SUMMER 2020 ISSUE
IWPA
INTERNATIONAL WEDDING PLANNERS ASSOCIATION
World of Weddings
Positano - Amalfi Coast www.andreagallucci.com
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World of Weddings 2020 - Summer
Content 04
Message from the President Suita Carrano Bonadies
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Something new: Weddings in the Land of Etruscan, Italy
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The day of coordination myth
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Real Planners, real weddings
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A wedding in Malta
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From London to Castello Zammitello - Malta
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Amalfi Coast Destination Photographer - Andrea Gallucci
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A huge Indian Wedding in Samode Palace, Jaipur, India
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Marcia e Attilio, a coffee farm wedding in Atibaia, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Wedding of Aline and Caio in Campos do Jordão, Brazil
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Street Wedding Photography
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The wedding of Amaya & Felipe in Dominican Republic
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How to choose your dream Destination by Rob Mc Kee
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I will marry you in Italy, the wedding of Thiago and Viviane in Assisi
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Enrico and Nata, a fairy tale from Belarus to Italy
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A wedding at home, the wedding of Umberto and Federica in Ravello
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Five things you should know by Bernadette Smith
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Italy WOW
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Karolina and Marcin, a lemon scented wedding in Ravello, Italy
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Villa Domizia – The other face of Tuscany, Italy
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Cantacuzino Castle, Carpathian Mountains, Romania
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Build Your Business Reputation in the Downtime, By Jennifer L. Horspool
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Tenuta Monacelle – the heart of Apulia, Italy
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Not the usual Lake Wedding
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Wedding Education by Rob Mc Kee
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Thank you for reading
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Message from Suita Carrano, IWPA International’ President
This edition of World of Weddings comes out, due to several reasons, with a delay of about three months, and in a particular historical moment, when the whole world is experiencing a situation of global instability due to Corona Virus (or COVID 19 ) that is reaping victims and killing the economy of many wedding destinations . An important moment in which anyone is showing solidarity and even the wedding pros of the world have a particular task: to psychologically support their customers. Because the task of the wedding planner is not limited to suggesting an attractive destination, or finding the best suppliers, or organizing a nice party where every guest can have a wow. The real task at this time of a wedding planner is to support the newlyweds who hire us for a memorable day. In this historic moment of grave importance, many colleagues in the world and myself are no longer just wedding planners, but advisers and friends ready to console international couples for a dream that may be delayed. The mission of IWPA is to support each and any wedding pros of the world, let’s be united, together we win. A message of hope: enjoy reading our real weddings, enjoy seeing the amazing photos of weddings in different destinations. All this will come back very soon. You are heartbroken now; you probably had to postpone or cancel your most important day of your life. Relax and breath. Soon you will be start planning a much nicer and we will welcome to feature your wedding on our magazine!
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Wedding in the Land of the Etruscans There is an enchanting region between Rome and Florence, which is well known as the Land of the Etruscans, especially driving North from Rome , in direction of Viterbo, the “Popes Town”, you’ll arrive in Tuscia. Tuscia is the northern part of Lazio, a territory that bounds with Tuscany, a land of woods, volcanic lakes, small villages with Castles and Medieval Fortresses, a territory still whole in its traditions, proud of its agriculture and above all still grounded with its glorious history, with its past full of Princes, Knights, Bandits, Saints and Popes . Every little village is a treasure of Culture, Art, but also of ancient Tastes and Flavors, suggestive atmospheres, uncontaminated environments preserved for centuries from any contamination. Well, it is here that I would like to bring you! Back to the past, a gorgeous nature, olive trees fields, vineyards scrolling down from the hills!
Here, in Tuscia, your dream wedding will be unique Let’s start our journey with two medieval villages, in northern Tuscia, Graffignano
The medieval Castle of Graffignano ( Built in a.d.1173 ), could be the perfect place for your civil ceremony. Entering through its wonderful door and bridge you may feel like Geneva at King Arthur’s Court….you may imagine knights and ladies are your guests and from the towers the sound of trumpeters and drummers will announce the Ceremony.
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A medieval banquet can be in the Piazza of the Castle, involving the old village, and will be the perfect setting
for your wedding reception.
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Moving to Sipicciano, another village, not far from the Castle of Graffignano, you’ll be in a different world, Villa Lais, built in the early 1700s, was commissioned and built by Bernardino Fabrucci, Villa Lais in Sipicciano is one of the excellence of Alta Tuscia. Villa and village outline an independent unique experience delivering in these times a different relationship between man and nature bringing us back a time when harmony, with all what surround us, represented the only chance of survival.
Villa Lais is the perfect location for your wedding! A delicious wedding reception could be wonderfully set up along the rows of olive trees. The abandoned village is such a memorable background for a country style banquet! The small and romantic Church, that is part of the estate, is ideal for your
religious ceremony You may even sleep at the Villa, enjoying the elegant apartment at the first floor
A fantastic breakfast will be served in the Liberty Glasshouse 8 World of the Weddings - Summer (noble floor), with frescoes ceilings, here you’ll appreciate landlord2020 style, a
We have so much here for you, little treasures that as still unknown and original. We have so much here for you, little treasures that as still unknown and original. From the country church hidden in the woods where locals used to go on Sunday for the mess and a picnic afterward, to farmhouses with chalets immersed in olive groves, with a splendid view on the beautiful hills and a little lake where the civil wedding can be celebrated.
And so much more for you to discover‌ I really wish to host you in this beautiful part of Italy! Unique is my Trademark! Gabriella’s Italy Maria Gabriella Santarelli Tour&Event Designer Wedding Travel Coordinator Mob: +39 3286552632 mgabriellasantarelli@pec.it World of Weddings 2020 - Summer
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The Day of coordination mith Managing your coordination.
wedding
day:
The
myth
behind
day-of-wedding
You’ve planned your wedding and it seems simple enough to hire a wedding professional for day-of-coordination to oversee your plans on your big day for a small fee? But the truth is, that service does not exist. Why wedding day coordination does not exist? Wedding planning can be very overwhelming at times so imagine entrusting your big day to someone who has only had 72 hours or a few days to prepare for one of the most important days of your life. Sounds crazy right? But that’s exactly what you would be doing if you invested in just a day-of coordinator. Aren’t there professionals offering this type of service? Yes! But managing the details of a wedding is no easy task and hiring someone one month or less before your wedding day leaves little to no time to ensure the success of your big day. Realistically, turning over your wedding plans to a professional in such a short space of time creates difficulties for problem solving or correcting mistakes if they should arise. In order to provide you with the highest level of service a wedding coordinator needs time, at least 60 to 90 days, to gather, research, and organize the information you are providing to them, so your wedding day can run smoothly. So why not consider wedding day management services. A perfect solution to your needs. 10
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What is wedding day management anyway? An event manager doesn’t plan your wedding. He/She is an experienced wedding planner that will manage your wedding day logistics and make sure that everything you’ve planned, runs smoothly. Services include but are not limited to reviewing venue and vendor contracts, creating timeline, recommending vendors, communicating with booked vendors, check-in wedding day vendors, coordinating ceremony and reception set-up, acting as liaison between you and venue coordinator, directing wedding party, assisting wedding guest, settingup some wedding decor and providing a wedding day emergency kit. A couple can enjoy planning their own wedding then hand it over to the professional for a seamless execution. I mean how cool would it be to plan your own wedding and have a professional by your side to answer all your logistical questions? I’d say pretty cool. I planned my own wedding. Do I really need an event manager? Do you want to be worried about all the things that have to be done on the wedding day or do you want to enjoy every second of seeing your vision come to fruition? Enjoy time with your partner, friends, and family. Have peace of mind knowing that you’ve hired someone to handle the stresses of the day. Sometimes price can be an issue or maybe the venue advises you not to get one because they provide a venue coordinator. Whatever the case you should always be very clear of what your needs are for your wedding day and how you expect them to be efficiently executed and find a professional that can live up to those expectations. How much will wedding day management services cost me? A big misconception is that hiring the “Day of Coordinator” is a cheaper substitution than hiring a full wedding planner but if you’re looking for quality, value and experience then the cheapest option is not the way to go. A wedding day manager plays a vital role in the wedding planning process far beyond just the day-of so setting aside 10 to 15 percent of your total wedding budget is a small price to pay to ensure you can truly enjoy every moment of your special day. A wedding planner or wedding coordinator may not be a choice for everyone and may not be a perfect fit for everyone’s budget but I truly believe that you should consider looking into it. You’ve done an amazing job planning your wedding, so you deserve a more thoughtful planning process with a professional that you’ve had a chance to get to know and trust. Why not save time, money, and reduce wedding day mishaps by hiring an experienced event manager. Abeki Carter, CWEP Chicoccasions Events www.chicoccasionsevents.com www.instagram.com/chic_occasionsnyc
Picture on left page Wedding in Ravello - Amalfi Coast www.andreagallucci.com World of Weddings 2020 - Summer
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"Real planners, real weddings "
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A wedding in Malta It was always their dream to get married in Europe, so what better place than the tiny island which enjoys 300 days of sun? The beautiful couple reached out to me with their ideas, and we made it happen. The couple decided to create the perfect blend of traditional and contemporary. Guests arrived in a lovely traditional van, painted blue- heads were turned as beautifully adorned guests arrived at Malta’s capital city, Valletta.
Mass was held in the majestic Santa Barbara church, right in one of Malta’s busiest areas Republic Street.
While people were strolling around to explore the densely historical area or enjoy lunch in the sun, they were lucky enough to witness a wedding happening right there. World of Weddings 2020 - Summer
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After the intimate ceremony when the couple exchanged their vows within the beautifully decorated church, guests and the couple enjoyed refreshing sparkling champagne right outside, as they celebrated their union among their family and friends.
The bridal party then held the reception in one of Malta’s oldest and stunning venues, Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar. The venue boasts wonderfully well manicured gardens, but the highlight of the palace is definitely the magnificent ballroom, richly painted in gold and beautiful classic designs. The couple was satisfied and definitely happy with the way their dream wedding became a reality.
Planner Helen Falzon Jewel Weddings 44, Triq Gorg Zammit, Attard Mobile: +356 79835246 Email: elnfalzon@gmail.com Email: info@jewelweddings.com
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From London to Castello Zammitello - Malta After receiving a sweet email from London, I knew this couple would love getting married in Malta, as they wanted. We met a few months before the big day and spent 5 hours visiting 10 venues. While cruising around the island looking at the different places available, the couple fell in love with a beautiful castle surrounded by greenery and situated in the Northern part of the Island, Castello Zammitello. Through Helen, managing director of Jewelweddings, the couple booked all of their suppliers as she gave numerous suggestions to ensure that their dream became a reality. Having friends all around the world, 91 guests easily flew in to Malta and basked in the sun as they arrived to celebrate this magical union.
It was a cloudless day as the bride walked down to the simple yet elegant ceremony area that had been set up within the same venue. Getting closer to the aisle in her mermaid tail wedding dress, the groom looked up and smiled, waiting in anticipation for one the best days of their lives to begin together.
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After the intimate ceremony, the couple and guests enjoyed a seated lunch outside and celebrated with laughter and love. By the evening, the wedding party was vibrant after the couple had their first dance under the brightly lit Castello. Guests joined in as fireworks brightened the sky, and then continued to dance the night away.
“Still reliving the day looking at all the photos - such an incredible wedding day for us. Thank you again for everything – all of your planning came together beautifully. We are so thrilled!” Planner Helen Falzon Jewel Weddings 44, Triq Gorg Zammit, Attard Mobile: +356 79835246 Email: elnfalzon@gmail.com Email: info@jewelweddings.com 16
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www.andreagallucci.com
Wedding in Positano - Amalfi Coast www.andreagallucci.com
“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” — Karl Lagerfeld
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Andrea Gallucci - Destination Photographer Ravello, Italy AMALFI COAST. Ravello is a destination of exquisite beauty that captured the hearts and minds of nobility in Roman times and continues to enthrall all who visit her today. She is filled with history and alive with culture, both ancient and contemporary.
Ravello is home to Andrea Gallucci, her native son, an artist who lives in harmony with his heritage and surroundings. Andrea has a deep appreciation of the unique characteristics of this spectacular location and understands that every picture taken, every stretch of video filmed and every word written should reflect your very own special experience. Andrea looks forward to serving as your personal photographer on the Amalfi Coast and specializes in all aspects of wedding photography, including proposals, engagements, wedding ceremonies/receptions, honeymoons, and media reporting. Andrea also specializes in family, individual and maternity portraits. Please contact Andrea directly www.andreagallucci.com Whatsapp & iMessage at +39 334 1870268
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Wedding in Positano - Amalfi Coast www.andreagallucci.com
A huge Indian Wedding in Samode Palace, Jaipur, India One of the weddings we have had the pleasure of planning was in Samode. With two hundred guests, the celebration was huge, grand, and came with its own set of complexities. The groom belonged to a royal family and was not ready to accept a wedding lesser than that of princes and princesses. We booked two magnificent properties, namely, Samode palace and Samode Bagh. These two venues exuded the charm of heritage palaces while ensuring that the guests enjoy a luxurious and comfortable stay.
The wedding was held over the span of three days and was jam-packed with scrumptious food and amazing entertainment. In the traditional Big Fat Indian Wedding style, these three days encompassed several events. renowned artists from Mumbai. That was it for day two, and day three was the big day.
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On the wedding day, the groom entered the venue on an elephant while the bride was carried in a Doli. The bride and the groom dreamt of feeling no less than Rajasthani royals on their big day, and we made sure that dream became a reality and more.
Gunjan Bansal L’Amore Weddings Sec-30, Gurgaon, Delhi, India Ph +91-1140601417 / +91-9910486868 gunjan@lamoreweddings.com
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Atrani - Amalfi Coast www.andreagallucci.com
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Marcia e Attilio, a coffee farm wedding - Brazil The first, but by no means least, wedding I did in my career as a wedding planner was my own wedding, of course. It was a destination wedding at an old coffee farm in the city of Atibaia, in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, considered by UNESCO to be the second city with the best climate in the world. In Brazilian terms, it was a mini wedding with 100 guests.
A civil ceremony was held, followed by an ecumenical blessing in the morning. Soon after, we had the reception lunch under tents in the gardens of the house, with live music till sunset, because it is a place with a lot of green, the colour chosen for the decoration was yellow. The bouquet was made with yellow lilies and golden rain orchids, with a touch of red astromeliads, a native flower. All arranged in a deconstructed design, which is now fashionable but not so common in 2011. For all the other decorations and flower arrangements, I chose sunflowers and bamboo. The cake table, one of the most important element in Brazilian weddings, followed the rustic tone of the farm, to enhance “bem-casados�, a traditional sweet in Brazil that is made of two halves of cake joined by dulce de leche.
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Every detail, from the wedding dress to the menu choice, was designed and planned by me. This opened my mind and soul to the work of wedding planner. After 25 years in law practice, I switched everything to the world of making dreams come true. As my first job in the wedding world, I encountered several obstacles, such as finding the right place for what my vision of the wedding was, and today with nearly 10 years of experience, would do a few things different. From the photos of my wedding are few but important things that made me understand what was not made carefully, like small details in the finishing of the decoration. Then a more aligned assembly and disassembly schedule and even a better planning of things during the party could have made. Overall, it was still an unforgettable day , amazing in many ways and with a sincere WOW factor. Photos: Cyndia M. Wedding Planner: Marcia Fasano Cerimonialista president of IWPA Brasil Sao Paulo – Brasil www.marciafasano.com marciafasano@gmail.com
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The Wedding of Aline and Caio in Campos do Jordão, Brasil. Campos do Jordão, in the Serra da Mantiqueira, was the scenario chosen for the wedding of Aline and Caio. Touristic city with Swiss-style buildings, in the interior of São Paulo, brought memories to the couple of the good times spent there with their friends.
The Chateau La Villette Inn was chosen for the party as it could host the guests while there was room for the religious ceremony and reception. The food was very good and was also a deciding factor in the choice. The most important thing for the bride and groom was to gather their loved ones and enjoy those moments watered with beer, made in the city itself.
During the ceremony, the music consisted on harp and voice, giving a special charm that matched the ambience of the mountains. After dinner, it was the DJ's turn to cheer up the dance floor.
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A very interesting detail of this particular wedding is that I met the bride on a flight from Sao Paulo to Munich while going to a wedding fair in Bologna. As I always talk about the passion for my work, I commented on marriages and exchanged contacts. After a few days, she called me, wanting to hire me to take care of all the details of her wedding day. Photos: Retrato AteliĂŞ Wedding Planner: Marcia Fasano Cerimonialista president of IWPA Brasil www.marciafasano.com marciafasano@gmail.com
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Ravello - Amalfi Coast www.andreagallucci.com
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Street Wedding Photography Hello from Matteo, Marco and Francesca-team SWP Photography. SWP was founded after years of experience, study and passion. We have compared ourselves to the rest to find something always more to offer. For us, it is not just photography but a story blended with our vision. Beauty is the freedom to be oneself, that’s why we love capturing your authentic, unique and spontaneous moves. This is how we tell your story. These are the moments we live for and know how valuable this is to you.
Truth, love and humor is what you will see in our photographs. We break the rules to make new ones. Everything is uniqely you.
Movement, fun, creativity: SWP is all this and much more As Ansel Adams sais, “you are not taking a picture with your camera, you are putting in that photograph all the images you saw, the books you read, the music you listened and people you loved. So, there is something about us in each photo, there is our being an eternal child, always curious and ready to marvel for what happens around us.:
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A photograph is not beautiful when it "shows" something, a photograph is beautiful when it "tell" somethings. www.streetwedding.it - info@streetwedding.it
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Destination Wedding of Amaya & Felipe On the 2nd of March 2019 Amaya and Felipe, a gorgeous couple with a magical connection, got married. The location they chose for their dream wedding is one of the most beautiful spots on the whole island of the Dominican Republic. The venue they decided on was a stunning beachfront villa in Las Terrenas, situated on the Samana peninsula in the north west of the island. The garden area of the villa was the center of the whole wedding. As the sun was setting, the ceremony took place in the beautiful tropical garden of the villa with incredible beach views. Amaya and Felipe wanted to celebrate their special day in the Dominican Republic, because Amaya has her roots there and so both have, a special connection to the country. To make sure everything will be set and organized on time they started planning their destination wedding almost two years in advance. Felipe is originally from Brazil, but both live in Canada. For their wedding, about 180 guests from all over the world flew in, in order to celebrate their big day together. Our tourism department took care of all the logistics, including flights, accommodation and transportation of the wedding guests, so that everyone arrived safely in the Dominican Republic. We, Dominican Expert, took care of the whole organization and coordination of their wedding to take the stress away from Amaya and Felipe, so that they could fully enjoy the most memorable day in their lives!
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One of the most important wishes of Amaya and Felipe was that within their whole wedding celebration both their cultures, Dominican and Brazilian, should be combined, especially in the wedding menu and entertainment. When it comes to the catering, MI CORAZON catering, in-house catering of Dominican Expert prepared a mixture of typical Dominican and Brazilian food combined in one menu, as well as a beautiful naked wedding cake and desserts. The wedding entertainment consisted of a Dominican live band, a saxophonist as well as one very typical form of entertainment here in the Dominican Republic, the “Hora Loca”, a Dominican and Brazilian carnival entertainment as an intermix of both their cultures. As we offer everything from one source, also all the vendors were hired and arranged by Dominican Expert.
Last but not least one of the most important parts of a wedding – the decoration theme.
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The overall theme they chose for their destination wedding was an elegant rustic dream.
The flower arrangements, including roses, were kept in elegant white with lots of greenery. Little details such as small greenery placed on each napkin together with wooden furniture, transparent plates, white and wooden decoration elements and candles completed the overall style. Lots of Tuscan lights illuminated the beautiful transparent tent, where all the wedding guests found their space for dinner and dancing! Everyone, especially Amaya and Felipe, were more than pleased with their destination wedding in the Dominican Republic!
DOMINICAN EXPERT Calle Las Mercedes 261 Santo Domingo, RepĂşblica Dominicana Office: +1 809 682 6307 Cel: +1 829 566 3311 (WhatsApp) E-Mail: michael@dominicanexpert.com Web: www.dominicanexpert.com
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Wedding in Assisi - Umbria - Italy www.andreagallucci.com
How to Choose your Dream Wedding Destination Focus on off the beaten paths, new destinations around the world
So you are from one part of the country and Mr. /Ms. Wonderful is from another, yet you met and currently reside in a city all your own? With family and friends scattered throughout so many different places, how do you decide on the perfect spot to host your nuptials? Recently I attended a wedding in a cold, dull city, I had to wear a suit and sit in a church on my day off. To say the least the drinks afterwards were the highlight of the occasion, at least for me. Yet, I had to pay for them and still, I had to buy airplane tickets so essentially, most weddings are “destination weddings” I could not stop thinking about another previous wedding in a warm beautiful beach in a location where we all did activities and tours together and a fun holiday was had for all. To this day we all remain close as families and friends. This is why I support a genuine destination wedding in a welcoming, memorable and unique locale, that is usually all-inclusive. According to old tradition, weddings typically are produced and take place in the hometown of the bride. But these days, the rules are constantly changing, and it has become increasingly popular for a couple to pick a destination of their choice. After all, this is about the two of you beginning your life's journey together, and what better way to start than in a place that is of unique interest to you both? A destination wedding is about carving out your own personal experience with your fiancé, and turning this into a launching pad for your marriage--while creating an unforgettable experience to share with all of the people you love the most. 36
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Here are some things to consider when deciding on the perfect spot to celebrate: 1) You're both majorly adventurous and want to create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests. For the most adventurous duos of all, a wedding is an excuse to go on another amazing thrill-seeking journey with all of their closest family and friends. These types of trips not only develop memories (and photos) that will last a lifetime—think of your group going on a Vespa trek on the Amalfi Coast, surfing in Brasil or Hawaii, exploring ancient sites in Turkey, partying and shopping in London, taking in the treasures of St Petersburg or exploring the exotic sights and cuisines of India. Why not have a traditional Indian wedding in India or Jewish wedding in Poland? Take a group cruise to see many different locations. IWPA planners are in all of these countries and have access to travel rates better than on line for your groups. 2) Who are your guests? What are their ages and interests, is it children, singles, seniors, colleagues...choose locations that can pander to not just interests but needs as well. Decide on locations that have activities, hotels, transportation, airport access, dining choices for all to ensure success. You may think it’s exciting and memorable to tie the knot on a Himalayan mountain but that may be a fail for value and access of your guests. With most destination weddings many of your guests will want to add-on or visit other nearby areas also so be sure the region offers more destination choices. 3) Consider that costs will be almost equal or better. The time and expense to travel to your hometown is often the same or less than to a dream destination especially when working with a planner that has air/hotel contracts and knows the local area. They may also get freebies like free reception or spa and dinners because of their leverage and relationships. Ask your planner for an RFP for the breakdown of a daily rate for you and your guests. Some venues will pay for the wedding couple with at least 20 guests. Also consider an “all-inclusive” option where food, drink, activities, lodging are in one bulk price up-front, no-one has to worry about grabbing the wallet every 2 hours. 4) If not inviting guests, consider the honeymoon in the same location. I had my wedding in Ravello Italy, we then toured Italy and Europe. This cut down on a lot of stress and cost for us and we were able to do the beach with a ski trip while visiting later with friends who live in Paris. We are quite active and we thought this was a much better honeymoon than sitting at a bar in front of a hotel on a tourist beach.
Rob McKee has been in the industry for 25+ years and has planned weddings and conventions from 2 to 100,00+ people. Having owned a destination wedding IATA certified travel agency and working corporate travel management for major Hollywood studios, he is a trusted player in negotiating contracts and maximizing commissions while delivering VIP service to his clients. He is also an accredited university teacher for those subjects. IWPA is delighted to have Mr. McKee as their USA regional president for 5 years now.
Picture on left page Wedding in Ravello - Amalfi Coast www.andreagallucci.com
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I will marry you only in Assisi! The wedding of Thiago and Viviane
Not the title of a film, but Thiago's proposal to Viviane that left no shadow of a doubt. Get ready now baby, a year will pass, maybe two or a few more, but our wedding will be celebrated in Italy. Viviane is not upset at all. Italy is her passion, she hasn't visited much and when the time to get organized is approaching she gets trilled and calls with my colleague-friend Marcia Fasano, a wedding planner in San Paolo (Brazil) to start the very first planning.
A beautiful, romantic and peaceful place: Assisi. A church dedicated to Lady Mary. A typical Umbrian cottage for a country chic theme Three details are enough to start with the design. Pretty busy days of phone calls and exchanges of emails between Rio De Janeiro-San Paolo and Ravello began; finally, I have exactly in mind what the girl is dreaming of and I start approaching a sort of project to show. The bride is not anxious, she has clear ideas and once I submit the very first project... OMG, she is amazed and approves 110%, but we are still 14 months away from the wedding, everything is fairly straightforward, but could also change on the way. Moreover, I have selected for them 6 potential locations to choose from, but we need the right one, so the future spouses start to plan to fly to Italy for a site inspection.
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June 2018 - I meet my couple at Rome airport and we start our tour at "the research of the ideal location". Between photos, videos and lots of laughter because I don't speak Brazilian and they don't speak English, our 4 days of inspection bring the wanted results. So I told the beautiful couple bye and see you in a year, we just have some details to finish. A year goes by quickly and our spouses return to Italy this time with my friend Marcia and after having completed the last formalities for a Legally Binding Catholic wedding we are ready for the big day. Meanwhile, the guests have also arrived and celebrations start, on a rainy day, with a welcome picnic at the Saio Winery. The weather seems to be against us until the very end.
It’s the wedding day and Thiago is freaking nervous. The couple followed the tradition and spent the night before the wedding in different rooms, so he hasn’t seen his fianceè for a while. Viviane is getting ready, she is beautiful already and the hairdresser is doing an amazing job with her hair and she seems to be calm.
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At the set time all the guests start making their way to the church, while Thiago gets a ride on the Ape Piaggio cabriolet. Soon the bride also reaches the Church and marriage ceremony starts with the voice of Alessandra Ceciarelli as a background for the celebration. As a surprise for the bride, we booked a carriage with two white horses. I was not aware that I was fulfilling a dream that she has had for her Quinceanera!!
Differently from other cultures, Brazilian weddings start with the first dance and so they did. Just after, the reception started, an amazing triumph of flavors of true Umbrian regional cuisine, with a "surprise" mozzarella show, made on the spot by Biagio Staiano who came directly from Ravello (Amalfi Coast) and ending with a 3 tiers Wedding cake.
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Lola Swing Band was the perfect music choice for this wedding and the group made the wedding party dance all night long.
All in all a perfect wedding, and since we are blessed, so not even a single drop of rain for all day and night!
Nude look wooden table with tablescape made with white crochet runner, baroque golden vases with white and burgundy seasonal flowers and olive branches. Plates and glasses in color scale from green to burgundy and goldplated cutlery. Place cards: a St Francis wooden magnet with a spring of lavender. Wedding favours, small bottles of Olive Oil with a sacket of almond confetti. Wedding Planner Italian part - Suita Carrano Sposa Mediterranea Prestige & Luxury weddings - www.prestigeweddings.it Brasilian part – Marcia Fasano, Cerimonialista - www.marciafasano.com
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But all this has been possible only thanks to the support of an amazing team! Photo: Andrea Gallucci Photographer - www.andreagallucci.com Video: Luigi Castagna and Madalina Ababei - www.luigicastagna.com Stationery and photo booth design: Monie Graphic - instagram.com/moniegraphic Hair and Makeup: Fabio D - www.facebook.com/fabio.parrucchiere Venue: Ristorante Carfagna Assisi - www.facebook.com/pg/ristorantecarfagna Mozzarella Live show: Biagio Staiano - www.caseificioravello.it Music: Alessandra Ceciarelli and Lola Swing Italiano - www.lolaswingitaliano.it Florals: Pianeta Verde Assisi - facebook.com/Pianeta-Verde-Garden-503364356540869/ Lavender Fields - Il Lavandeto di Assisi - www.illavandetodiassisi.com/ Favours - Cantina Saio - www.saioassisi.it/ White Horses Carriage – Christian “Il Vetturino di Assisi” www.vetturinoassisi5.webnode.it
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Enrico and Nata wedding in Ravello Amalfi Coast - Italy
What happens when you send on a holiday abroad a handsome single friend in his 40th ? We hadn't thought about it, but for Enrico first trip has been fatal ... Back in Italy, in his city close to Salerno, we discovered that the handsome Enrico had been struck by a sweet girl from Belarus and had begun to dream of leaving his position of being single to date Nata. After months of emails, whatsapp messages and international calls, Enrico starts travelling back and forth from Italy to Belarus trying to convince Nata to become his wife and move to Italy. One turn of a year, our couple officially gets engaged and starts talking about marriage. All homemade! Enrico is a music teacher, excellent violinist and works in the wedding business; his close friends, including me, also work in weddings, so the organization is fully booked and ready to plan what for us is the “wedding of the century� as we never expected him to find his soulmate. So we start the planning for them and in 6 months they are ready to walk down the aisle.
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After a touching ceremony in the church, the newlyweds and guests reached Ravello for the photo shoot. The day continued with the reception at the Hotel Bonadies in Ravello where, on the magnificent terraces, the spouses also ventured into their first dance as husband and wife while enjoying fireworks. A magnificent day that we have built with team spirit and passion for this beautiful profession.
Wedding Planners Suita Carrano – Sposa Mediterranea Prestige & Luxury Weddings www. prestigeweddings.it Nata Rapoport - Свадьба в Италии - Sposa Mediterranea Group www.facebook.com/svadba.v.italii.amalfi Venue - Hotel Bonadies – Ravello – Italy www.hotelbonadies.it
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A wedding at home
The wedding of Umberto & Federica Umberto and Federica dated for 6 years before he finally proposed on the wonderful coast of Sharm el Sheik, while on holiday. Once back to Italy they informed the family and decided on the date of the wedding, one year after. A story similar to any other couple with the difference that Umberto is the son of a wedding planner and Federica is a junior wedding planner. Yes, Umberto is my son and at that time I was training Federica to become a wedding planner, and for that year we had already 40 weddings booked‌ Anyway, I couldn’t tell my son I was unavailable and started to re-plan my agenda. The one-year planning went as smooth as possible, I tried to give them as much time as possible and since the wedding was in our city Ravello we could hire all our regular suppliers and of course, we decided to host the reception in our family hotel Bonadies. Hotel Bonadies is a 4 stars hotel in the lovely piazza Fontana Moresca that had just been paved and closed to traffic. The hotel features also 3 lovely terraces with sea view and the couple decided to use all of the 3; one for the starters buffet and the other two for the seated meal. Since I was super busy planning 40 weddings in the year, and Federica was due to work with me, we decided to have each of us a role in the planning; all in all, we are three people doing the same job as Umberto is the restaurant and banqueting manager at the hotel.
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I was in charge of the design of the reception and supervise all suppliers; Federica was in charge of the design of the church, stationery and favors; Umberto was in charge of cooking orange marmalade for the favors, the menu and to DIY some decorations we needed and the photobooth. We tried to tie the guest list as much as possible to stay in 150 because of space, but we couldn’t figure out who not to invite (Italians DO love wedding invitations…), so we finally decided to do a day-long wedding.
Church wedding at 11.30 (I was told it was 11 am as my son was sure I would have been late…), lunch reception for 150 till 7 pm; buffet dinner reception for 100 more and after-party. Our family is huge and living in different regions, few very close friends arrived from the USA, Turkey, UK, Lithuania so most of them arrived one day before the wedding and we enjoyed a pizza dinner with them in a restaurant in town.
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The day of the wedding finally arrived. I had shopped for myself only two weeks before the wedding, but my dress was completely matching the pink shade of the mood board and I was so thrilled that my son was getting married. We walked to the church with our guests and waited for the bride to arrive. Five friends and colleague wedding planners at the same time were supervising all the little details that we had planned for the wedding.
I never cry at weddings, it’s my profession, but when I saw Federica walking down the aisle with his father, I could hardly recognize her. I was aware of the dress because I had shopped with her and her mum for the wedding dress, but she looked so shining and I started to feel the tears.
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After the ceremony, they went for the photoshoot while we all reached the hotel’s square for a champagne aperitif and waited for the newlywed to join us on the upper terrace. The starters buffet was a clear representation of our origins with food coming from 3 different Italian regions. Fish counter to represent Campania, cured meat and porchetta counter for Umbria my mum’s region, a great selection of cheese and traditional products for Abruzzo for my husband region. Even it was September 17th, the day was warm and staying on the terrace was more than pleasant. The band played evergreen and just before the wedding cake the bride and groom did their first dance. As soon as it started to get dark, and most of the guests were gone, we moved to the banquet room to welcome the guests invited for the evening reception and we kept dancing till 2 am. A long and tiring day, full of emotion and love and indeed one of the most amazing days of my life. Suita Carrano
Thanks to Michelle, Olga, Agnese, Tonina, Basak, Malafronte Flower Designer, Allestimenti Le Rose, Roberta Nastro & band, Nakutis Photography, Syker Video Creator
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5 Easy Tips to Attract More LGBTQ Couples to Your Wedding Business Did you know that same-sex couples in Italy can have a civil union – almost the legal equivalent of marriage? Nearly 30 countries around the world have marriage rights for same-sex couples. Marriage equality not only brings great news for society and equality, but tremendous opportunity for your business. According to NerdWallet, the projected benefit is upwards of 2.5 billion dollars per year for the wedding and travel industry in the United States alone. But perhaps more exciting, same-sex weddings often bring new energy and a fresh perspective to your business. As you start to reach out to this market, there are some very important things to keep in mind that will help you be successful reaching engaged same-sex couples. Here are 5 marketing and customer service tips to ensure your wedding business is ready to attract these joyful same-sex couples!
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1. Same-sex couples want to feel included and represented. Examine your marketing materials, contact form, wedding planner worksheet/timeline and contract to see if you reference the terms “bride and groom.” Substitute genderneutral alternatives throughout. 2. Are all of the photos in your portfolio of only brides and grooms paired together? Find photos that are more inclusive and use some of those instead, such as the bride by herself or the groom by himself, which are more ambiguous. If you don’t have these photos (and aren’t a wedding photographer!), consider buying stock photos. 3. Review your scripts for wedding inquiries. If a female calls or emails about her wedding plans, do your scripts and email templates assume it’s a straight couple and does your associate ask the name of the groom? If so, update the scripts and email templates with gender-neutral language so you don’t accidentally offend a potential couple! 4. Identify a local gay and lesbian charity in your area. Consider volunteering, donating, or otherwise getting involved so that you can connect with more gay and lesbian people who could even be potential clients. 5. Make a list of LGBT-friendly wedding professionals in your service area that you are 100% confident will treat your clients with respect, and consider this your new LGBT wedding referral list (and hopefully one you’ll use for ALL weddings). Remember, whether your client is straight or gay, you are your client’s advocates! It’s your job to look out for their best interest. Same-sex couples have to come out when planning their wedding, over and over again – to the vendors they hire and the vendors they don’t. Bernadette Smith For even more great advice, check out our social media tip sheet, “5 Things You Can Do Today on Social Media to Attract More LGBT Wedding Clients” at www.GayWeddingInstitute.com/5
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ItalyWow is an innovative project, the design of an application for smartphones that aims to revolutionize the world of travel in and to Italy and, in particular, the approach of the traveler in the choice of destinations. ITALYWOW in fact puts the travel experience first, no longer the destination. Travellers can build an ideal itinerary according to their preferences and the experiences they want to live in Italy, whether they want to sleep in a tree, take a bike ride in the Tuscan hills, or taste the best Italian wines in the many wineries of the area: Art & Music, Sport & Enjoy, Food & Wine, Unforgettable , Shopping, Wellness and a special section dedicated to Wedding. This last experience deserves to be deepened: Italy is one of the favourite destinations for foreign couples who want to get married in a country other than their own. So if you have decided to get married in Italy and at the same time you want to live the most beautiful experiences of our country ITALYWOW is the perfect solution for you. You will find in one app everything you need to organize your wedding in Italy. If you are a foreign Wedding Planner you can still rely on us to find more easily the services you want to propose to your spouses.
At the moment ITALYWOW is the only web application that offer travel experiences even to those who want to get married in Italy. www.italywow.app
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A lemon scented wedding in Ravello The wedding of Karolina and Marcin
Karolina and Marcin started planning their destination wedding only 10 months in advance. Being Polish and wanted to celebrate in Italy they did not feel the rush of starting to early, so when they contacted Marlgorzata (Gosia for friends or Margherita for the Italians, Mag for us), specially the bride already had a complete vision of the wedding. The couple were already in love with the Amalfi Coast and had put an eye on Ravello. Mag sent few proposals, and luckily Karolina prompted accepted. Both bride and groom come from a very wealthy family, and they both are multinational Managers in Poland, they wanted to spend money for their wedding, but in a clever way to enhance all what possible. Conversation with Karolina was quite on a daily base, Mag was her perfect wedding planner, sometimes like a sister to give suggestions and to share any doubts or concerns, in short, a relationship of trust as it must be between a professional and a client as important as a bride. We know that brides often panic about perfection, and sometimes go overboard, but it's quite normal, especially when you dream of this day since you were born.
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Karolina and Marcin’s vision were to celebrate feeling the real sense of the Amalfi Coast, living like locals and smell the flavours of lemons. Being Catholic, the ceremony took place in a Romanic church, completely decorated with lemon trees and white draps, close to the venue, a short walk to make the stress flow down before starting the most important day of their life. After a little walk in town, the couple and all the guests arrived at Hotel Bonadies, whose terraces are blooming of greens and lemon trees in September. The dÊcor of the reception still followed the main subject of the design, so lemons decorations instead of flowers. To incorporate the Polish traditions into the Italian wedding the menu was added of a soup, very unusual for Italians, and vodka on each table, still unusual, but once you work on destination weddings you do all what your clients deserve. We added a little gift to this lovely couple, and they enjoyed a Mozzarella class as they arrived on the terrace
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Our suppliers made the best to assist Mag and myself to take the wedding up to perfection but, unfortunately, the DJ made a mistake on the entrance song and for a little while we all really panicked … but the bride and groom were already so happy that even didn’t notice and the reception and party afterwards completely full filled their expectations.
Wedding Planners Malgorzata Ewa Mikrut Polski ślub we Włoszech - Sposa Mediterranea Group slubwewloszech.webnode.it Suita Carrano – Sposa Mediterranea Prestige & Luxury weddings www. prestigeweddings.it Photo Tomasz Zukowski Hello Wedding Photographer www. weddingphotographer.photos Venue – Hotel Bonadies Ravello - www.hotelbonadies.it Mozzarella Live show- Biagio Staiano - www.caseificioravello.it
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The other face of Tuscany Villa Domizia
Still talking about undiscovered treasures, the seaside of Tuscany is still out of mass tourism and offers amazing scenarios to die for. The 4-star Hotel Villa Domizia is located on the seaside of Porto Santo Stefano, on Mount Argentario, Tuscany: an enchanting location with a superb sea view. A large terrace, the garden and the private beach are the perfect places to relax at any time of the day. A unique location, where the deep shades of blue of the sky and the sea blend with the green of the Mediterranean vegetation that surrounds the hotel, a perfect venue for those looking for a beach wedding completed by an exceptional reception dinner. Dashes of colour, impressionist-like brushstrokes create the exclusive environment of Restaurant "Gourmet Con Gusto" and offer an unforgettable experience. The restaurant experience, will take you on a trip to discover the magic of Maremma with fine food, excellent wines and an evocative setting with breathtaking views. Villa Domizia has 34 rooms (3 Suites and 3 Junior Suites) furnished with taste and equipped with every comfort: mini-bar, private bathroom with shower, automatic air conditioning, direct telephone line, 24 h reception service, colour TV, free wi-fi and safe-box. Website http://www.villadomizia.it/ info at info@villadomizia.it
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Traveling East
Cantacuzino Castle, Carpathian Mountains Destination Wedding Romania is a boutique agency that caters to your dreams and creates an authentic space for your celebrations. Our team is animated by passion, and dedicated to the highest standards of work and ethics. We trust excellence is in details, and we are present, from planning to implementation, to make sure your event is unique and inspiring, completely stress-free and joy-full. We specialize in organizing intimate weddings, and other bespoken events abroad. The girls in our team, Elena and Andreea, have an endless passion for travel and have been growing in the tourism industry for the last 15 years. Knowing the inside - out of this industry, they are experts in organizing any type of events, with a special love and dedication for destination weddings. On the Romanian market they are the only planners specialized in destination weddings. Even though they are organizing weddings all over the world, their favourite destination is by far their home country Romania. Situated where the East meets the West, Romania offers enchanting sites, with inspiring cultural cocktails that blend Oriental poetics, French sophistication, medieval thrill and contemporary aesthetics. When providing our selected list of venues and contractors, we bet on authenticity, elegance and impeccable service. From the Transylvanian medieval castles, to the charms of the South, we can assist you in finding your own wonderland. They always feel honoured to be part of these special moments in a couple’s life! Their inspiration comes from the genuine emotions of love, beauty, happiness, excitement and gratitude that each couple shares with them.
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Elena is a creative manager, with an aesthetic sensitivity and lots of joviality. She considers destination weddings one of the most beautiful experiences from the travel industry, and she is dedicated to offering excellence in action. Her extensive experience in travel, event planning and management make Elena a smooth solution provider. Passion for life at its best, and celebration entice all collaboration, letting room for fine human experiences to develop beyond business. Andreea, always with a smile and an enhanced sense for precision, she works with you to the finest detail of completion. Her relaxed and friendly attitude creates the space conducive for a dialogue where your ideas are developed to their best. Her experience in travel, communication and e-creative industries, make Andreea a Jack of many trades, ready to consult, assist and implement with efficiency and a sense of beauty. She believes destination weddings are affairs of both mind & heart, so she lives with excitement every encounter with the clients, and every event organized. For this issue of the magazine they decided to show their contemporary twist to a classical fairy-tale wedding in a castle. With an endless quest for intimacy and elegance, Elena and Andreea have scouted around Romania in search for those authentic places where unique celebrations can be created.
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For this special photo shooting they chose the Cantacuzino Castle, set at the foot of the mystical Carpathian Mountains, in a rural Romania that still recalls the medieval charms. The serene panoramic view from the main balcony made them to instantly fall in love with this venue. Elena said: "We thought: what can be more romantic than celebrating your love surrounded by majestic mountains, in a 1900 castle? And we want4-ed to show that to the world!” The focal point of the shoot was the balcony of the castle, with view of Caraiman peak. In notes of pink and burgundy, with hints of green, and copper, the styling calls for poetry and the abundance of autumn; the stone columns have been dressed in floral arrangements, to resonate with the landscape and create that out-of-a-fairytale frame for the couple.
The models are both professional ballet dancers and their elegance and expression is calling for the creative spirit that naturally unfolds in all love stories. Elena shares: “Our goal was to inspire brides who would love a castle wedding but aren’t sure if it’s the right fit for them, or if they can afford it. The raw beauty of a castle can also be used in your favour to help you reduce costs.”
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“The inspiration behind the colour palette was to showcase that a castle wedding doesn’t necessarily have to be dark and classic. Our photographer, Ioana Porav and our florist, Elena Bodea, did an amazing job at brightening up the castle with bold colors and soft lights. We share a love for rich, vibrant colours and it was fun to incorporate them in a sophisticated and romantic venue”, Andreea shares. If your dream wedding is a well written fairy-tale wedding in a majestic castle, your wishes can easily come true on the magic lands of Romania. We pride ourselves to be carefully selecting vendors and working only with top suppliers from Romania. Wedding agency: Destination Wedding Romania Elena Neagu - Destination Wedding Specialist Tel: +40726109644 E-mail: ido@destinationwedding.ro Andreea Orza - Event planner Tel: +40730116679 E-mail: ido@destinationwedding.ro Venue: Cantacuzino Castle Photography: Ioana Porav Videography: Vasile Porav Florals: Las Floristas Makeup: Anca Serotencu Make Up Models: Cristina Babalac + Stefu Robert Bridal Sleepwear: Martely Bridal Robe: Le Cose Animate Dresses: Innocenti Sposa + Lucia Rosca Groom Suit: Tudor Tailor Hair Jewelry: Magnolia Atelier Stationery: Invogue Art
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Build Your Business Reputation in the Downtime Now is the perfect time to devote to your brand. We’re all in quarantine around the world. It might look like free time, but this is the most important time of all to devote to your business and building your brand. Your brand is what people say about you behind your back. It is what people think about you and your products and services. It’s how they see you, hear you, experience you, and feel about you. And that last one; that’s the most important of all because it determines whether they will buy from you. Create your brand on purpose, and your business will soar. Here’s how: Step 1: Define your ideal bride. This is the one who loves the work you do. This bride / bridal party will buy from you all day long. What does this bride look like? Act like? Sound like? Smell like? What kind of car does this bride typically drive? Where does she live? What types of things does she appreciate? The more laser-focused you are on your ideal client, the better you can become known as their go-to resource for your expertise. The riches are in the niches. The more you pay attention to their nuances, the better you can speak to the things they care about most when it comes to your expertise. Step 2: Make list of the things your ideal brides care about most and in the column next to it, write down how you solve those pains. Step 3: In the next column, write a list of your unique identifiers. What makes you better than the others? Why should this ideal bride and groom choose your products 62
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Step 4: Write a list of topics every bride and groom should know about your industry, your type of product, your type of service. Include topics where you find yourself saying, “If only brides would…” or “if only mother’s of the brides knew…” or “If only grooms…” or “if only ______” fill in the blank. These are all things you can write about and share your expertise. Don’t limit your list. Go big. Step 5: Make a list of media outlets where you can share your expertise. Think magazines, blogs, podcasts, TV shows, radio shows, newspapers, social media groups, and your own social media channel. Step 6: Research reporters, news directors and show producers. Write down specific people’s names and contact information at each media outlet who cover the topics you want to talk about. You should be able to find most of this on the web. Step 7: Rank your topics according to what’s going on in the world and which media outlets you think you can get published in first. Bigger names will publish you once you’ve proven your value. Step 8: Write an intro letter—also known as a pitch letter—to one person / outlet at a time, following this formula, a.Catchy industry-related opening: i. “Worst mistakes wedding photographers make that anger brides around the world.” “Ten tips to get the wedding photos of your dreams.” “Perfect family photo tips for families who don’t get along.” These, and dozens of other topics and angles are some of the ways I can serve as a resource to you whenever you’re writing about wedding photos. (or doing a show on weddings) b.Introduce yourself: i. I’ve been in the wedding photography business for more than a decade. I’ve seen it all and I can help you write articles that brides will devour and come running back for more. c.Share your website and contact information: i. Please keep me in your list of top contacts for any stories you’re writing (producing) about wedding photography. If I can’t get you the answers you need, I’m sure I know someone who can. d.Conclude with your signature, email address, phone number, website, and a list of a few other topics of your expertise that are related to topics covered by the media outlet. Your reputation is built on a consistent flow of information to the people paying attention to your brand. Feed them snippets of your expertise and they’ll see you as the expert in that area. About the author Jennifer L. Horspool is the founder of Engagement PR & Marketing. She’s been building and protecting brands, and turning brands into the go-to media resource for more than 25 years.
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Tenuta Monacelle Tenuta Monacelle is located in a peaceful, rural area on the outskirts of Selva di Fasano. A set of cone-roofed “Trullo” houses and tufa-stone “Masseria” villas, surrounded by pines, gardens and orchards, situated on a hilly ridge 400 metres above sea level. Originally a convent dated 1790, the old burg consists of a cluster of 28 trulli, where the Benedictine nuns used to perform their daily rural routine. The old kitchen of the monastery and the stable have been converted in one of the most characteristic restaurants in the area.
Not far from the trulli village, six white buildings called Masseria (Italian for “country house”) were built on the ruins of old houses. Each masseria has a number of modern bedrooms equipped with air conditioning and central heating, mini-bar, LCD TV set, direct telephone, hair - drier, safe and satellite channels.
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Not to miss is a visit at “Il Ciliegeto”, the restaurant of the resort, where refined and typical Apulian dishes are prepared by a professional and friendly staff. Legally binding Civil weddings can be celebrated inside the resort, under the secular pines, while the reception can be hosted, in summer time, either on the terrace overlooking the cherry garden or by the swimming pool. Tenuta Monacelle, surrounded by some of the most interesting places in central Apulia, such as the world’s trulli capital of Alberobello, the “wine” area of Locorotondo, Monopoli with its wonderful baroque architecture, Ostuni, also called “the white city”, the coastal strip by the Adriatic Sea and the caves of Castellana Grotte, is the ideal destination either for a rural retreat and for a romantic wedding weekend. www.tenutamonacelle.com info@tenutamonacelle.it
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Not the usual Lake Wedding!
When talking about Italian Lakes, your mind will immediately go on Lake Como and Lake Garda. Few more lakes are set in the north and central Italy and these are all enchanting. One that we definitely love is Lake Orta, the most romantic lake in Europe as described by the Telegraph. One of the city on the lake, Orta San Giulio, is a favourite place for romantic souls, the village is a maze of picturesque streets and narrow cobbled lanes, flanked by old stone walls with doorways topped with triangular architraves. The little squares, reminiscent of the campielli of Venice, are enlivened by the presence of craft boutiques, antique shops and lively cafĂŠs. There is a splendid view of Lake Orta from the 15th century Church of Maria Assunta, a favourite for weddings, from where a flight of broad granite steps leads to Piazza Motta, the main square of the village.
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You walk down between two rows of houses frescoed in the 16th century to arrive in the square with the 16th century Palazzo della Comunità (Town Hall), from which two side streets go off leading to Moccarolo and Villa. These are a few of the reasons why Christina and Tommaso decided to tie the knot here with a symbolic wedding aboard the cruising ship Ortensia, all decorated on Union Jack wedding theme to honour of the British origins of the bride. At 5pm the cruising ship Ortensia leaves the small pier of Orta for a short cruise with a stop just for the time to celebrate the wedding in front of the whole island of San Giulio, and just after a sail along the lake for the photoshoot. They took a few pictures with a stunning sunset then it was time to reach the reception venue, the San Rocco hotel, for the reception dinner in the gardens by the lake. The evening goes smoothly with great traditional Italian food and a live band to make all guests dance till the cut of the cake when fireworks close dthis extraordinary day.
Omnia Wedding created this event with the cooperation of Fioridea for decorations and flowers Navigazione del Lago d'Orta for Ortensia motor ship, photographers Giacomini and Tanopress hotel San Rocco GFG for the fireworks Christina Peuto “Omnia Wedding Orta” http://www.omniawedding.com/ email omnia.wedding.orta@gmail.com tel +393477637014
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Wedding of Karolina and Marcin
Wedding Education These days, continuing education isn’t optional for wedding and event planners. It’s a necessity to keep up with changes in almost every area of planning. Planning a wedding can either be a dream come true, a horror story or sadly, both. And this is precisely why people hire wedding planners to handle all the little details and headaches that are sure to come up when planning the most special day of their lives But even a seasoned planner needs to routinely seek out new knowledge and perspectives about how to organize events more effectively and efficiently. In fact, IWPA feels so strongly about the role continuing education plays for planners that they lead peer-learning programs within their regional chapters. The reason? Weddings are an incredible investment of money and time, and a planner’s risks are high in terms of money, liability, trends, partnerships and safety. Continuing education is about professional growth and your long-term career—but it is just as much about showing the value you can provide in tangible ways and bringing ROI to your organization. Novice and experienced planners alike should take action on a regular basis to learn more about the various aspects of their work—some of which change constantly. Many planners are seeking new ideas that keep attendees engaged. Another topic that’s constantly evolving is social media strategies to enhance the effectiveness events. Many do not know how to add revenue with travel partnerships and best ways to maximize commissions, group management, FAM trips and contracts.
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We even taught new skills during a fam trip that offered an educational session for 75 planners to discover how to use Snapchat for building engagement throughout a destination wedding. For those who wish to pursue a career in wedding planning, they should take a course from a legitimate organization. IWPA is governed by wedding planners and outlines several beliefs about the profession: • Wedding planning needs to be done by trained and certified professionals. • Better public awareness must exist to explain the difference between a certified wedding planner and those without training or certification. • Ongoing education and networking for certified wedding planners are needed. • Niche opportunities like destination weddings and LGBT require special training We have seen our IWPA graduates immediately increase their annual revenues by 20% and substantial additional market share. Depending on the size of their business, that equals $5-120,000 more per year in profitswell worth the educational investment! What you get: • Certification and licensing /Resume • Marketing Skills • Planning Software Knowledge • Do’s and Don’ts • Travel Planning and Negotiating • Tips and Ideas • Social Media for Events • Basic Business Skills • Work with Industry Leaders • Expanded Presence • Increased Reputation and Income • Much, much, more Why me? Many experienced professionals enroll in certificate programs. Some reasons include the fact that they worked their way up in the industry, and have the experience, but they want that ‘piece of paper’ for their resume. Also, many people with Bachelor’s degrees did not major in hospitality or events, so while they have a degree, which can indicate that they are intelligent, they have no relevant education for our industry. Conclusion: No matter where you are in your career, quality certification and training programs can be a major boost, positioning you as a knowledgeable, professional and highly committed planner. You’re positioning yourself for success now and in the future. By honing your skills, networking with other pros and gaining valuable industry insights and tactics you’re making yourself not just more marketable but, also, more adept at tackling the unique challenges event planners face day after day. Rob McKee has been in the industry for 25+ years and has planned weddings and conventions from 2 to 100,00+ people. Having owned a destination wedding IATA certified travel agency and working corporate travel management for major Hollywood studios, he is a trusted player in negotiating contracts and maximizing commissions while delivering VIP service to his clients. He is also an accredited university teacher for those subjects. IWPA is delighted to have Mr. McKee as their USA regional president for 5 years now.
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IWPA International Wedding Planners Association is a no-profit association devoted to the development of the wedding tourism and promote themselves globally. With 15 chapters, IWPA covers the nicest destination of the world. IWPA is all his associates. Each associate has a voice and we all work together on a common project of ethical, not discriminatory and sustainable wedding tourism. Our greatest strength are our associates, IWPA family. Thanks to the ones how took the time to make this magazine so nice and thanks to the others who supported with their suggestions. We love you!
Basak Tuysuz Bozdag Gunjan Bansal Editor-in-chief: Robert McKee Marcia Fasano "Jessica" Lijun Wang Olga Rauskaskiene "David" Jian Jun Lin "David" Cheung Richard Lee Bianca Trusiani Federica Manzi Lucia Scipoli Angelo Garini Abeki Carter Mara Carrano Bonadies Michele Amato Umberto Gallucci Giuseppe Carrano Bonadies Nahid Farhoud Becky Prichard Andrea Gallucci Tomasz Zukowski Jatender Heer
Michelle Turner Sharon Ridley Smith Malgorzata Ewa Mikrut Teresa Bentini Hashimoto Takara Aarti Matoo Patrizia Allara Rajanikant Kumar Nata Rapoport Dominique Beyeler Maria Giovanna Iasevoli Silvia Mandara Veronica Lauritano Albert Yang Mario Feliciello Lisa Linnea Holmgren Rosa Pauli Francesca Casamento Sandra Krauser Helena Falzon Elena Negau Christina Peuto and all the others
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Planning your destination wedding & honeymoon made easy, the utimate booking engine made with love by real Destination Wedding Planners www.weddingsmap.com
