Real Wedding | Anna + Jonas

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met each other for the first time around 15 years ago at a party of a mutual friend. The immediate spark and attraction were there, but due to circumstances we only remained acquaintances. Five years later, when we both were back in Sweden, our roads crossed again on a ski trip with friends. This time we would not let go of each other and we went out on a date. More than ten years later we have not left each others side and the rest is history. During the pandemic we moved to a house close to Malmö, southern Sweden. Here we love to have our friends and families over for dinner, as Jonas is an excellent cook and we converse for hours over a glass of wine. We also enjoy gardening and having one, or several, ongoing projects with our house. For us, this is a perfect way of letting go of work and for our creative sides to thrive. And not to forget traveling, and especially ski trips, are always prioritized in our lives. But what takes up most time and what we have most in common is our passion for food. The endless conversations about the variety of dishes to cook. Together be engrossed and inspired in the countless cookbooks in our house and the always ongoing conversation of the next restaurant we want to try.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

We always knew that we wanted to get married in Italy. We’ve been there several times during both winter and summer vacations, and it has a special place in our hearts. Almost daily we share special memories from these trips (“Do you remember that time…”). When we decided on a small wedding, Rome was the perfect place. Romantic, but with a vibrant vibe. For us it was important that the wedding felt relaxed throughout. The ceremony took place in the Swedish Church next to Villa Borghese, which was perfect for an elopement. Intimate and traditional with a small chapel in the garden. It was only the two of us and our parents. No pressure, no worries, no musts. Just as we wanted it! By having an intimate wedding in a city like Rome it entailed that the options of dinner restaurants were numerous. We could select a restaurant that aligned with our taste. In our opinion the Roman cuisine is one of the world’s best; traditional, but uncomplicated and always cooked with love. We could rely on that the food would live up to our expectations. And how it did! We notified the restaurant Casa Bleve before that we had gotten married during the day. They had, without us knowing, arranged an honor table and during the entire evening they provided us with something extra, which made our day unforgettable.

How many guests did you have?

4, both our parents.

Tell us about your outfits.

Anna wanted the dress to have the same spirit as the wedding - unpretentious and timeless, but still Italian chic. She also envisioned a shorter dress to reflect her personality, but also to preserve the sense of an elopement. When the Vanessa Cocchiaro dress arrived it was exactly what she was looking for. Romantic, but not over the top. She loved the lustrous material and the high collar which made the dress more festive. She matched the dress with a veil headband and a small pearl bag, which were both from Etsy. Jonas also wanted a classic, yet stylish look and wore a dark blue suit. It was tailored to bring out the best of him and he looked stunning! The tie was champagne colored and matched perfectly with Anna’s bouquet.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

We wanted our day to be special, but we never wanted to micromanage every detail or lose ourselves in the planning phase of our wedding. Hence, by having an elopement wedding we knew that we would avoid this and be able to focus on the parts that really mattered to us. Another aspect that was important for us was that the restaurant would be excellent. We wanted the dinner with our parents to be unforgettable with vibrant, yet festive ambiance and delicious traditional Italian food. Needless to say, this was never difficult to find in a city like Rome.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

Our parents. It was important to share this special day with them.

Any tips for couples getting married?

We fully relied on our vendors and their skills, which also entailed that we could enjoy the moment. Remember that this is a day of love and be kind to each other to not lose the magic!

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Absolutely! Since the planning of our wedding was taking place in Sweden, it meant that we met our vendors in person for the first time on the wedding day. From the moment our photographer Elisa Rinaldi walked in we knew that we were in safe hands. She was very professional; made us feel relaxed and had an incredible eye for details. We barely noticed that she was around during the ceremony, while still managing to capture every moment the way we remembered it. Her composition and lightning were exactly what we were after. We could not be happier and more impressed with the photos she took of us. She was a dream to work with! For Anna’s bouquet we chose the floral designer Sara Tusset. She instantly understood the vibe we were after and made the most fantastic bouquet that was chic, romantic and lively at the same time.