Tell us a little about yourselves!
We first crossed paths long before we officially became a couple, back in the days of seedy house parties! Over the years, we would run into each other time and time again, and at each encounter Andy would work up the courage to ask if I was single, despite the inevitable rejection – he was persistent!
But you know what they say about the universe—it has a funny way of nudging people together until they finally catch on. And catch on we did. Suddenly, the timing was right, and Andy made his move. They say home is where the heart is, and for Andy and me, that really rings true. No matter where we are or what we're doing, as long as we're together, we're home. Early on, we realised that while our interests and hobbies differ (opposite in every way!), our core values align perfectly, especially when it comes to family and appreciating quality time together. Our favourite moments are often spent just the two of us, we love a road trip and weekend away, and are so content to cosy up with a movie and good food.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
In 2019 we had a trip to Italy that was truly unforgettable, so much so that we chose it as our wedding location. Having Andy by my side as we visited places from my Italian heritage and introducing him to my extended family meant the world to me. My Nonna and Nonno (who have now passed) were two people who I believe represented true love in every way possible! They were incredibly special people to me, so I think getting married in Italy also made me feel like they were there in a way. Andy also had his reasons - in his own words, it was also during this trip that he realised I was his forever person and he couldn't imagine his life without me!
There's something about the Italian culture and lifestyle that has always spoken to both of us—it's a beautiful unique way of living that resonates deeply. I had a vision for the wedding venue, something traditional that could also host most of our family and wedding party. Relais Fattoria Valle was everything I could have imagined and more. The venue has been passed down throughout generations, and the current owners had preserved so much of the original furniture and styling, each room was unique and absolutely beautiful! Our hosts were also the most incredibly kind people and were the highlight of our stay.
How many guests did you have?
We had 35 guests attend our wedding, something we think contributed to how special our day was. We were able to spend quality time with each guest - it felt like one big dinner party with some of our closest people!
What was your budget?
We went into planning this wedding without an official budget, but had an idea in mind that we wanted to stick within. Inevitably we ended up going over (as always happens!), but the wedding was still less than what we would have spent if we had the alternative option, a big wedding in Australia (but this way we also had an overseas holiday included!).
Tell us about your outfits.
I had a vision of what type of dress I wanted to wear on my wedding day for a long time, and when the time finally came to picking, I decided I should trust my instincts and go with a style I had always loved, rather than something that was specifically ‘on trend’. I worked with Christina from Couture Love Madness, who helped bring my vision to life and made the entire process so easy from start to finish. Nothing was too hard - she even custom made my wedding shoes and bag from the same fabric as my dress. The fabric I chose was a nod to my mums wedding dress from the 80’s, I loved the crinkly texture of the silk and the small vintage lace detail peaking across the top.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
We wanted it to feel as authentically ‘us’ as possible and for everybody to enjoy themselves! That was really the centre of our planning process, and another reason for us to chose a destination - you’re always having fun on a holiday!
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
I’ve always been someone who appreciates the smallest of details, and it was important to both of us that everything on the day had meaning and was well thought out. A detail highlight for us were our bonbonnière - I designed custom Italian playing cards that were given as gifts to each guest. My sister also surprised me with the most thoughtful gift the morning of our wedding, my ‘something blue’ was a sleep set to get ready in that had been custom made from a piece of of my late Nonna’s clothing.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Hands down the best decision we made was having one of our closest friends ‘unofficially’ marry us. We signed our legal paperwork back home, and on the day had our best friend Ryan act as our celebrant. We trusted him to write the entire thing, and having known as for over 15 years, what he came up with was beyond what we could have imagined. It was so special to hear what he had to say, how he described each of us, and his perspective of our love story. It’s safe to say all three of us were crying by the end of it, and it was a moment I will never forget!
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
We must make a special mention to our beautiful photographer Samantha Rivieccio! You spend so much time one on one with your photographer, and it makes all the difference in the world having someone you feel comfortable with and someone you can trust to capture the magic of your special day. We clicked with Samantha from the very beginning, she is such a genuine, warm and incredibly talented person!
Photographer: Samantha Rivieccio @samantharivieccio | Videographer: Tommaso Borghi @thomaswdd | Ceremony + Reception Location: Relais Fattoria Valle @fattoriavalle | Celebrant: Friend of the Couple Ryan Turner + Lauren Khabbaz @laurenthecelebrant | Planner: Rachele Torres @racheletorres_weddings + Veronika Favaro @veronika.favaro_planner | Styling: by the Bride | Flora: Criluflower @criluflower | Makeup: Cassandra Lusi Makeup Artist @cassandralusi_mua | Hair: Lelio Castorio @leliohair | Catering + Beverages: L’Aurora Catering @lauroracateringsiena + Exclusive Bar Service @exclusive.barservice | Cake: @lauroracateringsiena | Wedding Sign: Esthetic Bride @esthetic.bride | Invitations + Menus: Place Of Renaissance @placeofrenaissance | Ceremony Music: Firenze Classica @firenze_classica | Lights: Wedding Central House @weddingcentralhouse | DJ: Dj Iaia @djiaia | Social Content Creation: Tahlia Harvey @soiree.archive | Wedding Dress + Shoes: Couture Love Madness @couturelovemadness | Second Dress: Rotate Birger Christensen @rotatebirgerchristensen | Groom: Adelaide Suits Direct | Engagement + Wedding Rings: Opal Diamond Factory @opaldiamondfactory | Earrings: Vintouch Italy @vintouch_italy | Veil + Gloves: Vintage Lace @etsy | Wedding Party Attire: Van Der Kooj @van.der.kooj, Selmacilek @selmacilek + Christopher Esber @christopher_esber