Ever more elaborate mini-weddings, elopements and proposals

Tuscany is chosen time after time by those looking for the ultimate setting to celebrate their love. What’s newer to the wedding scene, however, is the increase in sophisticated wedding proposals and elopements, with mini-weddings on the rise.

A report carried out by the Tourism Studies Centre of Florence and Convention Bureau Italia in 2022 confirmed that small weddings and “love escapades” account for over 34% of celebrations, with 18.8% opting for the wedding week formula, a party spread across multiple days that includes guided tours to discover the surrounding territory. Tuscany was chosen for 21% of over 11,000 foreign weddings celebrated in Italy in 2022, the first region in the country for destination weddings. While summer is undoubtedly the season with most requests, winter is not to be cast aside, with the charm of festive Florence appealing to those seeking an atmospheric and glamourous scheme.

Carefully curated luxurious occasions have been proven to be a huge success with the international market, but a newer bracket demonstrates a tendency for equally elegant proposals and elopements. Elaborating on the increasing number of couples seeking more intimate celebrations, is Rita Tavella, founder and CEO of Your Wedding in Florence. Having grown up between New York, Rome and Florence, Rita is well aware of what international couples seek for their big moments. With over 30 years’ experience in the organization of large-scale events and congresses having founded MCR Conference S.r.l, Rita channeled this energy and wisdom into her long-held dream of organizing a wedding planning agency, which she did in 2017.

Precursors in the sector, Your Wedding in Florence creates tailor-made packages for marriage proposals, anniversaries, elopements or any kind of romantic evening for couples seeking something entirely enchanting. Experts at the astonishing, floral compositions and intimate atmospheres with sparkling candles are just the beginning of the unforgettable occasions curated by the team, with huge attention paid to the personality of each individual. Couples can choose from an Arno cruise, vineyard dinner, chic-nic, secret grotto, treasure hunt, tower dinner, a barn proposal and there’s even a hot air balloon proposal among the many options listed.

The rise in requests, Rita ponders, is perhaps in part attributable to the increased visibility granted by TV programmes by the likes of Stanley Tucci and the comedies released on Netflix that make Americans in particular long for the dream of Italy. With so many stunning villas to choose from that can be used all year round, those who are sentimental are no doubt satisfied.

Rita’s aptitude for the romance industry was kickstarted by her fascination with her parent’s fairy-tale proposal and wedding, with the images of their celebration in a small town in Calabria fueling her own passion for weddings. The large number of requests for their expertise is mainly international, with around 95% of their clients coming from abroad, such as America, Canada and Australia.

“Having come from the world of events, we were used to big numbers, so the quantity doesn’t scare us. We’re also a tour agency, and so we can cater to all aspects of their trip”.

When it comes to their expansion into proposals, Rita tells us,

“I was inspired because my father was a big romantic. He traditionally courted my mum in the south. It’s great to see that young people still have this way of thinking, and young Italians are now thinking about big proposals too. The most common request is for a dinner in a vineyard with a panoramic view, but we have many ideas, from adrenaline proposals like in a hot air balloon with a high-altitude photographer to a Rapunzel-like tower, we check out their Instagram to get an idea for their personality and that starts the creative process”.

The intimacy of elopements and mini-weddings, with often only close friends and family involved, offers a warm atmosphere and the possibility of enjoying quality time with each guest, enabling truly precious memories in spectacular settings. In terms of the larger celebrations, a destination wedding, as their website tells us, is much more than just a ceremony. It’s the complete experience that takes in welcome parties, concierge services, and the travel and tours around the occasion, transforming every phase into something exceptional.

When groups arrive to celebrate weddings, they usually choose to spend a few days in the region, enjoying experiences like wine tastings, cooking classes and visits to artisans’ studios, exploring traditions like leathermaking and terracotta. These experiences not only enrich the sense of occasion, they also enhance the best of the region, ensuring the soul of Tuscany is savoured and continued, “the real key to success”, Rita concludes.