Wedding
Destination Wedding Checklist
When organising your big day, Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort’s wedding planner can assist you so you can remain relaxed and stress-free.
Here is a list with timings to help you in the preparations for your wedding.
The first things to be done are the most important ones so it’s best to book ahead to have the first choice of date and venue, especially in the wedding season from May through September.
A destination wedding takes careful planning but actually can be less stressful, as Du Lac’s professionals organize most of the logistics for you.
As soon as possible
• Set the tentative date for your wedding. Remember to keep in mind the Italian local holidays to avoid difficulties in availability for flights and venues.
• A civil, religious or symbolic ceremony? Religious ceremonies in Italy, especially Roman Catholic, require special paperwork and take more time. Make sure it is possible to hold the ceremony in the venue. If a religious ceremony is not possible, you can organise a lovely symbolic ceremony quite easily.
• Set your budget.
• Create tentative guest list and determine your guest list by your budget.
• Decide if you want to take out wedding insurance before paying any deposits.
• If possible, visit venue where the event will take place, preferably in the same season. Liaise with wedding planners and get to know each other. Meet as many of the service providers as you can.
• Determine what guests will do the day before and after the wedding, such as a rehearsal dinner, outing, after-wedding day brunch , as these events are often organised for guests coming from abroad.
• Make sure your passports are current
• For a church wedding, contact the priest, rabbi or minister and tentatively set the date.
• For a civil ceremony contact the municipal authorities and tentatively set the date.
• For a symbolic ceremony choose who will conduct the ceremony and tentatively set the date.
• Tentatively book venue for reception.
• Put an option on the first night room in hotel /bridal suite. Ask Hotel Du Lac for special bridal offers.
9 months prior
• Book wedding registry.
• Send out save the date cards/invitations. Guests travelling a long way need to know far in advance. You should offer gift registry information only to guests accepting your invitation.
• As soon as you have replies, block rooms at the hotel and update frequently. Make sure you know the cancellation policy.
• Book your own travel arrangements.
• Determine the type of catering you want, a seated dinner or buffet? Review menus, book catering company. If you organize at Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort, they will take care of these details.
• Decide on photographer and/ or video maker. Ask Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort for suggestions if you don’t have your own.
• Decide music and entertainment for your ceremony and reception. The hotel has a list and can help arrange try-outs.
• Book wedding cake. The hotel will organise this. Italian wedding cakes are not as elaborate, so decide on which type of cake you want. Bring photos if necessary.
• Book car / transport to and from the ceremony and reception for the bridal party. Again, the hotel can help you find providers for this service.
• Start shopping for your gown and try on many styles.
7 months prior
• Choose your wedding gown and set up regular fittings. Take pictures to bring to the hair stylist and florist.
• Have the bridal shop furnish special packing for air travel for your gown.
5 months prior
• Decide on outfits for the maid of honour, bridesmaids and any flower girls including accessories. Note: the Italian tradition does not call for bridesmaids and matching outfits; the only key elements are the maid of honour and best man, flower girl and ring bearer: you decide what tradition you would like to follow.
• Choose outfits for the groom, best man, ushers, pageboys, ring bearer (see note above).
• Choose wedding bands. Italian wedding bands are engraved with the spouse’s name and wedding date.
• Help both mothers choose their outfits and colours.
• What kind of flowers do you want for the ceremony and venue: corsages, bouquets, button-holes. Your wedding planner hotel can organize this and suggest suppliers and quotations.
• Will there be children at the reception? Children at Italian receptions are very common and usually are seated together at a children’s table. Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort offers special children’s menus and babysitter contacts.
3 months prior
• Review contracts and all details for wedding.
• Order wedding stationery, menus, place cards and thank-you cards. You might want personalised serviettes and menus. Be sure to notify the hotel or venue if you need help.
• Try out hairstyles and make-up. If you change your hair colour do it now so you can be sure you are happy with it. Bring your veil or headpiece, a picture of your dress and an idea of your colour-scheme.
2 months prior
• Best Man and Maid of Honour normally organise stag and hen parties.
• Send out thank you letters as gifts arrive.
• Make sure that guests have accommodations and book if necessary.
• Upon receipt of acceptances from guests, send out an information pack containing maps and directions to your venues, local accommodation information, wedding registry information and anything else that may be useful .
• Telephone guests who have not replied to invitations.
• Buy a guest book for signatures.
• Obtain information about Italian wedding traditions or other cultural customs, if you would like to include them in your ceremony and reception.
1 month prior
• Book final hair appointments (or even earlier if your wedding is in high season) and make-up artist. Will you go to salon or have stylists come to your hotel room?
• Send final number of guests and confirm all travel arrangements with hotel.
• Arrange for a translator to be available on your wedding day to help you with any last minute problems.
• Prepare speeches if you wish to include in the reception.
• If you decide on matching outfits for the wedding party, make sure they are ready for delivery.
• Check that the transport details are finalised, and make sure everyone knows how to get to/from ceremony venue to reception venue.
• Organize decorations for wedding party cars.
• Choose presents for attendants and family; if you would like to follow the Italian tradition, choose bomboniere-- little gifts for guests and confetti -special wedding candy. Your wedding planner can help you find a supplier if you like.
• Finalise the seating charts for the reception and find an original way to name the tables.
• Make sure you have all your accessories and your shoes.
1 - 2 weeks prior
• No new cosmetics- avoid skin flare-ups.
• Break in your wedding shoes.
• Make sure your, menus, place cards and thank-you cards have been delivered.
• Order foreign currency.
• Celebrate hen and stag parties. You may decide to have your parties even much earlier, or later if you want to do it in Italy.
• Make sure there is an emergency list for doctor, taxi, as well as the telephone numbers (also mobile) of all service providers.
• Make sure your, menus, place cards and thank-you cards have been delivered.
• Order foreign currency.
1-3 days prior
• Final rehearsal at the venue for the ceremony.
• Rehearsal dinner.
• Make sure there is an emergency list for doctor, taxi, as well as the telephone numbers (also mobile) of all service providers.
• Make sure you have assistance to iron or make emergency repairs on your gown.
On the day
• Get up in plenty of time.
• Have a relaxing bath and organise a massage.
• Have a proper breakfast.
• Prepare yourself in plenty of time.
• If you are going to a salon to have your hair done remember to take your veil, headpiece or flowers.
• Now, finally, take a deep breath and relax!
After your wedding
• The next day--family and friends for brunch is a nice touch.
• Enjoy your honeymoon!
• Send out final thank you letters for gifts.
• Give feedback to wedding planner at Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort and book your anniversary trip!
When organising your big day, Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort’s wedding planner can assist you so you can remain relaxed and stress-free.
Here is a list with timings to help you in the preparations for your wedding.
The first things to be done are the most important ones so it’s best to book ahead to have the first choice of date and venue, especially in the wedding season from May through September.
A destination wedding takes careful planning but actually can be less stressful, as Du Lac’s professionals organize most of the logistics for you.
As soon as possible
• Set the tentative date for your wedding. Remember to keep in mind the Italian local holidays to avoid difficulties in availability for flights and venues.
• A civil, religious or symbolic ceremony? Religious ceremonies in Italy, especially Roman Catholic, require special paperwork and take more time. Make sure it is possible to hold the ceremony in the venue. If a religious ceremony is not possible, you can organise a lovely symbolic ceremony quite easily.
• Set your budget.
• Create tentative guest list and determine your guest list by your budget.
• Decide if you want to take out wedding insurance before paying any deposits.
• If possible, visit venue where the event will take place, preferably in the same season. Liaise with wedding planners and get to know each other. Meet as many of the service providers as you can.
• Determine what guests will do the day before and after the wedding, such as a rehearsal dinner, outing, after-wedding day brunch , as these events are often organised for guests coming from abroad.
• Make sure your passports are current
• For a church wedding, contact the priest, rabbi or minister and tentatively set the date.
• For a civil ceremony contact the municipal authorities and tentatively set the date.
• For a symbolic ceremony choose who will conduct the ceremony and tentatively set the date.
• Tentatively book venue for reception.
• Put an option on the first night room in hotel /bridal suite. Ask Hotel Du Lac for special bridal offers.
9 months prior
• Book wedding registry.
• Send out save the date cards/invitations. Guests travelling a long way need to know far in advance. You should offer gift registry information only to guests accepting your invitation.
• As soon as you have replies, block rooms at the hotel and update frequently. Make sure you know the cancellation policy.
• Book your own travel arrangements.
• Determine the type of catering you want, a seated dinner or buffet? Review menus, book catering company. If you organize at Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort, they will take care of these details.
• Decide on photographer and/ or video maker. Ask Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort for suggestions if you don’t have your own.
• Decide music and entertainment for your ceremony and reception. The hotel has a list and can help arrange try-outs.
• Book wedding cake. The hotel will organise this. Italian wedding cakes are not as elaborate, so decide on which type of cake you want. Bring photos if necessary.
• Book car / transport to and from the ceremony and reception for the bridal party. Again, the hotel can help you find providers for this service.
• Start shopping for your gown and try on many styles.
7 months prior
• Choose your wedding gown and set up regular fittings. Take pictures to bring to the hair stylist and florist.
• Have the bridal shop furnish special packing for air travel for your gown.
5 months prior
• Decide on outfits for the maid of honour, bridesmaids and any flower girls including accessories. Note: the Italian tradition does not call for bridesmaids and matching outfits; the only key elements are the maid of honour and best man, flower girl and ring bearer: you decide what tradition you would like to follow.
• Choose outfits for the groom, best man, ushers, pageboys, ring bearer (see note above).
• Choose wedding bands. Italian wedding bands are engraved with the spouse’s name and wedding date.
• Help both mothers choose their outfits and colours.
• What kind of flowers do you want for the ceremony and venue: corsages, bouquets, button-holes. Your wedding planner hotel can organize this and suggest suppliers and quotations.
• Will there be children at the reception? Children at Italian receptions are very common and usually are seated together at a children’s table. Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort offers special children’s menus and babysitter contacts.
3 months prior
• Review contracts and all details for wedding.
• Order wedding stationery, menus, place cards and thank-you cards. You might want personalised serviettes and menus. Be sure to notify the hotel or venue if you need help.
• Try out hairstyles and make-up. If you change your hair colour do it now so you can be sure you are happy with it. Bring your veil or headpiece, a picture of your dress and an idea of your colour-scheme.
2 months prior
• Best Man and Maid of Honour normally organise stag and hen parties.
• Send out thank you letters as gifts arrive.
• Make sure that guests have accommodations and book if necessary.
• Upon receipt of acceptances from guests, send out an information pack containing maps and directions to your venues, local accommodation information, wedding registry information and anything else that may be useful .
• Telephone guests who have not replied to invitations.
• Buy a guest book for signatures.
• Obtain information about Italian wedding traditions or other cultural customs, if you would like to include them in your ceremony and reception.
1 month prior
• Book final hair appointments (or even earlier if your wedding is in high season) and make-up artist. Will you go to salon or have stylists come to your hotel room?
• Send final number of guests and confirm all travel arrangements with hotel.
• Arrange for a translator to be available on your wedding day to help you with any last minute problems.
• Prepare speeches if you wish to include in the reception.
• If you decide on matching outfits for the wedding party, make sure they are ready for delivery.
• Check that the transport details are finalised, and make sure everyone knows how to get to/from ceremony venue to reception venue.
• Organize decorations for wedding party cars.
• Choose presents for attendants and family; if you would like to follow the Italian tradition, choose bomboniere-- little gifts for guests and confetti -special wedding candy. Your wedding planner can help you find a supplier if you like.
• Finalise the seating charts for the reception and find an original way to name the tables.
• Make sure you have all your accessories and your shoes.
1 - 2 weeks prior
• No new cosmetics- avoid skin flare-ups.
• Break in your wedding shoes.
• Make sure your, menus, place cards and thank-you cards have been delivered.
• Order foreign currency.
• Celebrate hen and stag parties. You may decide to have your parties even much earlier, or later if you want to do it in Italy.
• Make sure there is an emergency list for doctor, taxi, as well as the telephone numbers (also mobile) of all service providers.
• Make sure your, menus, place cards and thank-you cards have been delivered.
• Order foreign currency.
1-3 days prior
• Final rehearsal at the venue for the ceremony.
• Rehearsal dinner.
• Make sure there is an emergency list for doctor, taxi, as well as the telephone numbers (also mobile) of all service providers.
• Make sure you have assistance to iron or make emergency repairs on your gown.
On the day
• Get up in plenty of time.
• Have a relaxing bath and organise a massage.
• Have a proper breakfast.
• Prepare yourself in plenty of time.
• If you are going to a salon to have your hair done remember to take your veil, headpiece or flowers.
• Now, finally, take a deep breath and relax!
After your wedding
• The next day--family and friends for brunch is a nice touch.
• Enjoy your honeymoon!
• Send out final thank you letters for gifts.
• Give feedback to wedding planner at Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort and book your anniversary trip!
