How to plan a destination wedding in Italy

A destination wedding in Italy is one of the most rewarding celebrations you can plan — and one of the most logistically involved. After photographing weddings from the Amalfi Coast to the hills of Tuscany, here is what I tell every couple.

First, plan your day around the light, not the clock. An Italian summer sun is high and hard until late afternoon. Holding your ceremony in the last two hours before sunset gives you both a cooler celebration and far more beautiful photographs.

Second, give yourselves margin. Italian time is generous time. Build buffers between each part of the day and you will arrive at your reception relaxed rather than rushed — and it shows in every frame.

Finally, hire local where you can. The florist, the planner, the chef who knows the region: they are the difference between a wedding that looks like Italy and one that merely happens to be there.