Where are you based?
We are based in the North-East of Italy, not far from Venice. Our offices are not urban, we prefer to work in the quiet spirit of the countryside and travel frequently, anywhere in Italy, from this strategic point.
How long have you been in business? How many weddings have you planned?
We have been in business since 2004, we were among the first wedding planning agencies in Italy. We boast over 1,300 successful events and we cherish each of them in our hearts.
Have you planned any other weddings at our site?
We only propose venues we know extremely well and we have worked with. Should you choose a venue that is new for us, we will be transparent about it and we will make sure we organize a site inspection as soon as possible. Our expert eye will quickly and easily allow us to make the most out of the various locations, according to your desires.
How much does a wedding in Italy cost?
The amount of course varies a lot depending on your vision, on the atmosphere and experience you wish to create, on the final number of guests and on the location you choose. As a general guideline for an average size event, we recommend keeping in mind a starting budget of €1500/2000 per guest if you wish to host a beautiful wedding like the ones you see in our Portfolio using our trusted vendors.
What sets you apart from others? What is your forte?
Our dedication to create beautiful events. The common feature of all our bespoke designs is that they enhance the natural beauty of the location, from the overall theme down to the smallest details, respecting natural backdrops and seasonality.
Do you plan small weddings too?
We love planning intimate weddings! With a more intimate guest list, we can focus on creating a personal and unforgettable experience for you and your guests.
Do you charge for an initial consultation?
Our initial consultation is complimentary. This is a chance for both to get to know each other and see if we’re a good fit to work together.
What are the next steps if we want to hire your agency?
We can’t wait to be on board! Let’s make it official with a contract and a deposit payment.
What is your planning process?
Our approach is customer-driven, but our experience allowed us to define some key steps for the planning process. Please have a look at the dedicated page: 7 steps to plan your wedding with EIW.
What is the payment schedule for planning services?
We require a deposit payment when booking the event. The specific amount will be communicated to you by your personal wedding planner. Balance payment, unless specific arrangements are made, is usually required 45 days prior the scheduled date of the event.
Do you charge extra for travel and accommodation for your team?
Yes, travel expenses (Hotels and Sojourn) are charged extra. Flight expenses may be applied in certain regions of Italy (Amalfi Coast, Capri, Sardinia and Sicily). We are always happy to keep these costs reasonable and we communicate them from the start according to the marriage destination, number of days of event and meetings prior to the event.
How many weddings do you plan per year?
At Exclusive Italy Weddings we only take a limited number of weddings every year - generally each planner is in charge of maximum 10 events per year. Also, be assured that we only do one wedding event per week in the Summer.
Will you be supervising my wedding?
Absolutely. Your wedding planner will personally attend your event along with other coordinators of our team.
How many people on your staff will be at the wedding?
Generally, a minimum of two, but it depends. We will have more coordinators should you have multiple locations or a large guest count.
What happens if you're sick or otherwise unable to be there on the day of our wedding?
Another one of our top italian wedding planners would take the lead. At Exclusive Italy Weddings we are a team of italian wedding planners: although you deal with your personal wedding planner, we always bring our minds together to discuss the progress, design, and schedule of each one of our events. More importantly, we share the same working method, and we create a shared detailed program.
How early should we start wedding planning?
Around 12 months prior to the wedding date is a good time to start planning. You don't want to wait until the last minute, feel overwhelmed and find that your favorite vendors are booked, but you also don't want to be planning for too long. Truth is, we worked out our magic more than once and planned fabulous weddings for celebrities and VIPs in less than three months.
Do I need to travel to my wedding location before the wedding?
We always encourage our couples to visit the chosen location – first, you deserve all the excitement, secondly, it helps you visualize the areas and the flow of the event, which is vital for all the decision making that will follow and for the creation of a unique design project.
Are site inspections complimentary?
Depending on your Planning package, our presence at site inspections is included or not. When inspections are not included, we will communicate the cost to you as soon as possible and basically will cover our travel and sojourn.
Do you have insurance? Do you recommend couples take out their own wedding insurance policy as well?
We hold Public Liability Insurance covering any damage and injury caused by our staff. All the trusted suppliers we work with have the same individual insurance, but we would always recommend our couples to take out wedding insurance, so they are fully covered for all circumstances beyond their control, including a pandemic.
What should I take into consideration when planning a destination wedding amid the Coronavirus pandemic?
That investing in an experienced wedding planner has never been more essential. We will have your back every step of the way, making sure that all the contracts with the venue and with every vendor involved include a specific clause that protects your deposits in case of forced cancellation or postponement. We will provide our expertise should you wish to reexamine your wedding priorities, format or guest list and we will help you communicate with your guests.
What is the cancellation policy for your services?
Should you cancel your event we must apply a charge up to 100% of the agreed planning package and the later the cancellation is communicated the higher the charge will be. This is because most of the planning is completed well ahead of the event date, typically at least 2 months prior.
Do you only work with certain venues and suppliers?
We prefer to work with venues we know and the suppliers we trust. We cooperate only with top suppliers in our country capable of guaranteeing a good level of professionalism and creating memorable experiences.
Many couples reach us because they love the images they see on our social pages, and that kind of result is achievable only by working with our trusted suppliers. However, we are happy to consider any new addition to our network!
Can you get discounts for me?
We are prepared to negotiate prices and reasonable discounts for services on your behalf. Most importantly, consider that with our experience we can offer advice and support when you select services to ensure you prioritize your budget and don’t book any services on impulse.
What happens if our guest numbers increase or decrease from the original estimated number?
We will make everything work, from table layouts to budget adjustments. Our planning fee depends on how large the wedding event that we are planning is, but we will only consider substantial changes in the guest list. Kindly note that a decrease in guest numbers will not result in a discounted planning service, but you will save money on other items, such as flowers, food, drinks, transportation.
Will you handle the invitations (including addressing and mailing)? Do you handle guest list coordination and RSVP management?
We can offer this service at a separate rate, but we feel that communicating with guests and mailing them with a beautiful invitation is much more personal when done by the couple.
Will you create a wedding website for us?
We always help our couples with the ideation of a personalized website (structure, sections, content suggestion) and can recommend some tools and presets available online. If instead, you wish to design a personalized website, we can recommend some artists that can create a special website design.
Do you help with flights and accommodation? Concierge services?
As part of our services, we assist with the booking of accommodations for spouses and guests (in Hotels or B&B’s recommended by our agency) and of private ground transfers.
We recommend reaching out to a travel agent in your country to assist your guests with booking flights.
Are you free to meet up or talk in the evening or at weekends?
Our planners are busy almost every weekend during high season, when supervising events. During the planning stages, we try to schedule calls Monday to Friday during working hours. On occasion, we will do our best to schedule calls at different times, depending on our planners’ family commitments. Of course we are always available for emergencies!
Do you take commissions?
We do accept commission from some of our vendors, but that is due to our very personal and close relationship with our trusted vendors, to whom we have been bringing business for over 15 years. We will always make sure that our vendors do their best to suit your needs, style, and budget and that you always get what you pay for. Be assured that the service cost remains the same whether you book directly or through our agency.
