That's a wrap!
Photo: Ailsa & Josh, Sam Docker
28th October was Ailsa & Josh’s wedding day, marking the end of our 2018 wedding season and what a season it’s been! Our most adventurous yet, taking us all over Italy from May through to October.
We’ve honestly had the most amazing year with weddings in Como, Sardinia, Umbria, Rome, Puglia and of course Tuscany. We’ve met some incredibly inspiring couples, along with their friends and family, as well as awesome suppliers.
Each wedding is so special to us. We work tirelessly to plan and prepare for each of our weddings and when they come around, we’re just as excited as the couple themselves – honestly!
Our day starts with supplier calls and buying a quick picnic lunch for ourselves. When we arrive at the venue, we rebrief the team and check which suppliers have arrived early, then run through everything one final time with the venue.
And then we meet our bride – usually calm but excitable and full of anticipation…! Sometimes a pep talk is needed! We introduce ourselves to bridesmaids and family if we’ve not met before and we head back to continue our detailed set up and coordination of suppliers, popping to see the groom on the way.
Before we know it, it’s time for the ceremony – the most magical part of the day – we’re always in tears at this point. We’re not just the planners, we become friends with our couples and we adore seeing them get married in that moment. At a civil ceremony, we relive our own weddings and the promises that each of us made to our husbands. It’s really special to us and what we see as the main objective of our job – they’re married!
After the ceremony it’s time for pack down and while one of us clears up with the suppliers, the other heads to check on the food and detailed table set up before guests arrive. And just like that the aperitif, the feast and then the party starts! The dinner is usually the first time we get to sit down all day. Sometimes for as little as 10 minutes!
As I write this, I’m re-living some of the most wonderful of wedding moments this year –
I recall the sunrise as I left home at 7am, driving through the vineyards heading to a wedding, back in June.
The misty morning that greeted us at Villa Medici when setting up for Eleanor & Liam’s wedding…
The anticipation of our bride Xana, as we met in her room overlooking sunny Lake Como…
Orchestrating the amazing team of suppliers set up our vineyard takeover at Laura & Liam’s bright and beautiful wedding in Tuscany…
Watching Kirsten & David’s wedding ceremony, taken by the mayor, in the stunning San Galgano Abbey…
The incredible setting Katrine & Jacob’s aperitif, on the balcony overlooking Florence…
The stunning banquet dinner for Rebecca and Tom, under a canopy of lighting, with the brightest of flowers…
The speeches, could this be our favourite part?! What we learn about our couples and human nature itself, it’s so warming and humbling…
Sam & Charly’s epic cake cutting of their huge millefoile…
Cindy & Jason’s first dance that turned into the Zorba, then guests joined in with sparklers under a historic archway deep in Umbria…
And the epic parties, the all nighters…we can’t talk too much about these…!
Finally, there’s the drive home after each wedding. Boasting a huge sense of achievement, happiness, some relief and reliving every moment of the day that’s gone. I often can’t sleep for an hour or so when I arrive home as I’m still buzzing!
And buzzing would be the world that best sums up how we feel. It is so special to witness these moments and we don’t take it for granted.
As we close off 2018 and head into 2019, our bookings full and excitement high for next year we can’t even imagine what’s to come after this year being more than we could ever have expected.
Thanks to all our couples for laughing with us, crying with us and most importantly trusting us and making our year, our best yet!