How We Work: Planning a Wedding in Spain

The first conversation

Every project starts with a real conversation. Vanessa wants to understand who a couple is, what matters to them, and what kind of celebration they're picturing before any planning begins. The first call covers the practical basics: where, when, how many guests. Mostly, though, it's about listening for what feels essential to this couple, and what they'd never trade away.

Design

Once the shape of the celebration is clear, design begins: the venue, the style, the timeline, the details that make a wedding feel like it truly belongs to the couple having it. Vanessa works from mood and reference for each couple, without a fixed package, so a couple planning one afternoon and a couple planning three days of events end up with genuinely different plans.

Elegant reception decor with lush floral arrangements and soft candlelight at Gran Villa Rosa, Barcelona.

The vendor team

Every wedding draws on a network of photographers, florists, caterers, musicians and venues that Vanessa has worked with for years. She chooses each one for the specific couple in front of her, never off a standard list, and manages those relationships directly. That means a couple deals with one point of contact instead of a dozen separate ones.

The wedding weekend

Flamenco dancers in red and green perform for guests on a rooftop terrace overlooking Barcelona.

For a multi-day celebration, the work doesn't stop at the ceremony. A welcome dinner, a day trip, a farewell brunch: each one gets the same planning as the wedding day itself. Guests are looked after for the whole weekend, from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.

What full-service planning covers

Full-service planning covers design, vendor selection, budget management and complete coordination through the wedding day. Couples who already have a venue and a plan in place can also book day-of coordination alone: Vanessa steps in to run the day itself, so nothing falls on the couple or their families.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How far in advance should a couple book Vanessa?

Most couples book about a year before the wedding day. That gives enough time to secure the right venue and vendors and plan every detail without rushing.

What does full-service planning include?

Design, vendor selection, budget management and complete coordination, from the first conversation through the wedding day itself. Vanessa manages the supplier relationships directly, so the couple deals with one point of contact. The full list sits on the wedding organisation page.

Does Vanessa offer day-of coordination only?

Yes. Couples who already have their wedding planned can book Vanessa just for the day itself, so someone experienced is running it while they enjoy it.

Can Vanessa help couples who live abroad?

Yes. Most of Vanessa's couples live outside Spain. She works over video calls and email throughout the planning process, with in-person meetings during any visits to Barcelona and around the wedding itself.

What's the first step?

A first conversation, in person or by video call, to talk through the couple's vision and how Vanessa can help bring it to life in Barcelona or Catalonia.

Does Vanessa plan small weddings, or only large ones?

Both. An intimate ceremony and a multi-day celebration get the same level of attention, and Vanessa designs each one from the couple's mood and references rather than from a fixed package. Smaller celebrations are covered on the intimate weddings page.

What languages does Vanessa speak?

Spanish, English, French and Italian, so most couples can communicate with her directly, in writing or on a call, without needing a translator. Translation and interpreting can also be arranged for multicultural weddings when required.

Does Vanessa have experience with multicultural or multi-faith weddings?

Yes. Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Persian and civil ceremonies, along with multi-faith celebrations, are all part of her regular work, each planned with attention to its own cultural protocol.

What couples say about working with Vanessa Serrani

Each testimonial tells a unique story, united by the same feeling: the peace of mind that comes from knowing their wedding was in expert hands.

Vanessa nous tenons sincèrement à vous remercier vous avez répondu à toutes nos demandes vous avez compris l’ambiance que nous souhaitions Vous avez rendu notre mariage inoubliable Grâce à votre savoir faire votre gentillesse votre professionnalisme nous avons eu le mariage de nos RÊVE et bien plus encore Nous vous recommandons a tous les futurs mariés sans aucun doute Un ÉNORME MERCI Ludo et Elo 💋♥️

Elodie Pires
Vanessa was and is absolutely amazing. We had our Persian wedding and party in Barcelona (from the US) and she helped coordinate everything. Not only did she coordinate, but her vision, execution, style, and her contacts in Barcelona were incredibly valuable. To say our wedding would not have been possible without Vanessa is an understatement! She is warm, yet professional, efficient yet takes her time, detail oriented and has a vision of a larger picture- truly nothing more you could ask for. Proud to call her a dear friend after (and honestly even before) the wedding!

Narguess Arjomand
Vanessa fue la wedding planner de la boda de mi hermana, y desde el primer minuto se volcó al 100% en la organización, búsqueda de ideas, de locación, colaboró en todo, cada vez que teníamos alguna duda o algún problema nos ayudo, estuvo atenta a todos los detalles, y finalmente durante el gran día se ocupó de todo, el resultado final majestuosos, nunca lo hubiese imaginado, la calidad, la calidez, la estética, todo. Realmente si quieres una boda de ensueño Vanessa es la mujer perfecta ❤️❤️❤️
Viggo Karoline
AVEVAMO UN SOGNO…E SI È REALIZZATO!!! Amiamo viaggiare e per il nostro giorno speciale immaginavamo qualcosa che potesse rappresentarci a pieno. Abbiamo scelto di affidarci a Vanessa e non potevamo fare scelta migliore. Ci ha seguiti in ogni minimo dettaglio, ascoltando con attenzione le nostre richieste e proponendo sempre soluzioni personalizzate ed innovative. Ci ha accompagnati con affetto durante l’intero percorso e abbiamo veramente apprezzato tutto l’impegno che ha messo per l’ottima riuscita dell’evento. Il tutto è stato preparato con cura, ogni dettaglio era perfetto…e anche quando il tempo sembrava giocarci un brutto scherzo, Lei ha saputo gestire ottimamente la situazione. È stato veramente un giorno speciale ed è stato così grazie a Vanessa.
Eleonora Giavardi
Nuestra boda fue un sueño hecho realidad! Creo que en mi vida me habia imaginado que mi boda podria ser tan hermosa y de "cuento de hadas". Elegir a Vanessa como nuestra wedding planner fue una de las mejores desiciones que pudimos tomar! Todo empezo por una video llamada, ya que nosotros no vivimos en España, y desde el primer momento la sentimos super profesional y cercana. Era como hablar con una amiga! Le contamos a Vanessa como queriamos el lugar, la decoracion , el ambiente, presupuesto, etc. Nosotros somos venezolanos y vivimos en Inglaterra, la boda fue en España, por lo tanto hubo una mezcla de culturas y del desarrollo del evento en donde incluimos cosas venezolanas pero a la vez nos adaptamos tambien a cosas españolas. Planificamos todo en plena pandemia...y realmente todo salio como queriamos o incluso mejor! Vanessa es detallista, profesional, organizada, comunicativa, sabe escuchar, resolver problemas de ultimo momento y lo da todo para que sus eventos salgan lo mejor posible! De verdad estamos super felices con el resultado y agradecidos por su trabajo! Our wedding was a dream come true! I think in my life I had imagined that my wedding could be so beautiful and "fairy tale". Choosing Vanessa as our wedding planner was one of the best decisions we could have made! It all started with a video call, since we don't live in Spain, and from the first moment we felt super professional and close. It was like talking to a friend! We told Vanessa how we wanted the place, the decoration, the atmosphere, budget, etc. We are Venezuelans and we live in England, the wedding was in Spain, therefore there was a mixture of cultures and the development of the event where we included Venezuelan things but at the same time we also adapted to Spanish things. We planned everything in the middle of the pandemic... and everything really turned out the way we wanted or even better! Vanessa is detailed, professional, organized, communicative, knows how to listen, solves last-minute problems and gives everything to make her events go as well as possible! We are really super happy with the result and grateful for your work!
Jessica Garcia-Barrera G
To put it simply, our special day does not happen without Vanessa Serrani and her team. We were sold on Vanessa when we met her on Zoom almost a year ago, and she assured us that she would be able to handle our destination wedding. She helped us analyze all the potential venues, vendors, etc. through helpful slideshows and break down the costs to accommodate our budget, and over the months walked us through what to expect as our wedding day gradually approached. As so many others have emphasized, though, Vanessa's expertise shines most on the wedding day. But that is underselling what she did, considering the day: April 28, 2025, the day of the Iberian Peninsula blackout. While my wife and I (and most of our guests traveling from the United States, China, and Hong Kong) were undeniably stressed and even unsure of whether the wedding would even happen, Vanessa and her team tirelessly worked with Castell de Sant Marçal and Sensacions amidst the power outage to ensure our wedding would carry on. Though everything was delayed 2+ hours, Vanessa was constantly on the move, making sure the bridal party was in the right place, the ceremony carried on without a microphone, the flowers would be transported from the altar to the dinner area, etc. Our guests were so impressed that Vanessa was so in-the-zone to make sure everything ran smoothly. And this all doesn't even include what she did behind the scenes, including designing our menus and seating charts, helping negotiate prices for our vendors and tea ceremony, etc. There were so many things we didn't even think of, and Vanessa was there as the ultimate safety net. She's that good, with that much foresight and experience. And again, this was all during a once-in-a-lifetime blackout. We still look back to our wedding day and find it surreal, even inexplicable, that it was just the perfect day, and it's all because of Vanessa. Thank you, Vanessa, and thank you to your dedicated team. We are forever grateful! Anyone hoping to have a wedding in Spain: look no further for a wedding planner. If Vanessa can get us through a countrywide blackout and somehow give us the perfect wedding, there's nothing she cannot do.

Andrew Liu
Una persona deliziosa, incantevole, disponibile, magnifica, curatrice dei dettagli, iper simpatica, questo e molto altro. Ringrazio enormemente Vanessa per aver organizzato la mia proposta di matrimonio e sopratutto grazie per avermi aiutato a curare tutti i dettagli, è stato tutto perfetto! Grazie mille davvero!

Giuseppe Trainiti
An exceptional wedding planner for a French wedding in Spain ✨🇪🇸 Julie and I were lucky enough to experience an absolutely wonderful wedding ✨💍, and we know that without Vanessa, this day would never have been the same ❤️. Vanessa was so much more than a wedding planner for us 🤍. She guided us with incredible patience, kindness, and impeccable professionalism 🌸. We sometimes had unusual, insistent, or last-minute requests 😅, but she was always there for us, calmly, efficiently, and with a smile 😊. She truly went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect ✨ and that we could fully enjoy our wedding without having to worry about a thing 🥂. On the big day, everything was perfectly organized, seamless, and natural 🌿. We were simply able to live in the moment and enjoy our loved ones ❤️. For French couples wishing to get married in Spain 🇪🇸☀️, Vanessa is truly the ideal person. She speaks excellent French 🇫🇷, which makes communication easy, reassuring, and enjoyable from beginning to end 🤗. Vanessa can be very proud of her work and her team 👏✨. Their dedication, kindness, and the quality of their organization greatly contributed to making our wedding an unforgettable moment 💫. We will cherish her immense affection and gratitude ❤️. A huge thank you, Vanessa 🙏, for everything you did for us. We recommend you without hesitation 🥰.

Aur Sch
Después de mucho pensar que queríamos hacer de matrimonio, mi esposo y yo decidimos viajar a España con nuestra familia y casarnos allá. A pesar de que somos todos colombianos y vivimos en Colombia. Nos soñábamos casándonos en un pueblito blanco cerca al mar, en una iglesia pequeña y teniendo una cena muy especial con nuestra familia Y gracias a vane así fue!! La contactamos por internet y desde el principio fue súper ordenada con el presupuesto, las video llamadas par programar todo y con las fechas y la agenda de ese día. Por eso sin conocerla personalmente, nos arriesgamos y decidimos hacer todo con ella. Vane nos ayudo a conseguir la iglesia, los papeles de la iglesia y el consulado, nos ayudo a conseguir los proveedoreres y ese día fue Perfecto gracias a ella! HIZO EXACTAMENTE LO QUE HABÍAMOS DICHO Y ESO ME ENCANTO! QUE SUPO ESUCHAR E INTERPRETAR NUESTRO SUEÑO Y LUEGO PLANEAR TODO PARA QUE SE HICIERA REALIDAD, TAL CUAL SE LO HABIAMOS DESCRITO!.
Ana Maria Correa
Choosing Vanessa as our wedding planner has been the best choice I have made after say YES to my now-husband! At first, I thought that a wedding planner was not that necessary because I am organised and have time, but I have been quickly realising that the perfect wedding that we had, was only possible because we had a wedding planner. And I quickly understood that Vanessa is no ordinary wedding planner; she is truly special! Not only she is super organised (I loved her Excel Files!), always punctual, precise, but she also knows a huge list of suppliers for all your tastes, and she is kind and understanding - even in the most stressing moments. A real and talented wedding planner - like Vanessa - is not only about making you choose between 2 colours of things, but she also needs to negotiate prices with suppliers, keeping cool and finding solutions when problems arise (and there are always problems in a wedding preparation with some suppliers). Vanessa managed to do all this perfectly and with smile! I only mention this: Vanessa has been thanked in 3 of our family/international friends' speeches in front of all our guests, who all appreciated her work, dedication and talent. Thank you for everything Vanessa!
Linda-Margherita THIMM