Wedding Photographer in Tuscany, Italy | Sandy and Odysseas

pre-wedding party in tuscany

How to host the perfect Tuscan welcome party 

Tuscany wedding vibes, baby! If we could sum it up in three words, those would be the ones. Picture this: your heart beating with excitement, as you gaze over rolling hills and vineyards, sipping on vino and indulging in food that'll make the gods weep with envy. Then, just when you think it can't get any better, you're whisked away in a convertible, cruising down cypress-lined roads. Guests will be swooning with anticipation, ready for an unforgettable experience filled with and epic pretty! Does this ring a (wedding) bell? Sure! If you're getting ready to take the plunge and tie the knot in Tuscany, look no further! We've got some sweet (and salty) recommendations that'll make your special day oh-so-perfect. (Psst, check out some dreamy snaps from Titi and Patrick's pre-wedding in Siena while reading!)

CHOOSE A WEDDING VENUE WITH MULTIPLE LOCATIONS 
Picture yourself in the pre-game show of your wedding, the ultimate warm-up to the main event! It's the perfect moment to greet your crew and set the vibe for the rest of the bash. Your venue should be an open canvas, so you can let your imagination run wild with fun and quirky activities that will bring a smile to everyone's face. And since the welcome party usually happens the day before the wedding, you won't want to give away all the surprises just yet. Choosing a venue with multiple spots will also save you some serious cha-ching on transportation costs, especially if your squad plans on changing outfits later in the evening. (Nudge-nudge ... the weather in Tuscany can be unpredictable!)

INCLUDE LOCAL TRADITIONS IN YOUR CELEBRATION
In Tuscany, traditions are no joke! The happy couple has to chill in separate beds the night before their big day, but they get to sneakily exchange sweet pre-wedding gifts. How romantic! Think jewelry that they can show off all night long. And trust us, your Tuscany wedding planner knows all the scoop! Check out Titi and Patrick, who pulled it off with style!

DO NOT GO NEGLECTING ON SIMPLE BUT HEAVENLY FOOD
Hold onto your forks, folks, because there's another side to this Tuscany pre-wedding puzzle! No Italian can resist scrumptious food, but Tuscans take it to the next level. They want their wedding welcome meals to be oh-so-tasty but also easy and simple, so they can keep munching all through the night! Nope, nobody goes to bed early in Tuscany, so definitely consider scrumptious pizza of all kinds (keep them arriving in waves), charcuterie, including cheese selections, fresh olives of various sizes, Crostini Toscani (chicken liver pate served on a thin piece of toasted bread), Panzanella (bread, tomatoes, onion, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar all tossed together in a salad), Fagioli con salsiccia (a rustic meal made by cooking borlotti beans with onions, garlic, crumbled sausage meat, chilli and crushed tomatoes, soooo good), and of course Gelato. According to legend the first Gelato was created in Tuscany, and Catherine Medici of the famous Medici family was so impressed that she insisted that the dessert be ordered especially for her impending wedding. How fitting!

ON CLOUD WINE
Tuscany is home to some of the most epic wine-making lands on the planet! Sangiovese grapes are the lifeblood of Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, while the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano owes its existence to the Vernaccia grape. But wait, there's more! You can satisfy your guests’ sweet tooth with Vin Santo, a unique dessert wine crafted from a blend of Tuscany's finest grapes. Our personal fave? Il Marroneto Madonna delle Grazie, Brunello di Montalcino 2019.

BOOGIE LIKE IT'S 1999
No pre-wedding party is complete without some singing and dancing! Why settle for a run-of-the-mill DJ when you can hire a local band to really get the party started? They'll belt out everything from chill lounge music to upbeat and funky party tunes. Get ready to shake those hips in fully blown Italian style and while at it, you can include some Karaoke, and practice singing Umberto Tozzi's "Ti Amo" to both your hubby to be and your beloved people around for the big day!