Today’s super bright and colourful wedding is a total favourite of mine already! It’s just so wonderfully cheerful. Full of an array of stunning colours including cobalt blue, hot pink bougainvillea, and zesty orange…
The bride’s floral headpiece is out-of-this-world amazing too, and it’s so nice to see gorgeous pops of bright colours being accessorised with her shorter Delphine Manivet wedding gown.
Oh, and it’s a destination wedding in Puglia, Italy – and any wedding that ends up with the wedding party jumping in the pool (with inflatable flamingos) at 5 am in the morning is a winner imo.
Words by Charlotte. Images by Elizabeth Alice Holt Photography.
Before we’d even found the venue I’d spotted my perfect dress on Instagram. I was so sure, it was the first one I tried on, and I bought it in 30 minutes flat during my lunch break when I ran from my office in Fitzrovia up to Brown’s Bridal!
I love the classic quality and materials combined with modern shapes that Delphine Manivet designs. And the little details, such as the pearl baby button good luck charm, sewn inside the lining made me smile.
I knew scarlet red shoes would add a colourful twist to this calf length dress. The Tamara Mellon shoes were a lucky Net a Porter sale find. When they arrived I found that they had ‘I love you x’ written inside – it was meant to be!
We chose Puglia in Italy to get married, as that is Francesco’s home region, and where we met when I was teaching in the region’s capital Bari.
When we found Masseria San Nicola we knew instantly that this was the spot for us. Prior to that, we’d searched high and low in Yorkshire (my home region), London (where we live) and Puglia.
We were exhausted and to be honest a little tired of looking, but finding the Masseria put the magic back into wedding planning, we felt so sure that all our guests would love it, and the setting was so conducive to the colourful theme we had in mind, that the rest of the planning was simple!
I knew exactly what I was looking for when it came to the flowers, and poor Cosimo (owner of GGG) was provided with a very specific power point presentation of the flowers and styles I wanted to achieve, which he created perfectly.
Italian tradition doesn’t involve the wedding party wearing matching suits and dresses, so Francesco’s three groomsmen wore their own suits.
However we did make a nod to the English tradition with our gifts to them, on the day they wore matching ‘Self Tie’ Bow Ties in cobalt blue to match the bridesmaid’s dresses (and pre-tied by Charlotte the day before the wedding!), Geo Print Pocket Square, and Terrier Cufflinks, all from Thomas Pink.
My father passed away when I was 18, so my mother Joanne Ellis gave me away (after a brief battle for the responsibility with my brother Tom!). We walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon.
Liz our wedding photographer captured our big day in a stealth-like manner, and was a very calming presence at all times. She has a knack of capturing relaxed moments, and people’s characters, without them noticing.
The results are a staggering number of photos that don’t look staged in the slightest but capture the day just as we remember it, allowing us to revisit the special moments, and smile again and again. Thank you so so much Liz!
It sounds cheesy, but as we’ve been together 6 years, the wedding, although religiously important for us, was more of a celebration of love for each other and sharing it with the people we care most about. We didn’t want something serious, but joy filled. Bright colours fit that brief!
Also, this was a marriage of two cultures and languages. We needed the atmosphere to help people have fun together, despite language barriers. Little touches such as a classic but shorter-than-trad wedding dress, bright colours, and two long dinner tables (as well as excellent food, wine and music!) helped to break down barriers and have the most fun together possible.
We embraced the colours and shapes of the bougainvillea, oranges and olives that have grown for centuries at the masseria, so we had no concerns about the decor complementing this stunning and simple historic venue.
The two swimming pools at the Masseria were a focal point of the party too! The Friday welcome reception ended in the water, and the close of the wedding party ended with everyone playing with inflatable flamingos in the pool fully clothed until 5.30am!
For wedding decor, we had fairy lights strung above the dinner tables, arranged in two long imperial style settings.
There was one magic moment during the speeches when there was a power cut in the area, and the tables were lit only by the candles we’d handmade in the run-up to the big day.
The sentiments, smiles and colours were all the more incredible.
If we could impart any words of wisdom, we would say… Research until you find your theme, but then try not to ‘pin’ or read too much more. It’s easy to get fatigue, and you need the planning to stay magical up until the big day!
Make sure you surround yourself with people who you love, fill you with confidence, are relaxed around. It makes enjoying the day so much easier.
Plan plan plan, but then handover the day before the wedding. I’m used to planning events for work, so it was difficult but important to relinquish control.
What an absolutely gorgeous wedding! Are you planning a colour infused big day? Check out this inspirational wedding…
Vibrant, Colourful & Fun, Mexican Inspired Wedding: Cynthia & Chris
wedding credits / photographer: elizabeth alice holt photography / wedding venue: masseria san nicola, savelletri / brides dress: delphine manivet via browns bride / brides veil: veiled beauty / grooms suit: tagliatore / brides shoes: tamara mellon via net a porter / bridesmaid dresses: reiss / bridesmaid shoes: jimmy choo / hair & makeup: raf castro / florist: green garden gadaleta / wedding cake: betty’s / stationery: holly griffin
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This looks like so much fun. And Puglia is an underrated destination, simply stunning!
Love the colours. An outdoor reception looks like a dream.
Puglia is amazing <3