Transferring money to pay for my Italian Wedding

expat_jo

Hi

Apologies if this is the wrong place, I couldn't see anywhere else suitable to post this. I hope you can help me!

I am getting married in August in Italy. I have paid the planner and now need to pay for the rest of the wedding. However, despite asking for information from the planner exactly when payments are needed apparently things are a bit more ad hoc in Italy. So far I have everything booked including flowers, photographer, restaurant and car and nothing has needed deposits. I have just been told that the photographer needs 20% which is fine but I am wary of having to keep transferring small amounts and incurring £40 charges each time.

Does anyone have any other ideas at how I can get around this? I currently have the money sitting in my savings account. Obviously this is a short term thing and won't need a Euro account after August but want to save the most money possible.

Many thanks in advance

Jo

RayWolfe

expat_jo wrote: »

Hi
Does anyone have any other ideas at how I can get around this? I currently have the money sitting in my savings account.Jo

Get married over here?
Don't use a planner?
Don't get married?

taless

Hi expat_jo, congrats for your wedding!

I have previously looked into Tranzfers that has that service, I think they charge something like 7 pounds per transfer. Do a google on it and see if that service works for you? There are quite a few companies who helps you in moving money, at a lower charge. However, some do not deal with small amounts, I dont think thats the case with Tranzfers but happy hunting around!

Also, you might be using the Instant option of moving funds... If you try using Relay, which takes slightly longer, you are only charged like 20 pounds (still 50% off your 40 pounds!)

Best of luck!

Bloke_with_a_simple_life

Hello Expat_Jo

Congratulations & good luck!

How do your service providers get paid? By cash or do they accept Debit/Credit Cards? Presume you have a UK debit card or credit card?

Why not pay them using your own UK issued cards and transfer the money to the appropraite current account or credit card account ? OK - you may pay a bit in the way of FX commission (unless you have a Nationwide variety) - but may be the best way perhaps?

If its cash - same prinicple I guess - just transfer the money to your UK current account and visit an ATM in Italy and watch the Euro flood out (or may be it will be one vist a day for several days)...

Good luck!

John_in_the_city

I have a second home in Italy. First of all, cash is king. Ask the photographer etc for a discount for cash. I would be hugely surprised if they dont offer it to you as most small businesses in Italy keep 2 sets of books!

Also opening a bank account in italy is straight forward as long as you follow the bureaucracy! So apply at the local town hall (take your passport and an italian speaker) for a "codice fiscale" (tax reference number) it takes 10 minutes. Then you can get a bank account easily. Once that is done, make a single transfer from UK account to the Italian account.

Alternatively, just use your UK account atm card to withdraw Euros in Italy over a few days, and pay as and when required.

Good luck with the event!