Updated: Feb 16, 2022
This is the story of a couple who, due to Covid 19, had to change their plans in a creative and unexpected way. Filippa and Alexander live in Denmark and last year they decided they would get married in Italy. They had always imagined an intimate wedding with family and 20 closest friends to join them in Basilicata - Matera and Puglia to celebrate a week together. The pandemic and the consequent lockdown, as for many couples, has meant reinventing themselves and adapting their plans to an unexpected and uncertain situation.
The idea of an elopement came to Filippa who during the quarantine spent hours on the internet looking for a creative solution to surprise Alexander. Determination always pays off and in fact when she came across the photos of an Italian brand, Acqua di Puglia, famous for renovating and renting out typical Apulian houses. It was easy to imagine themselves in one of those exotic and wonderful locations: the idea of exchanging vows alone, away from their loved ones, no longer seemed so difficult - but rather incredibly romantic.
The help of the planner Elena Pistone in planning their July 18 wedding was fundamental. The couple emphasised the importance of getting a wonderful planner in making their day so incredible and dealing with the logistics of planning their wedding in Italy. Elena planned the stay at Maison Salentina in Patù and the organization of the symbolic ceremony and dinner at Riad Salentino in Matino. When Filippa and Alex contacted Gradisca Portento to share their plans, the Italian photographer was thrilled.
The bride had her makeup done by Vania Tommasi and hair by Alessandro Bardoscia. Gradisca accompanied the couple the entire day - starting from the morning at their Maison Salentina home, that hosted them for the entire weekend. In the afternoon, however, they moved to Matino, a town a few kilometers away, at the Riad Salentino, a chalk-white residence with an even more Mediterranean aesthetic, where Filippa and Alex exchanged their rings by Monoi Design. The ceremony took place in the terrace lounge amidst fluttering veils of white gauze and raw linen cushions. For the ceremony, the bride wore a blazer with shorts accompanied by the Jesus Peiro Porto veil of the wedding dress that she was supposed to wear at the wedding. Even the jewels by Nura Design and Monoi Design wedding rings respected the clean and modern style of the couple.
The stationary by Carissimo Letterpress was that of the wedding but adapted to the bare minimum: menus and save the date. After the ceremony , the couple had an intimate dinner. It was set up on a low table with wonderful Ceramiche Fernando Falcone ceramics and the well-wishing "pumi pugliesi". For the evening, Filippa had an outfit change and the couple ended their day under the moonlight with fireworks that Alex had organised with meticulous planning by Elena Pistone Events.
The couple has some great advice to other couples getting married this year - "turn the unexpected into an opportunity."
Photographer : Gradisca Portento Fotografica @gradiscaportentofotografica | Ceremony and Reception location : Riad Salentino @acquadipuglia | Planner and Catering : Elena Pistone Events @elenapistone_events | Cake : Dolcemente @biascoantonella_dolcemente | Stationery : Carissimo Letterpress @carissimo_letterpress | Dinnerware and pottery : Ceramiche Fernando Falcone @ceramichefernandofalcone | Rings : Monoi Design @monoi.design | Veil : Jesus Peiro Porto @jesuspeiroporto | Other jewellery : Nura Design @nura.design_ | Makeup : Vania Tommasi @vaniatommasi_makeupartist | Hair : Alessandro Bardoscia @alessandrobardosciacapelli