FAQs

Question

Do I need to book accommodations?

Answer

We will be providing accommodations at Tenuta di Monaciano for all of our family and friends. We're looking forward to having everyone in the same place to help us celebrate! All our guests are welcome to stay on the venue property - either in the main villa or the surrounding country houses. Each country house is broken down into apartments, and we'll be working to ensure they suit each of our guests needs. However, if preferred, you are welcome to book your own accommodations in Siena. Please just let us know in advance if we shouldn't be planning on you staying with us.

Question

When do I need to RSVP?

Answer

There’s no time like the present! While we’ll be accepting RSVPs through January, if you can let us know as early as you do, we’d appreciate it! We also understand things change, so feel free to reach out directly if you’ve got special circumstances that mean you won’t know for sure until we’re closer to June! All of our RSVPs are via our website.

Question

When should I arrive?

Answer

The weekend’s festivities will begin in Siena on Friday and all accommodations are booked from Friday-Monday. Check-in begins at 4 pm Friday afternoon. We hope you can join us for the whole weekend, and we have events planned to celebrate all weekend long.

Question

How should I arrive / How do I get around?

Answer

Tenuta Monaciano is located in the heart of Tuscany just outside of Siena. It’s conveniently situated between Florence and Rome, making it an easy stop in between the two, if you’re looking to check out two of Italy’s most popular cities. In terms of arriving to Italy, flights are readily available to Rome, Florence, and Milan. From each of these cities, you can easily rent a car. If you are arriving from Rome, Milan, or elsewhere you can also easily get a fast train to Florence. From Florence you have the option of a car transfer service, renting a car, or taking a regional train to Siena. All of these options have pros and cons – check out our travel page for more info! The villa is about 15 minutes from Siena. We will be providing a shuttle that will be running back and forth from the train station to the Villa on Friday between 3:30 - 5 pm. It will take about 20 people at a time. There is a taxi stand at the Siena station as well, if you miss the shuttle or do not wait to wait.

Question

When should I book a flight?

Answer

Now! We definitely recommend booking flights sooner rather than later. Ideally, please book your flights at least 2-3 months out to ensure a better price.

Question

What do I need to travel internationally?

Answer

This probably goes without saying, but A PASSPORT. And not just that, but an up-to-date, non-expired passport. If you’re reading this and aren’t sure the status of your passport, do us all a favor and CHECK NOW. Please also note: Italy and many other countries will not let you enter the country if your passport expires within 90 days.

Question

Do I need a car?

Answer

As mentioned above, renting a car will go a long way in terms of getting around. While not 100% necessary, if you plan to go into Siena, visit wineries, or make day trips to the surrounding towns, we highly recommend it. You can also buddy up with other guests to split a car (let us know if you’re looking to connect with others), or if you’d prefer, car hire services are available. There’s more about all of this in our travel section.

Question

What about food?

Answer

We’ll be hosting a pizza party on Friday, dinner will be served during the wedding reception on Saturday, and BBQ pool party on Sunday. There will also be pastries and coffee available every morning. We will have a light lunch the day of the ceremony as well for those who stick around the villa. Outside of these meals, you’re on your own! Siena is generally going to be your best bet in terms of restaurants close by. Check out our Siena & Nearby page for recommendations & more here! Another option is stocking your kitchen at Monaciano with some snacks and perhaps options for a light lunch (especially for the ceremony day). As mentioned in our Siena & Nearby page, there’s a local ag co-op in Siena that has really great local meats, cheese, fresh-baked bread, wines, and more that we recommend swinging by (though it's in the City center, so keep in mind you’ll have to walk there from nearby parking). There’s also a Coop (not to be confused with the local co-op, Coop is one of Italy’s larger supermarket/ grocery chains, think Kroger) about 10 minutes away with parking, etc. You’ll also find lots of great meats and cheeses here as well as pretty much anything you’d look for in an American grocery store.

Question

What will the weather be like?

Answer

Hopefully, beautiful! The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate, so you can expect warm days and cooler nights. Daily high temperatures range from 77°F to 84°F, and daily low temperatures range from 53°F to 59°F. Please check the weather forecast before packing.

Question

What should I wear?

Answer

Our wedding attire is formal - think long dresses for the ladies, suit and tie for the gentlemen. We ask that you please be mindful of your shoe choices. Stilettos are prohibited in certain areas of the Villa, and parts of the day might require walking through grass and cobblestone. The rest of the time, it’s whatever you want! The bride and groom will be sporting garden chic to the pizza party and will be fairly casual for the Sunday BBQ. All of the above will take place at least partially or entirely outdoors, so a light jacket or wrap might not be a bad idea! For general attire in Italy, it’s worth noting that Italians tend to dress up a bit more than Americans. Athleisure isn’t super common nor are shorts, but stylish tennis shoes are definitely okay. Northern Italians typically dress in more blacks/neutrals, while in Southern Italy you’ll get a lot more color. At the end of the day, wear what you’re comfortable in – a note that especially applies to shoes as much Siena is paved in cobblestones!

Question

What’s different about an Italian wedding/what should I expect from your Italian wedding?

Answer

Well for starters, get yourself ready for a 3-day experience. We chose Italy because we wanted to bring our favorite people together in our favorite place, for more than just one night of festivities. As noted on our events page, there will be things to do throughout the weekend – with more to come and some time to just all hang out in between! Another thing to note – while we don’t expect everyone to be a night owl, Italian weddings are known for going late, and we’re not ones to break with tradition! We’re excited to party into the early hours of the morning, and hope you’ll join us for a full night of dancing and celebration.

Question

What about cell phone service?

Answer

Wifi is very readily available in Italy. Most restaurants have it and will offer it to you in addition to the usual suspects (the Villa for the wedding of course, hotels, and other accommodations). Trains also usually have wifi (though we’ve experienced differing degrees of success in connecting). In terms of navigating, both Google Maps and Apple Maps have offline map options that you download while on wifi and then use without having to waste data. All this being said, having cellular data in a foreign country is certainly hugely beneficial. If nothing else, it’s a nice security blanket. Your options are to buy international service through your current provider (safest bet) or more affordable option is to buy an eSim card either at an Italian telephone store or online via an app like Airalo. Truth be told, I have not used this option before, so I rec doing your own research here, but from what I’ve read it seems like a really solid option and is beneficial in that it can be used across Europe and be bought prior to traveling. You also are able to keep your own phone number (as opposed to buying a physical Sim card), so you can continue to message friends, etc. without any hassle.

Question

Still have questions?

Answer

Call, text, email, carrier pigeon, whatever to let us know! Having a destination wedding is a lot, so we would LOVE to help facilitate your trip in any way we can. No question is off limits, and we (really, the bride) love travel and planning so don’t hesitate to ask. Also, it will help us recognize if we’re missing an important detail we should add here!

Question

Tips before you leave

Answer

Confirm passport is current/renew passport Make copies of all your documents Flag for your credit/debit card companies you’ll be traveling Make a plan re: cell phone coverage Buy & pack power adapters/converters! Also consider bringing a mobile charger Download google translate & train ticket apps Download WhatsApp if you will be communicating this way with family and friends Book trains & other forms of transit Book tours and tickets to all major sites Book wine tours/vineyard visits Reserve any really nice restaurants you want to go to