' notice. But it is important to know that some venues and suppliers may not be available, and that a legally binding civil ceremony in Italy requires bureaucratic timelines that cannot be compressed. If this is your situation, our guide on legal marriage requirements in Italy will help you understand what is realistically possible.

Whatever your timeline, the first step is always the same: a conversation. Write to us here — from there we understand together what is possible, what is a priority, and how to build your wedding in the most peaceful way.

To give you a concrete sense of how the process unfolds, here is the indicative timeline we follow with our international couples:

Months 18–15  First contact, introductory call. We listen to your dream, understand your priorities, and give you a realistic overview of venues, seasons and budget.
Months 15–12  Venue selection. We present the options best suited to your profile — including exclusive venues you won't find online. A site visit is arranged if needed.
Months 12–10  Venue and date confirmed. At the same time, selection begins for the main suppliers: photographer, catering, florist.
Months 10–8  Design of the overall experience: ceremony, aperitivo, dinner, music. First draft of the décor concept and table design. If required, start of the legal paperwork process for a civil wedding.
Months 8–6  Details refined: invitations, transport, guest accommodation, additional experiences (welcome dinner, experiential tours, day-after events).
Months 6–3  Fine-tuning and confirmation. Catering tastings, supplier meetings, final confirmations.
Months 3–1  Event timeline, final coordination between all suppliers, day-of preparation.
The day  You are present. We are everywhere. Every detail is already in its place.

This timeline is a guide: every wedding has its own uniqueness and its own rhythm. Our job is to adapt it to your reality, not the other way around.

There is one aspect that rarely gets talked about when it comes to wedding planning: what happens inside you during the process.

Couples who start early — with the right timeline, with the right guidance — experience the planning in a completely different way from those who arrive late. It is not just a question of venue or supplier availability. It is a question of the quality of the experience itself.

When you have time, you can change your mind. You can discover something you hadn't imagined. You can enjoy every small decision — the choice of flowers, the menu tasting, the font on the invitations — for what it truly is: a creative and joyful moment, not a problem to be solved in a hurry.

When you have time, you arrive at the wedding rested, calm, and fully present. Not exhausted.

This is what we want for you. Not just a beautiful wedding — but a journey that belongs to you from the very beginning.

Couples who contact us with plenty of time often tell us the same thing: 'We never thought that planning could feel this good.' That is our deepest goal.

The first thing we want you to know is this: you don't need to arrive at the first conversation with clear ideas. You don't need to have already chosen the season, or know how many guests you want to invite, or have a defined budget.

You just need to have the desire. We start from there.

The first call is a conversation — not an interview, not an assessment. We listen. We tell you what Italy and Tuscany offer in every season, what type of venue exists for every type of wedding, how the process works from start to finish. If you have practical questions before we speak, you will find many answers in our FAQ section dedicated to weddings in Tuscany.

By the end of the call, you will have clarity. And we will have understood whether we are the right people to accompany you on this journey.

If you are still gathering information before taking the first step, these articles will help you build a complete picture:

→ When to get married in Tuscany: the complete seasonal guide  — spring, summer, autumn, winter — real pros and cons of every season
→ How to get legally married in Italy as a foreigner  — documents, procedures, civil vs symbolic ceremony
→ Our wedding planning services in Tuscany  — what we do, how we work, what our support includes
→ Frequently asked questions about weddings in Tuscany  — answers to the most common questions

How far in advance should I start planning a wedding in Italy?
Ideally between 12 and 18 months before your desired date. With this margin you have access to the best venues, the most sought-after suppliers, and the time needed for any bureaucratic requirements. With 8 to 10 months it is still possible to build an excellent wedding, but the first decisions need to be made immediately. With less than 6 months you are working with a more limited set of options.

Do I need to have already chosen the venue before I start planning?
No — in fact it is often better the other way around. The wedding planner is the right guide for navigating the options, especially if you don't know Italy well. Many of the most beautiful venues are not easily found online, and direct knowledge of the territory makes all the difference.

Can I organise a wedding in Italy from abroad without coming first?
Yes — many couples organise almost everything remotely through calls, emails, and virtual venue presentations. One well-planned trip to Italy — for the site visit and tasting — is often all that is needed. We coordinate everything to make that visit as efficient and enjoyable as possible.

What if I just got engaged and have no idea yet about the wedding?
That is the perfect moment to start. Not having clear ideas is not an obstacle — it is the starting point. Our first conversation is designed exactly for this: helping you understand what you want, what is possible, and how to begin building your wedding with peace of mind.

How many couples do you work with each year?
We work with a select number of couples each year to guarantee each one the attention and dedication they deserve. This means availability fills up — and it is one of the reasons why starting early makes a real difference.

It doesn't matter what stage you are at. Just engaged, with a date already in mind, or still dreaming without details. The only thing that matters is the desire.

Write to us. We will respond with the same care with which we plan every wedding — with attention, honesty, and the genuine joy of people who have loved this work for 25 years.

If you are thinking about a wedding in Italy and want to understand where to begin, get in touch here. The first conversation is without obligation — but it is often the one that changes everything.