A destination wedding is not only about the place; it’s about how people feel in that place. For many couples, getting married in Italy begins as a dream – but planning it from afar can feel overwhelming. My role is to bring clarity to that process and create an experience where couples can truly enjoy the moment instead of managing the details. When the wedding day arrives, they’re not thinking about planning; they are simply present – enjoying Italy, their guests, and the moment they chose to celebrate together…”
Dovile Rutka, Founder, WEDbyDovile
Dovile Rutka is founder of WEDbyDovile, a destination wedding planning studio based on the Amalfi Coast and operating throughout Italy. She founded her company in 2014 after moving from Northern Europe to Italy. Before entering the wedding industry, Dovile worked on business projects that shaped the way she approaches her work today. Her background in business management provided her with a strong foundation in strategy, organisation, and clear decision-making – all essential components in the sector of luxury wedding planning…
C&B: “Dovile, you’re working in one of the most beautiful areas of the world; how do you describe what you do?”
DR: “I plan intimate weddings and elopements in Italy for international couples who want a celebration that feels personal and connected to the place they chose. Many couples today are not looking for a traditional wedding; they want something more meaningful. Planning a wedding in Italy requires local knowledge, trusted relationships and a deep understanding of how things work here. Italy has a very particular way of turning a celebration into an experience. Many couples arrive with an image of Italy they’ve carried for years. But once they celebrate here, it becomes something much more real – the atmosphere, the people, the rhythm of life. My role is to guide couples through that experience so they can fully enjoy their wedding day instead of managing it. Because the most meaningful weddings are rarely the biggest ones; they’re the ones that feel personal…”
I plan weddings across some of Italy’s most iconic destinations – especially the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, Tuscany and Venice. The place that is chosen sets the tone for the entire experience – and in Italy that atmosphere becomes part of the memory. I also love introducing couples to hidden gems – beautiful places that feel authentic, intimate and a little removed from the obvious destinations. Often those are the locations where the most amazing celebrations happen…”
Dovile Rutka, Founder, WEDbyDovile
C&B: “What makes the regions you work in uniquely special?”
DR: “Each place offers a completely different atmosphere. The Amalfi Coast is vibrant and dramatic, with colourful villages and terraces above the sea. Lake Como is more refined and peaceful, known for its historic villas and elegant gardens. Tuscany offers rolling countryside, historic estates and long celebrations centred around food and wine. Venice is entirely unique – romantic, historic and unlike anywhere else in the world. Living here also taught me something equally important. Life is experienced differently. Aperitivo at sunset, long dinners under the stars, music drifting through a village square. That perspective changed the way I see weddings. A wedding isn’t simply something you organise – it’s something you experience. Here, a celebration naturally becomes part of the place: the food, the people, the atmosphere around you. Over time I realised that weddings don’t have to be bigger to be meaningful — they simply have to feel true to the couple. My role is not just planning a wedding. It’s holding the experience so the couple can fully live it — exactly as a celebration here should feel…”
Often couples reach out to me after realising that planning a wedding in Italy is quite different from planning at home. They’re looking for someone locally based who understands how things work here and can guide them through the process with clarity and confidence…”
Dovile Rutka, Founder, WEDbyDovile
C&B: “Who are your typical clients and how do they hear about you?”
DR: “Most of my clients are international couples from Europe, the USA and the UK who are not simply planning a wedding — they are choosing an experience. Many of my couples are choosing intimacy over tradition, they want something more personal — a celebration that feels intentional for them as a couple. They usually discover my work through social media or my website, while others come through referrals from previous couples…”
I often guide couples to balance the iconic Italy they imagine from films and travel stories with the small authentic moments that make the celebration truly special — a sunset aperitivo overlooking the sea, a long dinner under the stars, or simply walking through a quiet village together after the ceremony…”
Dovile Rutka, Founder, WEDbyDovile
C&B: “What unique elements or techniques do you incorporate into your weddings?”
DR: “For me, the most important thing is creating a wedding experience that feels effortless for the couple. Italy has its own rhythm, and every place carries a different atmosphere. An island celebration in Capri feels completely different from a historic city wedding in Florence or Rome, while a hidden villa in Sicily offers a slower and more intimate kind of beauty surrounded by countryside and olive groves. Understanding the character of each place allows me to design weddings that feel natural to the setting and deeply personal to the couple…”
C&B: “Can you share 5 examples of venues that your company suggests to clients?”
DR: “Some of the iconic venues I can suggest include: Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel – Amalfi Coast. Caesar Augustus Hotel – Capri Island. Grand Hotel Cocumella – Sorrento. Villa Monastero – Lake Como. San Pietro Hotel – Tuscany. Each of these venues offers a different atmosphere but they all share the elegance, beauty and character that couples imagine when they dream about getting married in Italy…”
C&B: “How far in advance do clients need to book your service?”
DR: “Most couples contact me between 6 and 18 months before their wedding date. This is especially important for destinations like the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como or Tuscany where venues and key vendors book quickly during the wedding season. That said, I have also planned beautiful intimate weddings within shorter timeframes when couples are flexible with dates and location…”
C&B: “What kind of feedback do you generally receive from your clients?”
DR: “What I hear most often from couples is how calm they felt throughout the entire experience. Planning a wedding abroad can feel overwhelming at first, especially in Italy where there are language barriers, traditions and many details that are not always obvious from afar. Couples often tell me that having someone locally based who understands how things work here gave them real peace of mind. On the wedding day itself, many say they felt completely present in the moment. Instead of managing the day, they were able to simply experience it. Couples also tell me how personal everything felt. It wasn’t just a beautiful location — it was a real experience of Italy: the atmosphere, the food, the people and the feeling of celebrating somewhere truly special. Often they say the day felt almost cinematic, like stepping into the Italy they had always imagined…”
CONTACT: http://www.wedbydovile.com
