Getting married in Tuscany is a real dream, and if the wedding takes place in Florence, with a spectacular view over the city, as in our Antica Torre Tornabuoni, it will certainly be a true fairy tale. But for everything to run smoothly, the help of a wedding planner is more than welcome. That’s why we talked to Fernanda Rocco, from Quero Casar na Toscana, who gave us all the tips on how to have a perfect wedding in Tuscany and, even more, listed several reasons to choose the Antica Torre Tornabuoni as the scenario of your love story. Enjoy!

How can you describe the work of a wedding planner?

From my point of view the work of a wedding planner embraces identifying what grooms want to accomplish and find the most appropriate and tailored alternative for them. This involves empathy, sensitivity, and experience to find the perfect suppliers for the day of the event, have the style that the bride and groom expect and that are within the couple’s pre-defined budget.

The assistance is critical for those who want to hold an important event such as a wedding, regardless of size and especially when it comes to a destination wedding. The first step I call “the connection”, where we will meet through an online meeting so I can understand what bride and groom are planning, the important points for them and their style. The second step is to search suppliers and location most appropriate to the couple’s profile and their guests. This is the part that requires a lot of skill and experience so that the choices are accurate and that surprises the couple and their guests on the day. From then, on our work is of assistance in decisions regarding everything that will be done and hired, guiding the bride and groom and solving all their doubts from the event planning.

Your work focus is Tuscany. What is so special about this region that so many couples around the world choose it as the scenario for their marriage?

Tuscany is part of the romantic imaginary of many people around the world, because of the various romantic movies set here. Its natural beauty is known for a lot of green, wave hills and vineyards. Combined with its richness in art, architecture and history, Tuscany offers incredible scenarios for this special day. In addition, the Tuscan cuisine is great, as well as the wines, promoting an unforgettable Eno gastronomic experience.

Regarding accommodation, Tuscany offers a wide range of options including castles, villas, luxury hotels and cozy hostels.

Another important point is its central location within Italy, which allows guests to enjoy other regions very easily, through the international airports, train lines and excellent highways.

When we talk about weddings, we usually think of big parties, with many guests, which makes many bride and groom think that getting married in Tuscany is a faraway dream. But is there the option of more intimate weddings, or even elopement weddings? Can you tell you a little about these alternatives?

There are several reasons why people increasingly choose to have smaller and more intimate weddings. Among all the factors, I consider that the most decisive is: to be with the most intimate and important people in a place desired by all, providing an experience that goes beyond the hours of the ceremony and party, the grooms and guests will enjoy days of Pre-Wedding and Day After together in other experiences. Another reason is financial investment. Even opting for a more elaborate and more costly project, the Destination Wedding will surely be less expensive than having a wedding in the original city of bride and groom, as they would hardly be able to hold an event with a small number of guests without causing discomfort in their social circle. And finally, I can say that it counts a lot to be in a place that offers so many different honeymoon destinations within Italy or other nearby countries, which significantly reduces total expenses.

What advice can you give about the bride’s dress? Not only about style, but also convenience (fabrics that do not knead, for example, since it comes inside the suitcase), etc.?

A wedding dress for a Tuscan wedding usually follows an elegant and romantic style that goes well with the region’s bucolic scenery. Some of the mood dress styles that are popular in Tuscany include:

• Dresses with fluid skirts that move with the wind and add a touch of elegance and romance.
• Dresses with lace details are very popular, especially those with delicate lace and embroidery.
• Boho chic dresses are light, fluid and unpretentious, like a dress with puffy sleeves and empire waist.
• Flower details, such as embroidery or applications, are a romantic and cheerful option.

Regardless of the style chosen, it is important to consider the region’s climate when choosing the fabric and modeling of the dress. Light and breathable fabrics, such as silk or chiffon, are perfect for a marriage in Tuscany, especially during the hottest months of the year. And the ideal is to bring it in hand inside a protective cover and preferably not dispatch in the basement suitcase.

How to choose the wedding location? Is it better to do everything in the same place or ceremony and party at separate addresses?

The ideal location is the one that corresponds to what the couple wants to do. There are several types of location: castles, historical residences, rural houses, hotels, agritourism… Each place offers different services among themselves. Some have a panorama, but no internal catering service; others have no accommodation but have perfect heights for ceremony and party and so on. There is no location standard, and our challenge is exactly this, finding options that are appropriate to the bride and groom project. The ideal is to reconcile everything in the same location: ceremony, reception, and accommodation.

What is the advantage of reconciling ceremony, reception and accommodation on the same place?

The advantage is that it will greatly facilitate the logistics of bride and groom, guests, and suppliers such as photographers, video maker and assistance, avoiding problems with transportation and parking. In addition, the flow of the event in general is more optimized, as we have not wasted party time on displacement.

Why do you suggest the future bride and groom to get married at the Antica Torre Tornabuoni?

The Antica Torre Tornabuoni is a historic residence that brings together the best for a wedding solution in Florence:

1- It is in the most elegant street in the center of Florence

2- Has 2 terraces with amazing panoramas over the city

3 – Offers catering service for the event

4 – Offers a hotel service of excellence with sophisticated, large and very comfortable rooms for the bride and groom and guests.

This is the perfect place for those who have a number of guests of up to 40 people and want to enjoy the best of Florence.

If the ceremony is symbolic, it can be performed on the terrace overlooking the Arno and the reception on the other terrace, overlooking the Duomo, which gives the feeling of having the city at your feet.

If the ceremony is religious, we will not have displacement disorders because there are several churches in the surroundings.

The Antica Torre Tornabuoni has also solutions in case of bad weather, providing internal areas to the appetizer and reception.

How far in advance should the couple start planning their wedding in Tuscany?

The ideal would be 1 year in advance to guarantee the availability of suppliers and for the client to have a variety of options to choose from, as Tuscany is the most popular destination for weddings in the world.

Besides the wedding itself, is it possible to organize other activities for the wedding days? And in what measure being on Via Tornabuoni facilitate this displacement?

There are many activities available around via Tornabuoni, including shopping in the designer stores located on the same street, visiting museums and churches, going to the best restaurants, and walking to all parts of this city full of charm and history with total accessibility, and have an aperitif on the banks of the Arno River or in the city’s elegant rooftops, including the ones at Antica Torre Tornabuoni.

If you could give just one piece of advice to anyone who wants to get married in Tuscany, what would it be?

My advice to anyone who wants to get married in Tuscany is to plan ahead and count on the help of a local Wedding Planner. Tuscany is an enchanting place, with a huge range of wedding venues, suppliers, and activities for guests to choose from. However, the language barrier, cultural differences and local quirks can make planning a wedding in Tuscany difficult. Getting familiar with the culture and traditions here is a very important step in making your wedding a success.

Therefore, it is important to start planning at least a year in advance and hire an assistance specialized in weddings to help with the choice of the location, reservation of accommodation, selection of suppliers and event logistics.