Interviewed by Love Me In Italy following one of the press tours of this beautiful wedding destination, Pamella shares some of her luxury wedding planning secrets, and her love of the industry and Italy.
- Pamella, you are one of the most esteemed International Wedding Planners. How many years have you been a Wedding Planner? What made you enter this field? Tell us your story briefly.
The wedding design and planning business was founded in 2010 following a senior management corporate career. Not what you might expect, but in part my role involved planning and hosting events from conferences to team building and recruitment days. So with an extensive network of contacts, venues, and experience the transition into the romantic world of weddings was a dream. The creative design process in an exciting environment was a huge attraction too. I absolutely adore flowers, and our weddings nearly always feature fabulous floral installations. But it is the love stories that really got me hooked. I never tire of hearing the personal story behind every couples wedding plans.
Getting Married In Italy – The Love Story
2) I know you recently won the Best Luxury Destination Award … Tell us about the emotions you experienced.
To be recognised as a leader in the luxury wedding market was incredible. To be considered as an international expert was unbelievable. We work hard to deliver exceptional weddings across the globe, I am still so grateful and hugely honoured to receive such a prestigious award. Without the fantastic team, network of first class suppliers, our wonderful clients and their heartfelt feedback, and reviews we really wouldn’t be where we are today.
3) So many people would like to be Luxury Wedding Planners, but it is not a job for everyone. What are the main qualities you need to become a perfect Wedding Planner in your opinion?
It really is a dream job, but it takes hard work, organisation, exceptional administration, as well as good listening and communication skills to deliver a 5 star wedding. You have to remain calm working under pressure, have genuine warmth, and really good people skills, with a passion and thirst for creative design. And not forgetting a flexible approach to work – it is a must in the events industry!
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- Tuscany
4) You organise weddings all over the world and in Italy too. Which are your favourite Italian wedding destinations and the most sought-after ones? And what do clients look for when they decide to get married in Italy?
I love to travel and one of the joys of the business is being able to work anywhere in the world. Outdoor weddings are my favourite, and I love the experience of dining outside, so anywhere where the sun is shining is a dream destination. Italy is stunning, a truly beautiful location, and definitely in the top 5 most sought after for destination weddings.
The incredible history, coastline, lakes, countryside, villas, castles, palaces, and luxurious private estates all mean that Italy can deliver almost any client venue request. The weather, fine dining and romantic charm are all added bonuses, making our job so much easier. To be able to offer a wide range of options and guarantee exceptional service is something we value, and Italy has it all. Exploring venue options with clients looking for rustic charm Tuscany and Puglia tick all the boxes, with Rome the go to for city chic, high fashion brides and grooms.
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
The Italian Lakes are sprinkled with pretty villages, gardens, olive groves and favoured by Hollywood A-listers for the array of exclusive luxury masserias, charming private villas, and historic period houses. But it is Liguria and the Italian Riviera that have stolen our hearts. As we were introduced to some of the fabulous locations, and experienced the character and charm of the crescent shaped region we held our breathe at every turn. The Mediterranean Sea laps the shores of this picturesque region in Santa Margherita Ligure where we discovered Villa Durazzo, set in manicured parkland this former family residence is a truly authentic Italian wedding venue. Moving on we made our way along the stunning coastline, and as the magical setting of Portofino was revealed we knew we where in for a treat. Sat high above this pretty village with is colourfully painted houses is the imposing Castello Brown, a unique historic venue with breathtaking views of the harbour and villas of the international jet-set.
Lake Como, Italy
This region has so much to offer and we can’t wait to introduce our clients to some of the most exquisite wedding venues in the world.
5) Considering your participation in the Press Tour of Liguria, what do you think about this experience? Do you consider proposing it as wedding destination to your future clients?
Without hesitation we are in love with Italy as a superior destination wedding location. The tour and having personal experience of visiting the Liguria region gave me an unparalleled insight that you really cannot achieve searching on the internet. Speaking confidently to clients, sharing first hand knowledge of the area, and all it has to offer has been invaluable.
6) Do you have dreams for the future or new projects you are working on?
We have recently launched a new dream website, and two new European offices in Amsterdam and Lisbon which is ridiculously exciting. There’s ambitious new projects planned for 2019, which will include working with carefully selected partners across the world to offer consultancy and wedding design to their clients. As well as taking our My Wedding Business Training Program on the road again. Following this years retreat where we visited the incredible flower fields of Fam Flower Farm we will continue with plans to host workshops and retreats for wedding businesses across the globe.
Next Year will also see the launch of a joint venture with business partner Joanne Penney of JP Events. The Wedding Business Agency is an exclusive concierge wedding planning service, and agency for premium wedding venues and vendors. The platform will share our little black book of trusted suppliers, and showcase bespoke packages with our partnered venues here in the UK and across the globe. As usual PD HQ is buzzing with activity and of course we hope to be back in Italy very soon.
Pamella xoxo
