How much does it cost
How much does it cost
Read chat-style questions about venues, catering, music, photo, open bar and supplier prices in Italy. This is not a paid section: it helps you compare real quote details before confirming.
Transport plan fixedUS guests in Tuscany: shuttle quote is bigger than the welcome dinner
Rebecca J. - EUR 3,800 transfers
We have guests staying in three villages. The transfer quote feels high, but asking everyone to drive after dinner sounds worse.
The best reply split the shuttle into two waves and one emergency taxi budget. It did not make transport cheap, but it made the plan feel controlled.
Tasting plan chosenCatering tasting from Canada: can we decide without flying twice?
Mira and Josh - EUR 115 per guest
We can visit Italy once before the wedding. The caterer offers a tasting, but travel makes the timing complicated.
The community told them to use the visit for menu risk, not for every dish: taste sauces, service style, wine level and the one course they cared about most.
Quote under reviewTuscany villa asks 50% deposit: is that normal?
Emma R. - EUR 28,000
We are planning from London and the venue wants half of the rental fee now. The place is beautiful, but the cancellation paragraph feels vague.
Sofia wrote back from her own Tuscany wedding: she would not argue on the amount first, but would ask for the exact legal wording, rain-room photos and a second payment after tasting.
Decision pendingRooftop dinner in Rome for a 40th birthday: worth the extra cost?
lucas_travels - EUR 4,500
The rooftop is twice the price of a private trattoria room. Guests are flying in for one weekend, so I want it to feel special without wasting money.
Lucas got a very practical answer: if the view is shared, drinks end early and rain moves everyone inside, the trattoria may actually feel more generous.
Problem solvedMilan client dinner: AV package doubled the venue quote
Priya - EUR 12,000
We need microphones, a screen and a short product talk before dinner. The venue's technical package looks more expensive than the food.
Marco, who runs sales dinners, told Priya to ask the venue for rehearsal minutes, technician end time, projector brightness and the fee for bringing an outside AV team.
Menu comparedCatering for 45 guests in Rome: buffet sounds cheaper but is it?
Daniel - EUR 72 per guest
A served dinner is only slightly more expensive than buffet once staff, rentals and drinks are included.
Daniel decided after a caterer described the buffet queue with jackets, children and wine glasses in hand. The served dinner suddenly looked less expensive.
Supplier issuePlanner stopped replying after deposit: what can we do politely?
Sarah - EUR 3,500 planner fee
No drama yet, but two emails and one WhatsApp have gone unanswered. We need the supplier shortlist this week.
Sarah did not send an angry message. She sent a dated recap, named the missing shortlist and asked for a handover file if the planner could not deliver by Friday.
Cost checkedPhotographer quote includes travel but not accommodation
Noah - EUR 2,900
The photographer is based in Rome. Travel is included, hotel is not. I do not know what amount is normal.
Noah solved the photographer quote by offering a hotel cap instead of an open promise. The thread also reminded him to include meals and airport transfer in the same email.
Budget focusedGraduation party in Bologna with a small budget: what matters most?
Leo - EUR 1,200
We are 28 people. I can spend on either a better room, better food or a small DJ setup, not all three.
Leo kept the room and dropped the DJ. A student in Bologna wrote: nobody remembers the brand of the speaker, but everyone remembers being squeezed in a bad room.
Quote under reviewLake Garda venue quote looks fine until rain backup and cleanup appear
Maya and Tom - EUR 7,400
The terrace is the reason we liked the place, but the PDF adds a rain-room fee, late cleanup and a furniture reset charge after midnight.
Maya said the useful reply was simple: ask to see the rainy-day setup physically and ask which fees disappear if the music ends at 11 pm instead of midnight.
Quote clarifiedCatering quote in Rome: food is clear, but late clearing is hiding in the notes
Claire M. - EUR 4,800
The quote looks tidy, but before paying the deposit I want to understand whether drinks and late clearing are written in a separate paragraph and what questions we should ask.
The community suggested asking for an included/excluded version of the catering quote, with time limits and the unclear point on drinks and late clearing are written in a separate paragraph. The goal was to close the vague parts before signing.
Quote clarifiedThe DJ quote says five hours, but who pays if the party runs late
budget_in_italy - EUR 900
The quote looks tidy, but before paying the deposit I want to understand whether overtime and music permits are not explained and what questions we should ask.
The community suggested asking for an included/excluded version of the DJ and basic lights quote, with time limits and the unclear point on overtime and music permits are not explained. The goal was to close the vague parts before signing.
Quote clarifiedPremium drinks after midnight are separate: how risky is this bar quote
James R. - EUR 3,400
The quote looks tidy, but before paying the deposit I want to understand whether premium drinks and extensión after midnight are quoted separately and what questions we should ask.
The community suggested asking for an included/excluded version of the open bar quote, with time limits and the unclear point on premium drinks and extensión after midnight are quoted separately. The goal was to close the vague parts before signing.
Price checkBologna retreat transfers: the quote forgot luggage and waiting time
budget_in_italy - EUR 2,100
We are planning from abroad and the supplier includes airport pickup, hotel shuttle and evening return. The number is EUR 2,100, but waiting time and luggage are not specified.
The most useful reply split transfer service, base price, staff, timing and VAT in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. Once the quote was read that way, EUR 2,100 became easier to compare.
Price checkTurin AV quote has screens and microphones, but no rehearsal time
Helen and Mark - EUR 3,200
We are planning from abroad and the supplier includes two screens, microphones, technician and basic recording. The number is EUR 3,200, but rehearsal time and extra technician hours are missing.
The most useful reply split conference AV, base price, staff, timing and VAT in Turin, Piedmont. Once the quote was read that way, EUR 3,200 became easier to compare.
Price checkVerona wedding band quote: beautiful lineup, vague breaks and overtime
Natalie - EUR 4,600
We are planning from abroad and the supplier includes aperitif trio, dinner background music and party set. The number is EUR 4,600, but breaks, DJ backup and overtime are written too vaguely.
The most useful reply split wedding band, base price, staff, timing and VAT in Verona, Veneto. Once the quote was read that way, EUR 4,600 became easier to compare.
Quote clarifiedFamily celebration quote: chef and menu are clear, glasses and cleanup are not
quote_checklist - EUR 3,300
The quote looks tidy, but before paying the deposit I want to understand whether table service, wine glasses and kitchen cleaning are separate and what questions we should ask.
The community suggested asking for an included/excluded version of the private chef quote, with time limits and the unclear point on table service, wine glasses and kitchen cleaning are separate. The goal was to close the vague parts before signing.
Quote clarifiedThe DJ quote mentions a licence, but the venue says it is on us
Claire M. - EUR 420-580
The quote looks tidy, but before paying the deposit I want to understand whether the venue says the permit is the couple's job and the amount is not listed and what questions we should ask.
The community suggested asking for an included/excluded version of the music permit quote, with time limits and the unclear point on the venue says the permit is the couple's job and the amount is not listed. The goal was to close the vague parts before signing.
Quote clarifiedVenue quote near Lake Garda: what should you confirm before the deposit
budget_in_italy - EUR 7,400
The quote looks tidy, but before paying the deposit I want to understand whether cleaning after midnight and furniture reset are listed as extra lines and what questions we should ask.
The community suggested asking for an included/excluded version of the venue rental quote, with time limits and the unclear point on cleaning after midnight and furniture reset are listed as extra lines. The goal was to close the vague parts before signing.
Price checkParma catering at EUR 105 per guest: what is still missing
Helen and Mark - EUR 6,300
We are planning from abroad and the supplier includes served dinner, kids' menu, vegetarian option and table service. The number is EUR 105 per guest, but allergies, cake service and late-night coffee are priced separately.
The most useful reply split catering, base price, staff, timing and VAT in Parma, Emilia-Romagna. Once the quote was read that way, EUR 105 per guest became easier to compare.
Quote clarifiedCatering quote for a family celebration in Parma: would you sign this
Helen and Mark - EUR 6,300
The quote looks tidy, but before paying the deposit I want to understand whether allergies, cake service and late-night coffee are priced separately and what questions we should ask.
The community suggested asking for an included/excluded version of the catering quote, with time limits and the unclear point on allergies, cake service and late-night coffee are priced separately. The goal was to close the vague parts before signing.