Tell us a little about yourselves!
I’m from Emilia Romagna, Nino’s from Palermo. We both lived in Milan for 12 years never running into each other. Eventually we matched on a dating app in 2022, we went out for a date and after 10 minutes chatting, we ordered a bottle of wine. That day our love story started. A year and a half later, while trekking on the Alps, we decided to get married. We share so many passions and dreams, since the beginning, we have a lot of fun together and we’re very excited for our future projects.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
North of Italy was the smartest choice since most of our friends and relatives live there. At first we decided to have the ceremony in my hometown church, but during one of our weekend trips, we visited the Sanctuary of Monterrico, in the Emilian hills, and the view from there was amazing, you can see all the valley from the hilltop. Since we would have a lot of guests coming from all over the north, we thought it would have been great to gift them with such a wonderful landscape.
How many guests did you have?
85 in total. The guest list consisted in our immediate family and dearest friends. We wanted the reception to feel like a big dinner with intimate friends, just like the ones we usually host at home in our daily life. After all, when will we ever get a second chance to host a dinner for all the people we love together?
What was your budget?
20K and we did it! We involved our friends and connections as much as possible. This way no one was a stranger at our party. Nothing fancy or extravagant, the focus was simply on having fun and being together.
Tell us about your outfits.
Both our outfits were tailor-made from our own design, because we wanted to be sure we could express our style that has a vintage, retro touch.
Some of the elements we particularly fell in love with were the handwoven macramé, fitting like a second skin and the short petticoat, for the bride. For the groom, the tuxedo shirt styled with the cont-tie for the ceremony and the little bow for the party, instead of a traditional tie, and the straight-cut trousers paired with the boots.
The colour of Nino’s suit was an absolute surprise for everyone. We had so much fun together looking for the perfect fabric. We collaborated with artisans who were just as excited as we were to bring these outfits to life, making it an exciting creative process. We felt like a sophisticated couple, with timeless elegance.
For the dance floor I changed in a stunning mini dress with giant flowers on it. So sexy and so feminine at the same time. I bought it 10 months before the wedding so I couldn’t wait to wear it and surprise my husband.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
Great food, good wine and a lot of fun. Emilian food with a touch of Sicilian was much appreciated, and we danced before, during and after the dinner. It was a success!
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
We insisted for imperial tables and to be seated randomly between our guests. Friends from all our different backgrounds were all in the same room. After hearing about each other for years, they finally got to meet.
Good music was another must have. Our song “Set you free” by N-Trance was perfect for starting and closing the party. At the cake cutting, the band performed “You & Me” by Dave Matthews Band, which gives the quote to our wedding rings: “We can do anything”.
Lastly, we closed the dinner with Sicilian cannoli and a Gin bar.
Any tips for couples getting married?
You wait and plan this day for months, but the wedding day flies by in the blink of an eye. Enjoy preparing for it, have fun with your partner while doing it. Don’t stress too much, a lot of small things won’t go as planned, but it won't matter. Most of all, embrace every moment because your memories are the most important thing you can make out of this day.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
We booked the photographers Cristiana and Dafne, from Ortica Wedding, before anything else because we felt like they were the perfect fit with the aesthetic we were looking for.
Also our friend Massimiliano, the owner of tAgriturismo San Giuseppe, really made us feel at home. His crew did and incredible job with amazing food and service.
Photography & Videography: Ortica Wedding @orticawedding | Planning & Styling: by Monica | Flora: Fiocchi e Petali Parma | Ceremony Location: Santuario della Beata Vergine di Lourdes in Montericco, Reggio Emilia, IT | Reception Location: Agriturismo San Giuseppe @agriturismo_san_giuseppe | Celebrant: Don Benedetto Usai | Hair Stylist: Vogue Parrucchieri @vogue.hair.style | Catering & Beverages: Agriturismo San Giuseppe @agriturismo_san_giuseppe | Cake: Arte in Zucchero @arteinzucchero | DJ: Saverio Mainini | Music: Le Tigri di Ester @le_tigri_di_ester | Dress: Marinela Irmia | Suit: Fedro @fedro_sartoria & Favourbrook Shirt @favourbrook | Engagement Ring: Vintage | Wedding Rings: Fedi La Gerla @fedigerla | Shoes: Scarosso @scarosso | Other Jewellery: Piperjta @piperjta_bijoux | Wedding Party Attire: Sierra Darien @sierraxdarien