Wedding in Europe
Feb 28th, 2008 | 12:51 PM
#1
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Wedding in Europe
If you were planning a destination wedding in Europe, which city/area would you chose and why?
As luck would have it for my parents, their two daughters are getting married at the same time (relatively)... my sister wants the big, southern church wedding and has agreed to take that off of my hands... my boyfriend (it feels so weird calling him fiance!) and I want a destination wedding- we travel a lot, our friends all travel a lot, and we think it would just be a lot more fun! We've decided against the 'usual' Carribean wedding and are heavily leaning towards Europe in May 2009. Our first inclination was Prague- we both love Prague and we're there together last Christmas... however, we're afraid flying in and out of Prague may be more difficult for our guests. Now, we're leaning towards Tuscany- a lot of our guests, although frequent travelers have not "done" Italy and are very excited about the possibility of a great excuse to go to Italy... we thought flying in and out of Italy and traveling within Italy may be easier for our guests... what are your thoughts on destination places for a wedding in Europe???
Oh- and our wedding budget would be the same for a "well apportioned" wedding here (as in VERY nice, but not the same cost as a house)... also, travel costs are a consideration for our guests- as mentioned, they can all afford to travel and most do frequently, but we don't want anyone breaking the bank and we'd like to have all of our close friends at the wedding (we're guessing around 35 people)... Thanks!
As luck would have it for my parents, their two daughters are getting married at the same time (relatively)... my sister wants the big, southern church wedding and has agreed to take that off of my hands... my boyfriend (it feels so weird calling him fiance!) and I want a destination wedding- we travel a lot, our friends all travel a lot, and we think it would just be a lot more fun! We've decided against the 'usual' Carribean wedding and are heavily leaning towards Europe in May 2009. Our first inclination was Prague- we both love Prague and we're there together last Christmas... however, we're afraid flying in and out of Prague may be more difficult for our guests. Now, we're leaning towards Tuscany- a lot of our guests, although frequent travelers have not "done" Italy and are very excited about the possibility of a great excuse to go to Italy... we thought flying in and out of Italy and traveling within Italy may be easier for our guests... what are your thoughts on destination places for a wedding in Europe???
Oh- and our wedding budget would be the same for a "well apportioned" wedding here (as in VERY nice, but not the same cost as a house)... also, travel costs are a consideration for our guests- as mentioned, they can all afford to travel and most do frequently, but we don't want anyone breaking the bank and we'd like to have all of our close friends at the wedding (we're guessing around 35 people)... Thanks!
Feb 28th, 2008 | 12:55 PM
#2
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My friends got married last fall in the Loire Valley in France. It was a beautiful wedding. They rented out the entire chateau for the weekend and I think the whole place can sleep about 40 guests. It was one of the best weddings I've attended (well, next to my own wedding)!
http://www.chateaulabourdaisiere.com
BTW, it is fairly easy to get to from the US. What most guests did was fly into CDG, then either rent a car and drive down to the Loire Valley, or take TGV to Tours and then rent a car from there.
http://www.chateaulabourdaisiere.com
BTW, it is fairly easy to get to from the US. What most guests did was fly into CDG, then either rent a car and drive down to the Loire Valley, or take TGV to Tours and then rent a car from there.
Feb 28th, 2008 | 05:31 PM
#4
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Thanks for the recommendation of LaFoce- looks amazing and superbly located (near Siena, 1.5 hours to Florence and 2 hours to Rome)... I'll also have to check out the Loire Valley (to be honest, my travel in France-other than Paris- has been limited and it's definitely on my to-do list!)... we had been looking at Castello di Bibbione (in betweeen Florence and Siena)... does anyone have any advice about that? I just appreciate the recommendations- research on the internet is never the same as having personal suggestions and fodorites are the best source of information!
Feb 29th, 2008 | 09:04 AM
#5
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I think your first step is to find a first class wedding planer in Italy - who can help not only with the usual wedding details - but all of the official rigmarole related to getting married in Italy (official Italian translations of the documents proving that you are single, applying for licenses etc).
If you search below there is info on some planners that were used - or you could try theknot.com for info.
If you search below there is info on some planners that were used - or you could try theknot.com for info.
Feb 29th, 2008 | 09:26 AM
#6
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It isn't clear whether you are really expecting this to be a real, legal wedding or not.
Because if so, you'd better get clear on the legal requirements for foreigners to marry in various countries, in order to narrow your list.
For example, you cannot legally marry in France unless you are resident there over a month (40 days, I believe). SO that one is probably out. I think the Czech Republic is actually a very good idea because I think it is fairly easy for foreigners to get married there, legally. I mean you do have to have some local planner handling the various paperwork, etc., but I don't think there is any long residency requirement. I also think Americans can legally marry in Italy without too much hassle.
I think it would be very easy for guests to get to Prague, much easier than the Loire Valley, for example. In what way do you perceive it to be difficult to fly to Prague? Sure, there are few nonstop flights from the US (only NY, I think, maybe Chicago), but Prague is a very short distance from the airport, so once you get there, it is really easy. Lots of major airlines fly to Prague, at least most of them will have a codeshare to get there (probably on CSA) from their main hub city in Europe (eg, London or Paris or whatever).
For the Loire, you'd have to fly into Paris, and then get a train, probably rent a car, etc. IN any case, it will involve renting a car, most likely, and it's a lot more time-consuming, expensive and trouble than just flying into Prague, from my viewpoint.
There are plenty of websites to find a wedding planner and idea of costs once you figure out some of these issues (a real wedding or not, etc) like www.weddingsabroad.com
Because if so, you'd better get clear on the legal requirements for foreigners to marry in various countries, in order to narrow your list.
For example, you cannot legally marry in France unless you are resident there over a month (40 days, I believe). SO that one is probably out. I think the Czech Republic is actually a very good idea because I think it is fairly easy for foreigners to get married there, legally. I mean you do have to have some local planner handling the various paperwork, etc., but I don't think there is any long residency requirement. I also think Americans can legally marry in Italy without too much hassle.
I think it would be very easy for guests to get to Prague, much easier than the Loire Valley, for example. In what way do you perceive it to be difficult to fly to Prague? Sure, there are few nonstop flights from the US (only NY, I think, maybe Chicago), but Prague is a very short distance from the airport, so once you get there, it is really easy. Lots of major airlines fly to Prague, at least most of them will have a codeshare to get there (probably on CSA) from their main hub city in Europe (eg, London or Paris or whatever).
For the Loire, you'd have to fly into Paris, and then get a train, probably rent a car, etc. IN any case, it will involve renting a car, most likely, and it's a lot more time-consuming, expensive and trouble than just flying into Prague, from my viewpoint.
There are plenty of websites to find a wedding planner and idea of costs once you figure out some of these issues (a real wedding or not, etc) like www.weddingsabroad.com
Feb 29th, 2008 | 09:42 AM
#7
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Thanks for the advice, we had already decided that it would be easier to legally "get married" here, then have more of symbolic wedding/blessing abroad... avoid all the legal stuff (I'm even a lawyer, but I try to avoid the legal hassle as much as possible in my own life!)
Prague is definitely still on the list of possibilities- I've been several times and it is one of my favorite cities. However, I do love Florence and Tuscany too... hence, the dilemma. Also, I was hoping some readers had been to destination weddings in Europe and could share their thoughts on different places (in case I was over looking some fabulous gem of a place to have a wedding).
I appreciate all the thoughts and suggestions and I will definitely let you all know what the final plan is! Thanks!
Prague is definitely still on the list of possibilities- I've been several times and it is one of my favorite cities. However, I do love Florence and Tuscany too... hence, the dilemma. Also, I was hoping some readers had been to destination weddings in Europe and could share their thoughts on different places (in case I was over looking some fabulous gem of a place to have a wedding).
I appreciate all the thoughts and suggestions and I will definitely let you all know what the final plan is! Thanks!
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Feb 29th, 2008 | 10:34 AM
#8
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To answer Christina's point about getting married legally in France: My friends got married in the US and just did a ceremony/celebration at the Loire Valley. Sounds like that's what you're planning to do anyway, shormk2.
Another friend of mine got married in Tuscany, but we weren't invited, so I can't help in that aspect.
I wrote a trip report about my trip to the Loire Valley wedding here, here's the link in case you're interested:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35084833
Another friend of mine who also attended the Loire Valley wedding was so struck by how great is was, so she's planning her Sept 2008 wedding in France also! I'm not sure which part yet but I'll find out when I get the invite!
Another friend of mine got married in Tuscany, but we weren't invited, so I can't help in that aspect.
I wrote a trip report about my trip to the Loire Valley wedding here, here's the link in case you're interested:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35084833
Another friend of mine who also attended the Loire Valley wedding was so struck by how great is was, so she's planning her Sept 2008 wedding in France also! I'm not sure which part yet but I'll find out when I get the invite!
