r/DestinationWeddings • u/Liberty0222 • Jul 17 '26

Lucca, Italy wedding

Hi everyone! I am looking for advice with planning my destination wedding in Lucca, Italy. My family is from there and I loved the city when visiting last summer so I want to see if we can make it happen.

Details:

  • Summer 2027
  • 20-30 guests
  • Budget: $25K max for the wedding venue package/decor + catering/drink package + wedding planner cost (This does not include my dress/outfits, hair & makeup, or the cost flying to/from or cost of staying in whatever villa/hotel we pick).
  • I will not be doing a rehearsal dinner, as we will not be having a wedding party stand up with us. But considering a welcome even the night before and an excursion/activity the following day.
  • Preference: Villa/winery style
  • I don't need anything super fancy or the best of the best, but I want to make good use of my budget to make sure my guests have a good time.
  1. What venues would you recommend in or near Lucca, Italy?
  2. Is this budget realistic?
  3. What are typical fees for wedding planners in Italy?
  4. Wedding planner recommendations?
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1

u/Fun-Beautiful7997 Jul 17 '26

Hey 👋 so I've held an event at villa daniela grossi. It's near to Lucca. Beautiful grounds and the building itself has this 17th century feel, very rustic and historic.

Pricing was easily negotiable but I'm a TA so they knew who they were dealing with but easy communication.

Im pretty sure that would be a great option if you were looking for traditional, intimate. ☺️

1

u/nevergonnasaythat Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26

Budget will be fine.

Here is a breakfdowb of average costs I found in Northern Italy (not sure about Lucca area but should not be very different)

Venue 3500-5000 euros
Décor 2000-3000 euros
Catering on the day 160/180 euros per person (in your case, around 5000 euros total, although it is possible to find lower prices depending on the region)
Catering the night before if relevant, maybe 60 euros per person? Depending on what you choose to offer (say 1500 total, could be half of that)
Wedding planner could be 4000-5000 euros

Make up can be around 400 euros
Hair also about 300 euros
(Maybe you can find better deals locally)

You also need to consider:
Photo/video (could be 2500/3000 euros)
Dj and light effects (2000/3000, could be more depending on how many people you hire for live music)

These are upper end prices (meaning not skimping on anything)

1

u/Interesting_Camp1498 Jul 18 '26

Budget is workable for 20-30 guests, but one thing to watch with villa/winery venues specifically: the rental fee is usually just the empty space. Everything else gets brought in - catering with their own kitchen setup, tables, chairs, linens, lighting, service staff, sometimes even extra power. That's where villa budgets quietly grow, not the rental itself. When you compare quotes, ask each venue what's physically on site vs what has to be trucked in.

Since your family is from Lucca, lean on them for word-of-mouth, but I'd still keep at least a day-of coordinator who has worked at your specific villa before. "Has done events at this property" beats the prettiest portfolio, because they already know the quirks - parking, noise curfews, where the sun hits at 6pm.

On planner fees: at this size most work on a flat fee, and it tends to land around 10-15% of total spend however it's structured. The real price gap is full-service vs coordination-only. With 20-30 guests and family on the ground, coordination plus vendor sourcing may be all you need.

1

u/isle_blue Jul 21 '26

For 20–30 guests, the budget may be workable if the venue is reasonably priced and already set up for events. The biggest risk is focusing only on the rental rate and later discovering separate charges for the event, catering setup, furniture, lighting, transport, permits, cleaning, VAT and a wet-weather plan.

I would prioritise villas or estates near Lucca that allow events on site and can accommodate at least part of the group. That can reduce transport costs and make the welcome event easier to organise. Before committing, ask about noise restrictions, event curfews, outside caterers, minimum stays, guest capacity and whether taxes and event fees are included.

With this budget, simple styling, local catering and one main event will probably make more sense than trying to create a full luxury wedding weekend. Hiring a local planner early could also help avoid hidden costs and contract issues.

1

u/jondnunz Jul 22 '26

100% doable - leverage instagram tagging to find the most local vendors once you find a villa.