Would you go to a destination wedding in Italy?

[Camde]

We’re looking at potentially having a wedding in a villa in Italy.

Accomodation would be included, so people would just have to pay for flights.

Will people resent us, or would you be happy to do a weekend in Italy for a wedding?

I probably would, but then I love Italy, can afford it and have kids who are old enough to leave at home.

The key thing is, think about the needs of who you are inviting. It's not going to work if you have people you really want to be there who are struggling financially or have school age kids (or small kids who aren't on the guest list). It sounds like it's quite a small wedding if you are paying for accommodation, so I expect you're in the clear, but just be sure it's feasible for everyone.

Don't go for a weekend then, plan a holiday/ travel around it.

I'd go to a destination wedding if it was one of my own children getting married or it was in a place I wanted to go to at a time I wanted to go.

I’d love it in theory, but would only sacrifice the money, time and annual leave for a sibling or a very close friend. For anyone else it would be a burden.

I’ve been to a wedding in Italy, Lake Como, was incredible. I didn’t know I could drink that much Prosecco! Also fell out with an old friend over a wedding in very expensive part of Italy. I said I would go after checking hotel prices, then when I went to book I realised the price I’d seen was per night, and it was all way out of my budget.

Go to Italy, have a great time, but if there are particular people you just couldn’t have the wedding without, talk to them first and make sure they are on board. Give as much notice as you can. Then be prepared to accept some people won’t come.

if accommodation is included I think you are taking care of a big part of that so hopefully that will make it a lot easier for your guests!

That assumes I can get annual leave to fit around someone else's wedding.

No. It’s one thing if one of the couple is from that country. We got married in Ireland, for example, but I’m from there and had more people on my side attending (bigger family), but if you are marrying abroad it’s just more inconvenient and expensive for absolutely everyone. If I was young, had no kids, a lot of disposable time and money, and my friends/most of my family were too then maybe, but I just have too much going on to be bothered going abroad for a wedding.

I'm self-employed so it's not that easy - I can't afford to take a weeks off at random times of the year, I have to coordinate it around DH's holiday as well as during the quiet times in my industry.

Italy for destination wedding yes
Because
Short flight so doable for 2-3night stay
Would need to use minimal AL, but alternatively could add more if I wanted to
Depending where you'd fly to/from there should be numerous flight times a day - but what about transport the other side - would you sort that
I would not get fined from schools

I'd love a destination wedding but I know I would really want certain people to come so I would plan it with them to ensure they could, sadly any teacher friends unless part time really restrict this.

Italian lakes, blues and greens good food. Good wine oooo yes!

I think you should get married at home and go to Italy on your honeymoon.

I think destination weddings only make sense for tiny weddings, just the couple or at most immediate family.

A trip to Italy a lot of expense for your guests and lots of people will feel they have to go if invited.

One of my friends is getting married this year in Italy and to be honest I’ve found it inconvenient and expensive. We’re staying in the cheapest recommended hotel taking standard flights and it’s already cost us over £1,000 as a couple before we’ve got there. I know you’re paying for accommodation, so that does reduce this, but the flights alone are £600.

I wouldn’t contemplate giving £600 as a gift at a UK wedding, so this feels like a huge expense to ask someone else to incur unless you’re from the destination.

I would if it was affordable for me at the given time.

Ive been to destination weddings before which were lovely.

I think whether you can expect “people” to come depends on their specific circumstances. Children, jobs, finances, whatever.

Yes it's legal if you pay for the translator.

My daughter is planning this but she has a small very close guest list . Paying for the 20 flights and accommodation is cheaper than a UK wedding.

Depends on people's circumstances - kids, pets, holiday entitlement etc. I'd far rather go to a local wedding than be forced to socialise for an entire weekend.

No, I probably wouldn't and i'm having a destination wedding in Italy myself. However we aren't inviting anyone, it's going to be just the two of us and we are having a big party in the UK when we get back.

I've a few family members and close friends who have got married abroad but none of them have asked anyone to travel to the wedding. I think it you want people to come, you should get married in the UK somewhere accessible and have your honeymoon in italy.

If the destination near a direct flight route from your local airport then Italy is quite convenient as abroad weddings go.

I'd much rather Italy than the Caribbean or Vegas etc. Quick, regular flights, no jet lag. And very accessible - even in the deepest countryside, if you hire a car you can easily get to somewhere with something to see, or do, (or eat!).

Agree that I'd be less keen at the height of summer, I would still go... but might ruin photos being a sweaty mess.

My much beloved cousin did this. She couldn't afford to pay for everyone, so she also had a local do. I went to Italy with my then teenage DC and had an epic weekend which really made up for a very rough previous year. Expect not everyone to come, but enjoy it.

We turned one down in Italy this year because they had no kids and had booked it in term time (they don’t have kids neither do their friends, we’re family) so it just wasn’t feasible for us.

pre kids in our 20s with accommodation paid for, absolutely! Don’t expect people to though or feel disappointed if they say no, they don’t have to explain their financial situation to you.

Have you checked out the flight times and costs to attend for the weekend? Friday night flight out Sunday evening flight back?

Italy is my favourite country in the world, so I'd love to go to a wedding there!

I’d love it 😊

It depends. I went to a friend's wedding in Tuscany years ago. Went with another friend, left my little dc with dh and had a lovely time. I wouldn't go unless it was in the school holidays (teacher). And probably wouldn't have gone with dh and the dc unless we'd extended it and made it into our family summer holiday.

I did. Paid my own flight and accommodation. Friend laid on parties all weekend and a gorgeous wedding in a Venetian palazzo. Very memorable weekend. I loved it.

I think long distance destination weddings are a bit entitled and tone deaf, but France or Italy from UK - no problem.

Yes I personally like the idea of a destination wedding, but all my friends selfishly got married in the UK! As long as you understand if people can’t make it. I love Italy.