26 Mar Ever so gracious Italian destination wedding – real wedding feature
When you’re a small kid and mum and dad are doing the chaotic school run, finding your wife on board for an Italian destination wedding may not be at the top of your Batman to do list. Even if she is just centimeters away playing the loves me, loves me not, daisy game with a massive crush on you. Which is probably why despite travelling to primary school together for years, it wasn’t until Tom and Lisa finished school, went to university and travelled the world that their paths crossed again and love worked its magic.
It was Christmas in Edinburgh, celebrating the completion of Lisa’s PhD, when Tom popped the big question. They had plans for a meal at a Michelin starred restaurant followed by a Ben Howard concert. In hindsight they decided it would have been better for Tom to propose before the meal – he didn’t eat a thing. But Tom’s empty stomach was worth it – she said “Yes!”
The blissfully loved up couple went on to dance the night away at the Ben Howard concert, with the encore song being their favourite: Gracious.
Gracious was their first dance song at their Italian destination wedding and gracious the couple were. Perfectly gracious, tender-hearted and beautiful.
This gracious spirit flowed into the style of the wedding with a spritz of bohemian sunshine adding a colourful friendliness and a relaxed warmth to the day.
The couple were surrounded by lifelong family and friends as they tied the knot here in their Italian destination wedding on the Cinque Terre – childhood passengers becoming husband and wife.
Tom and Lisa have been kind enough to share their love story and their wedding experiences along with some of their favourite photos by super photographer Alessandro Ghedina with us below. Enjoy every moment – just as they did.
Why a destination wedding in Italy?
We both love travelling, and Lisa’s a bit of a sun worshipper, so we figured that a wedding abroad would allow us to start the rest of our lives together in a warm and wonderful way – as well as giving us an excuse to have a big family holiday!
Why the Cinque Terre in Italy?
We love Italy – its beautiful terrain, people and food. After deciding to explore the Cinque Terre as a potential destination last winter, we knew instantly that it had everything we wanted for our big day when we visited for a few days in February. Even in the pouring rain, Buranco looked stunning, as did Monterosso itself.
How was the planning process?
The planning process involved minimal stress – Melina did a wonderful job of preventing Lisa turning into Bridezilla. There was help on offer for literally everything, from filling in the big scary paperwork to sourcing pins for flowers and dresses on the day!
Best part of your day?
Other than the ceremony, which was breathtakingly beautiful (the vows were so touching), we’d both say that the best part of our day was when we escaped to stroll around Monterosso together after the ceremony. We were really shy to begin with, blushing at well-wishers and locals who clapped as we went by; however, by the time we were ready to head up and meet our guests back at Buranco we were loving the attention! We felt like celebrities!
Top Tip for future Cinque Terre Wedding Brides and Grooms?
Visit the region before committing to it; if you’re hesitant about it being the right location before visiting, we guarantee you won’t be by the time you leave. Monterosso was, without doubt, the perfect location for our family and friends. The locals were fabulous and made our time away extra special. Definitely take the time to get to know them. We can’t wait to visit again soon and tell them about our latest news as newly-weds.
Photos by Alessandro Ghedina
Written by Melina Nicholson