"There are hundreds of back-bedroom wedding planners out there but these people most definitely aren't in that category."
"Just some thoughts - be careful out there!
This is a very true observation made by Skichi.
So many promise that they can do it all for you including arranging/booking hotels and transport.
They then also proudly proclaim that they are not a tour operator or travel agent as if being so is some sort of handicap to being a wedding planner.
What they are really admitting to is being illegal in what they do.
I can see where they are coming from in that many of the large UK tour operators do offer weddings abroad as part of their more general and often very large programme.
Often the wedding is inserted as a kind of "excursion" within your 2 week package holiday.
We took out the TO license inorder to operate in the wedding industry and offer other packages such as honeymoons, gourmet tours, classic car hire etc because they all have a kind of common thread.
No basic "bucket and spade holidays" offered as we want to specialize in one related industry.
When I think of the money we could save by operating from the back bedroom-----Skichi you have given me a good idea there!!
But on second thoughs I prefer to sleep well at night.
Inorder to book hotels and transport, Italian law requires you hold a legal T.O. license and to have the appropriate insurance policies too.
Failure to do so could result in your day being spoiled and all for the sake of a few pounds more.
The difference is often minimal and sometimes even less.
Those of us who take the time and effort to hold the legal documents show that they have your interests at heart from the outset.
Just as in Skichi's field as a photographer it is so important to find someone who will point out the pros and cons to you along with the nicer things like venues flowers etc.
I can't stress enough the need to do a sourcing tour first and again a good planner will spend time (lots of it) taking you to see as many places as possible rather than a quick 2 hours showing you their "standard one size fits all wedding packages".
Someone who will take you to meet and to speak with your photographer for example so that they can share their professional knowledge and tips with you regarding location, lighting etc so excellent points raised by Skichi.
So again a good question to ask any wedding planner is just how much time they will spend with you on your sourcing trip and what they wil let you see.
It is just as important to choose your sourcing tour with care as it is to chosse your actual wedding details , from there the rest should slide easily into place.
Anyway, for all of you looking to plan a wedding in Italy----Good Luck and hope you have a special day.
Italy Magazine is doing a great job with their Dream Italian Weddings and Honeymoons and also by having forums like this where the pros and cons can be made much clearer to you all.