FAQ what you need to know to get married in Italy

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Wedding FAQ

You can find here the most frequently asked questions that I have been receiving from couples who would like to get married in Italy, and in particular in Bologna.
This is the list of the subjects you can find below:
Accommodation
Communication
Legal aspects
Safety
Style
Time
Travel
Venues
You and me (what I can do for you)

Accommodation

Is it easy to find accommodation for us and for our guests in Bologna?
Yes, absolutely! In the very city center there are more than 1700 rooms in 4 and 5 stars hotels and about 900 rooms in 3 stars hotels.
I have special rates for my customers in the best hotels of the city.

Communication

Do people speak English? How can I deal with that?
The hotel receptionists speak English, sometimes also other languages. Most of the restaurants' waiters do the same. Your celebrant would certainly be a native English speaker.
I would be sure that all the vendors you need to talk to would speak English. In any case, I would always help you in communication.

Legal aspects

Is the wedding legally valid?
Yes, it is.
It requires a specific procedure. I would be more than happy to help you collect the required documents in due time.
Of course, if you prefer to organize a symbolic wedding, I can certainly organize it for you.

Can we arrange a religious wedding?
Yes, it is possible. The official religion in Italy is Catholicism. Nevertheless, many other religions are practiced, and it is possible to celebrate Protestant weddings, Jewish weddings, etc.
The procedure to make it valid depends on the worship.
In Italy, the marriage rite conducted according to the traditions of some religions can be recognized and registered by the civil registry office without having to enter into a separate civil marriage. This is the so-called concordat marriage.

Can we legally celebrate the wedding at the same venue where we would like to have the reception?
This has to be verified case by case. The municipality where the venue is located gives the authorization of celebrating weddings. More and more frequently it is permitted, but it has to be checked and asked in case it is still not possible at the venue you have selected.

Safety

Is Italy safe to travel? And what about health?
Italy is a safe country. There are no criticisms, and the authorities will confirm it.
In case of health problems, there is an excellent health system, and hospitals are top level. The region of Bologna is at the top of the ranking on health care in Europe.

Style

Can I organise a wedding "American style"?
Of course, we can! I would be happy to organize your rehearsal dinner for part of the guests, bespoke activities, and a brunch the day after your wedding. A video showing the story of your love. Speeches of your father and the best man. The ball with your father. Any rite you would like to organize is feasible.

Time

What is the best time of the year to get married in Italy?
It really depends on the mood you would like for your wedding.
During Summer it is good if you get married on the beach or on the hill, but in the evening. Otherwise, it would be too hot.
Spring and Autumn are good seasons for an outdoor wedding during the day and an indoor reception in the evening. The colors of nature are vivid, and a unique ambiance can be achieved. More green in Spring, more yellow and red in Autumn.
Winter is full of warm atmosphere, especially around Christmas time.
So, every season has its own peculiarities. Tell me about your dream, and I will tell you when it is best to get married to reach that result.

To see more about this subject, have a look at the inspiration boards I have published on my blog. Click HERE.

Are there dates where it is not possible to get married?
If you want to celebrate a Catholic wedding, here is a list of the days where weddings cannot be held.
Palm Sunday (April 14th in 2019), Easter (April 21st in 2019) and the following Sunday (April 28th); Christmas (December 25th) and the days immediately after Christmas.
There are many other recurrences, but lately, priests are a little more flexible, and you should check with them if they agree to celebrate the wedding those days
(for instance the Corpus Christi, the Patron Saint's day, and so on).
There are other criteria to consider when fixing the wedding date (anniversaries, public events, etc.).

I invite you to visit my blog, where you can find a 10 points guide to chose the perfect date. Click HERE.

Travel

Is it easy to reach Italy by plane? And Bologna?
Yes, it is. There are many international airports in the whole country, well connected with the most important European and Extra-European airports.
Bologna, with its 90 destinations worldwide, is one of the best-connected airports in Northern-Center Italy. It is located 6 minutes by monorail to the city center and railway station.

Is it easy to move in Italy? And from Bologna?
Yes, it is.
There are regions where it is particularly convenient because of their geographical position.
Bologna is close to the most important cities in Italy, and you can easily reach Venice, Florence, and Milan in one hour by train, and Rome in two hours. Bologna could be a good starting point for your honeymoon and for a few days trip of your guests. And if you wish to get married in Tuscany, Bologna airport is the best to land.

Is it easy to move around in the cities? And in Bologna?
Some cities are large, and the traffic sometimes is heavy. In smaller cities, it is easier to move around and to enjoy. Bologna is considered a small city, with 350,000 inhabitants.
Its many pedestrian streets allow you to fully enjoy it.
The 80,000 students at its prestigious University (the most ancient in the world), let it be vibrant and perfect both for the wedding and to enjoy life.
Anyway, I will take care of you and your guests. So, if there is the need of bringing you somewhere, I will organize it.
To know more about Bologna, have a look at my website, you can find a nice video, several articles of American and English magazines and useful information and opinions. Click HERE.

Venues

Is it better to get married in the city or in the country or near the sea?
It really depends on the atmosphere you would like to have. For instance, Bologna is surrounded by hills, and there are beautiful venues with gardens and a breathtaking view of the city. That would be perfect for a Summer afternoon wedding and a dinner party. Then, there are ancient palaces or medieval castles out of town with a beautiful garden, that would be perfect in Summer as well, but also in Spring and Autumn. There are ancient palaces in the very city center, with splendid rooms with frescoes, that would be perfect in Winter, especially to live the warm Christmas atmosphere. There are country houses, that are now luxury resorts, and can offer you rooms, pools, spa, and wine from their own production. Or ancient houses on a hill with view of the sea.
You only have to look inside yourself and tell me what your most precious dreams look like.

To have a look at some of the venues I can propose you, look at my website. Click HERE.

You and me

How can we communicate?
Certainly by e-mail. But also via WhatsApp (text and video all), Skype, Facetime.

How would be the whole process in case of a full wedding?
You ask me for a quotation, which I will send you as soon as I have received some needed information.
If you are interested in my proposal, we have a chat, and you tell me all the details, so that I can confirm the quotation or modify it. Should you accept, we will sign the agreement, you will make the down payment, and I will draft a visual project with all the details (style, design, workflow, contents, etc.), the vendors, the timeline, and the budget.
If you are happy with that solution, we go ahead. Otherwise, I will propose you another solution (but it has never happened), as I want you to be totally satisfied, with no doubts.

To contact me, click HERE.

I want to organize my wedding by myself. How can you (a wedding planner) be useful?

I can be helpful to you, following the kind of consultation you will ask for.

The first one is a "steps" consultancy. We would talk about your wedding, and following the results you want to achieve, I would tell you what will have to be the steps to make. It would be a one-day consultancy, and I would not select the vendors for you, nor suggest them. You would do the job from the beginning to the end. This is helpful if you have the time to organize your wedding or if you have someone helping you, but you have no experience in organization, and you want to be sure that you will not miss anything.

The second one is "Full bespoke planning and design". As wedding planner and designer, I would know you, hear you, and following your dreams, I would propose you some design of your wedding. I would also make creative very detailed proposals to let your wedding be unique and special for you and your guests. From the design you would have chosen, I would draft a very detailed budget, a timeline, and a payment timeline so that you would not miss anything. I would select the vendors, and propose you a couple of them for each category, so that you would choose the ones you prefer. I would regularly update you. I would be with you, with my staff, the wedding day, and I would coordinate all the vendors, and check that everything is running smoothly.
This is helpful if you have no time to practically organize your wedding, to devote 2-300 hours of your life to that, but you would like to decide every detail. This is also helpful if you would like that all your guests will not worry about practical issues during the ceremony and the reception so that they can enjoy your day.

The third one is the "Wedding management". You would give me the list of your vendors and your guests. Starting from one month before your wedding, I would get in touch with the vendors and manage them, so that they would be at the right time in the right place. Everything would be under my control, and your guests would fully enjoy the wedding. I would not take care of the payments deadlines. The responsibility of the professionalism of the vendors would be yours, as I would not be involved in the selection process.
This is helpful if you do have experience in organizing weddings, but you want to be sure that everything goes well and your guests, especially who has helped you in the organization, will enjoy the day, without stress.

FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME. CLICK HERE

GDPR Privacy Notice

This notice provides certain required information to persons located in the European Union ("EU"), a European Economic Area ("EAA") member state, or Switzerland. Before ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS BY CARLA PAZZAGLIA collects any "personal data" from you, you are entitled under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (commonly known as the EU General Data Protection Regulation, or the "GDPR"), to the information in this notice. The GDPR does not apply to the processing of personal data from data subjects prior to May 25, 2018.
The GDPR defines (a) "personal data" as information that identifies you, or may be used to identify you, such as your name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier, or factors specific to your physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity, (b) "controller" as the entity that determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data, (c) "processor" as the entity that processes personal data on behalf of the controller, and (d) "data subject" as a natural person who is identified, or can be identified, by reference to his or her personal data.
If you would like to review the GDPR Articles cited in this notice, please click here, https://www.eugdpr.org/.

The Identity and Contact Details of the Controller
Under the GDPR, ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS BY CARLA PAZZAGLIA will be deemed the "controller" of your personal data. If you would like to contact ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS in its capacity as controller, please contact:
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS BY CARLA PAZZAGLIA
Piazza Elio Mandini 6
40055 Castenaso - Bologna
Italy
Tel. +39.339.3622952
e-mail: info@italiandreamweddings.it

Data Protection Officer
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS is not a public authority or body. At present, the ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS's core activities do not include the regular and systematic monitoring of data subjects on a large scale, nor does it process on a large scale either special categories of data (as described in GDPR Article 9) or personal data relating to criminal convictions and offenses (as described in GDPR Article 10). For these reasons, the GDPR does not obligate ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS to designate a data protection officer ("DPO"). If, in the future, ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS voluntarily designates a DPO, this notice shall be updated to identify and include contact information for the DPO.

ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS BY CARLA PAZZAGLIA's Purposes and Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS will only process your personal data for lawful purposes under the GDPR related to the organisation and management of your wedding, and arising from your relationship with the ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS.
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS will ordinarily collect and process your personal data because it is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are a party or because ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS has another legitimate interest in doing so. When ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS cannot rely on either of such legal grounds, it will seek your prior consent. For example, GDPR Article 9 generally requiresITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS to obtain your prior consent if it collects special categories of personal data protected under the GDPR (e.g., racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, the processing of genetic or biometric data to uniquely identify a natural person, health data, or data related to one's sexual activities or orientation).
The purposes for which ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS collects personal data, and the legal bases for processing such personal data, are summarized in the chart that appears below.
In the chart: each reference to (a) "necessary for the performance of a contract" shall be deemed to mean, "Necessary for the performance of a contract or agreement to which you are a party, or preliminary steps leading up to such a contract or agreement;" (b) ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS 's "legitimate interest" shall require a prior "balancing test" determination by the ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS that its legitimate interest in processing your personal data is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms in protecting such personal data; and (c) your "prior consent" shall mean your voluntarily consent, given prior to the processing of your personal data. If you would like additional information as to ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS 's legitimate interest "balancing test" determination under clause (b), please contact the Controller at: info@italiandreamweddings.it

Purpose for Processing
Legal Basis for Processing
Managing Participants and Attendees of your weddings – wedding proposal - anniversary
Couple/Guests/Paricipants/Attendes and Accounts: Establishing and administering accounts, issuing invoices, processing payments, preparing related correspondence, and, if necessary, pursuing collection efforts
Such processing is necessary for the performance of a contract
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS as a legitimate interest in in collecting necessary information so that the ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS can, in a timely and accurate manner, and in compliance with applicable laws for the event's management.
Operating Dining Halls and Other Food Service Facilities: Running cafeterias, restaurants, snack bars, and convenience stores.

Such processing is necessary to the performance of a contract
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS as a legitimate interest in confirming that only authorized persons use food service facilities, in verifying that such use conforms to meal plan and in identifying personal dietary constraints and preferences in order to offer appropriate food options
Accomodation Mangament for Event's attendes: manage attendee housing for weddings and related event's

Such processing is necessary for the performance of a contract
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS as a legitimate interest in managing access to accomodation so that housing facilities are occupied only by eligible persons and accessed only by permitted persons at permitted times in order to safely and securely operate such facilities, and in collecting and maintaining personal information for use in cases of emergencies
Your prior consent
Providing Attendees Support Services: Providing accommodations under disabilities laws
Such processing is necessary for the performance of a contract
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS as a legitimate interest in promoting, assisting, and monitoring event's attendees accessibility
Your prior consent

Categories of Personal Data Collected
In certain instances, ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS, in its capacity as a controller, may acquire your personal data from a third party, and not directly from you. If this occurs, then within a reasonable period of time, but not later than the earlier to occur of (a) the first time ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS communicates with you, and (b) one month after ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS acquires such personal data, ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS will advise you of the categories of personal data collected, the source from which ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS acquired such personal data, and certain additional information required under GDPR Article 14.

Recipients/Categories of Recipients Who May Receive Your Personal Data
The specific categories of recipients who will receive your information depend on the service you have chosen from ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS. The categories of recipients are likely to include one or more of the following:
As to theITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS data collection activities described in the preceding chart, suppliers hired to provide goods or services to your wedding and their staff involved in such activities may receive your personal data; such persons will generally be located in Italy;
If you would like more detailed information as to the specific identify of recipients receiving particular personal data, please contact the Controller at info@italiandreamweddings.it

Transfer of Personal Data to the Extra UE states
Personal data that you provide while in the EU, an EAA member state, or Switzerland will not be transferred to the Extra UE states. The GDPR permits such transfer when necessary for the performance of a contract between you and ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS or if ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS obtains your explicit consent to such transfer. In transferring your personal data to a processor, ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS will employ suitable safeguards, including those described in the Information Security section below, to protect the privacy and security of your personal data so that it is only used in a manner consistent with your relationship with the university and this privacy notice.

How Long Will Your Personal Data Be Stored?
The GDPR requires that your personal data be kept no longer than necessary. The applicable time period will depend on the nature of such personal data and will also be determined by legal requirements imposed under applicable laws and regulations. If you have specific questions concerning how long a certain type of personal data will be retained, please contact the Controller at info@italiandreamweddings.it

You Have Certain Rights to Control Your Personal Data
Articles 15-21 of the GDPR give you the right to control your personal data by directing ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS, as controller, to do one or more of the following, subject to certain conditions and limitations:

(a) allow you to access your personal data to see what information ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS has collected concerning you;
(b) correct (rectify) any inaccuracy in your personal data;
(c) delete (erase) your personal data, unless ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS can demonstrate that retention is necessary or that ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS has other overriding legitimate grounds for retention;
(d) restrict the processing of your personal data;
(e) transfer your personal data to a third party (portability); and
(f) upon your objection, stop processing personal data when ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS is relying on a legitimate interest basis for processing such data unless ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for processing that override your interests in prohibiting such processing.
If You Consent to the Processing of Your Data, You Can Withdraw Such Consent
If ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS obtains your written consent to collect and process your personal data, you can subsequently withdraw such consent as to any further processing of such data by contacting the Controller.

GDPR Remedies Include the Right to File A Complaint With The Supervisory Authority
If you believe your privacy rights under the GDPR have been violated, the GDPR gives you the rights and remedies set forth in GDPR Articles 77-82. These include the right to file a complaint with the Italian data protection supervisory authority:

Garante Per La Protezione Dei Dati Personali
Piazza di Monte Citorio, 121
00186 Roma
Tel. + 39 06 69677 1
Fax. + 39 06 69677 785
Email: garante@garanteprivacy.it
Website: http://www.garanteprivacy.it

Are You Obligated to Provide Personal Data?
As discussed above, ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS will sometimes ask you to provide information necessary to perform contracts to which you are a party, or to satisfy certain legal requirements binding upon the university. If you do not provide such information, ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS will not be able to process such contracts or comply with such legal requirements, and you will not be eligible to receive the benefits that may result from the processing of such contracts, or compliance with such requirements.

You Have The Right to Know If ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS Uses Your Personal Data In Automated Decision-Making, Including Profiling
The GDPR limits ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS's right to use your personal data for predictive purposes as part of an automated decision-making process, including profiling. Such a process uses your personal data, such as preferences, interests, behavior, locations, and personal movement, to make an analytically-determined decision, instead of a personalized, individual decision. The GDPR limitation does not apply when such automated decision-making is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are, or will be, a party. ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS does not intend to use personal data in an automated decision-making process, except in the context of such a contract. However, if it does, it will seek your consent for such use.

Information Security
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS, by design, works to take necessary steps to protect personal data from unauthorized access, unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of information. In particular, ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS :

uses encryption both in transit and at rest to protect personal data;
requires log-in authentication for accessing services related to a data subject's ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS Account;
reviews its information collection, storage and processing practices, perimeter security and physical security measures, to guard against unauthorized access to systems;
restricts access to personal data on a "need to know" basis so that only authorized personnel and contractors have access to personal data and only for the permitted purpose
ITALIAN DREAM WEDDINGS employees and contractors are subject to strict contractual confidentiality obligations and may be disciplined or terminated if they fail to meet these obligations; and
employs technical and organizational measures, such as pseudonymization and data minimization, to structurally reduce the risk of data breaches and unauthorized disclosures of personal data.

I hereby authorise use of my personal data, as per Italian law D.Lgs 196/03