Taormina, Sunday 30 December 2012
Todd and Isabella, Miami, USA

"Surprise Wedding"
My boyfriend and I had planned for my first trip to Italy and Sicily this past December.
Only little did I know that this trip would turn into a dream come true.
Todd contacted Tony on a referral from the hotel Ashbee where we would be staying, to plan a "surprise wedding" for us in Taormina, Sicily. Unbeknown to me in the weeks prior to our trip, Todd communicated with Tony & his wife Isabella to plan the details for this amazing day. I have to say my husband outdid himself with every detail from my favorite song to my favorite flowers… and it was Tony and Isabella that were able to make that all come to life.
Todd had never been to Taormina before, so he was putting a lot of faith in them, trusting what they were deciding upon only through email and pictures. They did not steer us wrong.
From the location at Taormina Public Gardens to the absolutely beautiful ceremony Isabella had planned for us.
The photographer who took amazing pictures, the driver, the beautiful flowers… everything was absolutely flawless.
There are people who plan their weddings for over a year and can not make it flawless and yet this was absolutely perfect.
Thanks to my ever so romantic husband Todd... I will forever remember this fairytale once in a lifetime experience… and a very special thanks to Tony and Isabella who helped to make it all happen…
they, as well as Taormina will forever hold a special place in my heart."

Todd and Isabella Evans

Taormina, Tuesday 25 September 2012
Clara and Andrew, Co. Dublin, Ireland

"We had been to Taormina in 2006. When we got engaged in 2010, immediately, 2 places came to mind: Vegas and Taormina. We wanted a very simple fuss free wedding and a good party.
Neither of us are the wedding type, so keeping it simple was the way to go. Vegas for the party or Taormina for the Class.
In the end, for various reasons and as it was close to our hearts, we picked Taormina and I have to say we are both so glad we did.
On contacting Tony, we realised we were in good hands. He got back almost immediately with a booked date.
It was the same each and every time I needed to contact him. No query was too big or too small.
Isabella was just as helpful and hands on when we got there.
Everything was taken care of and a lot of people remarked how calm I was for a bride!!
I knew we were being well looked after, they give off the vibe that they genuinely care and it felt like we had known them years!
Every little detail was looked after. Even things we hadn’t thought about.
Our day went without a hitch(!), it was definitely the best day ever.
We couldn’t be happier and we can’t recommend them enough to anyone who is looking for a very special location wedding of any size."

Endless thank you to you both.
Clara, Andrew and Becca-Robin

Taormina, Thursday 6 September 2012
Sandra and Martin, Essex, UK

"We had been considering our wedding options for a while looking at UK venues and abroad. Having seen a friend’s photos of a wedding in Sicily we thought that maybe this was the place for us. Researching on the internet we found a few wedding planners and emailed them to find out more information. Not only were Tony and Isabella the first to respond, but it was also clear that they were best suited to planning for us. Their response was detailed and clear and answered all the questions we had posed rather than stock information that others sent back. We visited Tony and Isabella in late September 2011 to look at the options, and despite poor weather at that time we fell in love with Taormina and knew this was the place for us. Through the intervening year we were able to leave them to make all the arrangements we wanted in Sicily. They guided us through the legal process with the British Embassy and always responded promptly and courteously to any queries we had, no matter how trivial. Tony was able to arrange accommodation and excursions for our guests as well as airport transfers. He also laid on a reception in the garden of the Time Out Pub the night before to welcome all our guests and this exceeded our expectations. Everything was done without any hassle. During the week leading up to the wedding, we had to attend to the administration and final detail plans with Isabella. She was so helpful and also very pleasant company to be with during these times. All the details were handled with professionalism. From the management at La Giara, to the florist and the beautician - all were very friendly and accommodating. The day itself was indeed our “perfect day.” We had chosen the civil ceremony at Palazzo Duca di St Stefano. This venue is charming with nice grounds for photos. The old building lends itself well as a venue and guests commented how lovely it was. The ceremony was simple but fabulous and handled nicely with Isabella translating. A violinist played. Her music was absolutely beautiful and lent a real air of sophistication to the event. We were able to add our own touches of personal vows and a reading by one of our relatives. As we found throughout, we were able to make the day be what we wanted. The walk through the town is a tradition in Sicily and was fun with everyone coming out to congratulate us and later when we drove through the pretty streets in the open top car, we felt like royalty. The light reception of prosecco and snacks at Mocambo was a great way to start our celebrations. Tony had arranged for us to be entertained by the local Sicilian folk band, who were superb. Our guests had such a great time and are still laughing about it today! The tour of the town for photos was a lovely respite for us, a time for ‘just us’ for a while and in such beautiful surroundings. The photographer and video cameraman were very friendly, not obtrusive or demanding and achieved great results. We rejoined our family and friends at La Giara. Our guests had been taken to the balcony overlooking the stunning bay and Mount Etna. This allowed us time to compose ourselves before entering, a nice touch and well thought out. When we joined the group we were welcomed again with Prosecco and Canapés - a mix of local dishes that were delicious. The ambience on the terrace was superb. The meal that followed was similarly superb. Comments from some guests reckoned this to be the best meal out they had eaten anywhere. We would find it hard to say otherwise. The glasses were always topped up. The evening concluded with dancing, and even then that allowed us to have a free hand on the music choice used. Throughout the whole day Tony and Isabella were on hand. Always in the background just putting little touches in here and there to ensure the day went smoothly without any concern to us. It was a totally stress free day for us, which I suspect most brides and grooms cannot say, and we put this down to Tony and Isabella. Overall when you hear comments like “it’s the best wedding I have ever attended,” “you two never stopped smiling,” “that’s the best food I have ever eaten” “this is the best holiday I have ever had,” being said repeatedly - then you know something is right! We enjoyed a fantastic week with our family and friends and more than anything, had a truly memorable wedding day! None of this would have been possible without Tony and Isabella.
We came away feeling like we had made new friends, friends we hope to see on a regular basis when we return to Sicily in the future."
Sandra and Martin

Taormina, Friday 3 August 2012
Diana and Barry, Dublin, Ireland

"We decided to get married in the beautiful town of Taormina, and after having a look around online we found Tony and Isabella's website.
The testimonials from all the couples were so good, that we decided to go with them as well.
We contacted Tony and Isabella in January 2012 by e-mail. The response was extremely fast and it continued to be very efficient for the entire time of organising the event.
We wanted to have a very small and intimate wedding, just the two of us.
Tony was very helpful with the necessary paperwork.
I am originally from Moldova, so the documents required were a bit trickier than usual.
Tony was of great help to check and make sure that all the papers were the correct ones.
Isabella helped very much with bookings, arrangments and some more paperwork before the actual ceremony. Everything worked out great!
We got married on the 3rd August in the town hall, Palazzo Duca di Santo Stefano.
The wedding day was perfect. We will remember it forever as one of the best days of our lives.
We are very grateful to Tony and Isabella for being the best wedding planners!"

Diana and Barry

Taormina, Thursday 26 July 2012
Margaret and David, Dublin, Ireland

"It’s hard to put into words what can only be described as our perfect wedding day.
After deciding against an Irish “cold & wet” weather wedding, we chose the exquisite town of Taormina to tie the knot and with Tony & Isabella’s help we set about making the arrangements.
Our wedding took place on July 26th and we chose Chiesa del Varo for our marriage ceremony.
It’s fair to say we were all blown away by how stunning it was. After getting some photos taken at the church we were brought to the Mocambo for a prosecco reception and we were entertained by the folk group.
Our guests thoroughly enjoyed the music and the atmosphere.
As myself and David were brought away to get our photos taken our guests continued to absorb the unique Italian traditional setting. Tony and Isabella then led our guests to our reception venue La Giara.
Everyone agreed that the view from the roof top was truly spectacular. The food was excellent and Giovanni and the staff couldn’t have done more for us. After we cut the cake and had our first dance it was time to party. We danced till the early hours and loved every minute of our special day.
We would like to thank Tony and Isabella from the bottom of our hearts for all their help in making our day perfect. They helped us with every detail and were also so prompt at coming back on the numerous emails that we had sent them during the planning of our wedding. When we arrived in Taomina, both Tony and Isabella were on hand literally 24/7 to help us and our guests with any queries we had.
From making hair and make-up appointments to choosing the flowers and finalising our menu, Tony and Isabella were there to advise us on everything and help us along the way. With their calming natures and attention to detail, they made the whole experience stress free and relaxed. If we were to do it all again we wouldn’t change a thing."

David and Margaret Fox

Taormina, Friday 22 June 2012
Sophie and Simon, London, UK

"When Simon and I first decided we wanted to get married in Taormina, Sicily we searched on the internet for wedding planners and venues and sent off a bunch of emails. Tony and Isabella were among the first planners to get back to us with the most comprehensive breakdown of the services they could offer, venues lists and costs. This set the tone for all of our dealings with them right up to, and beyond our wedding day.
From day one they have been open, honest, obliging and have gone above and beyond anything we ever expected of them as our planners. When we visited Taormina to choose our venues – the beautiful Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano for our ceremony, post-wedding cocktails and nibbles at Bar Mocambo and Prosecco reception, dinner and dancing at La Giara – we thought Tony and Isabella were too good to be true. We couldn’t believe that two people could be so attentive and helpful without being pushy, but this is exactly what they were. Nothing has been too much trouble for them. We received regular emails letting us know when we needed to make decisions about the day, such as sorting our certificates of no impediment to allow us to get married overseas or booking a wedding car, so that we did not need to worry about anything until it was necessary. When my Australian husband had a problem with one of the documents, Tony and Isabella made a special trip to Messina in Sicily to sort it out for us. And as our wedding day got closer the frequency of my emails to them increased considerably, but not once did they complain and I always received a reply within a day or two. All of their email correspondence in the run up to our big day ensured that when we arrived in Sicily a week before, we were both relaxed and excited. Once in Taormina, Isabella took us to sort out our final documentation with the local registrar, to the florist to choose flowers and booked beauty appointments for myself, my mom and my bridesmaids for the morning of the wedding. She also took us to La Giara to sample the food and choose our wedding menu and to the Palazzo to organise seating and readings. Our every need was taken care of so we experienced as little stress as possible. I was a little concerned that we did not have a wedding rehearsal but Tony assured us that it was not necessary as he and Isabella would be there on the day to guide us, and he was right. The day itself was more magical and perfect than we could ever have imagined! It went without a hitch and we were both blown away by how smoothly and well organised everything was – thanks to Tony and Isabella’s immaculate planning and attention to detail. We were treated like royalty and made to feel like the two most special people on the planet! The ceremony was beautiful and emotional, drinks at Bar Mocambo surpassed all my expectations as the café had been set up beautifully and drinks and nibbles were plentiful and yummy, with stunning views across the main square, and La Giara was out of this world. When Simon and I walked into La Giara to greet out guests after having photographs taken at Teatro Greco and the public gardens, we were open mouthed. It looked absolutely stunning decorated with the red heart balloons and table decorations we had given to restaurant manager Giovanni, overseen by Isabella. Drinks and canapés on the huge balcony overlooking the bay and Mount Etna were breath-taking, serenaded by members of my musical family. And our decision to have a traditional Sicilian buffet for our wedding dinner was perfect for the relaxed atmosphere we wanted to create. The food was incredible and there were copious amounts of it, accompanied by unlimited delicious local wines and beer! Giovanni and maître Nino were so friendly and professional, they took real pride in what they were doing. Tony and Isabella stayed with us throughout the whole day and night to ensure everything went to plan and there was nothing we were unhappy with, until the dancing started at 12.30am when they went home for a very well-deserved rest!All of our guests – family and friends – have not stopped raving about the whole experience: pretty Taormina, the wonderful locals, the ceremony, drinks at Mocambo, the stunning views and venue of La Giara and the food. Most weddings are not remembered for their culinary delights but ours most definitely will be! None of this would have been possible without Tony and Isabella’s amazing professionalism and dedication to the service they provide and to us as a couple. They were devoted to making our day as special as possible for us and our guests, and were cool and calm when faced with any issues that needed sorting out and have become friends. As Simon said in his groom’s speech: they are the personification of the Italian philosophy ‘la bella figura’, a way of living that embodies authenticity, graciousness, gentility and respect in interactions with others, and elegance and beauty in simplicity.
We would recommend anybody considering getting married in Taormina Sicily to work with Tony and Isabella and your day will undoubtedly be perfect."
Sophie and Simon

Taormina, Thursday 21 June 2012
Aileen and Oufkir, Dundalk, Ireland

"Anybody considering getting married abroad should look no further than Tony and Isabella!
It was all thanks to them that our wedding in Taormina was a dream come true...
When we made the decision to get married abroad we realised just how many wedding planners there was to choose from, but from our first contact with Tony and Isabella we knew instantly that they were the perfect choice for us.
Throughout the wedding planning process they were amazingly efficient, patient and kind, all the stress of planning a great day was taken away and we could focus on the important thing, which was to enjoy our time!
Even a month on, our family and friends are still talking about how amazing everything was.
My parents enjoyed it that much they travelled back to Taormina less than three weeks after the wedding!

We have memories of a lifetime and only wish we could do it all AGAIN!!"

Aileen and Oufkir

Taormina, Thursday 14 June 2012
Hollie and Dale, Barnsley, UK

"Hi Isabella and Tony,
We would like to say a big thank you for organising our lovely wedding day in Taormina.

The day went by with no problems and we will always remember that special day along with the pictures as another reminder in years to come!!!

Thank you for your efforts and just to say I can't believe how stress free it was for us to let you do all the arrangements and would certainly recommend you to anyone who wants to get married in such a lovely and welcoming place."

Dale and Hollie

Taormina, Thursday 7 June 2012
Wyn and Tina, Aberystwyth, Wales

"As we sit down looking out at the rain back home, having an espresso, we write this testimonial with fond memories. We were married at Chiesa Del Varo on the 7th June 2012. We had never been to Sicily before but as my now wife, Tina is half Italian and had family from the area of Enna, we knew this was going to be our dream wedding. Tina as a little girl was told by her Nonna of the pretty white churches and the beautiful weddings she had been to in Sicily. We decided to look for information on weddings in Sicily, we came across Tony's website via the internet, this was the first and only website we looked at. The testimonials from previous couples gave us hope and confindence, so we contacted Tony. We had a fast response to our queries, and they provided us with help and guidence all the way, everything was sorted on Tony and Isabella's side, we had not become fully catholic at this point.. so after some stressful times (on our side) we finally got there and everything else just fell into place. We meet up with Tony and Isabella on various occasions of our stay.. it was like meeting up with old friends you hadn't met up with in years... chilled and relaxed!! We decided to choose Chiesa Del Varo.. the church of Tina's dreams, the church is a true gem, hidden away from the main street, nothing could prepare you for the interior inside, we were speechless and it brought guests of ours to tears at its beauty, along with the voice of the singer, again blew us away. We then had a short walk through the streets after the wedding to the square, the athmosphere was "buzzing", being wished all the best by passers by. We arrived in the main square where we had booked the Mocambo Bar, for light bites and refreshments with a Sicilian Folk band, this was a true highlight and a lot of fun, Tony stayed with our guests and joined in on the fun, whilst we were whisked away by our amazing photographer Nicola, our driver, also amazing, drove us around the town and to the beauty hot spots of Taormina in our Retro VW Beetle, as we drove through the streets, we had people shouting the word Auguri (Congratulations) and even had a lady from our native Wales shout out congratulations in Welsh... topped off the day!! After the experience in the car we rejoined our guests at La Giara, where we were greeted by the staff and our guests with Prosecco and canapes on the roof top terrace whilst we took in the view of the bay and Etna. It was lovely and chilled and a time to catch up with our guests on the fun they had in the Mocambo bar! We then carried on downstairs for our wedding meal... the table was set out exactly how we had asked, with all our little touches.... Thank you Isabella and the La Giara staff.. you listened to us and did us proud ladies! The food completely blew us away, the food was of a high standard and came out hot, all our guests cleared their plates! Compliments to the Chef!!! After the meal, we were not prepared for the size of the amazing cake that came out.... but we all managed to make room for a little cake. After the cake, we had some home made video snap shots of the day and its highlights so far.. this was a lovely touch. Then the music began and our small, but fun group enjoyed dancing the night away.. A perfect end to a perfect day! We want to also mention another big thank you to The Time Out Pub staff who sorted out a pre wedding and 60th Birthday get together.. again we had a lovely cake... thanks Isabella for the heads up on the cake shop!! We could go on forever about our wedding, but if you truly want something romantic, special, different, and stress free, dont hesitate, just email Tony, their help, support and guidence is a big plus! Thank you so much Tony, Isabella and the others that helped put our day together and make it amazing.. something we and our guests will talk about for a very long time. We miss you both and Taormina.. we will be back out to see you as soon as possible.. our new friends for life. Keep in touch."
Wyn and Tina Powell

Taormina, Tuesday 5 June 2012
Karlie and Jarlath, London, UK

"When we decided to get married in Sicily, we knew that we would need help with the legal side of things, translations and recommendations.
After looking through the options available, we came across Tony and Isabella through tripadvisor reviews.
From the very first e-mail we knew they would do a great job of helping us to organise our dream day.
They were easy to contact, extremely helpful with all of the questions we had about getting married abroad and also very organised and proactive in making sure we had everything in place before the big day.
It was important to us to be able to add our personal touch to our wedding day and Tony and Isabella were flexible to all of our suggestions and went out of their way to make sure we could be involved at every stage.
On the day itself, the church at Madonna Della Rocca was stunning; the photographer, drinks reception and all other aspects were brilliant and very smoothly coordinated and the food, drinks and service at the evening venue of La Giara were perfect.
Tony and Isabella were extremely efficient at sorting anything that needed doing and were incredibly friendly to all our guests. Our friends and family have been unanimous in saying that it was a fairytale day.
If you are looking to make your wedding day even more special then we would highly recommend Taormina and Tony and Isabella."

Karlie and Jarlath

Taormina, Thursday 31 May 2012
Vanessa and Stephen, Dundalk, Ireland

"Dear Tony & Isabella,
We are so grateful for your expert orchestration of our wedding day. We consider ourselves blessed to have had the privilege of working with people who translated our vision with such style, grace and professionalism.
From answering all our emails so promptly, to the absolutely lovely ceremony and the gorgeous reception, you handled every detail beautifully and professionally.
I thought it would be difficult to arrange a wedding in Sicily all the way from home, but you made the process stress-free and easy.
Our guests were thoroughly impressed with the day and your talents. They are still raving about it!
Thank you for the time you spent getting to know us and our families, it was an added bonus!
EVERY detail exceeded our expectations - you really went above and beyond. I’m sure that chasing missing favors in another town right before the ceremony is not part of the package – but you made sure that we had them in order to make every detail of the day just perfect! We sincerely enjoyed ourselves and we have you to thank for that.
You helped make our day special, simple, uncomplicated and relaxed.
The people you work with are also absolute professionals. You gave us everything we wished for and more.
Anyone considering a wedding planner in Sicily need look no farther than Tony & Isabella.
We thank you for making our wedding day dream come true.
We've waited such a long time for this day, and you turned it into a beautiful fairy tale.
We will always be grateful to you, and each May 31st we will remember you and Taormina fondly."

Vanessa and Stephen

Taormina, Friday 25 May 2012
Jason and Siobhan, Kildare, Ireland

"Having decided to get married abroad 19 months ago, we, like most people, had no idea where to start. Having settled on Sicily, our next mission was to find a wedding planner.
When we discovered Tony's website we realised we needed to look no further! We contacted Tony and Isabella and from that moment on we knew we were in safe hands. They sent us all the information we needed to get started. Our next move was to take a trip over for a holiday to Taormina in May 2011. From the first moment we met this very special couple we were sure we had not only made the right decision but had made two new friends! Nothing from that moment was ever too much trouble and they made sure we were never anxious about our plans.
So when the time came for us and our family and friends of 73 people to descend on Taormina with much excitement, Tony, Isabella, Claudio and Angelo had us all sorted with transport and accommodation, which was a huge help to us as we didn't have to worry about it. As many tired people reached the foot of Taormina, eyes widened and everyone was amazed by the view. Throughout their stay all our family and friends were made to feel so welcome. From that moment on, the wedding of a lifetime was on! With so much help from Tony and Isabella we had a beautiful ceremony in Chiesa Del Varo', followed by cocktails, canapes, dancing and laughter with the folk band in Mocambo bar. So off we went to have our photos taken while our guests continued the party in Mocambo. Our photographer Nicola was great and so patient! After a while Tony escorted our guests to La Giara to await our return. Our guests were amazed by it. The view over the sea wowed everyone. Even though we had been to La Giara before we too were amazed to see how beautifully they had prepared it for us. Giovanni and his team pulled out all the stops to ensure we had everything we wanted.
After a fabulous meal, we were presented with a lovely wedding cake and the party began with dancing until the early hours! All our guests are still talking about their experience and the saying here in Ireland is "There will never be another wedding like that!" Taormina is the most special place and we were made to feel as special by Tony, Isabella and all the team. So if you are considering Taormina for your wedding, our advice to you is, do it, it's an experience never to be forgotten. Will we return to Taormina? Absolutely!
Thank you so much Tony and Isabella for all the love, happiness and friendship we both recieved."

Jason and Siobhan

Taormina, Friday 18 May 2012
Anders and Heidi, Norway

"Dear Tony and Isabella,
our wedding in Taormina was perfect, it was just the wedding we hoped for. Thank you so much for helping us making it come true! We much appreciate your professional and kind assistance in the months and days in advance, and throughout our wedding day. You were very quick with answering our many e-mails, you patiently explained our options and let us make the decisions. Days in advance you talked us through all the details of the wedding day and made sure we were happy with everything. On the big day, you had everything in perfect control, and were there the entire time to make sure everything went flawlessly.
Taormina was a beautiful and romantic setting for our wedding. We were also very pleased with all the services you provided for us. The white vintage Beetle which took us around town was the perfect car for us, the flowers were beautiful, and the hairdresser was very patient and kind; she would not let me leave before I was 100 % satisfied with my hair. The folk band created a great atmosphere and made sure to entertain our guests while we were away taking photos.
Our guests had a really fun time with them at Mocambo, and told us afterwards that we could be sorry we had missed out! La Giara was a great place to hold the reception. It has a beautiful view, central location, and very stylish interior.
We got the privacy we wanted, the food was delicious and the staff very professional.
Afterwards the bar was open and we could have the dance floor all to ourselves and enjoy the party until the wee hours. Everything went smooth and our guests were very impressed and happy about all of it.
Several of our friends said it was the best wedding they had ever been to and it was definitely the best wedding we've ever been to! ;-)
Everything was beautifully and thoughtfully arranged, and we enjoyed every second of it!"

Anders and Heidi, Norway

Taormina, Mon 14 May 2012
Colin and Michelle, Dublin, Ireland

"When I was thinking of planning my wedding there were a few MUST HAVES on my list.

1.) An amazing location.

2.) A stress free experiance. When I decided to go with Tony as my wedding planner I got both of my must haves.
The area of Taormina is ideal for a wedding setting.
The scenary, the food, the athmosphere- everything lends itself to the picture perfect wedding day.
I visited Sicily in Oct 2011 and fell in love with the area, the people,the food -everything was amazing.
From the moment we meet Tony and Isabelle we knew we were in good hands.
They put our minds at ease and looked after us from start to finish.
I would HIGHLY recomend Tony to anyone looking for a wedding abroud- for a stress free, picture perfect wedding go with Tony!!!!!"

Michelle and Colin

Taormina, Friday 4 May 2012
Andrew and Laura, Manchester, UK

"We got married in Taormina in May 2012 and needed a planner who was local, and could help us with the Italian legal system to ensure we got all the paperwork in the right place at the right time.
We chose Tony as other's had left excellent feedback, and when we emailed him he was quick to reply and actually answered all of our questions.
We are so glad that we did, Tony and his wife Isabella took the worry out of everything, all of the paperwork was sorted, the venue (Palazzo Duca Di Santo Stefano) was beautiful, and nothing was too much trouble.
We were able to make adjustments to flowers etc right up to the day before which meant we could see the venue first, and decide what would work best.
They also arranged aperitifs at the Mocambo Cafe for us, for which they arranged for a Sicilian Folk Band to play, it was worth every penny, they were magnificent and set the tone for the whole day.
Tony and Isabella were both there on the day, ensuring everything went as it should, which it did.
I would recommend them to anyone, they are a lovely couple, who were there for everything we needed, wedding or non wedding related.
If you are thinking of getting married in Taormina (which I highly recommend, as it is a stunning town) then look no further than Tony as your wedding planner."

Love,
The Happy Newlyweds - Mr and Mrs Foulkes
Andrew and Laura