Photo on thumbnail courtesy of Ivan Garcia Studio.

One of our favorite parts of working in the wedding industry is the fact that every single wedding day presents its own unique possibilities. From the decor on display throughout the venue and the theme selected by the couple to the day-of timeline, vendor team and so much more, there truly are endless ways to make sure your wedding matches what you have envisioned. With that all being said, you’re probably not surprised to hear that we always have plenty of topics to discuss here on our wedding blog! In this week’s blog post, we are going to be walking through a potential theme that couples may consider and that is an Italian-style wedding. Obviously, some of this is dependent on the actual venue you select. However, it goes without saying that decor can make a significant impact in making an Italian-style wedding come to life. We’ll discuss all that and more today!

Before getting into everything you need to know about creating an Italian-style wedding, we would first like to say hello to anyone stopping by our blog for the first time. Welcome to Madera Estates! Madera Estates is a luxury wedding venue and event space located in Conroe, TX. Since opening our venue, we have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of engaged couples as they plan out their “Best Day Ever!” From the initial tour all the way through the big day itself, we strive to make the entire process as stress-free as possible. After all, this is such an exciting time and should be memorable for all the right reasons! If you’re planning a wedding near the Houston area, we would be thrilled to show you around our venue. To learn more, we encourage you to request a copy of our Pricing Guide by filling out the form HERE.

Now…let’s talk about bringing a magical Italian-style wedding to life!

Planning an Italian-Style Wedding? Read This!

For this week’s blog post, we’re going to break it down by the different elements that will help create an Italian-style wedding. From the venue selection and catered food to the decor, dress attire and more, there’s no denying that Italian-style weddings can be quite magical!

The Venue

As you can probably guess, a major factor in choosing a particular wedding theme is going to be the venue itself. After all, the venue will serve as the backdrop for your big day and for some themes, the physical characteristics of the venue will be extremely important. With an Italian-style wedding, what are some of the venue traits that you’ll want to take into account?

Architecture – While touring potential venues, you’ll quickly notice that each venue has its own unique qualities and traits, with architectural elements being one factor setting them apart. When you think of a traditional Italian-style wedding, architecture is immediately brought to the forefront. While the easiest way to achieve this look would involve traveling to Tuscany, Venice or the Amalfi Coast, there are characteristics you can highlight for an Italian themed wedding here in the states. Think of the structures that encompass a venue. Is there a sense of Mediterranean architecture? Terracotta roof tiles (which are quite popular in Italy) would be a great example, along with arches and cobblestone.

Landscaping – The second half of this venue section that we wanted to highlight is the landscaping. Beautiful gardens and natural elements are synonymous with Italian weddings. After all, just take a minute to visualize the amazing Italian landscapes. Not to mention, you can’t ignore the impact landscaping has on one’s wedding photos. It will only add to the magic of your “Best Day Ever.” In terms of those with Italian qualities, we had to mention Cypress trees and rose bushes, which can each add to any wedding celebration.

At Madera Estates, you’ll find Italian-style components scattered throughout the venue. With a set-up that resembles an Italian-style villa, you can’t help but notice the stucco walls, stunning light fixtures, Cypress trees, cafe string lighting, rustic kings’ tables, arches, cobblestone, earthy tones, artisan feature walls, courtyard, gardens and so much more! To sum it all up, if you’re trying to create an Italian-themed wedding right here in Texas, we would be happy to help out.

The Decor

Once you really get into the wedding planning stages, you’ll find that decor plays a major role in designing a wedding around a theme. That undoubtedly holds true with Italian-style weddings. In fact, we hosted a wedding last year that included several components perfectly matching this type of wedding. In the thumbnail for this blog post, you’ll see the “That’s Amore” marquee letters that were on display for this couple’s reception. Without a doubt, these resulted in some stunning photos. Along with this, what are a few other decor items you may associate with an Italian-style wedding?

Floral Arrangements – Having beautiful floral arrangements on display throughout the venue can add so much to any wedding celebration. Whether that be as centerpieces on the reception tables, lining the aisle for the ceremony or anywhere else, it’s definitely worth it to hire a professional florist. Depending on the time of the year in which your wedding will be held and the color palette selected, there are a number of options for an Italian theme. Some ideas to get you started include peonies, orange blossoms and hydrangeas. With this step, we encourage couples to utilize Pinterest and Instagram as platforms to gather ideas, then share those with your florist and let them work their magic!

Lighting – Our next topic of discussion, lighting, could technically go in either the venue or decor sections. We placed it here simply because it has applications in several places around the venue. For the purpose of an Italian-style wedding, lighting serves an important role. It is worth noting that this is largely dependent on the timeline for your wedding day. For instance, an outdoor reception under the stars or twilight ceremony will see lighting take on a bigger role. Regardless, we’ll share a few ideas worth considering. Cafe string lights can add a fun element to an outdoor reception. Candlelight (which is popular for any wedding style!) is more than capable of creating a magical atmosphere for a wedding. Long story short, lighting ideas are important for any Italian-style wedding!

The Food

There’s a reason why the majority of couples prioritize selecting a caterer fairly early in the planning process. Who doesn’t want delicious food on their special day? Luckily, there are a couple of different ways in which you can bring some Italian flavor to the food aspect of your wedding day. Not to mention, with a number of talented caterers in and around the Houston area, we’re confident you’ll find one that you love.

Main Meal – On the topic of wedding day food, we’ll start with the main meal that’ll be served. If you’re looking to add some Italian style here, there are certainly plenty of options. You’ll first need to decide whether you’re wanting to go with a buffet set-up or plated meals. After that, there are more than a few scrumptious dishes to consider and truth be told, the best place to start would be to research local options and schedule tastings!

Late Night Snack – While the main meal will probably command your attention first on the topic of food served on your wedding day, adding a late night snack to the agenda has become increasingly popular. While you and your loved ones are busy dancing and celebrating, having a sweet treat delivered can definitely come in clutch! Need some ideas for an Italian-style wedding? How about a yummy cannoli bar or tiramisu station? Gelato wouldn’t be a bad idea either, right? We’re pretty confident those would all be a hit at any wedding reception!

By the way, before we close this out, don’t forget about the cocktail hour either! That could be another awesome time to serve tasty Italian apps.

Still Need a Wedding Venue? Tour Madera Estates!

We hope you enjoyed checking out this blog post all about Italian-style weddings! While Madera Estates is technically a Spanish-style wedding venue, we have had couples incorporate Italian-style elements into their wedding celebration. At the end of the day, your wedding is your big day and you have the freedom to design it however you like. Whether that entails the venue you select, the decor on display, the food served or anything else intertwined throughout, you have plenty of options at your disposal.

Are you engaged and currently touring venues around the Houston area? As mentioned in the opening paragraphs, Madera Estates is located in Conroe, TX, just north of Houston and The Woodlands. Each and every year, we’re lucky to have the opportunity to work with amazing couples looking to design their “Best Day Ever.” To learn more about hosting a wedding at Madera Estates, feel free to request a copy of our Pricing Guide by filling out the form HERE. Along with that, be sure to check us out on Facebook or Instagram for more photos and videos from weddings hosted at our venue. Happy Wedding Planning!

About the Author
Paul Pettie is the Director of Business Development at Madera Estates, a Spanish-style wedding venue that has been recognized as one of the top venues in Conroe, TX. Over the years, hundreds of couples have selected Madera Estates to serve as the backdrop for their special day. From the Grand Fireplace and Hacienda to the getting ready suites and countless photo opportunities around the property, there truly are an endless number of possibilities when tying the knot at Madera Estates! With Madera Estates being home to several Italian-style wedding components, this was the perfect blog post for him!

Utilizing his background in hospitality and a “Ducktoriate” from the Disney University, Paul is passionate about his clients’ experience when planning their special day. Working in the family business, Paul is usually one of the first faces engaged couples see when they tour the venue. When not at work, Paul loves Halloween and seeing live theatre, in addition to traveling to new and exotic destinations.

Paul is also the Co-Founder of Venue Help Desk, which strives to help wedding and event venues with a plethora of business and sales resources.