Weddings in Style

- Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams -

Jodie and Mike List, both from New Zealand but living in London, met over a game of football with friends on Clapham Common five years ago.
Once engaged the thought of going home for the wedding and planning everything from the UK seemed seriously stressful so instead, on the advice of a friend, they asked Erica Bellini, wedding organiser for Tuscan Dreams, to create the perfect week away for themselves and their friends in Italy.

Jodie says: “The main objective was to have a relaxing enjoyable week with everyone, including our parents, family and our friends. We haven’t had the opportunity to spend that amount of time with everyone for years so it was fantastic.

“My bridesmaids insisted on bringing over a suitcase full of pink fur items form New Zealand but apart from that the whole experience was so much better than we ever imagined possible!”

The couple held a beautiful reception and four course dinner for 50 people at the Villa Gambassi in Tuscany following their wedding in the grounds with an Italian priest. Babysitters were on hand for those who needed one for the evening disco and the cost included a personal hairdresser; beautician, fabulous flowers, heaps of outdoor candles and a photographer.

Erica Bellini, who has organised more than 50 weddings, says: “Jodie and Mike were a dream to work with, very relaxed and great fun. We arranged a wine tasting evening with canapés the night before the wedding and made sure everything went smoothly on the day, which of course it did”.

Villa Gambassi is situated in a small ancient hamlet in Tuscany. The luxury villa with a private pool is steeped in history and surrounded by idyllic countryside with several acres of oak forests. The property has been completely renovated and it is the ideal setting to organize small to medium size weddings. Villa Gambassi can only be booked through www.tuscan-dreams.com.

Jodie and Mike came back to the villa with their gorgeous baby girl last year and met again with Erica.

- Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams -

Any wedding planner worth their salt not only puts their heart and soul into making their clients big day as memorable and spectacular as possible but is also prepared for every eventuality.

Each wedding comes with its moments of madness – The dress splits, the Groom spills red wine down his tie and the heavens open just as the bride steps out of her carriage. Never fear though, for Erica Bellini, wedding planner and creator of Tuscan dreams, is here to help.

She has been planning weddings in Tuscany for over 10 years, so has had plenty of experience of wedding mishaps. Here she gives every bride a few tips to solve any last minute disasters and make proceedings run as smoothly as possible.

Erica has a huge bag of props that becomes heavier by the year and her dream of becoming just like Jennifer Lopez in the Wedding Planner has come true. However, unlike the film, not everything can run according to plan and that is where Erica steps in. “I have an endless amount of equipment which grows after every wedding” she says. “If someone has forgotten or broken something it’s my job to save the day”.

Here are some of the items Erica keeps in her wedding first aid kit in case of a nuptial emergency:

· Nail repair glue – This will always save a bride on the brink of tears, as every girl knows you aren’t finished without a full set of perfect nails.

· A little box with buttons and safety pins – These little beauties can provide a quick fix and hold together an outfit in a matter of seconds.

· Cushion (or pillow for wedding rings) – In case the best man forgets (and they often do!)

· Pretty umbrella – To protect the bride from a sudden downpour.

· Lighters for candles – Candles are a popular theme at weddings and so often there are many to light!

· Bottle of fresh water and a sugar cube – “Once a guest fainted right in the middle of the ceremony because of the Tuscan heat. Sugar and water have never been so useful!” says Erica.

· Stain remover – “At one wedding in the beautiful Tuscan square of Siena, just before the bridal party entered the town hall a pigeon flew overhead. You can imagine what happened next. Thankfully the bride saw it as good luck!”

· Hair spray/grips – Not every bride has a hair dresser on hand, especially if getting married abroad, so this will help if the weather isn’t great.

· Needle, thread and scissors – Probably the most important items you will have in your kit says Erica. “The mother of one bride burnt a hole in the flower girls dress. We sewed on an orchid corsage to cover the burn and the dress looked even prettier”.

As Erica continues to plan and create more and more beautiful weddings every year, she continues to expand her ever growing wedding first aid kit. “My husband says that my next car should be a lorry so I’m able to carry everything with me that I might need for a wedding emergency!” says Erica. If she continues to solve every bride’s worst nightmare it may be a good investment!

- Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams -

It was an office romance that turned into a match made in heaven - but it wasn’t a lightning bolt of love as Becky explains!

“We never really spoke to each other but exchanged the odd glance across the room. We eventually started talking through email and never looked back!”

A year after they began dating Dan got down on one knee in front of family and friends at a Chinese restaurant in Durham and the fairy tale commenced.

When the couple talked about getting married they held very different views. “I wanted to stay in the UK so all my family could attend but Dan wanted it abroad somewhere like Cyprus,” says Becky. She soon came round to the idea of a wedding abroad, but wanted something more unique and that is when they came across Tuscany as a perfect location. “Money was a major factor so we started to look around to see what we could get for the amount of money we could afford.” It was then they found Tuscan Dreams, the baby of Erica Bellini who has been planning weddings in Tuscany for over 10 years. With her knowledge and experience, Erica showed Becky and Dan exactly what they could achieve with their budget and it was nothing short of perfect.

Soon a list of venues was drawn up for the couple to browse and one stood out in particular. “The second we saw Villa Gambassi we fell in love with it,” says Becky. “Erica sent us details and photos from previous weddings just to re-enforce our choice. It was just so beautiful.” Right from the beginning Erica and her assistant Nicoletta, made sure they got to know the couple inside out. “They just seemed to know what we would love. All I did was arrange the bridal parties outfits, everything else Tuscan Dreams took care of.” Wild flowers and an Italian rustic feel gave the event a sense of everything the couple loved about Tuscany, beautiful and romantic yet simple and original. Traditional floral colours such as purple, yellow sunflowers and cream were used to set the mood.

Although their biggest extravagance would be the villa as soon as the couple and their guests arrived they knew they had made the right decision. “As soon as we arrived at the villa gates we knew we were getting our money’s worth and more. There were even live deer in the grounds that you could hand feed,” says Becky. “Out of this world is how I would describe Villa Gambassi!” After spending most of their budget on a venue, Becky and Dan saved some money by making a few vital parts of the wedding from scratch. “My aunt made my veil, which hopefully will be passed down through the family. We also brought the place settings that doubled up as favours for everyone.”

After their dream wedding in Tuscany what can Becky say about the wonderful women who made it possible? “The work they must have to do to make people’s perfect day perfect is amazing and believe me they do make it perfect in every way and more,” said an extremely blissful Mrs Gill.

Becky and Dan got married at Certaldo Town Hall on 4th August 2009 and had reception for their guests at Villa Gambassi.

- Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams -

Where do you go for the most important day of your life if you are an expert on finding perfect locations?
Travel experts Chris and Laura from Peterborough became engaged in Paris but knew Italy was the only place to hold the wedding.
Despite being experts on the region they visited wedding fairs, reviewed countless magazines and then hired Erica Bellini, Tuscan Dreams wedding planner, to create their perfect day in the Tuscan hills.

Thirty guests travelled to Tuscany for cocktails, a seven course Italian feast including truffles and lobster and dancing by moonlight in the square of Castello di Firenze.
Laura said it was a fairytale wedding. She says: “We got married on the lawn overlooking the vineyards and then partied the night away in the candle lit court yard. We wanted the day to show our guests why we loved Italy so much and the fantastic food, gorgeous location and great entertainment made it perfect – our guests are still talking about it and say it was the wedding of a life time”.

Laura says her one tip to future brides is to keep making lists as there is so much to plan and it is so easy to forget details. She made her own Order of Service cards using small ivory pearls and green ribbon to match the colour theme of the wedding which was chosen to pick up on the beautiful surroundings of the castle.

- Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams -

With the majority of wedding parties over the age of 30 it is almost guaranteed that some children will be present on your big day. A lot of couples would feel rude excluding children from the occasion, especially when a lot of newlyweds have babies themselves before they are even married.
Some guests may choose to leave them at home with a grandparent or nanny, but what happens when the wedding you are invited to is abroad? Most parents would not want to leave their little ones for long periods so why not use it as an excuse for a family holiday?

Tuscan wedding organiser Erica Bellini, who has been planning weddings in Italy for 10 years, thinks children can easily be catered for during your day. She said: “At previous weddings we have arranged for a group of specialists ranging from baby sitters for the tiny ones to entertainers for the older children. It means children of guests can be part of the day too. ”

Erica recently organised a wedding at one of their popular locations, Villa Gambassi, for a couple called Vicki and Tony who had a 3 month old baby girl. She said. “They really wanted baby Francesca around and in each photo throughout the day so they brought along a baby sitter. This meant they still had time to themselves and to be with their guests. They wanted her to be able to enjoy this unique day in her life as much as they did.”

Erica says. “Obviously keeping the children busy and happy became an issue that was at the top of the list throughout the planning. In fact, the organisation of the children at Vicki and Tony’s wedding was discussed with me before anything else was decided.”

With the help of professional baby sitters and entertainers children can safely play outside in the warm Tuscan sunshine, allowing parents to enjoy the day without worrying. Villa Gambassi is a perfect location for a large party with children. Guest accommodation is situated opposite the villa and the fact of not having to use transport to get to it makes its a lot easier for parents, knowing that their little ones are comfortably asleep in their room only a few metres away.

Here and some more tips to organise a wedding with children in mind:

• Buy boxes of toys and non-messy creative items to help keep them quietly amused.
• Don’t save on baby sitting/entertainers. Make sure you use professionals especially if 1 baby sitter/entertainer will look after more than 1 child.
• Arrange for the entertainers to be close enough to the parents but also far away enough so that they don’t rush to the parents every time they fancy. An idea is to have the children on a lawn on a sunny day to get plenty of exercise as well.
• Make sure the entertainers and baby sitters are specialised for the different age groups of the children.

- Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams -

It was on a two week trip to Italy that long term friends Stephanie Grundy, a 29 year old communications officer and Christopher Sykes, a 32 year old Solicitor, fell in love.

So it seemed only natural for the Manchester couple to go back to the place it all began for their wedding.

This month they travelled with family and friends to San Galgano a beautiful roofless abbey in the Tuscan countryside for their gorgeous Italian wedding and are planning to return next year for their first anniversary!

- Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams -

Photo by Nadia Attura

Gemma McGlue knows everything there is to know about organising an event – she is an account manager for Land Rover Global Events – and the one thing she knew she needed for the perfect wedding was an event manager!

Photo by Nadia Attura

After meeting at a party in 2003 and a romantic proposal at the Landmark Hotel in London, “we chose my engagement ring at Boodles on New Bond Street,” Gemma, an Account Manager for Land Rover Global Events and Phil McGlue, a Police Officer, set to work finding a wedding planner who could create their dream day.

Photo by Nadia Attura

The couple from Milton Keynes knew what they wanted early on, “We both love Italy and liked the idea of having our closest family and friends at a beautiful ceremony in Tuscany for the weekend,” said Gemma. They soon found Erica Bellini of Tuscan Dreams and she provided all the information they needed to arrange the event and provide the perfect venue for a September wedding. “When we found Villa Gambassi, we just fell in love with it and knew it would be perfect for our numbers and guests.” The blessing would be held in a church nearby, Santa Maria a Chianni - a popular location for Erica’s clients, and it also meant guests did not have to travel far for the reception after.

Foto by Nadia Attura

With its rustic and romantic atmosphere, Villa Gambassi could not have been more perfect for Gemma and Phil’s vintage, lace and fine art theme - birdcages adorned the tables as centre pieces. “We researched endless venues but we always came back to Villa Gambassi. It ticked every box,” said the blushing bride.

The biggest extravagance of the weekend was a seven course meal but money was saved on the venue hire. The couple also hired a harpist during drinks for a serene mood and afterwards a disco, for the evening event, to get the wedding party up and dancing.

If Gemma could offer any advice to someone planning a wedding it would be “always keep to your budget and research the market.” Luckily, they found Tuscan Dreams, and a perfect planner in the form of Erica. “She was so helpful and lovely and we just knew everything was right.”

- Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams -

The big trends for 2011 weddings in Italy have set off already and are in full demand.

Trends on transport:More and more couples decide to drive in style to their wedding ceremony and back to the villa and choose a vintage Italian sports car to remember their day by.

The choice of cars is wide and usually reflects the style of the wedding. You name it: from Alfa Romeo Spiders and Giulietta to all models of Fiats from the sports cars to the classic Cinquecento.

And of course for the grooms seriously passionate about Ferraris you cannot miss out on a ’80s flaming Ferrari.

Many couples choose classic white for the wedding day but when it comes to convertible two seater sports cars a red car is undoubtedly a love at first sight.

This trend has become even more remarkable because many couples actually hire the car for a week and drive down to the Amalfi coast, one of romantic spots of Italy, in a red vintage convertible.

Truly an unforgettable experience!!!

But the treat is not only for the Bride and Groom… The wedding party can also have their share of fun hiring vespas for the wedding day. Your Italian wedding will be really more like out of a movie!

Reception Details: The new trend is to add an authentic Italian flavour to the wedding so a good way to have guests take back a personalised token of your wedding in Italy is to pick something local for them to take back. Think personalised bottles of local olive oil with the names of the bride and groom or Chianti Classico red wine in a miniature flask or for the ones who like strong flavours, sun-drenched Limoncello Lemon liqueur or 40 degrees elegant mini bottles of Grappa spirit.

This will add a personal classic touch to a truly Italian wedding.

-Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams- 

Like any other wedding item flowers are subject to trends. Ivory is off course the colour that strikes to your mind when you think about weddings. But why not adding a splash of colour to your wedding ?  Fashion industry has a big impact on flowers colour trend so check the colour that are fashion in the highstreet add them to your bouquet.
As you might guess 2009 flower trends will be a touch of purple flowers.
Here are a few purple flowers to add a bit of glamour to your bouquet.

 -lysianthus
 -agapanthus
 -sweet peas
 -hydrangea

-Weddings in Style by Tuscan Dreams-

Money matters: Priorities and write a list of what is more important to you. For example if flowers play a huge role in making the day special to create atmosphere then go for it and save on the bridal car. Don’t make the mistake to try and save on every item because you will not be satisfied in the end since you ill have compromised on things that you cared for. Remember to save on things that don’t really matter to you.

Here are the items on which you might like to save -

1. TRANSPORT
2. ACCOMMODATION
3. WEDDING DATE
4. WEDDING CAKE
5. PHOTOGRAPHER
6. FLOWERS

SAVE ON TRANSPORTATION:
Have guests stay where the venue is so that you save on transportation (which is an expensive item on an Italian budget).
Bridal car: instead of hiring a car with driver for the day, hire a nice car (say a convertible or a nice Alfa Romeo – since you are in Italy) for the entire week so that you can maximize its use. You can then ask a friend to drive it on the day.

SAVE ON ACCOMMODATION:
Hire a large villa or a farmhouse where you can also have a wedding. Some villas do not charge an extra fee to have the wedding since they will have the weekly rental. They might charge a minimal fee for cleaning and re-ordering the villa after a party.
If you have guests stay in a hotel and you hire a separate venue for the day, say a castle, you will be charged a venue wedding fee on top of accommodation. You can save a lot plus for you and your guests it will turn into a lovely holiday.

HAVE THE WEDDING MID WEEK as opposed to a Saturday. You can hire a large villa from Saturday to Saturday, have the wedding any day from Sunday to Thursday. You will have more available suppliers and they sometimes charge also less.

SAVE ON THE WEDDING CAKE:
go for the traditional Italian wedding cake (Millefoglie – layers of puff pastry and fresh vanilla cream with either chocolate chips or Fresh strwberries). The cost is sometimes 50% less than a wedding cake in the UK. On top of this Italian confectionary, however excellent they might be, they excel in Italian cakes. Trying to reproduce an English cake, you might end up spending more and not having what you really wanted. For example, icing: no Italian cake has icing which means that they only do icing for non-Italians who request it.

SAVE ON PHOTOGRAPHER:
advice: unless you have a friend or family who is a professional photographer do not count on friends taking snapshots. Wedding Photos is what you will have to look at in 20 years time to show your children. Make sure you get a pro to do the job. The photographer will make sure that you don’t miss out on all the crucial moments aside from having beautiful photos guarantee.
One way to save on the photography is to have CD of photos and not have prints with a big leather album. You can decide to buy a photo album at a later stage and stick the photos in the album yourself.

HOW TO SAVE ON FLOWERS:
-Use seasonal flowers and local flowers which will be a lot cheaper than imported from Holland or out of season flowers. In the summer months when flowers are at its lowest production, you can always find Gerberas and certain types of Roses.
Remember that in Italy is a lot warmer than in the UK so the flowering time is a lot shorter than in the UK.

-if flowers rank at the top of  your wedding budget and you really like to have the venue and church/town hall very rich with flowers, then make sure that you pick a date whenyour flowers are in season. For example, Peonies are gorgeous flowers but have a very limited season in Tuscany (May) or Hydrangea (June), then it is worth getting married in the period that they are in season.

-If you have really set your heart on a flower and it happens to be out of season or you can only make a wedding on a certain date, then spend a little more on flowers for the bridal party (bridal bouquet, bridesmaids, buttonholes and corsage) which will also appear on all the photos, and then for the church/ceremony and for the reception choose either a similar flower altogether or have a predominance of a seasonal matching flower and just a touch of your favourite one.

-Use local herbs such as rosemary, sage (they both have beautiful flowers in their flowering time); Fresh lavender when in flower. All the above will give a lovely scent to your flower composition and a very reasonably priced!

-maximise the use of flowers: RE-USE flowers on the day: example:
The flower composition from the town hall should be easily transportable (in a wicker basket for example – no water - ) and of size that can be easily put in a carby one of the guests or by the wedding planner. This composition can then be re-used for the canapés table when guests get back to the villa. Then when the canapés are over, this composition can be pulled apart and re-used to decorate the cake or placed on the open bar table in the evening.

-spend on your bouquet and save on reception flowers. For table centrepieces have some large floating flowers with many candles/t-lights.