So I searched the forum for "wedding" and only returned people asking for travel help b/c they were going for a wedding, but never did they say where the wedding was!! I'm getting married next Easter-ish and due to craptastic laws in the US and UK, it's easier for our international romance to culminate in an EU country and be recognized by both "home" countries.

Sooo....any city / region suggestions from those in the know for something small next spring?

Obviously the South is the best bet weather wise, but I'm starting from scratch! Just about 30 of us, we hope, and would love to rent out an entire compound/ villa and have everyone stay on site as well as have the ceremony and reception there as well. That way the families can meet and mingle easily. Tall order, but I hope to find it. Just not sure where to even start looking!!

Or anyone know of a good wedding planner in Italy who speaks English??

Basically, In over my head and need H-E-L-P!!

Take a look at Ravello, high on the Amalfi coast. It's a serene place in spring, featuring great views.

Another option i'd recommend is Taormina, a resort town in Sicily in the shadow of snow-capped Mt. Etna. Also has fabulous views of the sea.

Thanks! i'll start with researching there. I bought my DK Italy book but there's so much to weed through to find the places not just for tourism (as obviously this is what the book is written for!).

Congratulations Memphis Queen!! I stayed in a lovely village about 45 minutes from Florence called Il Borro. The Ferragamo family has restored the village and you can rent apartments in the village or farmhouses for larger parties close by. They have a lovely chapel there too. Your whole party could take over the place. Their website is as follows:http://www.ilborro.com/agriturismo/i...a=288&lang=ENG

I do agree with donlind that Ravello or Taormina would be lovely. They are both beautiful spots. For Ravello, check out the forum in Trip Advisor. Many people post about their weddings on the Amalfi coast and their wedding planners.
Good luck!

Thanks guys! Ravello did get me almost immediately to tripadvisor as many villas are listed and critiqued there. There's one that has caught my eye and compiling info to send to my honey.

He suggested Naples. Near tourist stuff in Pompeii for the guests and an easy train ride from Rome for those who wish to fly in / out there or extend the trip. Anyone have a strong yay or nay for there?

There is also a nice church / chapel above Portofino.

I'd give Naples a mild 'nay' because it's a huge sprawling city with more than its share of problems and a few areas considered by some to be dangerous.

Pompei and the alluring Greek ruins at Paestum are accessible from Ravello, a far quieter and more romantic setting for a wedding than Naples. Depending on the date, guests also could do a day trip to Capri from Amalfi, just down the mountain. Beautiful but somewhat touristy Positano also is nearby.

Getting everyone to Ravello would be more difficult than bringing them to Naples. But PM me for ideas on that should you end up favoring Ravello.

I'd say nay, having just returned from there about a week ago. Not the nicest of Italian cities. Great food, good access to places like Capri, but if you're set on Campania, I'd choose Ravello or Sorrento rather than Napoli.

I'm a destination wedding planner in Minneapolis and am currently working with two couples getting married in Italy in 2010. San Gimignano in the Tuscany region in September and the Lakes District, Lake Como area in October. Will probably end up making two trips in 10 days to accommodate both weddings.

I'm scouting locations sometime this summer in the Lakes District so if there is something in particular you are interested in, we could discuss by phone. PM me if you are interested in learning more.

Well I got married in Siracusa, Sicilia, but we were more local, though we had to plan some of it long distance as my wife moved to near Venice to take a better position and I left Germany and went to the States for about a year. We did not use a planner but you can expect everything to get more expensive when you mention "wedding" just like in the States.
The best part for us was going to the different villas for the tastings, we got ~7 free meals :-)

We had a great Villa in the fringe of Siracusa with a nice view and great food served and cooked there. Our local families took the visitors to the villa from the cathedral while we did pics. For the food we paid ~60 euros a plate which was a special as there was some form of relation. the normal price for ours was 85 euros. meal included antipasti table outside, two first courses, fish, third course, sides with the second fish dish, sorbetto and wedding cake and dessert buffet and champagne and wine included. We had ~120 guests.

IN Sicily is was not bad doing it ourselves, but again we were "local" and not paying hotel fees and such. I have seen adverts for English speaking planners. No idea how much they cost. I'll see if I can find any. Transport to Sicily from the states normally requires a connection (save a seasonal Palermo NYC flight) Catania is a bigger overall airport. That can be the biggest hurdle for some though there are various non-stops to the big Euro cities, CDG, FRA, mUC, LGW etc

Good luck! Let me know maybe I can answer specific questions.

Ciao,
FH

Wow guys thanks! Just got back from a harrowing business trip with less than 3h sleep each night; so didn't get to check in the past few days. i'll look at some of the additional suggestions over the weekend, and may take y'all up on the offer to ask even MORE questions

there seems to be agreement on ravello; so i'll continue researching there first.