Emilia-Romagna wedding florists

A wedding in Emilia-Romagna

Emilia-Romagna brings together art cities, hills, castles and the sea. In Bologna you can marry in palazzi in the centre, under the porticoes, and in villas on the Bologna hills. Modena, Reggio Emilia and Parma have palazzi, country courtyards and acetaie (the lofts where balsamic vinegar ages); the Piacenza and Parma areas have a network of castles and fortresses, many open for events. Ferrara and Ravenna offer historic centres and ancient churches. On the Romagna Riviera, from Cervia to Cesenatico, Rimini, Riccione and Cattolica, weddings take place in hotels, beach clubs and villas near the sea. Inland there are villages such as Brisighella and the Romagna hills.

The list includes floral designers based in the cities of Emilia, in Romagna and on the coast. Each profile lists the areas covered.

Plain, hills and sea: three kinds of logistics

In the cities, limited traffic zones (ZTL) and timings matter: access to central Bologna is restricted and palazzi have courtyards and stairs. Agree permits and unloading with the floral designer. Castles often have rules on fixings, candles and weight on historic floors, plus steep climbs up to the courtyard. By the sea, a beach wedding follows the rules of the beach concession and the Comune (town council): ask the beach club what is allowed for structures, arches and petals on the sand.

Distances on the plain are short, but a venue in the Apennines can be more than an hour from a provincial capital. Ask how travel is charged.

Climate: heat, humidity and mosquitoes

Summer on the plain is hot and muggy, with humid evenings and mosquitoes near rivers and canals. For an outdoor ceremony, late afternoon is best, with heat-tolerant flowers and arrangements with water. In the hills and the Apennines the evenings are cooler. In autumn and winter fog is common on the plain and slows morning journeys. Read the guide to a summer wedding in the heat.

May, June and September are the most requested months. In the countryside the landscape offers wheat, poppies, sunflowers, orchards and vines: possible materials, not obligations. The guide to wildflowers has some ideas.

What wedding flowers cost in Emilia-Romagna

Price ranges are indicative. A bridal bouquet is often between €100 and €350, low centrepieces between €40 and €150 each, and church flowers range from a few hundred euros to over €2,000 for a large church. In castles and on the beach, structures, weights and set-up hours add to the cost. For the hidden items, read the guide to extra floral costs.

What to ask the floral designer

• Do you know the access to the castle or palazzo?
• For the beach: what does the concession allow?
• How do you protect the flowers from heat and humidity?
• Is travel to the Apennines or the Riviera included?

Once you have a date and a venue, request up to 3 quotes.