Hi Simon

Congratulations on your wedding, sounds as though you had a beautiful day and everything went to plan.

I'm getting married at the Cloisters next June, and also have Alessandra arranging the extras.

I was wondering whether you had any music at Relais and what time you stayed there til?

Many thanks

Kariann

Hi Kariann,

Thankyou! and congratulations too!

We arranged the coach (via the Relais) to pick us up at 11.30pm in fact we left at 12pm which was plenty of time for us. We arrive at the Relais at 5.20pm (our wedding was at 4.30pm) This is undoubtely the best time as you will enjoy the sunset on the Veranda - which is amazing then you will have dinner. Everything at the Relais is very laid back and easy going so you'll can enjoy relaxing and chatting with everyone prior to dinner.

ps Re the Relais we opted for Fillet steak and I can honesty say along with all my guests it was the best Steak we've ever had! the food is superb and that's by Italian standards, they also cater well for the children.

Regarding music we booked this through Alessandra and had a Madolin and Guitar player with Authentic Italian music, we did not want to spoil the Italain style by trying to play british music or placing any kind of british influence on proceedings. The cost was 175 EURO I think and well worth it. We also used Alessandra's photographer that was 375 EURO and excellent we opted for the basic package that includes 30 A4 size photo's mounted in an album along with a DVD including all the high res images without copyright. Compared to the UK this is a bargain!

If you give me your email i'll mail you a pic of the sunset from the Relais blu

All the best

Simon

Simon, your wedding sounds lovely!

We are looking at the Villa Fondi for a ceremony next August, followed (hopefully) by a reception at the Relais Blu, based on your & NikkiJ 's amazing description!

I have also emailed Book Of Dreams to see if they can help. I've been talking to other planners but so far have not been made to feel at ease & confident in them.

I would be extremely grateful if you could email me your photos. I would love to see how Relais Blu looks with a wedding there. My email add is becky.sweeney@fireboxdance.co.uk.

We are still a little torn between other venues, perhaps not quite as modern, such as o Parruchianno & La Tonnarella, so hopefully your photos will help us make up our minds once & for all! Did you feel it was too minimal to be romantic? Or is that not what you waned anyway?

With Relais Blu, were they quite flexible with decorations? We would love candles & certain colours/ Do you think this would be ok?

Also what did you do after your reception meal? We would like to go somewhere for drinks & dancing but understand it is quite far out? Probably not walking distance to anywhere. Do you think the transport may drop us somewhere?

Also what music did they provide for your meal? Or did you organise your own?

And finally how was your honeymoon? Sounds wonderful!

I really hope to hear from you soon. I'm getting very excited!!

Bex

I'd

Hi Becky,

Congratulations - Just mailed you some pics!

I can't speak for other planners but I can say Alessandra from Book of Dreams is superb very laid back put precise and efficient, it is difficult to get a real confidence when booking abroad , especially Italy as they tend to be much more laid back than here.

For the Relais the pictures speak for themselves, if you need more pics I can get more tomorrow as I need to bring my memory card in. Also to be fair here I haven't seen any other venues other than the one near to the Vittoria which is part of the Foreigners Bar, they had a reception on whilst us and friends had drinks outside and it was no where near the Relais.

We're pretty laid back about things in general but we thought the Relais was perfect for us it is modern based on a nautic theme but absolutely beautiful, for me I wanted to give something back to our guests that had travelled out to our wedding something they would not forget and would impress. It was very romantic especially as we all had drinks and canapies during the sunset (approx 2 hours!) then had dinner.

The Relais are very flexible with decorations we took our own printed menu's (based on the menu sent from the Relais that we chose) we also gave them name place cards, seating plans and confetti, They'll basically do anything you want at no extra charge. so it would definitely be ok - email Antoninio

Afterward we all went home as it was a long day getting ready etc. it really depends on when your getting married as they will let you stay till 12ish (not sure how long after as we didn't ask) I'm not sure were else would cater for you as Italy in general seems to shut down at 12ish I didn't see any clubs or late night bars in Sorrento centre. Also the Transport will drop you anywhere (within reason) we had to drop a large number oif guests in Masa Lubrense and also in Sorrento Centre and just outside all done with no problem at all.

During the meal we decided to leave the music as is, we didn't want to spoil the authenticity of an Italian wedding by playing British music, that said at the Relais they play quite a bit of Brit music but they will play your CD as we did ask.

The Honeymoon was superb ! it was nice to stay 7 nights , what with sorting the wedding out and spending time with guests , along with seeing Capri , Pompeii and Vesuvius - Positano is also very good and the Amalfi coast tours that we didn't have time for. Other than that we were happy to move on as that's long enough for Sorrento Rome is amazing along with Venice all very Romantic.

Italy is as it looks Beautiful

All the Best

Simon

Hi Simon

I would love to see your photos, my email is kariannpoole@hotmail.com

Did you eat inside or out on the terrace? I love the idea of eating out on the terrace with candles and the sun-setting, with instrumental music playing in the background.

I'm glad your honeymoon was fab.

Kariann

Hi Kariann,

I've just mailed some pics.

We originally decided to eat on the terrace and changed to eat inside as it was quite cold at 8pm when we visited the Relais on the Saturday prior to the reception on Monday, If your wedding is earlier then eating on the terrace would be ideal.

All the best

Simon

Thanks for the piccies. They are stunning.

I think you have converted me!!

I'm getting really excited now, cant wait til next June.

Just a quick question re: drinks within the package - i understand that this covered an aperitif with the canapies (was that 1 drink), and then wine with meal, and the toast. I would be grateful for clarification.

many thanks

Kariann

Hi Kariann,

Thanks!!

I thought the drinks package was as you discribed, in fact they had plenty of wine and Proseco for plenty of drinks on the veranda, most people had 3-5 glasses during the 2 hours we were out there along with the 5 course canapies (NB we thought we had to choose a canapies - you get all 5)

We also had wine with the dinner but they would refil glasses during the dinner so it wasn't just 1 drink.

We also had a free bar which was very well priced, overall it was extremely good value for money.

Just be careful though the red wines can go up to 500 EURO for 1 bottle!

ps We just got back the official photo's from Alessandra's photographer that cost EURO 375 and they are stunning! unbelievabe value - we have 30 full A4 size (or just under) in a very nice hard back leather album along with a DVD including all the high res images taken with NO copyright !!

All the best

Simon

Hi Simon,

It sounds like you had the same photographer as us. Wasn't he amazing value compared to the UK. Alot of people have commented on our photos and cannot believe what we paid.!!

Don't know about you both but we were on such a high when we returned that it was a struggle to get back to normal.

Don't forget to send me photos.

Regards

NikkiJ

Hi Nikki,

Yes I think it's the same guy the photographs are superb and excellent value. A couple of our friends have just recently got married in the UK with the photogapher bill running at £1,000 and £2,500. What shocked me the most is even for the price they only got 30-40 photo's mounted and the rest are supplied on a CD as low res images with a copyright logo on them!!

We had the same problem when we got back although we had 4 days to get back to normality.

It's strange it almost seems like a perfect dream, the Relais being the epitomy of our wedding.

What's your direct email and I'll mail you our pics

All the best

Simon