Fabulous wedding in Loreto

I just fell in love with this wedding and everything about it. It was just like a fairytale...

When I first met this beautiful couple they said that they were looking for a venue that is unpretentious, authentic and rustic. Actually the brides words were "like a barn or an old building" so I automatically discarded any luxury villa or extravagant palace and started looking for the perfect venue for my bride and at first I found a beautiful monastery set in the countryside with beautiful views and surrounded by a vineyard - such a beautiful venue but then thinking that logistically it wouldn't be the perfect solution I continued my search and as soon as I came across pictures of this ancient villa I instantly knew I had found what I was looking for. I went to vet it out and took pictures and it was like taking a trip into the past. Situated in the center of what is considered to be one of the most beautiful hamlets in le Marche, Offida there is a beautiful old stone building, built in 1668 by the Malacari family and it throughout all these centuries it has been hub of a productive and prestigious wine business.

As soon as you enter through large wooden doors you find yourself immersed in what I would describe as a secret garden populated by secular trees and lots of colorful flowers and it is enclosed on three sides by the villas buildings while the front is open to views of the countryside.

The half-diamond shaped layout of the fortress consists of two central wings that are occupied by the wine cellars on the ground and underground levels, and the residence on the first floor. Two other wings that form two closed corners house the storage buildings and the stables.

On the first floor there are reception rooms, halls and galleries which are all connected and would be a perfect location for the sit down meal. The antique furniture, the fascinating library, the frescoed ceilings and the terracotta tied floor will all create a magical atmosphere which is likely to take you back in time.

The couple fell in love with this venue so my first job was done now I just had to create the dream!

The ceremony was held in the breath-taking Church Pomarancio in Loreto followed by dinner and dancing in the ancient villa Malacari in Offagna.

Perfect villa location for your wedding

A wedding in Italy is a unique and special event that requires a unique and special location. Villa Prati offers you all that you could need – wonderful and unspoilt countryside, and a beautifully restored Italian country house with a small private chapel just at the bottom of the hill. 

The chapel will hold up to 50 guests. The high-beamed ceiling and thick stone walls give the chapel a real feeling of peace and tranquility, creating all the atmosphere you need for your special day. It will make your wedding a very private and unique event.

The special features of this glorious location means that in addition to the privacy of the chiesa (chapel), the grounds and rooms of the house are available exclusively for the wedding party.

There are five acres of grounds surrounding Villa Prati, and in addition to the chapel the property has 7 bedrooms making it ideal for wedding parties where there is potentially more than one family attending the ceremony. 

For larger parties, the wedding can be held in the beautiful local town of Mogliano, and Villa Prati then provides the perfect location for photographs and a reception for up to 120 people.

Garden

Entrance 

Aperitif

The reception meal – or wedding breakfast – will normally be held in the garden either amongst the olive trees or at the side of the swimming pool. A gazebo can be erected on the grass to protect guests in the unlikely event of bad weather, but also to extend the season from spring to early autumn. 

Weddings in Italy are typically very elaborate affairs, and if you are looking for a real Italian experience, your wedding meal will last for several hours! We provide a couple of options for chefs which you can choose from - both of which are highly qualified and we recommend without hesitation and will prepare a memorable and authentic Italian meal. 

Aperitivi (canapés) can be served in the garden by the church immediately following the ceremony. These will be served with a local sparkling wine or Champagne, and guests are free to mingle whilst, perhaps, the photographs are taken. The next course is the antipasti – served from a long table heaving with choice for your guests. The antipasti will be accompanied by local wines, and guests are seated informally in the gardens as they enjoy some of the chef’s exquisite dishes. 

The main meal may consist of several courses – again the choice will be yours. But an Italian wedding would not be complete without a couple of pasta courses – home made pasta, of course, which melts in the mouth. A sorbet to freshen the palate will then precede the main courses – again it is normal in Italy to have two main courses of meat or fish. Once more, wine will be served throughout, according to the dish. Desserts are varied and delightful, and can be washed down with a lovely local sweet wine. 

But of course, simpler options are available, and the meal and setting can be designed to match your idea of a perfect wedding dinner. 

During the meal we can organise live music, perhaps in the form of a string quartet, and after dinner a live band or a disco can be arranged with dancing on in the garden under the olive trees - close enough for all to enjoy, but just far enough away so that those left at the table can continue to chat easily.

Villa Prati offers an exceptionally high level of accommodation with many pieces of antique furniture, and wonderfully comfortable sofas and beds. 

It is a large villa with 7 double bedrooms (sleeps upt0 14 guests) so it is perfect for the close family to stay all in one place. There are other villas / country house just a couple of minutes drive to the house and a lovely comfortable family run hotel just 1 km away from the villa. We will send you a detailed list of the various accommodation in the vicinity for your guests.

On the ground floor you will find a large open plan fully fitted kitchen/ dining room with a large fireplace. 

Each part of the house has its own unique character and charm, and has been furnished in an individual style. 

From the kitchen you will walk into a large comfortable sitting room with large screen tv, a piano and a chess table and a library with a large selection of books and dvds for guests to enjoy. On the ground floor there are also 2 comunicating bedrooms with a bathroom – perfect for a family with children. 

On the first floor there are 3 double bedrooms, one of which with en –suite shower room, while the other 2 share a large family bathroom. 

The second floor (the Attic) accommodates 2 large double bedrooms both with en-suite bathrooms (one has a shower cabin and the other has a bath and shower). 

All of the bedrooms have comfortable high quality mattresses and crisp cotton bed linen which is changed weekly. Bath towels and pool towels are provided for the guests and will be changed weekly. 

Mosquito nets are fitted onto each window of the house allowing fresh air to circulate. The house is fitted with a WiFi connection throughout.

Outside the property, there are delightful mature gardens, with excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Guests can make full use of the 7 x15 m swimming pool. Clubs and balls are available. There are numerous hideaways in which to relax in the peace and tranquility of the countryside, where the only sounds are the occasional tractor or perhaps the bark of a dog. 

Inside, we have paid enormous attention to detail,high quality Christy towels for both bathroom and pool are offered, and the sheets are fresh cotton. Prices include cleaning once a week, pool maintenance services, and gardening however we can arrange extra cleaning upon request. Meals can be provided for small or large parties at any time during your stay.

We believe that this location offers a unique opportunity for a private wedding that is specifically designed to meet your requirements. The ability to accommodate your guests as well as the immediate wedding group – particularly with the flexibility of separate sitting rooms and kitchens – ensures a stress free occasion, and the private chapel adds that extra special something to the event.

Wedding Arrangements

All the wedding arrangements will be made for you, but we need to know what you would like, and we need to understand something about you. Do you want photographs or video? What sort of flowers and music do you like? Do you need transport for guests, or beauty treatments? 

At villa prati, we can offer everything from full board for you and all your guests, to organising bookings and transport to different local restaurants. If you prefer self-catering, we can provide any special meals during your stay. 

In terms of the ceremony, the chapel is consecrated and used for religious ceremonies or blessings. If there are more than 50 guests we can arrange for a gazebo extension to the church or we can suggest some wonderful larger churches around and arrange transport to and from the church. If you prefer a civil ceremony then we can arrange this within the ornate town hall in the local village of Mogliano or you may prefer to get married in you home country, and come to Italy for a ‘symbolic’ wedding. The choice is yours. 

There are, however, various issues relating to paperwork that need to be attended to in advance of the wedding, and it is usually better for the bride and groom to arrive in Italy at least 3 days prior to the wedding. This has other advantages – not least that you have some time to relax before the big day. 

We will take care of all the necessary paperwork, and will arrange an interpreter – plus all the extra requirements that are specific to each couple. 

You can be assured that your event will be private, exclusive, and customised to your personal tastes.

Supplementary information 

Villa Prati is situated in the heart of the Le Marche region of Italy. Le Marche remains one of the hidden treasures of Italy, with some of the most stunning countryside, glorious Renaissance art and architecture, and excellent beaches. It has many similarities with its neighbors, Tuscany and Umbria, and is rich in history. But unlike these neighbors, Le Marche is still relatively undiscovered, and once you have moved away from the tourist resorts around the coast, it is possible to spend an entire fortnight in the region without hearing English spoken anywhere. The many beautiful Renaissance towns have retained their original glory, and are unspoiled by souvenir shops. 

The food is true Italian, and whether you love fresh fish, home made pasta, or just a local pizza you are unlikely to be disappointed by your meal – or by the price! The wines of the region are delicious, so you will sample wines that you will never find at home. 

The local town is Mogliano – a beautiful Medieval hill town, completely unspoilt, and a real treasure waiting to be discovered. 

There are beaches 30 minutes away. Many of them are typical Italian beaches, with lines of sunbeds and parasols on endless miles of clean sand. We prefer the beautiful beaches of the Conero region. They may be pebbly, but the views are stunning, and the sea is wonderfully clean. 

Restaurants in the region are excellent and very affordable. The Italians tend to keep the best of the local wines to themselves, so there is a wonderful voyage of discovery to be had if you are a wine lover. 

We can recommend some of the best local restaurants to you, and make any necessary reservations. 

We can also provide an information sheet on the Le Marche region for you and your guests on request. 

Information required

In order to make your wedding at Villa Prati fulfil your every dream, we need some information that will help us to meet your requirements, and provide you with an accurate budget.

Please consider the following:

· Type of ceremony: - Civil, Religious, Symbolic, Blessing (for Religious, we will need to know your religions)

· Bouquet for the bride and bridesmaids

· Flowers for the ceremony

· Music for the ceremony

· Music for the reception

· DJ for dancing

· Band for dancing

· Italian wedding favours

· Wedding cake

· Photographer

·Video service

· Hairdresser

· Make-up artist

· Pre-wedding beauty treatments

· Pre-wedding supper

· Champagne breakfast on wedding day

· Wedding reception

· Additional catering requirements for the remainder of your stay

· Menu printing

· Transportation from and to airport 

· Restaurant requirements

· Additional guests (in excess of 16) requiring accommodation

· Any tours or activities require

Each wedding at Villa Prati is a unique and very personal affair, and we need to begin to understand you as individuals. We don’t just want to know whether you want flowers or not, we need to know what are your favourite flowers, what colours you like, what the bridesmaids might be wearing, so that we can get it just right. Similarly, we need to understand the sort of reception you would like – a buffet or a formal meal? If you want to get married in the morning (Italian weddings are often late in the afternoon), will you want your reception at lunch time – and if so, what about food in the evening? Do you want vintage wines, or local wines?

The above list is therefore provided as food for thought. We are happy to discuss each of these items with you in more detail, and can send you a questionnaire to complete in more detail.

Contact details

If you are interested in making a booking, or would like to make further enquiries, please visit our website at www.villaprati.com or contact Daniela De Luca at:

Tel: 0039 3387970993

Email: info@villaprati.com or danieladeluca@marche-weddings.com

A bohemian style wedding

Clare and Cris wanted to create an intimate, relaxing wedding but with a magical Italian feel to it. They chose Villa Prati for their special occasion, a stunning villa nested in a hill and surrounded by imaculate grounds and stunning views of the Marche countryside.


They had an intimate civil ceremony in the Medieval village of Mogliano in a stunning ornate room of the town hall. This was followed by a religious blessing in the chapel situated just at the bottom of Villa Prati’s drive. The bride decided to use the space outside the church for the ceremony to make the most of the beautiful surroundings and the views.






This was followed by champagne and canapés served by the church while photos were taken. A buffet of starters followed around villa Prati which consisted of typical foods of this region from hand cut Prosciutto, typical regional salamis and cheeses served with hand made chutneys and honeys, stuffed olives, fresh fried fish and many more delicious foods. The sit down reception was held under a gazebo dressed with festoon lights all around creating a relaxing laid back feel. Bride and groom opted for a long imperial size table which was dressed with a mix of herbs (lavander, sage, rosemary, basil etc ) to create a mood that was natural yet sohisticated.The atmosfere was magical with a mix of fairylights in the olive trees and as a curtain back drop to the dance floor and vintage paper lanterns hung around trees.

The meal consisted of all the best that central Italy offers, not too heavy but with genuine, fresh and local ingredients and preparations from Le Marche.
The bride and groom chose a trio composed of a saxophone (with the famous Diego Grassedonio), a keyboard and a deejay. They played chillout music during the antipasti buffet followed by more upbeat music after the meal until the early hours of the morning.
The couple stayed several days at the villa with family and friends, allowing them to mingle and meet at the rehearsal meal, relax by the pool, see the sights and museums of central Italy, and have a large recovery brunch following the event.
The desert buffet certainly was a highlight with many different deserts to sample from tiramisu to panna cotta, creme brule, ice cream etc.
The wedding cake consisted of a cake of cheese made from moulds of itlaian cheese which was then served as a buffet along with homemade breads and crakers and chutneys and honeys for guests to pick at during the long night of dancing ahead.

A chill out area was also laid out with candles cushions and shisha for those who wanted a break from the dancing.

Clare writes:


"The wedding exceeded even my high expectations! Your help with all the paperwork was invaluable, and without it would have been impossible.

Every single detail of the wedding celebration was perfect, the church ceremony outside with the sun shining and birds singing was idyllic. The wedding party flowed from one area to another seamlessly, every little detail was attended to. My exacting floral instructions were met absolutely. The caterers were outstanding, their staff were professional, very attentive and looked so smart.

The food was outstanding, the service impeccable, the staff were incredibly professional, polite, efficient and very attentive. They all worked very hard and looked exceptionally smart.


I will share some of the comments we have had from the guests :-

' The best wedding ever'

' The best wedding I have ever been to'

' It was like being on a film set'

' It was like a society wedding'

' The best food I have ever had at a wedding'

' The most sophisticated wedding ever'

' The whole thing was magical'

' Nothing will ever top your wedding'

The venue of Villa Prati was stunning the combination of the little church at the bottom of the drive with the short run up to the beautiful grounds of Villa Prati with the breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, made it a very special and intimate affair. I cannot thank you and Paolo and all your family enough for all your hard work, and making it all possible by allowing us to share your wonderful home in an unspoilt and charming part of Italy."

Our wedding planning tips for you

Finally the day has arrived when it’s time to actually put into practice all the daydreaming about your big day! It is without a doubt very exciting but it can be dounting and stressful at times so I have taken the time to write down some tips which I hope will help you thoughout the process.

1. Choose your style and remember to be true to yourself! Its easy to get carried away nowadays with so many real life weddings published on social networks and it can get confusing as there are so many beautiful  ideas out there! For this reason I recomend setting your style and sticking to it! This is your dream day and it should reflect your personality and your style!
1. Decide on your budget and plan your wedding accordigly. This will help you stay grounded and focus on what you can and can’t afford.
2. Organisation is key! It’s easy to get carried away on the small details but remember to sort the main factors out first i.e. location, date, church or ceremony venue, catering and so on. I recomend  having a checklist and and a planning book with timeframes to help you set a timelimit.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Planning your wedding is not easy especially when it is abroad so I strongly recomend that you delegate to friends and family who have skills in areas you need.
4. Don’t rush the planning, give your self enough time so that you can enjoy the process. I recommend at least 6 months to plan your big day and i also recomend that you take time off planning your wedding and spend time with your other half. This should not become a job but it should be fun!
5. Remember to please yourself before you please others! It often happens that you get relatives or friends with strong requirements that you are not too happy with to say the least and this can create an awquard atmosphere especially if they are involeved financially in your wedding. I recomend to be sensitive to their desires and requirements and listen to their ideas and points of view however ridiculous they may seem even if you do eventually decide to go your way. You may find that they will just be happy to be listen to.
6. Best men and bridsmaids play a fundamental role and can really help making your life easier so be sure to  choose the right people!
7. When it comes to flowers i recomend trying to stick to the flowers that are in season when you can as for starters they are much cheaper as they are not imported but they also have a much fresher look!
8. Always have a plan B! I know, I know you are coming to get married in Italy because you want a beautiful outdoor wedding and most of you don’t like the idea of having anything on your roof  and the chances are that you will get this but you must have a plan B if the venue does not have any indoor capacity for your party so always consider hiring a gazebo! You can always cancel a few days before if you find that the weather forecast are positive, although we still don’t recomend this!
9. Ask for past clients reviews for each supplier before hiring them.

HAPPY WEDDING PLANNING! :)