Wedding Welcome Party: Q&A Style

Q: Where did you host your welcome party, and why did you choose that venue?

Monica: We hosted our welcome party at the Hotel de la Ville in Rome, Italy. We really wanted something super colorful and Italian-looking, and this venue totally fit the bill. Originally, it was supposed to be on the rooftop overlooking Rome, but out of nowhere, it started raining. We ended up moving it indoors—and honestly, it wasn’t even that bad. The inside space was so dramatic and Italian, it might have been better than the rooftop, just a different vibe. The bright yellow walls, the gallery walls full of paintings, the gorgeous wallpaper, and the sexy bar area...it all set such a perfect tone for the night.

Q: What vibe or theme were you going for?

Monica: We wanted the welcome party to make a big statement right off the bat—something that felt very “Rome” and got everyone excited for the weekend. The bold colors, the Italian flair, the lush décor—our goal was to have people walk in and immediately think, “Yes, this is exactly the vibe for a Roman wedding.” We even used pasta and vegetables as part of the centerpieces and décor (along with flowers), which felt so authentically Italian.

Q: Any special touches or entertainment you included?

Monica: We had an Italian acoustic band playing in the background, which added so much charm. We also created these little “conversation starters” for our guests, so if they didn’t know each other, they could pick up a card and spark some really cool, deeper conversations. Another fun element was these printed cards where guests could write down “couples wishes”—kind of like a mini guestbook for the evening.
Plus, we did an open mic night! It turned out to be a ton of fun for both us and our guests. People got up, shared stories, said a few words...it was a great icebreaker.

Q: Did anything unexpected happen that made the evening extra memorable?

Monica: The rain, for sure. It came out of nowhere, and we had to push the party back by an hour to see if it would stop. We honestly didn’t care if it was inside or outside—we just knew it’d be fun no matter what—but there was definitely stress from vendors and planners trying to figure out logistics. The funny thing is, the rain actually stopped right at 7pm when the welcome party started! It was like a sign that everything was going to work out perfectly.

Q: Why did you decide to have a welcome party in the first place?

Monica: Having a welcome party gave everyone a chance to meet before the actual wedding day. Because I’m Australian and Hal’s American, we had a lot of family and friends who’d never met each other. Some of my friends are scattered all over the place, so it was really important to us that they all had time to connect and bond. By the time the wedding night came, people already felt more comfortable. I’m so glad we did it that way—definitely made the rest of the weekend that much more fun.

Q: What are the outfit details?

Monica: I had a custom outfit by J. Andretta. I brought the idea to them and they absolutely crushed it. It was the perfect blend of chic, sexy and feminine. I wanted to wear a pant suit to something over the weekend as that’s very “me” but I also didn’t want to be next to Hal also in a suite. Plus, Rome in September is HOT. So, we created something else that was perfect. I paired it with bold red Valentino shoes, a white Loweve bag and a simple makeup and hair look. I loved my look for the welcome party night so much so that my book cover picture was taken the night of the welcome party!  

Q: Any final thoughts or takeaways?

Monica: Honestly, I’m just really happy we put the energy into making the welcome party special. The décor, the music, the conversation starters—everything was designed to get people talking, laughing, and feeling like they were part of this big celebration from the start. Even with the rain hiccup, it turned out to be such a memorable night. If you’re thinking about hosting a welcome party, do it—it sets the tone for the entire wedding and brings everyone closer together.

Hope you enjoyed this peek into our colorful, Italian-inspired welcome party! If you’re planning something similar, I highly recommend leaning into the local vibe, adding personal conversation starters, and not sweating the weather—sometimes, those last-minute changes end up creating the best memories.

You can WATCH OUR WEDDING WEEKEND VLOG HERE!