Creative Team

Valentina - Event Planner
Your Sicilian Wedding Planner in the UK! Ciao, I’m Valentina! Born and raised in Sicily, I’ve called Nottingham home for over 18 years. While I love the UK, my heart remains deeply connected to my Sicilian roots, and I’m passionate about sharing the beauty, culture, and traditions—especially the culinary ones—of Sicily. Even after all these years, I still love wandering the historic streets of Palermo or diving into the turquoise waters of the Zingaro Nature Reserve whenever I return. My journey as a wedding planner began with a desire to combine my experience in event planning with my love for Sicily, crafting magical experiences in one of Italy’s most captivating regions. That’s why I teamed up with my dear friends Donatella and Gioia to create a skilled and dedicated team, ready to bring your dream Sicilian wedding to life with professionalism, passion, and authenticity. If you’re a couple dreaming of a wedding in Sicily, let us make that dream a reality. With our expertise, local knowledge, and love for all things Sicilian, we’re here to create the perfect celebration for you.

Donatella - Wedding Lawyer
I was born on what I consider one of the most beautiful islands in the world, Sicily—a land rich in traditions and a guardian of a vast, multicultural heritage. I graduated in law in 2006 from one of Italy’s most prestigious universities, and from the outset, I focused on what I found to be the most fascinating subject of my studies: international law. In 2008, I completed a specialization in legal professions with a focus on judicial and forensic practice, and by the end of that same year, intent on cultivating my interests in international law even further, I became a lawyer. My professional training led me to work at one of the most prominent international law firms in Italy. This formative and professional experience allowed me to handle high-profile cases until, in 2017, I decided, along with my dear friend and colleague Gioia Arnone, to establish our own international law firm in Italy (https://arnonesicomo.com/home). Over time, my love for my work and my strong dedication to continuous learning led me to delve into the topic of marriages between foreigners in Italy, given the numerous requests coming to our law firm. I discovered a world that was entirely new to me, filled with bureaucratic intricacies that needed to be thoroughly understood in order to help foreign couples wishing to marry in Italy prepare the essential documents for their ceremony. From there, my perspective began to expand into what I now see as a fantastic world—that of event planning and, above all, weddings. I realized that I could blend my passion for event organization with my legal expertise. This led to an insight: becoming a wedding lawyer, specializing in providing legal assistance for weddings, especially those involving foreign couples who wish to marry in Italy. Thanks to this natural evolution of my professional path and my love for international law, combined with my “romantic streak,” I now focus on assisting with weddings between foreigners in Italy, particularly in Sicily, ensuring that all legal procedures are correctly followed and that the marriage celebrated in Italy is also valid in the couple’s home country. Working within a structured team of women who, like me, share a passion for Sicilian traditions and for what is perhaps the most beautiful force in nature—love—continues to inspire me to strive for excellence, always aiming for perfection in every event entrusted to us.
donatella@siciliandreamweddings.com
