Everyone in the wedding party is coming to Italy for an authentic Italian experience, and we ensure that they receive this in every respect possible. Each couple has family, religious, and cultural traditions that they wish to weave into their Italian wedding celebration. This, for us, is the enjoyable aspect, and we welcome the challenge. The important thing is that it all comes together seamlessly…”
Brenda Babcock, Founder, Brenda Babcock Celebrations
Brenda Babcock is the founder of Brenda Babcock Celebrations, a boutique destination wedding planning service specialising exclusively in Italy. Drawing on her extensive experience and deep knowledge of Italian culture and locations, Brenda crafts personalised weddings in some of the country’s most beautiful and romantic venues. Her company is dedicated to helping couples from around the world realise their dream celebrations in Italy, handling every detail from venue selection to event design with elegance and expertise. Here we discuss locations, and the importance of a professional planner when arranging a wedding in Italy…
C&B: “Brenda, you’ve chosen to base yourself in one of the most beautiful areas of the world – which are your favourite locations, and why?”
BB: “Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, Capri, Florence! They are all absolutely stunning locations, of course, and all offer the magic and once-in-a-lifetime experience that all couples are looking for. They all offer incredible possibilities for multi-day wedding celebrations, and there’s quite a difference between a Tuscan countryside wedding and an Amalfi Coast celebration with incredible sea views…”
C&B: “Yes, the variety and options within Italy are incredible. How do you approach creating a unique wedding experience that truly reflects the couple’s unique personal style and their wedding ‘wish-list’?”
BB: “In order to choose the perfect location for the wedding, I take into consideration the anticipated number of guests as well as any preferences or deal breakers that the couple has for the celebration. For example, I have had many weddings where the couple initially wanted to get married on the Amalfi Coast, but for whom a great band and great party was a top priority. This is better suited to a Tuscan wedding where, with the right villa, you can celebrate outside with any music you like until at least 3:00 am or even until dawn. In almost every circumstance on the Amalfi Coast, the music outdoors must end by 11:00 pm or midnight and there are limits on the noise level. There are also few locations with a large enough indoor space for the party to continue once the outdoor music has to stop. From a design point of view, I ask them to send me photos of colour and style inspirations of anything they like – it doesn’t need to be wedding related. If they don’t have any colour preferences, I send them a number of inspirations that we’ve accumulated, which helps bring their own preferences into focus. The fun and challenge is to then ‘marry’ their colour and style preferences with the actual venue spaces…”
Since I only work in Italy’s top locations, the question is how to enhance the venues and make them personal for the couple while never hiding or distracting from the exquisite beauty of the location itself. That is why they have brought everyone to Italy in the first place – why cover it up?”
Brenda Babcock, Founder, Brenda Babcock Celebrations
C&B: “How much advance notice do you generally require when organising a wedding, and do you arrange every aspect of it – for example, securing the right vendors?”
BB: “I’ve planned large, elaborate weddings in as little as two months when the couple was decisive and flexible in regard to the location, but 8-15 months is more typical. It’s most important to hire a highly experienced and reputable wedding planner who lives in Italy, speaks Italian, and who will lead you to equally reputable vendors and locations. It’s the responsibility of the wedding planner to review and work out each contract with each vendor so that there are no misunderstandings and both parties know exactly what to expect…”
C&B: “What would you say are the most important decisions the couple and the planner must prioritise during the early planning stages?”
BB: “The budget, guest count, and type of ceremony – whether religious or symbolic – are all carefully considered when making the most significant decisions about the wedding, as is the overall experience the client envisions, with particular attention given to music. This is especially important since most events take place outdoors and must comply with various noise restrictions and local ordinances…”
In a particularly unique setting, we want to highlight the uniqueness and keep the décor in harmony with it. In Italy, many locations have priceless views and it would be a shame to draw attention away from that. For example, Villa Cimbrone on the Amalfi Coast there is a world-famous infinity terrace; the view is breathtaking. When the guests step onto it, I want them to see the sea, the mountains, the cliffsides below, with a minimal amount of embellishment but below sight line. Then on the right side, where there is no view, there is an opportunity to create something more personal and elaborate. When working in historical or spectacularly scenic venues, we don’t cover up or compete with the inherent beauty of it; we just complement it and make it personal…”
Brenda Babcock, Founder, Brenda Babcock Celebrations
C&B: “What would you say are the key elements of a successful itinerary for the ultimate destination wedding weekend?”
BB: “At Brenda Babcock Celebrations, we’re very focused on guest experience. We offer a variety of local activities and ensure we have musical entertainment at each event to keep things lively, particularly for a multi-day celebration. The selection of venues and the planning of the event days must be executed with a certain ease so that everything flows seamlessly. Whether 30, 80, or 150 guests have flown halfway around the world to be here for the occasion, we aim to ensure they are treated accordingly. Often, the couple and their guests do not speak Italian, are unfamiliar with the area, and many have never visited Italy before. We make sure that we do not require the guests to perform logistical ‘back flips’ or leave them wondering where they are supposed to be, when, or how to get there. We also don’t over-schedule the guests’ time, as there will be activities they may wish to pursue independently, and others who simply want time to relax and take it all in…”
CONTACT: http://www.brendababcock.com
