What I wish I knew for my European Wedding
Three things I wish I would have known when I got married in Italy
If you’re thinking about getting married in Spain or Italy - let me share 3 things I wish I would have known - and one thing I rocked.
I got married in Rome. It was awesome—and yes, worth it. It was romantic, fun, full of food and nonstop joy. But if you’re thinking about getting married in Spain, Italy - anywhere abroad honestly - take a few tips.
What you don’t see from above when I got married in Italy:
our friends always waiting on us as we finished calls with the restaurant for finals numbers;
late night booking last minute train tickets and arranging seating (which we had been told we didn’t need);
fights completely rooted in stress being taken out on each other;
even going to a park for a run at 11:30 at night because it was the only moment we had.
I got married in Rome, and here are 3 things I wish I had done…and one thing I rocked out.
Delegate. Don’t be the organizer...but delegate to the right person.
Better yet, hire a local so you don’t have to navigate cultural barriers & communication and trusting reviews & staged photos for making a decision about your celebration or accommodation. Even though many things were awesome about my wedding week, there were a lot of misses. I actually did a pretty good delegating: certain people did the flowers, others helped with transportation, others with booking where we would have our vows. None of those ended up as I wanted - but hey, I had delegated and wasn’t stressed about them. I wish I had a local person that I had hired to find the RIGHT places. That way I would have been not stressed AND gotten what I wanted.
Build a rapport with your photographer.
I convinced myself I needed a local photographer so we would get photos in the perfect spots. Turns out, photographers are great at scouting the right places in advance and the best angle of the Colosseum isn’t too hard to find.
When finding a photographer, focus on who you are comfortable with and who you can trust. Ask questions about where you have concerns and give information on your expectations and pain points. If those things feel right after talking and you like their portfolio - go with them.
Get the videographer.
It seems so obvious now: How can I not want to relive the best week, celebrating with my favorite people, exploring my favorite city. UGH. Yeah - we missed out on this one. I replay a lot of moments and I would have traded down on my dress to have the extra chunk of change for a videographer - and I LOVED my dress. (See fourth point about what I DID get right.)
***Pro-tip: Go for the lunch wedding. But not in August. Anyway, Spanish & Italian meals are notoriously long. And if you’re planning on celebrating in one of those countries - don’t rush the meal. You want to enjoy every plate and glass. The celebration can last as long as you want it…but in the afternoon with relaxed meal with plenty of time for…well, everything.
One thing I rocked…
I got really clear on my priorities - both in time and money.
After my partner and I discussed our priorities, it was clear for us. We overlapped on two: food and people. And added a third bonus of my dress (and by extension how we felt/looked that on our wedding day).
Those are the 3 things we put our money into. We spent most of our money on hotel blocks to make sure everyone who wanted to come - could. And then, a multi-course meal with endless antipasti, pasta, wine and a whole-roasted pig that we cut into like a cake.
If you get clear on your priorities, it will allow you to go into your planning process knowing what to do with a budget you’ve set.
Top 5 Places to Elope in 2023
Top 5 places to elope in 2023 - and a bonus one.
What’s most important about the perfect destination? You.
Does it fit what you’re looking for? Are you inspired by water or mountains (or both)? Do ancient ruins make you gaze in wander? Or does the morning sunrise give you peace & silence? What is the energy of your environment that magnifies your love in that moment. This list is a jumping off point.
Eloping makes your intention and plans much more clear and focused. And many couples these days are looking to kick off their marriage with vows - then, the experience of a lifetime.
How to determine the best places to elope?
Some factors matter in some locations, other factors in others. Natural beauty? Food? Architecture? Ease to travel? Lifelong dream getaway? There are many factors that matter when choose your starting point. A few of each is on this list and highlighted below.
The best way to decide what fits you is to have two conversations. First, with your partner. What does getting married feel like? What moment will you BE married? What’s around you and what do you feel? What sort of things bring those feeling up?
Second, have a conversation with some kind of planner. If you’re going to a new place, it’s hard to imagine how you’ll find what you want to create for that day. And there one thing that can ruin any wedding day - stress. If you have someone local that knows how to build what you want, you are guaranteed to lower the stress level of that day. Focus on enjoying the day and let someone else focus on the moving piece.
Keep in mind…
Time of year: costs very…a lot. And so does weather.
Photographer: go local or research your style.
Travel logistics: Arriving by train, plane or automobile. And how does that booking happen?
Bells and whistles: Hair? Make-up? Flowers? What do you want to include?
Before the full list…always include Rome as a location for your elopement in 2023.
What is not surprising…but not known is that Rome. Has. Everything.
The easiest destination to get too for your elopement but also, within an hour of Rome you can find every classic Italian scene. Beautiful lake scenes (and cheaper than Lake Como); rolling vineyard hills (but MUCH more accessible than driving hours to Tuscany); classic Italian castles (that fewer Americans know about with equally unique and romantic architecture) - PLUS, you get all the benefits of staying in the most romantic large city in the world.
Now…onto the countdown of the Top 5 Place to elope in 2023.
5.) Tuscany Region, Italy
Arguably, the most romantic place in Italy to elope to in 2023. There aren’t many places on earth that have the perfect intersection of the rolling hills bursting with authentic Italian flavors. Finding the perfect vineyard or castle is easy. There are many options available to a wide range of budgets. You can find a large place to accomodate your entire wedding, or something smaller and cozy.
What’s also charming about the region is the micro-cultures and smaller towns that are embedded in more local knowledge. From strolling the medieval streets of Siena with a gelato in hand to landing world class restaurant reservations in Bologna, the food and local food specialities can’t go wrong. You (and your guests if you have them) will get every meal and experience you can dream of in this region.
4.) Costa del Sol, Spain
Elope to this hidden gem in 2023 (hidden to Americans at least), the ‘coast of the sun’ in the south of Spain is an annual vacation spot to many in the United Kingdom. Where the Spanish mountains meet the Mediterranean Sea is the perfect meeting place for your 2023 elopement, you find small Spanish beach towns (sprinkled with flamingos and dolphins!), high rise metropolitan party houses or classic Spanish architecture - all with a one hour train ride. You could literally experience each vibe on a different night leading up to your wedding, then run off to a secluded 8 bedroom mountain chalet 30 minutes inland in the mountains.
The south of Spain is also know as the orchard of Europe. With more than 320 sunny days a year, fresh, local food is always available. And who doesn’t want a snack with every beer - thank you tapas? Small plates (known as tapas), fresh seafood and rich paellas are on every menu.
We love this hidden gem because it’s diverse, rich and a unique option for you adventurers. Off season pricing is reasonable; and because of the year round sun you still have fantastic weather through fall and winter.
3.) Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is its own brand of romance for your 2023 elopement. There is modern flowing architecture, mixed with stone Spanish castles is the perfect back drop for eloping in 2023. It’s colorful and classic. It feels a little faster and offers a big city, old world romance. It’s perfect for the modern, curious and on-the-go couple. Explore nooks of one of the most unique architectural cities and zip 20 minutes out for rolling Basque hills with Spanish stone castles.
Food is modern, exciting and rich (in flavor). You can have ‘serrano jamon’ at literally every meal and a cereveza is acceptable at 10am with your late breakfast.
2.) Tropea, Italy
Tropea is your perfect summer Italian beach down to elope to in 2023. The blue sea and perfect beaches rival the Caribbean - but you get ALL the pasta and pizza you can handle. It’s a perfect altnerative to Cinque Terre with rocky cliffs right up to the edge of the blue sea and quaint cobblestone street to get lost in strolling.
It’s a very popular local destination and therefore bursting at the seams in high season, but there’s a reason for it. Food is insanely good in the south and you can’t go wrong with any menu choice. The evenings are exactly what you imagine: romantic street lighting, cobblestone streets and lovely hustle and bustle of locals and tourists out enjoying the night.
It’s a unique Italian town but is everything you can pack into your Italian dream vacation.
1.) Canary Islands, Spain
There are several reasons why the Canary Islands should be your elopement destination in 2023. We really did save the best for last…
It wasn’t too long ago that Iceland was an under-the-radar country to visit, and we are making bets that the Canary Islands is in the early stages of being discovered as one of Europe’s most exciting destination. Thank Hawaii views with European culture.
These volcanic islands have cliffs diving into the sea and each island has its own unique identity. Black sand beaches, white sand beaches, colorful Spanish streets, remote island hiking and exploring, quaint beach towns. You can get perfect apartments with sea views or go remote and elope without a soul in site.
Take our advice and don’t wait. Get here before it’s overrun.
What’s next…
If you’ve dreamt about getting married abroad but don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place. Gazing at photos and lists is one of those first steps. Could we really? Is it possible to get married somewhere completely new? Where do I even start?
Your perfect elopement is there. Think about waking up on the morning you’re getting married and not having a single thing to stress about. Espresso, juices, pastries and European sunshine greet you. Your outfit is hanging, fresh and ready. A photographer shows up when you want and whenever you and your partner are ready, you head out to exchange your vows. The backdrop is anything from vineyards to rocky hills in a castle or on sandy beach of the Mediterranean Sea. It feels like just the two of you. It’s intimate, relaxed and perfect.
Maybe you want to include a small group of friends or family. Dinner together is long (like European long) and full of cheers, hugs and smiles.
Have someone local coordinate your dream. It really can be that easy.
Talk to someone - ideally, a travel coordinator. You aren’t JUST planning your elopement or micro-wedding, you’ll be traveling to a new place, maybe with a new language. And local culture matters. Chat with someone who got married abroad already - that would also be me.
Know the the in’s and out’s of local culture and figuring out how to make your dreams meet your actions is completely possible. Fill out information below if you’d like to chat about your 2023 elopement.
***Photos are a mix of different photographers and a few stock photos. Click on a photo to be linked to a photographers page.
The 3 Easiest Steps to Plan Your Elopement
The 3 easiest steps to plan your elopement in Spain and Italy.
Reflect and answer some honest questions.
Hire a Travel Elopement Coordinator.
Narrow down to where and when.
Plan your perfect elopement in Spain and Italy
Maybe you have some travel experience, that’s why getting married abroad seems so perfect in the first place. But where do you start? How do I fly with my dress? If we elope, can I still bring our family? Does any one officiate the ceremony? Is it a legal marriage? Can I have the moments I want when I am planning 3,000 miles away?
The thought is there. To get married in the most romantic places on earth: in the Spanish field, or desert; on a boat in Lake Guardia; on the White Costa del Sol beaches of the Mediterranean. But how? There are so many questions.
What’s the secret
to making it perfect?
Make it stress free.
You can be a go with the flow traveler and want your elopement to be perfect. But follow these steps to make your trip and your elopement dreamy, stress free and full of moments.
Step 1: Honestly reflect on a few key questions.
Step 2: Hire a Travel Elopement Coordinator.
What’s a Travel Elopement Coordinator?
One part travel organizer, one part local expert and one part elopement concierge; the intersection of all your trip and elopement details. This person should help you in all aspects of your travel AND elopement. They should have intimate cultural knowledge about where you’re traveling and getting married to navigate communication and cultural differences. They will help you find the information you need so that when you arrive from across the ocean, you aren’t stepping into the unknown. You’re booking places and paying deposits to trustworthy businesses.
You arrive already knowing how you’re getting to your accommodations; they are expecting you. You have dinner reservations ‘where the locals go’ and don’t have to worry about how to find something to do tomorrow. You can have it booked or you can wonder - depends how you feel.
You don’t have to worry making decisions based on reviews, only to arrive realizing you needed reservations. You’re prepared but not overbooked. You know the areas of town that are best to wonder, but you also have the perfect brunch spot booked tomorrow morning because you head out for your wedding ceremony.
These are the details that a TEC can help you find and organize. Don’t leave these details to chance.
Step 3: Narrow down to a few locations and a time frame.
Chat with your TEC; they should know the area, the costs and how to achieve the elopement - and trip, you’re looking for.
Want a secluded beachside elopement in Spain? Cool! But a town in Costa Blanca is perfect, but avoid August (jam packed beaches and sky high hotels) and don’t go too far into fall (too much wind). Want a fall Tuscany elopement? Also cool! But don’t get too far into October has more random rainy, gusty storms.
Working with your Travel Elopement Coordinator will help you find the right place, and time of year that fits your dream elopement.
If you’ve been thinking about eloping in Spain or Italy, surprise! That’s what Roam Untold does. Schedule a a stress free conversation and we’ll see if we’re a good fit.
The Sweetest Elopement in Florence
There’s a few things that are an absolute MUST when eloping in Florence.
Cobblestones and archways,
Views of the duomo, and
Passione.
We only had had a couple hours for photos: short and sweet worked.
Photos by: The Breiters
The best places (and ways) to photograph your Florence elopement
Eloping can be whatever you want it to be. It the start to your marriage, your life after all. We teamed up with The Breiters for this simple, but passionate celebration in the streets of Florence. And there’s a few tips and tricks when eloping in Italy.
— FIRST —
Wake up with your partner to a hot espresso and get ready together. Relax in the morning and enjoy each other.
— TWO —
Go for a stroll.
Enjoy the cobblestone streets, kissing under archways, and a few congratulatory shouts of “Auguri” along the way. Enjoy each other in the Italian sun and romantic architecture.
— THREE —
Get a few kisses in the streets and piazzas.
We hit some close by estradas with views and Piazza Michelangelo with perfect views of the famous Duomo di Firenze by Brunelleschi.
— FOUR —
Last essential: ‘passione’.
There was no shortage of passion with these two. You can be in the most romantic places on earth, but it all comes down to who you’re with.
Maybe you’ve thought about an elopement in Florence? It doesn’t have to just be a dream.