Elisa helped me plan my dream destination wedding in Tuscany, and I couldn't be more grateful for everything she did to make our three-day event magical. I did all of the wedding planning site unseen, having never been to Italy before and no intention of visiting the wedding venue before the big day, so planning with Elisa required a lot of trust.
I worked with Elisa over a year and a half through every step of the planning process. Sometimes I had a very clear idea of what I wanted at the wedding – top- notch food for the wedding dinner and aperitif hour, but a more affordable option for the rehearsal dinner. When I was specific, Elisa always sought out multiple vendors with their own quotes so that I could feel comfortable in my choice. The absolute biggest benefit of working with Elisa as my wedding planner was having her there to negotiate a better deal on my behalf or to find a more affordable alternative. On the rare times that Elisa told me "you can go cheaper, but this is something you will want to do right" I am very grateful because the end result was more perfect than I ever imagined.
More frequently I did not have any idea what I wanted. Over Skype and through very detailed emails, Elisa explained every aspect of a wedding that needed planning and what my options were. I really appreciated her planning materials – she always used well-organized documents that included pictures, prices, and details that were so simple to understand that even my fiancé could pay attention long enough to give his input. I also could not have made it through this experience without her help coordinating and scheduling payments to the various vendors! She created a master calendar and kept track of the balance of all payments to ensure that I was always on top of wedding finances.
Elisa was present at the wedding villa for both the rehearsal day and wedding day to help coordinate events and vendors. As a very hands-on person, I was shocked to find that on the day of events I was completely overwhelmed by the people and responsibilities of the day. Thankfully, Elisa was there to tell me "you have fun, I am here to take care of everything." Everything exceeded expectations. Most importantly, myself (the bride), the groom, and the parents were all able to relax and completely enjoy the day knowing that Elisa was behind the scenes making sure that everything seamlessly flowed together. Maybe if I am lucky, Elisa will be available to help us plan our ten-year anniversary in Italy!