Meet the family
Hi, we’re Amber and Fabrizio — full-time villa hosts, part-time interior junkies, and 24/7 parents to our two tiny (and very bossy) managers, Abigail and Freddie. Amber’s Dutch, Fabrizio’s half Italian, so running off to Italy for the sun, the food, and (let’s be honest) the wine felt pretty inevitable. Somewhere along the way we went a little overboard with our love for interiors (oops), and Maniero turned into the boutique villa we’d always dreamed of. We’re total people-people, so nothing makes us happier than sharing this place with the best guests. And weddings? Well, scroll down to see how we stumbled into that — because honestly, in a million years we wouldn’t have guessed this would be our story.
Meet the forever-engaged couple..
.. yep, that’s us! We weren’t exactly the kids who grew up dreaming about wedding dresses and first dances. Fast forward to 2021: Amber, fully pregnant with our daughter Abigail, was convinced she was getting a puppy… and instead Fabi popped the question. HELL YES. Exciting, right? But then we dove into the world of wedding venues — and let’s just say, the sparkle dulled pretty fast.
01
Hidden costs: The shocking reality of wedding venue pricing
Here’s the thing no one tells you: in the wedding business, you pay for everything. You want the twinkling lights already strung up in the trees? That’ll be €700, please. Outdoor pillows to keep your guests comfy? Extra, of course. And the icing on the cake? A €5-per-person fee to cut the cake you already paid for! We saw some crazy prices that made us think, “This can’t be real… right?”
02
When your dream venue treats you like a time slot
One of our top-three location visits really sealed the deal. We arrived fully excited, only to be greeted by an older lady clutching a massive book. Before we even saw the venue, she hit us with the sales pitch: “We have X dates left, and you need to hurry—another couple’s coming in 15 minutes.” Talk about feeling like a number. It sucked that is felt we were just another time slot in her schedule.
03
The ‘perfect’ villa with a not-so-perfect vibe
Then there was the place we thought was 'the one.' A grand villa that screamed “Italian dream” on the outside. But inside? Well, it felt like the ghosts of weddings past might just join us on the dance floor. The vibes were off, to say the least.
The (wedding) business is weird, so we decided to do things differently!
Surely, we’re not the only ones with these kinds of stories, right? We spotted Maniero online, knew it was way out of our budget, but thought: ‘let’s just have a look…’ Well, the second we drove up the driveway we were doomed — because we instantly fell in love, and spoiler: we absolutely did not have the money for it. So, we sold pretty much everything we owned in Amsterdam to make it happen and turned this place into the most epic villa ever: luxurious, modern, and (unlike most venues) actually fun.
We wanted a venue where the past meets the present, so we kept the villa’s old-world charm but gave the inside a fresh boutique vibe (yes, with our interiors obsession). And our not-so-secret sauce? Fun. Because let’s be real: no one wants a boring wedding, retreat or holiday. At Maniero, what you see is what you get — no sneaky fees, no hidden add-ons. We’ve got the lights, the chairs, the tables, and a whole lot more, all included. And above all, we'll personally make sure you will have the most epic experience!
Come Celebrate, Stay, and Play; in Love’s epic Hideaway.
Why we only host 10 events a year!
We’re not into standard — not weddings, not retreats, not even the way we host dinner. That’s why we only take on about 10 events a year. It keeps things personal, special, and, let’s be honest, way more fun. Whether you’re here to say I do or just to switch off and recharge, we want it to feel like it was made just for you.
And because we’re all about people, a tour with us isn’t some quick walkaround. Nope. We’ll pour you a glass of wine, cook up dinner, and actually get to know you. You’re not a number to us, you’re a guest we’re genuinely excited to welcome. After all, we’re literally inviting you into our home! With only a handful of spots each year, securing your experience at Maniero is something truly special. Wedding, retreat, or one big family getaway, whatever you’re dreaming up, we’ll make sure it’s unforgettable.
