Looking for advice from people who've actually planned something similar.
The situation:
- May 2027 wedding
- Was originally going to be in Lebanon, pivoting due to instability
- Deciding between French Riviera and Italian coast (near the sea is important)
- 50–60 guests
- Budget: 80–100K
- Want a villa/estate that can host guests for 2 nights so accommodation is included
The issue: most destination planners I've contacted only take 150K+ budgets, which has been demoralizing. I'd love to hear from anyone who:
- Pulled off something similar in this budget range
- Knows specific regions within Italy or France that work better at this price point (Puglia? Liguria? Provence interior vs coast?)
- Can recommend planners who genuinely work with mid-range budgets
- Has thoughts on booking a villa direct + hiring a coordinator separately vs going full-service
Thanks in advance!