“Our ceremony was held within the castle grounds of Castello Vicchiomaggio with a view of the Tuscan hills. The surroundings were breathtaking. We were able to have all aspects of our wedding outdoors… it was just perfect!”
– Gemma, on why she choose a castle in Chianti for her and Sam’s special day
Length of engagement: 10 months | Wedding Date: 4th August 2012
Wedding location: Castello Vicchiomaggio, near Greve in Chianti, Italy.
Wedding Photographer: Adriana Chechi
Wedding coordinator: Infinity Weddings and Events®
We met… We were college classmates studying dentistry together.
Gemma’s first impressions of Sam: He is too young for me!
Sam’s first impressions of Gemma: Who’s that good looking lady! (his words!)
The proposal… Sam phoned my dad to ask for permission to ask for my hand in marriage. The following unconventional proposal took place in a swimming pool in Darwin, it suited us down to the ground!
“It was a very personalised ceremony conducted flawlessly by our lovely celebrant, Guisepe.”
Our ceremony… Our ceremony was held within the castle grounds of Castello Vicchiomaggio with a view of the Tuscan hills conducted by Giuseppe of Blessings from Italy. It was a very personalised ceremony conducted flawlessly by the lovely Guisepe.
“After the ceremony the guests were treated to a cocktail reception with typical Tuscan appetizers like faro salad, cheeses, a selection of meats, vegetables and bruschetta. The shadow of beautiful trees and the Italian garden was much appreciated by the guests – they definitely enjoyed a little break from the Tuscan sun!”
– Sarah Mazzei, Wedding Coordinator
We chose our venue because… Our wedding planner Sara from Infinity Weddings and Events® had shortlisted many venues which met our criteria but Castello Vicchiomaggio stood out. The Castle itself was stunning and the surroundings were breathtaking. We were able to have all aspects of our wedding outdoors which appealed and there was accommodation within the castle for guests. It was just perfect!
“Our colours were nudes, pinks, greys and lots of gypsofilia, which made for a very relaxed, vintage-style theme.”
– Gemma, on the wedding theme
My dress… My dress was made by the designer Benjamin Roberts, it was a vintage style fishtail dress with a long train and seperate belt. I loved it!
“The day was just like a fairytale”
My favourite part of the wedding day… I cannot honestly single out one favorite part. I enjoyed every single minute! Our wedding planner, Sara, took away all stress and the day was just like a fairytale.
“Gemma is from Edinbugh in Scotland, so we wanted to add a little Scottish tradition to the celebrations. So after dinner the couple had everyone up dancing to traditional Scottish songs like ‘strip the willow’!”
– Sara Mazzei, on infusing Scottish traditions with Italian style
My advice for other brides… Have fun planning your wedding and try not to get too caught up on minor details. Enjoy the build up to the wedding and savour every second of the big day as time flies!
Vendors
| Bride’s dress: Benjamin Roberts Wedding Coordinator: Infinity Weddings and Events® Photographer: Adriana Chechi | Venue: Castello di VicchioMaggio Celebrant: Giuseppe Rossi All Italian Wedding Suppliers: Sourced by Infinity Weddings and Events® |
By Karen Birney
