Weddings in Abruzzo

[Fanine]

Hi there

I got married in June this year in Loreto Aprutino - we had around 90 guests from all around the world. My husband's parents and sister and her family live in Montesilvano, so we had many local guests too. We had a fabulous service at Santa Maria in Piano - (full Catholic service in Italian) followed by reception at Castello Chiola. Most of the guests stayed in the castle too for the weekend.
The flowers, for me and the church were amazing - we had a 1930s car to take us to the castle which was wonderful and the whole thing was a dream.......and the cost was I would say less than half that of a london wedding. We had six courses for our dinner and unlimited wine...for around 50 pounds a head..that included cake and champagne too.

The Castello is a marvellous place for a reception - looking out across the town. We arranged it all ourselves and believe by doing that we got it all so cheaply - going in to the local florist etc etc and doing it all face to face.

If anyone would like any advice please do ask - I have even thought of doing wedding planning over there, such was my delight in the way our day went!

[R-o-s-i-n-a]

Hi - I am looking to get married in abruzzo next year, and although have found the perfect church/venue - I am worried that finding a DJ that can provide english music and a photographer to our taste - any tips??!

[Fanine]

Both can be a bit of a problem. It depends really if you or your partner speak any italian?

Our DJ was fine - we told him the type of style of music we wanted - lots of 1970s type disco, not house or techno or s club 7 kind of stuff and he played what we wanted - including the music for our first dance. Really, all DJs around the world have the same type of music as most wont play Italian music in clubs/discos etc - everyone plays Uk/US type stuff.

Photographers - well one word of warning. In Italy, especially somewhere like Abruzzo the style is very different to what you get in England. They usually only concentrate soley on the married couple. You are lucky to get any photos of anyone else. We found a great guy based in the centre of Pescara, but even after agreeing beforehand we would have plenty of photos of the guests, on the day I still had to force him to do these. They like to do lots of posed photos - seemed to go on forever!

Price was great though and he did a great job. Nicola only speaks Italian though - no English at all so you would definitely need an Italian speaker to help. I am lucky as I can speak enough to communicate.

If you want more details on either the DJ or photographer, let me know- send me a private message and I can try and sort things.

Where are you getting married?

[Bev Davies]

Hi Rosina

Have a look at Andy and Amy Turners website

Wedding Photographers in UK & Italy - iMAG1NE - site map

They are English photographers that have moved to Italy so communication would not be a problem. I'm not great at Geography but I imagine they would cover that area. Andy is a member on here as well.

[Frances Doherty]

Hi there, My husband and I have purchased a holiday home in Abruzzo this year. Tom is a professional wedding photographer and would love to do a wedding in Abruzzo and as we hope to spend some time there during the summer he would love to have the opportunity to get many award winning photographs. If he is available for the date in question I am sure that he would love to do it. His website details are tomdohertyphotography.ie You will see that he has won many awards for his work including awards from the Master Photographers Association in Britain. He has won many more since he made this website. His old website is still online also, tomdohertyphotography.com His style includes classical, reportage and avant garde Frances Doherty

[stefanaccio]

My brother is a photographer in the USA and would surely welcome a gig in Italy. We have a house in near Teramo. His website is: John Ulissi Photography

Free Abruzzo Advertising

[Fanine]

For anyone considering a wedding in Italy - regarding photographers/djs/flowers etc etc.....I really think you need to consider why you are having the wedding in Italy.

Do you want a real Italian wedding - as if so then go for locals as much as possible - it all adds to the occasion and will also make the local community more interested in your special day. I loved the fact that with our celebration the entire week before, everywhere we went everyone seemed to know we were the couple getting married at the weekend. The local florist did the flowers, the local photographer did the photos...and it was lovely to have them there with us. I bought the confetti from a local shop (the almond type!) and they ordered in a whole amount for us from Sulmona - then a couple of days before the wedding we all sat around and made up the little gift bags.

For our wedding service we had the groom handed over by the mother which is common practice too - whilst my father handed me over. The service was in italian - many of our english guests did not speak Italian but they loved to hear and see the whole thing. People still say to me several months on how wonderful the whole thing was and how our wedding had stood out from many they had been to in England or elsewhere. For us certainly it was truly magical.

I really felt like I had an Italian wedding - not an English wedding in Italy - and I think there is a big difference between the two. I wanted everything at my wedding to be as italian as possible - otherwise I might as well have got married back in England. Also it is good I think to be involved in at least some of the planning. Some of these agencies take over so much it seems to take the soul out of the whole thing - like buying a 'cut out and keep' wedding day.

In areas like Abruzzo also, it is good to give some work to local people.

Just a thought for those contemplating their big day, going by my experience.

[Skichi]

R-o-s-i-n-a,

Regardless of who you chose for your photography (and I'm certain you'll find someone just perfect for you), make sure that you see an 'entire' wedding before you commit yourself. There are many many photographers out there to choose from - just make sure you do your homework and don't get too impressed by anyone's 'greatest hits' galleries - including ours btw!

As for using locals - yes, in the ideal world that's perfect. However, if photography is very important to you, the chance of you finding the perfect photographer for you with the right ability, creativeness, personality, reliability & professionalism in the local area is possibly quite slim. We found ours in Australia and he stunned us with what he created/captured for our wedding in Orvieto.

[Transformer man]

Fanine you are 100% right!

If you want to have your wedding here in italy, never mind here in Abruzzo, you really should think about what this means to you as being married here is nothing like being married anywhere else.

In my opinion, the Italians really are the world's best at these events so if you decide to get married here they will do everything they can to make sure your day is perfect and believe me, it will be magical.

Italian weddings are fantastic but please don't try to turn them into British weddings in Italy. So yes, make sure you use locals and involve the local community and the officials in the comune as much as you can.

Most important of all is have a wonderful wedding day but don't forget, while it's a really important and wonderful day, it's also the first day of the rest of your marriage and this is much more important as it for is the rest of your life.

[Suzie-sunflower]

I was wondering if you know about the legalities of marrying in Italy since you have done it:)
We are having a the full catholic wedding and I dont want to use a weddingplanner as the cost is so high and we have sorted the venue and everything ourselves through our friends in italy. Any advice you can give us would be great!
Also any help on finding an english speaking priest?? We have one tentatively booked - but we cant seem to contact him frustratingly,
thanks, Suzie