When you think about a romantic place to get married in Italy I am pretty sure that the Amalfi Coast is one of the first options that comes into your mind
That is why I decided to ask Victoria, creative director of Sophisticated Weddings, some questions about her work as a planner of luxury destination weddings in Sorrento and Amalfi Coast
Hi Victoria, first of all, how did you get started as a wedding planner (and why)?
Hi Gabriele! Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I became a wedding planner in 2014. Having been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast as a child, I completely fell in love with this beautiful part of Italy. It had always been my dream to plan weddings and make use of my language degree, so I bravely took the plunge and left my career in the UK to make my dream come true. Years later, I’ve been fortunate enough to plan so many sensational weddings and meet the most wonderful couples from all over the world.
What are the advantages of hiring a wedding planner?
A wedding planner is such a great investment as it enables a couple to be completely stress- free and enjoy the whole planning process. Wedding planning is a full time job, so it is essential to hire someone who is organised and efficient in every aspect of the wedding, from assisting with the legal paperwork to drawing up the budget spreadsheet and detailed wedding timeline/scheduling. A professional planner will be there to support, guide and advise you through every decision that needs to be made and a good planner will also have carefully selected her team to ensure every supplier/vendor recommendation works to the exact same high levels of service. Having your planner there on the wedding day ensures that everything runs smoothly and that no important detail is overlooked.
What are the most frequent questions you receive from your clients?
I’m often asked about what is the best month or best time of year in which to get married. Summer is the wedding season in the south of Italy and the majority of weddings take place between the months of May to September. This is the perfect time of year to enjoy long sunny days and warm evenings and the towns are buzzing with activity and life. July and August are usually exceptionally warm (reaching into the 30s) so I always advise clients to bear in mind the comfort of your guests during this period.
You are working in one of the most beautiful areas in Italy, Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. Why should a couple choose to get married in this location?
The Amalfi Coast is incredibly beautiful. Every twist and turn brings you to another incredible destination. Positano, Sorrento, Ravello and Amalfi are glamourous resorts settled amongst lemon trees and olive groves, all offering breath-taking scenery with cliffs that plunge straight into the sea. This stretch of coast is steeped in history having been inspiration for poets, painters and musicians alike. In my opinion few places in the world can surpass Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast’s spectacular allure and I certainly couldn’t think of a more stunning or romantic location in which to get married.
What inspires you?
I am always inspired by the wonderful couples that I meet from all over the world. There is honestly no better feeling than seeing a bride’s vision come to fruition perfectly and the look on their face when they see the ceremony setting or reception venue for the first time on the big day. I am also inspired by the wonderful people I work alongside – incredible photographers (like yourself), stylists, floral designers, chefs, musicians … everyone has an important role to play and it’s wonderful to see everyone’s passion for their work.
Where do you start from when styling a wedding for your clients?
I start by getting to know my couple, their tastes and overall style, the budget available and their vision for the day. We then start to put together ideas, photographs, mood boards and I begin to pair them with the right professionals so that collectively we can all bring that vision to life!
If you could give a tip to a bride and groom that are planning their destination wedding, which one would it be?
I’d definitely recommend that brides and grooms have an informal chat with their proposed wedding planner before making a final decision because it’s vital that there is a good client/planner relationship throughout the process and that the client truly believes they are the right person to help achieve the dream wedding day. Brides (in particular) want to find someone who is not only organised and professional, but also makes them feel at ease. A good wedding planner will have plenty of questions for their clients too, to establish exactly what their vision is. Whomever you choose to go with, be careful not to choose someone who is not prompt at returning e-mails, is too opinionated, or tries to convince you of what’s best for you and critiques your ideas. The planning process should be fun! I’d also recommend using a wedding planner who is a specialist in the chosen destination as this will ensure you really do have access to the best suppliers within that area
What’s your favourite part of this job?
As well as seeing months and often years of planning come together on the wedding day, which is obviously a magical feeling, I would say that the lifelong friendships I have made with my clients is definitely the favourite part of my job. I have been so blessed to have continued these friendships for many years post wedding and have been sent pictures of beautiful newborns and new homes etc. It is wonderful to feel that I was part of an important milestone in my couples’ lives and I cherish these friendships made immensely.
Thank you so much Victoria for this interview!
Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your blog!
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