Relais L'Antico Convento

Relais L’Antico Convento sits in a scenic, peaceful area, but our wedding there was an extremely disappointing and unnecessarily stressful experience. We had problems with both the venue management and the planner Aruna Santwan, who was recommended by the venue. The ceremony gazebo was supposed to be covered because I have a sun allergy. Aruna and the florist had both agreed to that, but it wasn't covered on the day. I was in strong sun through the ceremony, cried from the discomfort, and my makeup was ruined. There was another painful surprise during the party: we hadn't been told that when the catering team left at midnight, they would take the chairs, tables, tablecloths, and expensive floral decorations with them. Guests were asked to stand while everything was cleared around them. It was an awkward, disappointing moment. I felt stressed throughout planning. When I asked Aruna for a more specific contract or an explanation of how services would be provided, she brushed me off with vague reassurances like, “We are professionals, we know what we’re doing.” She never backed those words with detailed information or transparent planning, which left us feeling unsupported, uninformed, and anxious before the wedding. She also didn't advocate for us with vendors or our budget. We had clearly told both her and the florist that flowers should cost around €2,000, yet the quote came close to €4,000, without an effort to adjust it or offer alternatives. She recommended just one catering company, so our choices were limited. Communication with venue manager Antonietta Buffo was difficult from the start, and she was uncooperative. Her usual response to our ideas or requests was “no,” often followed only by a dismissive “because.” We felt like an inconvenience instead of valued clients. We were charged for small things, even extra toilet paper for guests, which felt petty and unprofessional. She also copied our and our guests' ID documents in clear violation of EU data protection regulations (GDPR). We were told music could continue until 1:00 a.m., but at 12:30 a.m. we were told to lower the volume. The sound equipment rental was confusing too. We never signed a contract or agreed to terms, and had only received a quote. When we cut the rental from two days to one because of venue restrictions, we were suddenly told there was a €100 cancellation fee that hadn't been disclosed. On the wedding day, Aruna was largely disengaged, often sitting instead of actively coordinating or checking that things were running smoothly. The natural beauty of the location couldn't make up for the poor communication, lack of professionalism, and unmet expectations. I wouldn't wish this experience on another couple for their once-in-a-lifetime event.

It's a quirky, rustic place out in the countryside, and extremely peaceful and quiet.

Beautiful views, lovely staff, and an amazing spot tucked away from everything.

Such a lovely retreat from the loud, modern world. 😍