Weddings in Italy - Testimonials

We always knew that our dream wedding would be to hire a villa in Italy and have our closest family and friends there with us while we exchanged our vows in a garden. But we thought that's all it was  - a dream. How could we possibly organize a wedding in Italy from Ireland when neither of us even speak Italian? But after a few internet searches we stumbled across the slow-dreams website - little did we realize how lucky we were! Some of our friends thought we were crazy to be organizing our wedding over the internet through people we had never met in a place we had never been to - some would say it was blind faith! - but we knew very quickly how fantastic and professional Slow dreams were and they completely won our trust.
Initially Bill looked after all our enquiries. He was so patient and efficient and explained everything so clearly. One of our big concerns at first was 'Can we afford this?' ( That was one of the best things about Slow-dreams , you know exactly what you're getting and how much it costs). But Bill made it easy for us to work within our budget. Big thank you Bill!
After we decided on the venue and dates, Janie looked after all the details and planning. We were genuinely moved by how she shared in all the excitement of the planning, from choosing flowers to planning the ceremony itself. She was so utterly lovely and so helpful and efficient. Our only regret is that we didn't get to meet her in person to thank her!
We stayed at the Villa Maratea for the week and got married in the garden, just as we had dreamed of. The villa itself was fantastic. Big enough for both our families, with a great swimming pool for our nieces and nephews to splash around in, bar-b-ques in the evening and just a 5 minute stroll down to the village. Heaven.  Lucia came to meet us the day after we arrived to see how we were doing and to give us a schedule for the week. She was so friendly and helpful. Everything had been taken care of, from trial hair and make-up sessions for Brenda to a meeting with the photographers to discuss what we would like.
The day before the wedding, we were down at our friends beautiful villa by the sea swimming in a little cove on a private beach with about 20 of our closest friends, jumping off the rocks and swimming in the cave - it was one of our favourite memories of the week. It was so nice to feel so relaxed the day before our wedding.
On the morning of our wedding day, Lucia took us down to the town hall to sign the official paperwork, which was actually really lovely. The town mayor presiding, Lucia translating and just us and our parents there. It was a lovely start to the day. Afterwards we went back to the villa where Lucia took charge of everything. She was AMAZING! All we had to do was get ready!
We got married in the gardens of the villa, just as we had dreamed of, on a raised terrace under an arch of pink roses overlooking the town and the sea below. It was beautiful.
The caterers had arranged tables in the garden around the pool, with fairy lights in the trees, and as the sun set it looked like a fairytale, with the lights reflected in the water. It took our breaths away! The food was served as a buffet with our guests helping themselves, just as we had wanted. We cannot stress enough how gorgeous the food was. The service was second to none, and all the while Lucia was looking after everything. She was so non intrusive and professional and lovely. Fantastic at her job! We hired a sound system and our guests took turns to d.j and we danced til the early hours! So much fun, we just didn't want it to end!
We want to mention our photographers also. Sylvia and her partner, who did a brilliant job with the photographs. We were so happy with the results and the town of Maratea is such a beautiful backdrop for them. The difficult part was trying to pick which ones to keep!
We also want to mention Dora, who was amazing, and drove us round in her taxi van all week. She was literally at our beck and call, day and night. Also the restaurant (the name escapes us) down in the town. It is on the second floor with an open terrace overlooking the fountain in the main square. They took such good care of us (all 50 of us!), especially Gwendolyne, our waitress.
We were really happy with the flowers also.
In fact everything from the moment we arrived in Maratea was magic. Our wedding was everything we could have dreamed of and more, and our friends and family had such a fantastic holiday that I am sure we will still be talking about it in years to come. None of this would have been possible without Slow-dreams - Lucia, Janie and Bill. Thank you so much for everything! We would have no hesitation in recommending them to any couple thinking of getting married in Italy - you won't find anyone more caring, professional and friendly.
We send you all our love, thanks and best wishes,
Brenda & Dave

 

Dear Janie, Lucia, Rosa & Bill

We just wanted to email you to thank you for everything you did with organising our wedding in Maratea.  We could not have asked for a better wedding and cannot imagine anything more perfect!  You made the whole experience stress free which meant that we did not have to worry about anything and instead were able to just enjoy the whole experience.  Everyone had a fantastic time and many of our guests said it was the best wedding they had ever been to!!!
 
Your efforts really did contribute to making it the best day of our lives and gave us memories that will last a life time.  We certainly will be recommending Slow Dreams to anyone who is thinking about having a wedding abroad and Maratea as the perfect wedding and holiday location.  We will certainly be back!
 
Attached are some pictures of the special day.
 
Thank you for everything.  Slow Dreams really did do an amazing job of making our wedding perfect and better than anything we could have expected.
 
Take care and all the best.
 
Leisha & Damian

Dear Janie and The Slow Dreams Team:

Jen and I are very pleased with the service you provided us; our wedding was both beautiful and stress free.  And so on behalf of both Jen and me, I am writing to thank you and your team for a wonderful time in Santa Maria Di Castellabate.

First, thank you for planning our wedding.  We could not be happier with your professionalism, warmth, and attention to details.  From our interactions with John in Naples--he was wonderful--to helping us find a dry cleaner, everyone from Slow Dreams made our wedding extremely pleasurable.   

We really enjoyed just having some quality time together.  Jen and I both have busy lives at home, and so we had a great time just relaxing together. 

Janie, again, thank you for such a wonderful experience.  And please send our regards to all of your staff.

With sincere appreciation,

Jess Cisco and Jennifer Gudaz,

Lucia & Janie,

Just wanted to drop you a note of thanks on behalf of my “wife and I”….!

We had a wonderful time in Maratea, it’s a very special place, fantastic food and stunning scenery. Everyone had a great time at the wedding and during the time they were there. I have already recommended the Santavenere to some friends it truly is a magical hotel, very attentive staff who did everything to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. Upgrading us to a suite for 2 nights was incredible. The only feedback I could offer would be a few more toys for the little ones to play with !

Your help, attention to detail and the sensitivity with which you handled all our requirements was absolutely first class and both Claire and I are really glad we made the effort to do something different. I have a feeling we may be coming back again.

Thanks and best wishes.

Simon Speak

Dear everyone at Slow Dreams,

Sorry about the delay with this. Firstly, thank you all very very very much for all your help in making our wedding even more amazing than I could have ever imagined.  We loved every single minute of it and couldn’t stop smiling the whole day and for the week after!!

I always wanted to get married abroad and after looking at your website I knew Maratea is where I wanted to get married and set my heart on it immediately. It wasn’t hard convincing Niall to get married there either.   Every aspect of the planning process the year up to the wedding was carried out expertly and efficiently. I got to make the fun decisions and let Slow Dreams do all the hard work.

Maratea is so beautiful, it's such an unspoilt, perfect hideaway. The Hotel Santavenere is the most magnificent hotel I have ever stayed in. Lucia and Rosa were absolutely brilliant, they brought us to see the hotel the day previous to the wedding and described how the day would go, they talked us through what to do and advised us on aspects of the day. On the day, they made sure everything ran smoothly and did some vital translating for us when needed. They were always there when we needed them, they are not only brilliant planners but very nice people too. 

The ceremony location outside, overlooking the sea was just spectacular. The guests were all amazed at how beautiful it was.  The ceremony itself was so romantic and I couldn’t stop myself from crying, very emotional.

Everything was planned so perfectly and I have to say I didn’t have to worry about anything the whole day. I was the most relaxed bride ever. My bridesmaids and I spent the afternoon by the pool and sipping champagne cocktails in our suite, before the hair and make-up people arrived.  The suite was lovely, with the most romantic balcony and view. 

The dinner in the evening was fantastic, we sat watching the sun go down as we ate beautiful food and drank wine. The staff were so good, very friendly and the attention to detail was noticeable.  We all danced the night away when the sun went down, including our 18 month old daughter, who had a ball.

I really didn’t want the day to end, it was so much fun. It was such a unique and beautiful wedding, something we will treasure forever. 

We really enjoyed the whole week, the area is so peaceful and laid back, the town of Maratea itself is so pretty. We took a walk around the town before we got married in the town hall that morning and it was such a romantic and intimate way to spend the time before we got officially married.

The Hotel Meraviglie, where we all stayed for the week was also brilliant. The staff were fantastic and really helpful and understanding. They put up with our late nights down at the pool bar and were very accommodating. The hotel itself is really lovely, it’s so quiet and relaxing, it was like having our own private villa for the week.

We would love to come back in a few years and visit the area again.  I would recommend the area and Slow Dreams to anyone. They took the stress and hassle out of planning a wedding and made it fun and exciting. I loved it so much I wish could do it all over again!! Thank you so so much, you were all great and we couldn't have done it without you. I could go on all day about how great it was..........best wishes,

Laura & Niall xxxx

Hi Janie

We had a brilliant brilliant time.  Everything was just as I imagined it would be and more!  Alessandra was great to work with and she had a very easy-going and calming effect on me & joe.  The whole family sat on the beach on the morning of the wedding and all saying that this is the way to do it…. No problems, no hassle, nothing to worry about except getting dressed and arriving on time.  It was a truly magical experience.  The staff at the hotel were all so good.  The head waiter ( I didn’t get his name) was just so professional and had everything set up with military precision and everything flowed along because of him.  The food was devine.  I cannot fault one thing about any of the wedding/honeymoon.  The area of Castellabate was beautiful and scenic, with very few tourists so we got a real taste of Italian life.  Thanks so much Janie for working so hard in the background and getting it all booked and sorted.  I wouldn’t be surprised if you get quite a few bookings from Ireland as I have been constantly singing your praises.  I really cant thank you enough!  I will of course send a photo.  I am still on a complete high and already thinking of going back for a visit.  I would do it all again (or rather ask you to sort it out again!) in a heartbeat.

Best Wishes

Yvonne & Joe

 

Hello Bill, Janie, & Lucia,

Working with everybody at Team Slow Dreams was a great experience.  Making arrangements for a wedding is complicated enough, but the idea of planning it overseas was very intimidating.  We initially were only joking with each other about having our wedding in Italy (versus somewhere nearer to home in the United States).  We browsed the internet, though, and found our way to the Slow Dreams website.  Once there, we were hooked.  We loved the different options (financial, location, and level of the team's involvement in planning), and the pictures of the region looked amazing.

It was surprisingly easy to get more information, have questions answered, and decide on all the details via e-mail with all of you.  We decided on the Hotel Pisacane, in Sapri, because we definitely wanted a seaside wedding, the hotel looked perfect in the pictures, and it was surprisingly affordable.  It's been over a month since we left, and we're still talking about what a great choice that was!  The hotel was even better than it looked on the website, the rooms were spacious and comfortable, and the staff members were kind and very accommodating.  Sapri itself is such a lovely town, we're definitely planning on going back there for an anniversary in the future.  With the mountains and the sea, it is an amazing view in Sapri.  There are plenty of fun shops around the town to visit, and we're still having pleasant dreams about all the delicious food (mmm...gelato).  We even made friends with the owners of a Sicilian bakery there - they were the ones to give us our first wedding present!

Bill, Janie, and Lucia, thank you for your flexibility as we changed our plans throughout the entire year-and-a-half of planning.  We kept you on your toes, but you managed to take care of everything and there was never a problem making the changes.  Also, thanks for your patience when we were indecisive, waiting to hear from other people before settling on details, or otherwise delayed in providing you with information.  We never felt rushed or pressured - working with you to plan our wedding was a very positive experience, and it was a pleasure to communicate with you during the process.

Lucia, you did a great job handling the on-site details and making arrangements with the priest.  The church was beautiful, and the ceremony was perfect.  Thanks for all you did on our wedding day, and for meeting with us prior to the ceremony to go over the details.  It was so nice to meet you!

We all feel like you are one of the family now!

Meeting with John in Naples really helped us complete our paperwork and took a lot of the stress away.  Luigi and Sylvia were great photographers, they were never too directive or in-the-way, and they got great shots of us preparing for the ceremony, the ceremony itself, the walk through town afterwards (which we loved doing), and in the beautiful area near the restaurant we ate at afterwards.

Our families and friend are still talking about the great time they had there and they can't believe we arranged it all over the internet!  Everyone had a blast and we are now all talking about making a trip back there to the same town and even the same hotel. We never thought it was possible to please everyone at once, but with your help we did it.

Overall, we were very impressed at how smooth the planning was, at how stress-free we were in Naples and in Sapri, and at what a great time we and our families had for our wedding in Italy.  Thank you for helping to make our wedding so special, fun, and memorable.

We are so confident in your company and your services that if any of your future clients would like to hear more feel free to have them email either of us.  We really mean it.  You all made this a most memorable event and we have no regrets about anything.  It all surpassed our expectations and even our dreams.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for making it possible, we couldn't have done it without you!

Cheers,

Jon & Yen

 

Dear Bill, Janie, Lucia, John and Dino,

 

We would like to thank you all for the most beautiful wedding.  It was

beyond our wildest expectations, sincerely.  We had never even heard

of a place called Maratea, and we will now never forget it.  It will

be forever etched in our memories as "a very special place."

 

Bill and Janie, we were so thankful to have been referred to you. 

You made planning our wedding so easy and stress-free.  All of the places

that you recommend on slow dreams look gorgeous, but we can't imagine

any place more wonderful to stay than the Meraviglie, or a more

perfect venue for a wedding than the Santavenere.  Thank you for

answering all of our questions promptly and making us feel at ease.

 

When we first arrived in Italy, pre-wedding, we met a number of

wonderful people. Without John we would probably still be wandering

around Naples hopelessly trying to find the American Consulate.  He

was a great guide, thoroughly entertaining, and we will always have

wonderful memories of the morning we spent with him.  We would like to

thank both John and his wife for fighting their way through the crowds

to get us the documents we needed.  Having John was absolutely

invaluable and we would recommend his services to any couples who are

using slow dreams.

 

We arranged to take a taxi from Naples to Maratea.  We knew the

journey would be beautiful, but what we didn't know was that we'd have

an amazing guide.  Dino, our driver, went so above and beyond our

expectations.  We had the most wonderful time taking pictures at

scenic stops and learning about the towns we passed through.  We even

stopped at a buffalo mozzarella farm where we sampled yogurt and had a

unique and unexpected experience.  Dino was a wonderfully friendly man

and we will never forget having met him.  Thank you Dino!

 

We met with Lucia the night before our wedding.  We were already

comfortable with the fact that our wedding would be special, but Lucia

put us all the more at ease.  Everything was planned with precision.

Our first ceremony at Town Hall went without a hitch.  Lucia drove us

to the Santavenere to take a look, and it was so wonderful seeing

where we'd be married together... she made the day from beginning to

end work seamlessly and added to the magic of the occasion.  We wanted

to thank Lucia very much for everything that she did for us.  She too

went above and beyond anything that we could ever have expected.

 

For any couples trying to decide on a wedding venue, we would strongly

recommend the Santavenere.  Our experience there was nothing short of

perfect.  From the stunningly beautiful and private setting, to the

intimate ceremony and exquisite dinner, it's hard to find any adequate

superlative to describe the happiest day of our lives.

 

Thank you all, for your very hard work, professionalism, and above all

else, for making our wedding a dream come true.

 

Colm and Julia Flanagan

Dear Lucia, Janie and Bill,

Thank you so much for everything you have done for us.  Our wedding was fantastic and couldn't have been more perfect.  Villa Miranda was stunning and definitely had the wow factor. Many of our guests said that it was the best wedding they had ever been to and they were all crying at the ceremony because it was so beautiful.  Janie and Bill organised us brilliantly before the wedding and Lucia was amazing while we were in Italy.  We would highly recommend Slow Dreams to anyone thinking of getting married abroad.  We had a wonderful wedding in Scario and we are looking forward to coming back to the area in the future.

Thank you again for making our wedding so special.

Rose and Matt.

 

"When my fiancé and I decided to do a wedding overseas we were a bit nervous about allowing so much of the planning to be in the hands of others.  Never fear with Slow Dreams!  Our wedding was perfection and every detail was handled beautifully.

Bill and Janie are wonderful at answering all of your questions (and trust me, I e-mailed them a lot!).  I felt so confident with their assistance that the wedding would be wonderful and I was right.

Castellabate was more beautiful that we imagined and our wedding took place in a castle on a cliff that overlooked the ocean  - the pictures were amazing!  Alessandra and Lucia were wonderful - basically all we had to do was show up - everything was taken care of in advance - flowers, music, hair/make up appointments.  Slow Dreams made it incredibly easy to get married in Italy - from help with the paperwork to getting our wedding clothes steamed before the ceremony.

I would highly recommend Slow Dreams to anyone wanting to get married in Southern Italy.  This area is largely unknown to foreigners and everyone is friendly and warm.  Our favorite memory from our wedding attests to the attitude of the region.  During our photos in Santa Maria di Castellabate we walked across a beach with about 600 people on it.  As we walked all of these people stood up and started shouting their congratulations and applauding - it was so amazing to have all of these people we did not know be so happy for us.  If we could do it all over again we would...and we know everything would go smoothly because of Slow Dreams!"

Thanks again!

Traci

 

 

Dear Janie,

When Ryan and I decided to get married in Italy, I was a little nervous about how we were actually going to pull it off.  But then I found Slow Dreams!  Bill answered every question no matter how ridiculous it was.  Then when Janie took over after the initial contract was signed, it was a breeze.  I loved how her first emails to me outlined everything that needed to be decided before the wedding took place.  That was exactly what I needed so there were no surprises along the way… and it was so nice because we didn’t have to worry if the date we wanted (June 7, 2008) would be booked up or any of the other nonsense that you have to deal with when you have weddings in California.

Santa Marie di Castellabate was more beautiful than we imagined.  And the hotel (Grand hotel Santa Maria- which is were we and all of our guests stayed and where the wedding took place) couldn’t have been more amazing.  Alessandra was wonderful and so easy to work with.  Everything was decided and taken care of in advance – flowers (more amazing then I had dreamed of, wow, wow, wow!!!), music (solo violinist on the beach), and hair/make up appointments.  Grand Hotel Santa Maria seems to prides itself on excellent customer service and they did not fail us.  The gentleman at the front desk (sorry his name escapes me right now) was top notch and planned everything for us… down to hiring a bus with driver to drive us and all of our guests to Rome to start the next leg of our honeymoon.  They always seemed to go above and beyond what they needed to do.  The day of the wedding they even rushed ordered a wedding cake.  Ryan and I hadn’t wanted a traditional wedding and opted against a wedding cake, but the hotel insisted we have one… we were so glad they did because it was the best cake we have ever had (It was a 1 layer Cuban style cake, amazing) Slow Dreams made it incredibly easy to get married in Italy – almost to the point where it seemed too easy.  It was such a blessing to have found this website!

I would highly recommend Slow Dreams to anyone wanting to get married in Southern Italy.  We loved how we were practically the only “tourist” there.  The town really opened their arms to us, and I do think we took over.  Our favorite memory from our wedding was the ceremony itself.  We had our ceremony on the beach in front of the hotel.  It seemed that all of Santa Maria di Castellabate was there on the beach watching the whole ceremony.  As I was walking down the path to get to the ceremony with my father there was so much cheering and applause it was hard to hear our violinist playing, we started laughing.  It was so much fun… and the pictures show it.  Although, I should mentioned that right after the ceremony it started to rain (hard) and the reception had to be moved inside at the last minute… which the hotel handled like a pro.  Our guests had no idea that the reception wasn’t suppose to be inside all along.

I am not sure the words to truly express my gratitude. We will definitely recommend slow dreams and Santa Maria di Castellabate to everyone we meet.  I can’t wait to go back and stay at that amazing hotel again. 

All the best,

Genette

 

Thank you for a wonderful wedding! Not even in our dreams did we ever imagine we'd have such a unique, special and unforgettable wedding! ☺ And as stress free as it can be!

We were so happy and blissful, that when it started to rain we had fun as we hurried into the San Diego ballroom. ☺ We have a mix of romantic pictures with postcard views and funny pictures of all our family and friends under the huge umbrella. ☺

-     You guys prepared and followed up on everything so well, we depended on you with a mind at ease.  We would have loved to meet Bill and Janie in person. Maybe when we renew our vows ;)

-     Thank you for following up on our papers with the embassy.

-     San Diego Hotel has a splendid outdoor area perfect for a wedding ceremony. We were surprised at how nice their indoor ballroom is!   The food at their restaurant is very good! Their rooms are minimal but very clean and with superb views. Please thank them for their hospitality.    Their pool is marvellous! I think we'll visit the area again just to get a chance of swimming in it. (It was a bit chilly end of September  (note from Slow Dreams: -   October has been wonderful). 

-     Maratea is one of the most amazing locations in Italy. Very authentic, tourist free, with breathtaking "national geographic" views!   The restaurants you advised us to eat at have great chefs. We mostly liked the restaurant facing the Maratea municipality. Forgot its name…

-     The transport for all our 21 guests was worry free. The cab company was very professional.

It is one of those days that you wish you could relive. All our friends and family had a great time. ☺

Lucia, thank you so much for everything!

Sincerely,

Walid and Astrid Abdel-Baki

Dear Janie, Lucia, Alida & Bill,

We just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone involved in making our wedding so special. All our family and friends had a fantastic time and thought the setting and the service at Il Carrubo and the Santavenere Hotel were second to none. 

Janie and Bill - You did an amazing job of organising things for us, showing us around so many venues, and generally keeping us informed of every little detail. It was great to know that we didn’t have to worry about anything. Your help was great – we would have been lost without you!

Lucia and Alida - Your enthusiasm right from the first time we met you was infectious and we knew we had left the organising of the wedding in the right hands.  You went above and beyond the call of duty: right from decorating the venue perfectly with all of our butterflies and helping us choose flowers, cake etc, to providing tissues for the criers on the day, right down to making sure lost guests arrived in one piece! 

The San Diego Hotel was a perfect base for everyone for the week: the staff are really friendly and sweet and the pool is amazing – we’ll definitely come back again. 

Silvia & Luigi the photographers were such good fun and got some really beautiful and special shots that we never would have thought of!  We especially love the shots taken in Maratea town; it’s been really hard whittling the pictures down from over 500… 

We would definitely recommend Slow Dreams to anyone considering getting married abroad, as we were made to feel like royalty for the whole week! 

Thanks again, Rachel & Ciaran Dowling xxx

Dear Janie, Lucia, Alida & Bill,

We just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone involved in making our wedding so special. All our family and friends had a fantastic time and thought the setting and the service at Il Carrubo and the Santavenere Hotel were second to none. 

Janie and Bill - You did an amazing job of organising things for us, showing us around so many venues, and generally keeping us informed of every little detail. It was great to know that we didn’t have to worry about anything. Your help was great – we would have been lost without you!

Lucia and Alida - Your enthusiasm right from the first time we met you was infectious and we knew we had left the organising of the wedding in the right hands.  You went above and beyond the call of duty: right from decorating the venue perfectly with all of our butterflies and helping us choose flowers, cake etc, to providing tissues for the criers on the day, right down to making sure lost guests arrived in one piece! 

The San Diego Hotel was a perfect base for everyone for the week: the staff are really friendly and sweet and the pool is amazing – we’ll definitely come back again. 

Silvia & Luigi the photographers were such good fun and got some really beautiful and special shots that we never would have thought of!  We especially love the shots taken in Maratea town; it’s been really hard whittling the pictures down from over 500… 

We would definitely recommend Slow Dreams to anyone considering getting married abroad, as we were made to feel like royalty for the whole week! 

Thanks again, Rachel & Ciaran Dowling xxx

Dear Bill, Janie, Lucia and Rosa,

We don't know where to start in thanking you for our wonderful wedding day, and week of total relaxation in beautiful Maratea. When we first came across your website we were very excited as it contained everything we were looking for our wedding in Italy. It was definitely the best website we had come across as it provided so much information on the whole process.

Firstly, I would like to thank Bill for his quick responses to all my questions and for his suggestions, especially about having our champagne reception at Il Clubbino. It was a really nice touch, and all the guests really enjoyed their drinks while looking out at the beautiful views across the port.

Janie, thank you so much for everything you did for us and for making the process so easy and stress free. Your hard work in making our wedding day so special was much appreciated and didn't go unnoticed. Your knowledge of the area and experience in wedding planning proved invaluable to us.

Having travelled throughout Italy in the past we can honestly say that Maratea is definitely its most beautiful area. You get a real feel for Italy at its best, with lovely quaint villages, fantastic scenery, great food, and friendly people. Remaining untouched by mass tourism, it really is Italy's last hideaway. We couldn't have thought of a more stunning setting for our wedding.

The hotel Meraviglie was more than we could have hoped for, with sloping mountains on one side, and beautiful blue seas on the other. The staff at the hotel are wonderful and go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. We have fond memories of relaxing by the pool or down by the water at the hotels own private beach.

When Lucia and Rosa took us to see the hotel Santavenere we knew we had made the perfect choice for our wedding reception. It is absolutely fabulous, unfortunately on the day of the wedding itself we got a bit of bad weather and had to move the reception from the beach restaurant to a terrace in  the main hotel, but, this was equally, as beautiful, as we ate our exquisite meal overlooking the lovely Tyrrhenian sea. The staff were very friendly and couldn't have been more attentive.

On meeting Lucia and Rosa I was struck by how professional, friendly and efficient they both were. They immediately put us at ease and we were confident that everything would run smoothly, and it did!

Lucia went above and beyond her call of duty by attending to our every need  she even tried to find a bar that was broadcasting the All Ireland football final on television so that we could watch it on the day the guests arrived!

Thank you so much for giving us the wedding of our dreams. We are delighted that we chose Slow Dreams to organise our wedding as the level of service is second to none. We will definitely be returning to Maratea again in the near future.

Kind regards,

Marie and Adrian.

From Ireland/Norway (and the rest of the world)

To Lucia, Janie and Bill

We just want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for our fantastic wedding.  How many times can you say thank you to someone?  It was all down to the three of you.  We never thought our wedding could be what it was.  Words cannot describe the happiness you brought to us on our wedding day.  You thought of things we wouldn’t have even considered.  We travel so much that we didn’t have time to plan our own wedding – all we knew was that we wanted to get married in Italy.  A friend recommended you and from the moment I emailed your company I knew that we had reached out to a unique organisation.  All of you were so patient with our indecisions and delays.  Nothing was a problem for you.

We had a small wedding but you allowed us to cater for everything (including the last minute changes… Lucia is amazing; we had absolutely nothing to worry about when we got to Pisciotta.  (For anyone reading this, you have no idea how stress free our wedding was, we were on vacation!).  The town of Pisciotta turned out for our wedding.  We have never seen such generosity for the four days we were there; you would have to be there to believe it.

We cannot recommend highly enough Slow Dreams… we procrastinated, delayed and had literally last minute requests.  Lucia, without saying anything looked after all us (especially me). 

Our family and friends are all still raving about the truly amazing time we had – we all want to go back in 10 year for the anniversary (do you do anniversaries?)

Once again thank you for everything (a mere thank you seems feeble)

Emily O'Sullivan

Dear Bill, Janie & Lucia

Gaining trust, reassurance and confidence was top of our agenda when approaching Slow Dreams to arrange the most important day of our lives.

Bill and Janie, not only did you achieve this, but you demonstrated help and guidance during the 18 months of planning with pure professionalism and flexibility.

The weather was absolutely beautiful from the day we arrived, relaxing around the quaint Villa de Meraviglie with almost 60 guests who travelled from all over the world, enjoying some beautiful Italian pizza, buffalo mozzarella and soaking up the scenic views that you can only imagine in your wildest dreams until you have been here!!

If only words could sum up what happen on 30th May 2009 in Maratea, we would have to describe it as a “Disney Fairy Tail”

The guests enjoyed every minute of the wedding, tears of happiness and celebration filled the day with comments from our guests: “ This is the most amazing, beautiful  wedding we have ever been to”

A special thank you to Lucia who calmed our nerves down by absorbing all the stress into her own arms and ensuring everyone could fully enjoy this amazing day. The organization, pro-activeness and determination of Lucia to make this day spectacular as it was, we would simply have to sum it up … 1st class.

Thank you once more again, for this unforgettable dream…

Best Regards

Nick and Ellen

Dear Bill, Janie, Lucia & Rosa
 
We just wanted to say a big thank you for organising the best wedding ever!  If anyone is reading this and deciding whether to get married abroad then look no further, it will be the best decision you have ever made! :)
 
We first fell in love with Maratea 3 years ago when we were guests at a wedding which slow dreams organised. The area is so unspoilt we decided we had to get married there. We contacted Bill and took his advice to  have our wedding at The Santavenere even though we hadn't actually been to that venue. 

Slow dreams made the wedding planning so easy.  We were a little concerned as it was all done via email but every time we had any questions Janie would be back with answers within 24 hrs.  It was pretty much all done for us.  We could choose exactly what we wanted, I even emailed pictures of bouquets which I liked, and they then took them to the florist to copy for us!

A few months before the wedding Lucia took over with all the finer details and again she was always back to us within 24 hours.  I must have driven you mad with all my questions but nothing was ever too much trouble

We arrived a week before so that we could relax and get a tan first. We met Lucia & Rosa on the Monday and they took us to visit The Santavenere.  We were totally blown away.  It was stunning in fact I almost cried!!

Lucia went out of her way to help; she booked us restaurants, spa treatments and even took me to my make up trial to make sure I got there ok.  During the week we checked the weather and it was forecast that it may rain on our wedding day which really worried me but as soon as I told Lucia my concerns she took me back to the Santavenere and showed me plan B just in case it rained and it was just as stunning as Plan A so I stopped worrying and enjoyed my week in the sun! 

The San Diego was a fantastic base for the week and Francesca was great fun.  All our friends and family really enjoyed it there and got into the party mood!  Please send our thanks on to all the staff at the San Diego, they made us feel so special all week!

The day of the wedding was wonderful.  We were so impressed with how well things were handled.  Just as I was about to walk out for the ceremony is started to rain.  Lucia was so professional and quickly got our guests seated for plan B.  The shower did not spoil a thing and we loved everything about the whole evening.  All our guests commented on how romantic the venue was and have not stopped going on about how first class the food was.  Some said it was the best food they had ever had at a function!  We all loved the dancing outside on the terrace until the early hours with the statue of Redentore looking over us!

If you are looking for an elegant wedding with spectacular views and first class service then I would definitely recommend getting married at the Santavenere through Slow Dreams!

Thank you once again for all your help.  We will be visiting again very soon!

Love Paula & Carl

Hi Janie,

What can i say only thank you`s so so so so so so sooooooo much.

When we booked the San Michele we really did not realize the type of hotel we were going to.

Honestly we have never had such service in our lives. From Ornella herself (an absolute gem of a lady) to Andre in the bar (a saint in the making) to the restaurant manager, the waiters, the receptionists & cleaning staff.

Everyone was absolutely fantastic.

Lucia, is such a lovely lady, the first day we met i had sunstroke so was not well at all & then the day of the wedding i was so bloody nervous before the church i was not much of a laugh either (or in her words " a pooper" ).

When booking with yourselves i really did not know what was going to happen as i do not do really any type of booking over the internet never mind my wedding but my God did you & your company come up trumps.

Again, we can not thank Slow dreams enough for making it all happen & so easy. If I am ever asked if I know if a wedding planner i can guarantee your company will be recommended.

It is depressing to think we wont be mailing each other anymore.

Lots & lots & lots of thanks,

Denis & Sinead.

It’s hard to know where to start, to express our gratitude to Slow Dreams, for organizing our perfect wedding.  After trawling through website after website, Slow Dreams stood out a mile as being a friendly, efficient organization, with weddings based in a quieter part of Italy than the Amalfi coast for example.  All these factors appealed.  Bill and Janie were wonderfully quick, accurate and patient with the hoards of questions I flooded them with over an eighteen month period.  They couldn’t have been kinder or more helpful. 

When we got to Italy, the hotel was exactly as pictured and described on the Slow Dreams website.  Ornella, our liaison there, was amazing – so friendly, warm and approachable, but also efficient and knowledgeable.  The hotel staff were all incredibly friendly and helpful, and most spoke English.  The hotel was so laid back about the location of the wedding and reception, and after showing us all the options, left us to decide over a few days. 

We hadn’t got any very specific ideas about what we wanted the wedding to look or be like, but what transpired exceeded any expectation we could possibly have had.  The ceremony was sweet and simple, and the flowers were exactly what I had hoped for.  We had our buffet reception meal on the terrace by the swimming pool, and the hotel had placed a large table (there were about 20 of us) in the centre, with flowers and candlesticks on the table.  This was Ornella’s idea, and not something I had thought about (I assumed a few smaller tables would be provided) but it was an excellent idea.  We ate the most amazing Italian buffet (many of the guests have since indicated this was some of the best food they’d ever had) and watched the sunset over what was a glorious day.

I can’t thank Slow Dreams enough for their wonderful service

Hi Janie,

We looked at so many wedding planners having made the decision to marry in Italy. From the beginning Slow Dreams were really prompt with every question we had. Their pricing system is clear and simple which allowed us to keep a definite track on our budget. Other companies we looked at just basically quoted up to our maximum budget with no clear indication or breakdown of exactly how much each thing cost and were nowhere near as prompt in replying to every single query we had.

The coast of Maratea and Sapri are so beautiful and a perfect setting for a wedding. All our guests were blown away by the stunning surroundings during their stay. Having Slow Dreams arrange all the guest accommodation, as well as answering guests questions also removed a lot of pressure for us in the run up.

We had our ceremony at the Santavenere Hotel. Unfortunately in rained (even though the rest of the week was really warm) however we truly believe this is lucky now! There were so many options for the ceremony, meal and party afterwards we were so happy with every location on the day and the guests were massively impressed with the beautiful views, fantastic food and amazing silver service. The staff at the Santavenere were thoroughly slick and professional, both meeting and exceeding our expectations! 

Having made the decision on the venue, we went to visit and were really happy with Lucia our planner. She remained warm and thoroughly organized, giving us every choice and option throughout and taking control to ensure smooth running and allowing us to just enjoy the day.

We are both so thankful to the whole Slow Dreams team for making our Special Day just that! We couldn't have asked for anything more and to us the day was literally perfect. Thank you so much again!

Hayley and Daniel Ellis

 

Slow Dreams melted all of my bridal worries away! Words cannot describe the precious memories we have taken away from this experience. Janie and Bill were professional, reliable, and very prompt.  We were virtually stress-free on the days leading up to the wedding. The team in Italy stayed true to Slow Dreams great reputation and made sure our dreams came true for this special occasion. The photographer and videographer are very talented and a million thank yous to Alessandra – my honorary maid of honor.

We played the wedding video for our guests at our reception in the U.S. The video took everyone’s breath away. Every time we watch our video we are mesmerized as if it were the first time we saw it. The video and photos will always take us back to this special time in our life.

Villa Sirio is a beautiful and romantic place which is run by very gracious hosts. The people of Santa Maria di Castellabate were the nicest and most helpful that we encountered throughout our entire trip around Italy.

We would not change one thing about our wedding planned by Slow Dreams. We thank Slow Dreams from the bottom of our hearts for taking the most important day of our lives and turning it into a dream come true.

Forever Newlyweds,

Emily & Jacob

Janie, Lucia and Bill,

Thank you all so very much for everything you did to make our wedding day go so smoothly.  From getting our guests booked in at the hotel to music and flowers and everything in between - it all went off without a hitch and we were so relaxed thanks to you all!  The staff at L'Approdo Hotel were so helpful, friendly and accommodating and the setting was beautiful.  It really was our dream day and we enjoyed every minute of it!!

We simply cannot thank you enough for all that you did.  Having a destination wedding can be cumbersome to organize but with Slow-Dreams expertise and organization it was just so easy!  You were all so friendly, patient with all the questions, and very quick to respond.  You really put us at ease with our decision to get married abroad.  The Maratea region is so beautiful and we can't wait to go back!  And Lucia, thanks for going the extra mile and rescheduling the excursion trip for our guests.  They really enjoyed it and were so appreciative that you did that for them!

We would highly recommend Slow-Dreams for anyone wishing to get married in Italy.  You were all so fabulous to work with and we are so glad we came across your website.  You guys are the best!!

Mille grazie,
Denae & Mark

Dear Janie, Bill, Lucia and team,

We wanted to say a huge thank you for the most amazing time in Maratea and the wedding day of our dreams, it truly was magical !!! From the very first enquiry we sent via your website Bill responded in less than 24hrs with a basic quote and the service we received from then on was brilliant and totally took the stress out of planning a wedding.

Once we’d agreed the budget with Bill, Janie was then on hand to answer all my questions about the wedding details and helping to sort out the whole week in Maratea for all our guests too. You made it all so easy, answering my many emails straight away. Every detail we requested was no trouble, from helping to match my colour scheme and suggesting ideas to booking transport from the airport and recommending alternative dishes on the menus.

 Once we arrived in Maratea, Lucia was on hand the next day to show us the venue again and go through all the fine details I’d arranged with Janie via email. I have to say that we cannot thank Lucia and her team enough, they did an absolutely amazing job. The venue we had chosen was Il Carrubo at the Santavenere Hotel and it was breath taking on the day, all our guests were speechless and couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. I’d had a little trouble with the hairstyle I wanted and Lucia stayed with me while the hairdresser was there on the day to make sure I was happy, which I truly appreciated. When my wedding flowers arrived I couldn’t believe what a fantastic job the florist had done, matching the colour perfectly and copying the picture I had sent exactly. While I was in the hotel getting ready, we had arranged for the groom to arrive by boat from the port while the guests watched him arrive, the only little disappointment we have is that a just a few of our guests hadn’t arrived at this point. Everything else was absolutely perfect and more than we had hoped for. The food I would say was the biggest talking point after the venue itself – we could not believe how much there was and it was all fantastic! We’ve had the photographers photo’s and they are brilliant, in fact we are finding it very difficult to chose the ones we like best for our album!

We stayed at the Hotel Villa Delle Meraviglie for a week with all our guests and it is such a lovely villa style hotel in a gorgeous location, it was like our own little hide away. The rooms were lovely and the staff very friendly and helpful, especially Franco who was brilliant.

Our wedding day really was a dream come true and wouldn’t have happened without all of you. I would like to say a special thank you to Lucia who not only ensured we had the best wedding day ever but that our entire stay in Maratea was thoroughly enjoyable, recommending places to go and helping to book restaurants so that we all got to see the most of the area and what it has to offer. We will most definitely be back to visit Maratea very soon and a lot of our guests have said the same, it really is a beautiful part of Italy.

If you are thinking of planning a wedding abroad, don’t hesitate to use Slow-Dreams services and have the wedding of your dreams in Maratea!

Warmest regards,

Francesca & Barrie Hodson

Dear Janie, Lucia and Bill,

I would like to start by thanking everyone at Slow Dreams for making our wedding day better than we could ever have imagined.  From the first email that was sent back on a cold wet January night every exchange we had from then on was answered so promptly and thoroughly.  From my original endless email questions with Bill initially, then Janie and then Lucia closer to the day; it was as if everyone had so much experience that they could nearly pre-empt what I was going to ask next.  There was never any delay in response or compromise of answer.  No question too big and none too small, and they were many…   I think my decision was made within 2 days that Maratea was the place we wanted to get married and Slow Dreams the company we would use.

We decided on the venue of the Ave Maria church at the port in Maratea and Il Carrubo at The Santavenere for the reception.  All planning was done over email and we took a chance having never visited this area of Italy before.  We were not disappointed. 

We debated over where we would stay and we were so glad we pushed the boat out and stayed at the Santavenere for the week.  We along with our 1 year old daughter pretty much had the hotel to ourselves and the family and staff couldn’t have been more welcoming.  The hotel has an old style charm and the service is great, especially on the day of the wedding.  Our families stayed at the Meraviglie and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Everyone loved the lush gardens with beautiful walks to the sea.  

We met with Lucia and Alida 2 days before the wedding and they took us down to Il Carrubo and we worked out logistics for day.  This is where the pressure was lifted from us and 9 months of planning fell into place.  We also met with Silvia and Luigi and casually discussed what type of photographs we would like.  Meetings likes this can happen months in advance when planning a wedding; arranging tables, favours,  PA and DJ system, meal requirements, order of the day etc but even meeting with everyone for the first time 2 days before the wedding did not compromise anything.

From the first time I saw Il Carrubo I was blown away, the photos to do not do the place justice.  It is intimate, yet spacious with wonderful views of the sea and completely private; the most amazing outside wedding venue. 

On the morning of the wedding everything went seamlessly and this is where Lucia came into her own.  Lucia was wonderful and with Alidas help, nothing was left to chance she kept everything running smoothly making it look effortless.  The flowers were beautiful – exactly the same as the picture I had sent.  The hairdressers (whom we had never met) did a wonderful job, with our pigeon Italian and help with translation.  Silvia and Luigi the photographers were great, so relaxed.  We asked for as laid back and natural as possible and that’s exactly what we got.  The proofs look great so look forward to receiving the album.  We didn’t realise how long they would be there so we were pleasantly surprised to still see them both late into the night taking snaps of the dancing… 

The church service at the Ave Maria church at the port was beautiful.  The mass was in Italian with Lucia translating.  Our priest Don Giuseppe Addolorato went out of his way to make the mass personal to us even though the first time we met him was at the altar.  The singers during the mass were also wonderful.  We chose to have a prosecco toast at Il Clubbino in the port which was great for the photos and added a relaxed atmosphere.

The night before the wedding there was a storm and parts of Italy were badly flooded and as the winds were still very high we couldn’t have the dinner in Il Carrubo (I think everyone was afraid to tell me). At first I was really disappointed but as an Irish person I know you can never depend on the weather.  It meant having the dinner in the dining room at the main hotel.  This really worked out to our advantage as it allowed our guests to see the elegance of the hotel which they wouldn’t have seen had the meal been at Il Carrubo.  The food was beautiful with wonderful service and spectacular views from the dining room. Adding to the romance of the day there was an original lost Leonardo Da Vinci portrait on display in the hotel which some of the guests, as were we, truly impressed with.   During the meal the hotel manager approached us and said the weather had calmed down greatly and asked if we wanted to go to Il Carrubo to have the dancing.  We really got the best of both worlds having been able to eat comfortably in the hotel dining room, make the speeches and then go down to the sea and dance until very early in the morning, without anyone looking over our shoulders pointing to the clock... 

I cannot recommend Slow Dreams enough.  Along with everything they did organising the wedding including following up on paper work, arranging the flowers, music, photographers, dealing with the hotel, local transport, airport transfers, room bookings for family and friends, a nail party, numerous hair bookings the day of the wedding and even picking up candles to use during the mass per an Irish candle lighting tradition – nothing was a problem.  Lucia also helped us arrange book a restaurant for a party our parents threw the night after the wedding.  Some of my guests couldn’t believe that all arrangements for the wedding were made just over email. 

Lucia was attentive but yet discreet the day of the wedding and left us to work away for the rest of the night once the meal was being served.  I really enjoyed planning the wedding and most of that is down to my confidence that everything would work out as it did because of Slow Dreams; nothing is left to chance.  Maratea is a special place with breath-taking sea views, wooded hillsides and steep mountains that run to the sea with cliff top views at every opportunity and an ideal place to have a wedding.   All of the guests were gobsmacked when they first saw Maratea and then the location for wedding, many of whom said it was the best wedding they were ever at.  We can’t wait to go back to visit to relive the memories.  

Ruth and Will

September 2009  

 

Martin and I would like to thank everyone of the Slow Dreams team for making our wedding very special. 

Our initial contact with Bill was very professional; all questions were answered in a timely manner.  Our first visit to the region 12 months prior was an enjoyable weekend.  Our parents and we felt privileged to be personally escorted by Lucia and Allegra to six venues.  Within seconds of walking through the gates of Villa Miranda, we knew it was our venue, with Lucia explaining the layout of the ceremony and reception it confirmed to us the private villa would be a relaxed, intimate celebration for our 40 guests.

Janie was extremely helpful during the email correspondence leading up to the week before.  Then Lucia, although busy with many other weddings, fulfilled all our wishes upon arrival.  I was over the moon when we managed to buy exactly the flowers I wanted at the market in Sapri, thanks to Lucia’s recommendation.  The legal ceremony at San Giovanni Di Piro exceeded our expectations.  The staff at the beautiful town hall made us feel very special. 

The day of the wedding Lucia was on hand to sort out all concerns, and many friends commented on her professionalism and warmth (not a given when hiring the services of a wedding planner in Italy from their personal experience). 

The stunning village of Scario (5mins drive from the villa) was a great backdrop for photos, and our guests really enjoyed their time spent at the cafes along the piazza. 

The buffet looked and tasted great, and the services of the sound system were ideal, we just connected our MP3 and the dance floor was crowded all night!

We can honestly say our wedding was better than we could have imagined, and choosing Slow Dreams was the best decision, to make our celebrations personal and relatively stress-free.

We’re looking forward to returning for our anniversary and to catch up with Lucia for a coffee.

Dear Slowdreams
 
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the slowdreams team for helping us have the most magical wedding in Maratea.  We have many fond memories of our perfect day and even now several months later,  people still say it was the best wedding they have ever been too!
 
From the start, Janie was a great help with booking all the services such as flowers, photography, room bookings  etc as well as giving us lots of useful information on the area and helping us out with all the necessary paperwork. She was always very quick to come back on every query and nothing was too much to ask. Thank you for helping the lead up to the wedding run so smoothly. 

Lucia was also wonderful, everybody loved her! She actually introduced us to the venue, Hotel San Diego,  when we visited as it had not been on our original list and we fell in love with it as soon as we saw it. Her help on the day in the church and also with hair and make up translations and restaurant recommendations etc was invaluable, thank you.
 
The church itself, San Biagio on top of the mountain was out of this world. Most certainly one of  the highlights of the wedding!! The views were breathtaking and the church so quaint. The priest was absolutely lovely and we were so pleased he conducted our ceremony, it was beautiful, please pass on our  special  thanks to him.

The hair and make up artists did a great job, I was especially delighted with my hair. Obviously I was apprehensive as I only had a trial the day before the wedding but it all turned out  beautifully.  The photographers, Luigi and Silvia were fantastic, we love  the photos and the video and will cherish them forever.
 
Finally , we would also like to say a special thanks to Hotel San Diego. When we were  booking this venue  we were  surprised at how few  testimonials mentioned it. It was the most beautiful location and very good value in comparison to other venues. Fabio and Francesca went out of their way to help the wedding party, and even the language barrier didn't put them off !  

We have very fond  memories of our wonderful wedding in Maratea and thank the slowdreams team and all those involved for their part in that. We very much look forward to returning to Maratea in the future.
 
Thanks again
 
Jess and Adriel Farrell

Dear Janie, Bill and Lucia
 
We have just returned from our recent wedding in Italy arranged through Slow Dreams and would just like to say a special thank you all your help from start through to finish.
We had originally decided to arrange our wedding somewhere on the Amalfi Coast, however after some initial discussions with a number of wedding planners in this region we got chatting to Slow Dreams after settling on the Marulivo Hotel in Pisciotta. we fell in love with this hotel on the first sight of the pictures on your website and were not disappointed!
 
We travelled down to the hotel  for our wedding after spending a few nights in Positano and along the Amalfi Coast. On arrival were immediately charmed by the rustic and traditional Italian nature of the town, away from the maddening crowds and throngs of tourists. Hotel Vicino Palinuro was amazingly beautiful and the terrace overlooking hundreds of miles of sea, not even broken by a boat, was the most beautiful setting we could have wished for at our wedding. The owners of the hotel were one of the most friendly and helpful couples we have met, showing their genuine hospitality throughout our stay and assisting us and our guests with everything. Even spending 5 hours of the wedding morning helping some lost friends dig their hire car out of the mud! Watching the sun set from the terrace accompanied by a cello and violin was a beautiful backdrop to our wedding ceremony and reception.
 
The Osteria Del Borgo restuarant was an excellent setting for the dinner. The food was amazingly tasty and even though it was for a party of 27 people was all freshly cooked and did not have the mass produced feel too often associated with large gatherings. Again, the restaurant had that rustic Italian charm found throughout Pisciotta. We were in Italy for a couple of weeks and this was by far our favourite restaurant, one which we returned to visit a couple times more after the wedding was over.
 
The weather during our stay in Italy was somewhat variable, which was evidently unusual for this time of year. Needless to say,  it was pouring with rain on the morning of the wedding. Lucia came to see us and reassured us  that an alternative plan was to be created should the weather look to dampen our plans for an outdoor celebration. However, it appears Slow Dreams even have control of the weather, as 15 minutes before the ceremony the storm clouds moved on and we were met with amazing sunshine which stayed with us for the rest of the day and the remainder of our time in Italy.
 
Having not been to this area of Italy before, nor having had any personal recommendation of Slow Dreams, it was with a little trepidation that we started the planning for our wedding. However, every query or question we asked of Slow Dreams was answered very quickly and you ensured that everything progressed exactly how we wished for. It would be safe to say that the day was as perfect as we could have imagined it to be and we wouldn't change a thing. Lucia remained on hand throughout the day to ensure that all was taken care of.
 
A big thank you to all at Slow Dreams for the perfect wedding which was full of love and laughs and was as special and perfect as we could have wished for. It is nice to now have a sentimental reason to once again visit Vicino Palinuro, and the Osteria Del Borgo in the future, which are now some of our favourite places in the world.
 
Thanks
 
Damian & Angie

Dear Janie, Bill and Lucia
 
We have just returned from our recent wedding in Italy arranged through Slow Dreams and would just like to say a special thank you all your help from start through to finish.
We had originally decided to arrange our wedding somewhere on the Amalfi Coast, however after some initial discussions with a number of wedding planners in this region we got chatting to Slow Dreams after settling on the Marulivo Hotel in Pisciotta. we fell in love with this hotel on the first sight of the pictures on your website and were not disappointed!
 
We travelled down to the hotel  for our wedding after spending a few nights in Positano and along the Amalfi Coast. On arrival were immediately charmed by the rustic and traditional Italian nature of the town, away from the maddening crowds and throngs of tourists. Hotel Vicino Palinuro was amazingly beautiful and the terrace overlooking hundreds of miles of sea, not even broken by a boat, was the most beautiful setting we could have wished for at our wedding. The owners of the hotel were one of the most friendly and helpful couples we have met, showing their genuine hospitality throughout our stay and assisting us and our guests with everything. Even spending 5 hours of the wedding morning helping some lost friends dig their hire car out of the mud! Watching the sun set from the terrace accompanied by a cello and violin was a beautiful backdrop to our wedding ceremony and reception.
 
The Osteria Del Borgo restuarant was an excellent setting for the dinner. The food was amazingly tasty and even though it was for a party of 27 people was all freshly cooked and did not have the mass produced feel too often associated with large gatherings. Again, the restaurant had that rustic Italian charm found throughout Pisciotta. We were in Italy for a couple of weeks and this was by far our favourite restaurant, one which we returned to visit a couple times more after the wedding was over.
 
The weather during our stay in Italy was somewhat variable, which was evidently unusual for this time of year. Needless to say,  it was pouring with rain on the morning of the wedding. Lucia came to see us and reassured us  that an alternative plan was to be created should the weather look to dampen our plans for an outdoor celebration. However, it appears Slow Dreams even have control of the weather, as 15 minutes before the ceremony the storm clouds moved on and we were met with amazing sunshine which stayed with us for the rest of the day and the remainder of our time in Italy.
 
Having not been to this area of Italy before, nor having had any personal recommendation of Slow Dreams, it was with a little trepidation that we started the planning for our wedding. However, every query or question we asked of Slow Dreams was answered very quickly and you ensured that everything progressed exactly how we wished for. It would be safe to say that the day was as perfect as we could have imagined it to be and we wouldn't change a thing. Lucia remained on hand throughout the day to ensure that all was taken care of.
 
A big thank you to all at Slow Dreams for the perfect wedding which was full of love and laughs and was as special and perfect as we could have wished for. It is nice to now have a sentimental reason to once again visit Vicino Palinuro, and the Osteria Del Borgo in the future, which are now some of our favourite places in the world.
 
Thanks
 
Damian & Angie

Janie and Bill,

Thank you for the email. We are finally getting settled in!

Here is a testimonial:

“We feel so grateful to have had such a beautiful wedding thanks to Slow Dreams. It was truly spectacular, better than we could have imagined, and tremendously special because of the personalized, attentive care we received from everyone involved. Our on-site wedding planner, Lucia, went the extra-mile at every step for us. We couldn’t have asked for a more compassionate, talented individual working on our behalf. Janie, Bill, and the team at Slow Dreams worked to make everything seamless for us, and for our guests. The whole thing was like a dream. Thanks a million!”

Also, here are some more thoughts on the wedding. Feel free to use any of this for the testimonial too.

Janie, we received many comments about how quickly you responded and how easy you made the reservation process for the guests. We really appreciate everything you did!

Fabio from the San Diego was just a pleasure! The party on the night before the wedding was carefully put together… there was plenty of food! They put up lots of extra umbrellas because of the rain and Fabio and his staff kept us informed about the bar bill all night.

They were incredibly attentive that night, and during the whole stay.

They even kept the bar open late every night to accommodate our late-night partiers. Fabio, Massimo, Francesca, and the rest of the staff made our stay so comfortable, we felt right at home, and everyone else who stayed there said the same thing. The hotel was very clean, and the pool area was simply gorgeous.

The ceremony was absolutely beautiful.

Giuseppe, the hairdresser, was so sweet and he did a great job. I was very happy with my hair, and he really cheered me up when it was raining.

The food, service, and scenery at the Santavenere were simply mindblowing. The quality really did come through. We felt so taken care of the entire night. I’ve heard some people say, “The food makes a wedding.” If this is true, then this was the best wedding in the world. The dinner was truly an upscale dining experience, and I’ve personally never tasted food that good. People are still saying, “That’s the best steak I have ever eaten,” and “The dessert was so good it made me want to cry.” The canolli cake was also delicious! We couldn’t have been more impressed with the dinner and high level of service. It was well worth it, and we're so glad we chose it.

The DJ did a good job, and I personally loved the folk band. They were so talented!

Even though the weather left us unable to have the reception at Il Carubo, the upstairs was warm, cozy, and charming, and it perfectly fit our 60 guests. The reception felt very intimate.

The flowers were STUNNING. Absolutely incredible. I never thought I even cared about flowers, but I was really in love with them.

The photographer, Franco, did an amazing job. We were shocked at how good we looked considering what spazzes we felt like! You could tell he was really into getting creative shots and we loved that. Lubna was good too. We are really impressed with the photos.

Our guests had an amazing time. They are still raving about the Santavenere, the church, the beautiful views, the dancing, and the party!

You guys made our wedding day spectacular, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

 

Thank you for everything,

Deidre and Barry

 

Hi everyone
 
Hope this email finds you all well, no doubt you are in the full swing of wedding season now and full of busy. We have been back in Australia for a week and have just about adjusted back to the work routine, it has been made all the more easy as we are still buzzing from a fantastic holiday and in particular a great time and wedding in Sapri, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work in organizing a day that we will never forget.  We have spoken to everyone who was in Sapri and without exception they have all said what a great trip they had and also how impressed they were with the wedding which we are obviously really pleased about.
 
As you know we first approached Slow Dreams on 2009 and met Lucia at a couple of places including the Lido in August of that year, although we were only in Sapri for a few hours Lucia quickly got to grips with the sort of wedding we were looking for and also the need for wheelchair access for Nick. The fact that Lucia tuned into our ideas so quickly was a huge help as it saved us a lot of time looking at unsuitable venues and sure enough when we were shown around the Lido with Lucia's description of how the day could pan out it ticked most if not all of the boxes.  We looked at a couple of other venues with other wedding planners on the trip some of which were very nice and we gave serious consideration to them when we returned to the UK, however after a few email conversations we decided that Sapri and the Lido was the place for us, for many reasons including Lucia's approach, the accommodation available, competitive pricing but also because of Bill's professional and patient approach when answering the multitude of questions that we sent his way. Our emails to Bill always received a swift response and questions were answered in full which was very helpul when we were weighing up the pros's and con's.
 
Once we moved to Australia we were a bit concerned that it may be harder to organize the details of the wedding day but once we were in touch with Janie it became clear that we had nothing to worry about! As well as (again) being very patient and working through our various plans/concerns Janie made us feel very confident that the day would work out as we hoped with her professional but enthusiastic approach. We felt we made quite a lot of changes to our plans whether it was Nick's arrangements, the wedding meal, numbers etc but Janie stayed consistent in her helpfulness and no doubt with assistance from Lucia and Bill, worked through any problems we had. One comment we have had from anyone who booked accommodation in Sapri through Janie is how helpful and professional she is, and we can second that.
 
When we finally arrived in Sapri for the week before the wedding we were blown away with the Hotel Pisacane and with Sapri itself, having only been there a short time two years earlier we very pleasantly surprised that the hotel and town seemed much better than we remembered it. Probably because we looked around Sapri mid afternoon when there wasn't much going on we hadn't appreciated what a lovely place it is in the evening and first thing in the morning. We also thought the Lido was fantastic, the new sides look great and other improvements all add up to make a special venue, and it was great to receive such as warm welcome from Lucia there the evening we arrived!  The following day when we met Lucia at the Lido to go through plans for the wedding day was great, there was little Lucia hadn't thought of and her level of organisation made us fell everything was in hand, as you can imagine having anticipated being in Sapri and the Lido for so long we were fairly pumped for the occasion so it was good to have in Lucia a sense of measured excitement that meant we could relax and enjoy the time we had there. Lucia really went above and beyond, we had several things still to fine tune, mainly with Nicks travel arrangements, there was a impending ash cloud that was threatening to leave more than half of the wedding party stranded in the UK and at times it felt quite stressful. Fortunately Lucia took everything in her stride, not least the booking and re booking of Nicks train from Rome to Sapri and back at the Sapri train station which required several visits on her part and much interpretation. We got there in the end though and as it turned out his trip went without a hitch, we may not have been able to make that happen without Lucia's help.
 
Regarding Nicks trip, he had a fantastic time. The Hotel Tirreno was great, we were given the choice of several rooms and once he and Helen were checked in we didn't have any worries at all. The Lido was also great with Nick, he loved it there and even if he wasn't actually eating or drinking there the staff were very considerate in letting him use the bathroom as some other places in town weren't accessible so please pass on our thanks for that.
 
The big day itself came around and we all walked around to the town hall with Lucia where the ceremony with the deputy Mayor took place. This was a lovely occasion with just close family, we were naturally excited, a feeling which seemed to be shared by Lucia despite probably having done it dozens of times. This was something that we noticed throughout our time in Sapri, even if it was work and at times a bit of a chore Lucia was always sharing in our excitement which just made the occasion even more special. We know Lucia had other weddings to attend to that week and was approaching a very busy time but we never felt she had somewhere else to be.  After the morning ceremony the two of us had a walk around town and had a coffee before heading back to the Pisacane to get ready, it was around this time the beautiful weather gave way to rain, thunder and lightening of epic proportions. One clap of thunder was so loud outside our room that everyone in there jumped a foot! The rain was interspersed with spells of sunshine but as 5:00pm came around the rain looked a little more set in and sure enough the decision was made to have the ceremony inside. Naturally Lucia handled this fairly major rearrangement with 15 minutes to go very professionally and plenty of people mucked in to move speakers etc. The set up of the Lido was fantastic, the tables looked great as did all of the flowers that were so fresh and just as we had imagined. Lucia made sure candles were lit and when the rain eventually stopped made sure there were some lit on the walkway to the beach.  We would of course have preferred the weather to be lovely and sunny but it wasn't to be and we weren't worried, in fact the rain and thunder was so intense it made for a fairly dramatic atmosphere and a heightened sense of occasion on our part, it certainly didn't get in the way of everyone having a good time!
 
The ceremony at the Lido was really nice, again everyone commented on the quality of the food, in particular the seafood was very good. All of the staff at the Lido were very attentive and along with Lucia made sure that we all had drinks etc when we needed them. All through the evening Lucia was checking with us to make sure everything was going ok which was very reassuring. After the meal as the night wore on the bar staff were great and very tolerent of everyones drunken state, particulary when some guests wanted a go at serving drinks! We were there 'til a lot later than planned, the time flew but no one was there tapping watches which was great, in fact after the Lido the bar staff (sorry we can't remember names) came and had a few drinks with us over the road which was good. We got to bed about 6, fair to say a good night was had by all!
 
The next day those that were capable went on a great boat trip with Mario, again thanks for the heads up Lucia, he showed us some places of interest before we stopped for a swim which helped clear our heads. And on Saturday most people went their separate ways, we drove up to Pisa over a few days and then took the train to Nice where we hired a car and drove to a Gite about an hour away in the middle of nowhere apart from a small village where we spent a week relaxing.  Quite a few people who were at the wedding are already planning a return trip to Sapri, some for a short break and others for a longer stay so that they can explore the area, we will certainly be back as of course Sapri is now a special place for us but also because its a great place to stay and we would really like to explore the area as well.
 
We mustn't forget to mention Dominique, hope that is the correct spelling, and the other guys at the hotel Pisacane, please pass on our thanks to them for making our stay so enjoyable, they were always very attentive and helpful when we needed anything and again helped make out trip feel very special, in fact everyone who stayed at each of the three hotels said the staff and stay in general were great. Also please thank the wonderful hairdresser too, she was fabulous and had no worries doing people's hair on the day when it wasn't pre arranged, she was so lovely and although she didn't speak english and our Italian being a bit rubbish haha we understood each other brilliantly, she was excellent.
 
Thanks again for helping to make our wedding very special, you make a great team and if we hear of anyone thinking of a wedding in Italy we will certainly recommend you. We are waiting for our photos from Sarah, we will send you some of those on asap, and Lucia, maybe catch you at the Lido in Sapri sometime!  
 
Many thanks
Dan & Janna aka Mr & Mrs Stephenson xxxx
  

Hi guys,

sorry that this has taken so long, we have been so busy and wanted to make sure that we got it right for you!

Many thanks to Bill Janie and Lucia for helping us to create our perfect wedding.

We enquired with quite a few companies but found no others compared to the service offered by Bill, Janie and Lucia. 

What impressed us so much was how quickly all our inquiries were dealt with. No matter how many questions we asked they were always answered within a couple of hours!

We were guided through everything, from the best ways to get to the venue to where to go afterwards! 

Bill and Janie are extremely organised and professional and make the whole process as straightforward as possible.  

When we arrived at our venue the albergo vicinio we couldn't believe how perfect it was! The hotel owners were absolutely fantastic and we cannot praise them enough. It was an unforgettable wedding venue and getting married on a cliff top terrace overlooking the sea is absolutely priceless. The hotel was fully occupied with our guests which added to the feeling of exclusivity. Lea who owned the venue decorated the terrace for the wedding absolutely beautifully with Lucia's help. 

We cannot praise Lucia enough, every last detail was perfect, she even helped lace up my dress when my mum was too nervous!

I would without doubt recommend slow dreams to anyone who was looking for wedding planners in Italy and the venue is somewhere where we hope to visit year after year.

Our wedding went without a single hitch, everything succeeded our expectations and we couldn't be happier so thank you to the whole team! 

27th May 2011
Staying at The Gabbiano Hotel
Wedding at The Santavenere Hotel
 
Where where do you start?! We have returned from two weeks of the most fabulous wedding and holiday we could have ever dreamed of  - thanks to Slow Dreams.
So the beginning - we trawled the internet looking for wedding venues all over the world when we came upon Slow Dreams. We were very impressed with their set up we decided to go one step further and arrange a short break touring the west coast of Italy and meet with their representative, Lucia, to check out the hotels they were offering for weddings.
Eighteen months ago we met Lucia in the port of Maratea and already enjoying the location she drove us round the area to show us the hotels - we were not disappointed!  Each one has there own individual attraction and in stunning locations to meet individual needs.  Lucia is an encyclopedia of information on these hotels and the area and we found ourselves not having any questions at all to ask! During this guided tour we were taken to the Santavenere Hotel - luxury an understatement!  We had seen this hotel on the Slow Dreams website and had thought it was out of our price range BUT the good news - you can actually stay elsewhere and have your wedding at the Santavenere (and stay for your wedding night) PERFECT for those on a budget! 
We decided on the Gabbiano as our base due to the beautiful location on the beach and very reasonable price. At the end of our informative tour we said our goodbyes to Lucia and left totally in love with the area.  Just to say at this point, which was the start of Lucia's helpfulness and kindness, our car key snapped in our ignition on leaving and we were stuck! Lucia to the rescue - mechanic who she knew was called (at siesta time too!) who came without hesitation and sorted us out - incredible!
On returning to England we had no hesitation whatsoever in getting in touch with Slow Dreams to book our wedding.  This is quite a scary step putting your whole wedding into someone else's hands in America however do not worry because we can assure you everything is dealt with to perfection.  Janie and Bill are with you every step of the way - everything is clearly explained and any questions are answered within 24 hours, even at weekends!  There is so much you think of trying to make sure the day is going to be perfect but a quick email to Janie and you have no worries!  We found with Slow Dreams that no matter how many times you email them a friendly response comes back! Menus, flowers, music etc. all arranged so easily.  We were taking family and friends with us which is nerve racking organising their holiday too but again this was easily dealt with on an emailed spreadsheet showing their names, accommodation and amounts due at what time.
By the time May 2011 all preparations made, paperwork done and time to relax?  Yes would you believe we could - we had total faith and trust in Slow Dreams and with Lucia in Italy to arrange our Day from all our dealings with them over the past 18 months.
We arrived with family and friends five days before our wedding day at the lovely Gabbiano Hotel and all our party adored the beauty of the location and the hotel itself - good start!
This continued throughout our half board stay at the Gabbiano with helpful, friendly staff, excellent food, very clean and great pool and beach areas.
Lucia arranged to meet with us the day after we arrived and it was wonderful to see her again!  Her expertise and organisation proved perfect yet again as we were taken to meet with our photographer to chat about what pictures we would like and also the Santavenere to go over the final details on how our wedding would pan out. 
So the Day arrived and I was rather nervous - just wedding jitters - I knew Lucia would have everything else in hand!  Of course she did from our appointment at the Town Hall, conducted by a lovely Mayor, to coming to bring my flowers to our room at the Santavenere and giving me the nod that everyone had arrived and we were ready!
The whole day ran to perfection - a beautiful service in the most stunning location on the veranda with the mountains and sea in the background.  Lucia translated the service so clearly and it was wonderful having the service in both Italian and English.  We celebrated with some bubbly before our photographer took us into the town of Maratea to take more pictures.  This was an incredible experience, walking through the town and being greeted with cheers and car horns by the residents of Maratea who are so warmhearted.  We had fabulous pictures taken around the centre and then back to the Santavenere for the party to begin!
The meal was without question the most incredible food we have ever eaten and we finished off with a Tiramisu Weddiing Cake - THE BEST!  We danced the night away and even our 87 year old Nanna was reluctant to leave!  The Santavenere is without question the most beautiful hotel.   Our family and friends were speechless on how we found such an amazing place - one answer - Slow Dreams!
We continued our stay at the Gabbiano for a further week and had a lovely relaxing time, meeting up again with Lucia before we left.  We could not thank her enough for everything she did for us - we could call for help at any time.  Lucia goes a step further than just organising your wedding, she is your friend.  When we wanted a recommendation for a restaurant in Maratea for our final night, within five minutes a call was made and table booked!  We could not have asked for more.  I felt very sad saying goodbye to Lucia and gave her a small bunch of flowers as a token of thanks - I wish I could have bought her a whole florist because that is what she deserves. 
So we are back home happily married with the beautiful memories of our Wedding.  All our guests are still talking about their stay and the day - one saying it was the best wedding he had ever been to!  We think so too of course and all this could not have been done without Bill, Janie and our Wonder Woman Lucia!
Our huge THANKS and best wishes to Slow Dreams and for those who are looking for the perfect wedding organised for you and in the most beautiful part of Italy -
LOOK NO FURTHER :-)
 
Paul & Caroline Gerrard
 
PS: If you would like to contact me for any questions regarding dealing with Slow Dreams please do not hesitate to contact me.
EMAIL - caroline.gerrard@hotmail.co.uk
  

Hi Bill, Janie & Lucia,

Sorry for delay in getting back to you.  I have put in a few photos that I think show off the place well :-))

Wedding at Hotel San Diego 30th June 2011.

We would like to say a huge thank you to all three of you for your help with our wedding.   We were very happy with the whole thing.   I was nervous going over, never having been to this area of Italy and not having met you.   But the minute I met Lucia I knew it would be fine.   The day was so easy for us, and the help she gave to us and our guests for the duration of the stay was excellent and greatly appreciated.

The area is absolutely gorgeous and the people are very friendly and helpful.  We had some great nights out in other local restaurants including Lucia's family restaurant which was excellent.

The views from the hotel are fantastic and the ceremony and seating areas were just perfect.

We had our 7 year old daughter with us, and many of our guests were children, they all had a great time, and the lay out of the hotel's pool area, playground and gardens were ideal for them.   Would highly recommend this hotel for children.

Using Slow Dreams took the stress out of the wedding, they made the whole thing very easy.  We only decided to get married in March and everything was sorted with out a problem in that time.

Thanks for everything,

 John, Georgina & Emma.

Dear Lucia, Janie & Bill,

Thank you all so much for all of your help in organising our wedding day,  It was completely perfect.  

Our wedding day started perfectly, from the hotel Pisacane to the beautiful little church in Sapri, the priest who married us, Don Enzo couldn't have been more welcoming, he made the ceremony even more special than it already was.  All of the places and little details that Lucia suggested turned out to be perfect, the flowers, hairdresser etc, we really didn't have to do anything ourselves once we decided on our venues.  The lunch in the lido was perfect, the food was amazing and the setting just right for a very chilled out afternoon looking out at the sea after our wedding.  The evening reception at Santavenere was beyond our wildest dreams, you have to see it to believe it.  All of the staff we met along the way were exceptional, we are still talking about it a month later and there really is not one thing we would have changed.

For the staff at slow dreams, you could not have been more helpful, every little question along the way was answered immediately, for any couple choosing to get married in Italy I would strongly recommend using Slow Dreams, the service was 100% and the locations were breathtaking.  Our guests are still talking about Lucia and Janie and how helpful and friendly they were, you really went above and beyond for all of us, Lucia shopping for baby formula a week before the wedding for my sisters baby for example!

We wish you all the best in the future and hope you get to make lots of more couples dreams come true.

Yours sincerely,

Hope you are all well I am so sorry its taken so long for me to get this to you! We are currently in the process of moving house and with Christmas as well it's been all go since the wedding.

Adam and I got engaged on Christmas Day 2010 and after being together 7 years already we decided to not to have a long engagement. We decided to get married abroad as we new our budget couldn't stretch to a big wedding in England. After doing some initial research we decided on Italy without even having been there! I spoke to about three wedding companies initially and Slow Dreams were the only ones that seemed to listen to my budget expectations and not keep coming back with quotes that were unrealistic. Bill was great always getting back to me promptly and answering all my questions. We decided to go with the Hotel San Diego, the scenery around the ceremony area was breathtaking and the hotel itself would cost our guests a fortune!

Closer to the wedding date Lucia took over the organisation as she is located in the area she organised the flowers, I must admit I was a bit worried about emailing a picture of my flowers but when they turned up on the day they were amazing and better than I could have imagined. She worked through a schedule of how the day would work out and was fantastic. 

We had guests arriving everyday, Lucia gave us her mobile number and was available any time to field questions from restaurant recommendations to taxi bookings. The night before the wedding she organised taxi's and restaurant booking for 50 guests!

It was the whole week that was amazing for us not just the wedding day! All our guest round the pool during the day then out for pasta and prosecco in the evening

Lots of Love