Destination Wedding in Europe, do i need a planner?

For something as involved as this, especially when there is a language barrier, a full service planner is the first vendor I’d book. $40,000 is a big budget to begin with, so investing in a planner probably won’t make too much of a dent in the overall costs. Meanwhile you’re free to enjoy and plan as little or as much as you want, while knowing that someone is there in the country doing most of th legwork, negotiating deals, and reading through the fine print that you might not understand if it’s in a different language or poorly translated.

If I were you I would definitely hire a wedding planner! I had one just to make planning from DC to NC easier

Your planner can help you choose your wedding vendors, meet with them, navigate the language barrier, and just keep you on track in general! Don't forget that all planners offer different levels of their services, so it doesn't have to be all or nothing!

The 7 Types of Wedding Planners and What They Do

I'm not sure if that budget is large enough. I had about 200 guests and spent over $60k, so I would start with getting a wedding planner and determining how much it will cost per person in those different regions. You might have to up your budget depending on what your idea of a "dream wedding" entails.

Sounds like an amazing wedding!!!

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Thank you, i have read on the extensive requirement for ceremonies, but we plan to legally get married in the US before going, and we will just have a ceremony to exchange vows in front of our family.

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This was what worried me, where did you get married?

Hard to make a comment on your budget when none of us here probably know what international weddings cost but do you speak Italian or French because I wouldn't want to be negotiating anything that cost $40,000 in my not native language.

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Minnesota. I think you really need to research or contact a planner to get an idea of how much a standard wedding of that size costs in each of those regions. I anticipate some of them are more expensive and some less, so that could help you determine which area is ideal. Most of my budget went to food, alcohol and venue - which is probably going to be true wherever a wedding is.

We're getting married in the South of France and we hired a wedding planner to make things easier with all the planning, especially with the language barrier. She is based in UK, which is fine with us as the travelling cost for her to get there is cheaper. She also has an offer at the moment: free wedding venue hunt which is deducted from her fees if you hire her for a full planning service.

Let me know if you're interested and I'll send you her details

View Quoted Comment It’s no a fake ceremony to us. Just going to sign legal documents before traveling to the destination to avoid the hassle, we don’t believe we are truly married until we say vows in front of our family and especially in front of God, that is the real ceremony. In our opinion at least

View Quoted Comment Hi Eri,

yes please ive also been looking at planners in the UK, will love a contact, if she has Instagram. Even better.

I totally agree with you InWonderland. I too believe that the ceremony in front of God is the real one, not the one on the papers I'll send you the details

I agree with Anne, you may need to up your budget. I'm getting married in Phoenix, around 175 guests, and the total cost will be around $41-42K. At least 60% of this cost is going to food, alcohol, and venue and I wouldn't say I'm doing anything extravagant.

Definitely look into a wedding planner for sure, price that out, and then go from there. You may need to up your budget or lower your guest count depending what all you want out of your wedding.

Just so you don't get discouraged by the people saying $40,000 isn't enough... I'm planning a wedding in France for 12,000 euros (so about $18,000) and 110 guests. I'm not saying it's easy, but anything is possible! There are some great Facebook groups you can join for Anglophone brides getting married in France, search for "French wedding ideas and style" or "French Bridal Cafe"

View Quoted Comment Thank you SL!

Thats so helpful, I got a planner and I'm sticking with the 40k budget for 150, she says she can make it work

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Hi Eri,

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a wedding in the south of France and have realized that I definitely need to hire a wedding planner. Can you send me the details of yours? Thanks!

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Does your planner do other countries as well? interesting in his/her details.

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Hi Eri,

We’re also getting married in the south of France and currently searching for a wedding planner. Are you able to share your wedding planners details?

View Quoted Comment Hi, I am getting married just outside of Paris as a destination wedding next year. I have a wedding planner but wanted some personal insight as well. Did you have alcohol catered by the caterer or did you buy wholesale? I mean it is France!

Hi & Congrats! I have been to both Naples and Venice. Venice is absolutely gorgeous, but it's all in however you envision your wedding. :] Tons of local restaurants, & little shops as well as boat rides, etc. Naples, I found to be interesting, and unsafe in certain parts, but I am not sure what you have found. Another factor is many Hotels do a lot of the wedding planning, so I would look into that. However, I am not sure what Italy provides.

Good luck in your planning :]