All about Interview in Sicily

We are a boutique luxury destination wedding company based in Taormina, in Sicily, recognized as some of the most reputable and trustworthy companies in the area specializing in the production of high-end and luxury wedding celebrations.

In this article, we are going to introduce you to our luxury wedding planner. You can find out what is the difference between a regular wedding planner and what really makes a high-end wedding or a destination wedding different from the others.

Patrycja Wierzbicka, our in-house expert wedding planner, will walk us through the discovery of her job giving us some tips about wedding planning and unique events ideas both for grooms and brides and their guests.

We have interviewed her asking some of the most common questions brides and grooms that want to get married in Sicily have that will help you to understand if our services are the ones working for you too.

Reading on you will see also some of our events and venue we work with and how we can really make your day a special one (for you and for your guests too!). If you are interested in knowing how we can help you get in touch with us and schedule a call with our specialist.

What you will find in this post – Table Of Contents

What does it mean to be a luxury wedding planner?
What are the duties of a luxury destination wedding planner?
What are the challenges you meet when planning a luxury wedding in Sicily?
What kind of experiences are the typical “luxury" bride or grooms looking for?
What sets luxury planning services apart from average wedding planning?
What are the key secrets of a luxury wedding planner?
What are the most requested wedding venues in Sicily for luxury weddings?
What questions brides or grooms should ask the wedding planner before committing with you?
What is the most memorable wedding you have organized in Sicily? Can you tell us some unique details of weddings you have organized?

What does it mean to be a luxury wedding planner?

Being a luxury wedding planner means planning one of the best and most memorable days in the life of a couple, side by side advising, designing, and taking care of every small detail.

What are the duties of a luxury destination wedding planner?

A luxury destination wedding planner works at the same time as a tour operator and as an event planner. Working on multiple fields can be challenging, but with a solid team and background, it leads to successful events.

The main duties are of course organizational skills, location scouting, and creating partnerships with the best vendors.

The wedding planner should also help the couple with all the bureaucracy and paperwork involved in a wedding, especially when the bride and groom have had previous marriages or have strict religious procedures to follow.

What are the challenges you meet when planning a luxury wedding in Sicily?

Whoever picks Sicily for their wedding, chooses Sicily for its authenticity, historical locations, stunning secluded churches and some of these locations might not be located in big cities, and in these cases, logistics might be challenging in terms of transportations and accommodation, especially when the numbers of guests is above a hundred and the clientele is high-end.

The weather plays a very important role as indoor backup spaces don’t give justice to the beautiful outdoor areas of the venues.

Other challenging aspects are related to budget as it needs to be very clear from the beginning and it is important for the agency to stick to it and negotiate with vendors.

couple getting married in Sicily — Photo credit: Nunzio Bruno Photographer

What kind of experiences are the typical “luxury” bride or grooms looking for?

When a couple decides to get married abroad, usually tends to have 2 or 3 days of celebrations: a pre-wedding party, the main wedding event, and a farewell brunch/party.

A pre-wedding celebration is an informal event, like a beach party or a traditional street party like the one we arrange in Castelmola.

The main wedding event is usually the one with the biggest production and might involve different locations such as a church for the ceremony and the party venue, so it is important for the wedding planner to have a structured team in order to have every single detail under control.

Arranging a great setup, having an amazing catering service and entertainment is the key for a successful event and what couples demand.

Once the main party is over, on the last day couples wish to have a more relaxing and laid back atmosphere to thank all the guests for participating. A brunch or lunch in a nice hotel or at the beach is usually a great choice.

Other experiences can involve tours for the guests, for example, a day on Mt. Etna or a boat tour along the beautiful Taormina coastline

Wedding table at Sant'Andrea Hotel Taormina — Photo credit: Nunzio Bruno Photographer

What sets luxury planning services apart from average wedding planning?

What couples look for when they hire a wedding planner, is to have a stress-free wedding. We all know how challenging can be to be arrange any event, especially when the event takes place away from home.

Most of our clients come to Sicily just one or two times before the actual event, so having an onsite planner always ready to confront any setback that may come up, is very important.

So it is essential that the wedding planner agency is a licensed tour operator so that the groom and bride can communicate with just one agency, rather than working with multiple entities.

Pre-wedding party at Taormina beach — Photo credit: Giuseppe Marano photographer

What are the key secrets of a luxury wedding planner?

The key secrets of a luxury wedding planner are first of all to establish an honest and clear relation with the bride and groom and set a realistic budget to follow.

Then of course is fundamental to always be fast and attentive in communications, set and respect deadlines, be creative, and have great organizational and negotiation skills in order to contract the best vendors with reasonable costs for the couple.

What are the most requested wedding venues in Sicily for luxury weddings?

The most requested event venues in Sicily are exclusive locations like noble palaces, private beautiful ancient villas, Ancient Greek Theater, the Four Seasons and Belmond properties, along with other special locations such as the Ancient Greek Theater, Castemola town, the gardens of Taormina, the Aeolian Islands, the Castello degli Schiavi (known as one of the Godfather movie filming location) or the nature reserve “Tonnara di Scopello “. The list is definitely longer and the decision is always taken with our clients as the venue has to match their wedding party idea too.

wedding dinner at Castello degli Schiavi — Photo credit: Giuseppe Marano photographer

Photo credit: Giuseppe Marano photographer

What questions brides or grooms should ask the wedding planner before committing with you?

I believe that nowadays is very easy to find a lot of choices when it comes to wedding planners so before starting it is important to know as much as possible about their background, ask for references, previous events, maximum number of guests handled.

When the wedding planner has been decided it is time to set the most important element of the event: the budget.
The bride and groom should have a clear idea of the budget as much as the wedding planner needs to understand if the budget is in line with the services requested.

Going beyond the budget is easy, so it is also important for the couple to understand and trust how the planner is going to negotiate with vendors.

Wedding dinner at Taormina public gardens — Photo credit: Giuseppe Marano photographer

What is the most memorable wedding you have organized in Sicily? Can you tell us some unique details of weddings you have organized?

Every wedding we have designed and every couple we have met has a special place in our hearts.

Our first big production wedding has, without any doubt shaped our work and attitude towards the luxury wedding world.

It was our first Lebanese wedding, 3 days of parties in 3 different venues and 250 guests for which we had to arrange transportation, accommodation, hair & make-up appointments, tours, and any kind of collateral services to the actual event.

The most exciting part was arranging a true Sicilian Street Party in Castelmola town, a small town very close to Taormina, involving a whole village cooperating to the success of the event!

During the event, there was such a great atmosphere of unity and a genuine cultural mixture between this Sicilian village and the Lebanese culture brought by the guests.

It was an emotional moment for everyone and since then, this party is one of our top wedding event experiences.

–

We would be delighted to explore with you your idea for a luxury destination wedding in Sicily. If you are considering a wedding on our beautiful island, get in touch with our team and let us share our knowledge with you!

Traveling to Sicily can be easily done independently. However, if you want to experience the island adding a personal and luxury touch, a travel planner can help a lot in making the best of your days. We have interviewed Vita, Luxury Travel Advisor at Sicily Lifestyle, and we have asked her what a Travel Advisor…

At Sicily Lifestyle, we are a team of Sicily experts. We specialize in crafting exclusive travel itineraries and ensuring our guests get to experience the very best that Sicily has to offer.

We know that as travelers, our clients have their own ideas as to what makes a ‘luxury’ travel. We work with our clients to understand their needs and to tailor our suggestions accordingly.

Knowing the island inside out, we can work closely with you to ensure your experience of Sicily is truly unforgettable. But what really does a Luxury Travel Advisor? What are her/his duties? How can the support given by a luxury travel planner make the difference?

To these and many other questions, we have asked our expert Sicily travel planner, Vita. She tells us what a luxury travel planner really does, and why if you are traveling to Sicily you might want to consider one.

Over to Vita…

What does it mean being a luxury travel advisor?

Traveling has never been so valuable as in these post-pandemic times. People have been waiting so long to be able to travel again and have been dreaming about new adventures.

Being a luxury travel advisor and planner means now more than ever, to give shape to a dream and actually hand the key to doors. Our deep and first-hand knowledge of the destination makes these authentic experiences possible.

What are the duties of a luxury travel advisor?

A local luxury travel advisor must work on two main factors:

The knowledge of the destination
The knowledge of the client

Every client has a different vision for their trip. The planning starts with understanding from the client as much as as possible about their needs and wishes. This is absolutely essential when it comes to designing a tailor-made itinerary.

Behind a perfectly crafted itinerary, there is a huge work ‘on the ground’ in the territory. We want to know we are supplying our clients with the very best experiences.

This means trying firsthand all the tours and experiences our clients will do, visiting hotels, restaurants, selecting and meeting all the suppliers, guides, drivers, and hosts that will make up our client’s trip.

What are the challenges you meet when planning a luxury trip or tours in Sicily?

Working with third-party travel agents between us and the final client, misunderstandings can be easy to happen. So it is extremely important to have clear communications with all parties.

At Sicily Lifestyle, we pride ourselves on our transparency, and thoroughness for a smooth planning process and a satisfied customer.

Other Challenges in Sicily may arise when clients have a short time and yet they want to [understandably!] visit the whole Island.

Some people think that with Sicily being an Island, it is small and that the most popular destinations are all quite close to one another.

Sicily extends for 25711 km2, distances are quite long and roads are not always greatly connected, so in reality, it’s not usually possible to see everything in one trip.

Knowing the length of the trip is essential in order to understand in which areas to focus, rather than splitting the stay in too many hotels, requiring the client to pack and unpack their luggage every night and spend too much time sitting in a car instead of sightseeing and relaxing.

Cottanera Winery Sicily with Etna in background — Many ‘luxury travellers’ are looking for exclusive food and wine experiences. Photo courtesy of Cottanera Winery

What are the typical “luxury” travelers looking for?

The typical “luxury” travelers in Sicily look for authentic experiences with locals, as well as getting a taste of the culture, and history considering that Sicily hosts seven Unesco World heritage sites. Another key aspect travelers look for in Sicily are amazing nature and food&wine related experiences.

What are the key secrets of a luxury travel advisor?

Creativity, empathy, great knowledge of the destination, and top-notch suppliers are essential to work with a high-end client who is seeking stress-free planning, flexibility before and during the trip, and high-quality service throughout the process.

What are the most requested tours and destinations in Sicily?

Etna, Taormina, the Valley of Temples, and Noto are absolutely a must!

Along with these top sellers, there is Palermo and its noble heritage, its amazing architecture, and the traditional street food made every day in the folkloristic local market.

Lately, we’ve been receiving a lot of requests from clients who want to experience a romantic getaway in the countryside of Noto and Siracusa, where some of the best boutique hotels are located as well as luxury yacht cruises in the Aeolian Islands.

Sunset over Stromboli island — Stromboli: One of the Aeolian Islands, which are among the most requested Sicily experiences

What are the less known places in Sicily that you would, instead, recommend to your clients?

The Island of Pantelleria is still less known compared to the Aeolian Islands, which are not as beaten by tourism as the mainland of Sicily, but yet a popular destination.

Pantelleria is still an unspoiled, virgin land; an ideal place to unwind, relax and discover all it has to offer: nature, great landscapes, and amazing wines and food.

What do you want to know from your potential client in order to craft the perfect itinerary?

We need to know the basic information such as the number of people, if it’s a multi-gen trip, a honeymoon/celebration, length of the journey and an estimated budget.

It is also very important to go deeper in the knowledge of the client, making the right questions in the pre-planning phase in order to craft the most suitable experiences for that specific customer so that expectations are met [and exceeded!].

What are the most memorable tours and experiences you have organized in Sicily? Can you tell us some unique details about them?

The most memorable experience I have organized was for a multi-generational trip with clients who had Sicilian roots.

They asked us to do family heritage research, which lead us to go through tons of documents in the archives of the city hall of a tiny village on the west coast of Sicily.

As it usually happens in Sicily, as soon as the word spread through the village, a lot of people, from the mayor to a cultural/historic association decided to take part in the research and found relatives who were still living in the village.

At that point, we decided to give updates about the research before their trip to Sicily, but we didn’t tell them that on the day of their visit to their ancestor’s village, they would actually meet their relatives for the first time.

You can imagine how emotional this day was for our clients and also for the whole village, who welcomed this American Family as they were part of the community.

Motta Camastra Sicily — “In Sicily, luxury is not something they will see, but more something they will feel…”

What is the most valuable advice you would give to someone that wants to plan a trip to Sicily?

First of all, to live as a local as much as they can and to leave behind the mainstream idea of ‘luxury’ because in Sicily, luxury is not something they will see, but more something they will feel.

It is not something they will find in fancy things and services, but in the people that will make their stay special, from the driver at the airport to the Sicilian Mamma who will welcome them to her home and treat them like family.

If you had 3 days to experience Sicily, what would your personal itinerary include?

With 3 days available I would focus on the East coast of Sicily.

I would land in Catania and would stay at the Belmond Hotel Timeo in Taormina. On my arrival day I would simply enjoy a guided walk of Taormina and its ancient Greek Theater and then relax at the beach and have a traditional dinner in a tiny family restaurant overlooking the sea.

On my second day I would definitely do a hike on Mt. Etna, or take a helicopter tour, and stop in a winery for lunch and to enjoy great food and taste the Etna Doc wines.

On my last day I would definitely head to the south-east area of Sicily, visit Siracusa and have an easy lunch at the local market, then head to Noto to see its baroque palaces and stop at Caffè Sicilia to meet the best and most well-known pastry chef in Sicily and try his granita made with the delicious Avola Almond!

–

Vita is our beloved Travel Advisor, she takes care of our clients from the beginning till your last day in Sicily with us. If you have been inspired by Vita’s expertise and knowledge, get in touch with us today and we can start to explore your perfect Sicily itinerary!