YOU GUYS! We are so excited to share this fabulous Italian wedding designed by Grey Collective member Chic Weddings in Italy with you. From the Frida Kahlo-inspired reception under the cafe lights on the couple’s recently restored B&B in Ceglie Messapica, to the bride’s rad style accentuated with the larger-than-life-amazing floral crown, this wedding is oozing with style. We’re loving the romance of the family-style reception and the florals by Flower Addicted are the perfect amount of artsy. Studio AQ was on hand to work their fabulous photo magic and we’re so happy to be sharing the gorgeous photographs of Luisa and Francesco’s wedding with you.
What made the wedding special and unique?
We were lucky enough to get to celebrate our wedding in a special venue: our home! We have recently renovated an old trullo property in Ceglie Messapica, in the heart of Itria Valley and transformed it into “Fikus” a small boutique B & B so it was the perfect occasion to gather our very big Italian families and friends from all over Italy and Europe to be with us on our special day. It was so emotional we got to celebrate our wedding in our very own nest we have created with so much passion and heart. Plus the work that the CW team and the florist have done was amazing – we were all in awe!
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
I had something completely different in my mind and wanted something more ” Gatsby – like ” but eventually in the last atelier I went, the dress was just there awaiting for me! The atelier manager opened these huge wardrobes with amazing floating dresses and the only thing I was attracted to was this tiny impalpable lace long sleeve – so I asked “What about this one?” and so I was actually choosing my own dress. It’s the Villaroel dress from Yolancris, and honestly I never thought this kind of dress would do for my body type but I felt so comfortable in it and started giggling when I had it on. Of course I added my special styling and twist: I wore it with no under-gown, I added the golden belt and the D&G like vintage crown for the party , and I just felt it was so much my style.
What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?
I have always been passionate about Frida Kahlo and her art but in the recent years I got to see this amazing exhibition in Rome all by myself – so I spent three hours wandering around her pieces and her life and it really got into me. Also Francesco and I share this idea of love that goes beyond formality and cliches and we really wanted to express it . So it was inevitable somehow to get her style as major inspiration for our big day.
The floral crown was the killer – Francesco and all the guests went nuts about the bold flowers and everyone kept asking about it. Channeling Frida all day was our way to make the wedding so very deeply personal.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
I am a control freak and although everything was perfect and everyone had great time, I was stressed out the majority of the time!
It had been a crazy day and I had been spinning around a lot. But the most memorable moment of the day was driving back from the castle where the ceremony was held to our B & B. We were in the car with Marta from Studio A+Q and the driver and it was like any other day – it was perfection. Francesco and I chatting and giggling and really feeling the love. The light was perfect, the warm summer wind, the anticipation of what we were about to see, it was those perfect 15 minutes we will never forget.
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
Francesco and I are both originally from Puglia but had never met until we were both living as expat in Brussels. Oh, yes life is funny! We got together in 2012 and by then Francesco had decided to move back to Puglia for its own start up, I basically quit my job and went back to live with him, leaving everyone in shock! But love wins it all! The idea of Fikus came a little bit later and it has been the center of our life for the past years, so the perfect ending to our project was to celebrate our love there.
Francesco proposed on the rooftop of our house on a sunny September Sunday morning with my favorite Juste un clou ring by Cartier – surrounded by ancient olive trees and a construction site work in progress for the renovation. One of those (im)perfect moments that are unforgettable!
Event Design and Production: Chicweddingsinitaly // Photography: Studio AQ // Florals: Flower Addicted // Invitations: Otto piu’ otto // Venue: FIKUS The Apulian B&B // Second Shooter: Paolo Manzi // Catering: Chez vous // Bridal Gown: Yolan Cris // Bridesmaids Dress: Vila