Wedding | Jess & Séamus

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We are your ordinary couple from London in their early 30s who like to have a good time! We’ve been together for 14 years and wanted to celebrate this peak moment with a love-filled party, with all of our favourite people.

With a background in production, Jess had a pretty clear vision and plan for the event and with a background in finance, Séamus had a pretty clear way of keeping things grounded in financial reality!

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

When asking for travel recommendations in 2018, Jess’ Italian cousin recommended Salina in Sicily, where one of her friends had a house. We went in May that year and during a walk around the village of Malfa, we stumbled across a striking white building with a doorway through to a spectacular ocean view. The staff at what was Hotel Principe di Salina in its second year of opening were incredibly welcoming and let us relax by the pool all afternoon, feeding us a constant stream of aperitivi. It was a place of beautiful calmness and kindness that we hadn’t felt on holiday before and hadn’t felt since, either.

When we got engaged six years later, it was kind of the first and only idea we had for our wedding location. We wanted to share this place that we couldn’t stop thinking about with our friends and family and were thrilled when more than a few people said they’d be up for the adventure to get there (flying, driving and a 1hr45 hydrofoil from mainland Sicily). We just hoped our guests would feel that the travel was all worth it and they’d fall in love with the island as much as we had done eight years before.

How many guests did you have?

102.

What was your budget?

An ever-evolving number!

Tell us about your outfits.

I (Jess) wore an ivory Victoria Beckham satin slip dress with a bespoke silk chiffon cape, designed and crafted by Sonia and Zoey at The White Room in the Gloucestershire village where my family live. Knowing Salina was going to be hot in June and never being one for too many frills, I wanted something simple but romantic and the lightweight cape felt like a good addition for that.

I (Séamus) wore a tobacco coloured Richard James suit, designed with the help of brilliant tailor, Stefan. We went for a light wool fabric to avoid the risk of a fully creased linen look. I’d planned to wear a cotton shirt, but with 30 degree heat on the day, a linen one I’d packed – which my parents had brought me back from Rome a few years ago – was more suitable, though still ended up sweat-covered by the time the ceremony started!

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

Our highest priority was to give our guests a weekend of sunny relaxation, celebration and an all-round fantastic time. No stress, just love and fun. For us, that meant good people, good food, free flowing drinks and well curated music that kept the feeling of collective joy going the whole weekend. Of course, the scenery of volcanic Salina was also a key contributor. The sunset views, the crystal clear Tyrrhenian sea and seeing Stromboli on the horizon erupting every 30 minutes all helped add to the energy.

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

We wanted a symbolic ceremony that felt like a jubilant shared experience, whilst still being personal and poignant. Having Jess’ Uncle – an Arts Producer and general force of nature – as our celebrant was a big help. Just before the ceremony started, he asked everyone to take photos of each other and send them to us before putting their phones away; Jess’ sister and Seamus’ cousin read lyrics by Patti Smith and Robert Plant and everyone joined in on a rendition of Neil Young’s Heart of Gold to the backing of a local roaming band.

It was also important to us that everyone was individually thanked, so all guests had personal handwritten letters to open at their table places when they sat down for dinner. Along with scratch cards for a touch of luck too.

And to help with the relaxed feel, we weren’t fussed with a dress code and encouraged guests to wear what they wanted and even consider outfit changes if they wanted to, which were fun and appreciated at 1am, post pool jump-ins.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Don’t rush through anything on the day. Be present, go slow, take breathers, take it all in.

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

Principe di Salina: this hotel is honestly something else. We were incredibly lucky that the wonderful owner, Anita, made an exception to host a wedding that maxed out the terrace’s capacity, let us cover her tablecloths in tomatoes and take over the hotel’s normal state of serenity with a bunch of rowdy party people. It turned out that the hotel staff, as well as being the sweetest, most welcoming, fun and kind team ever, are also party-lovers and were with us on the dancefloor til the end. It was hard to say goodbye and it’s hard not to gatekeep this place.

The White Room: Zoey and Sonia have an incredible set up in a little haven of a Cotswolds village studio. As well as a strong collection of wedding dresses, they have an in-house atelier (Gown and Glory), where they make a wide range of bespoke pieces, with a creative process that prioritises high quality and an enjoyable experience. Their fabric portfolio is exquisite and they will go above and beyond for you.

Rob James Photography: Thanks to a recommendation from an ex colleague, we found the camera wizard that is Rob. As well as being a genuinely sound person and fun to be around, Rob provided the perfect balance of relaxed but clear direction and totally captured everything exactly as it felt to be there. We could not be happier with the photos and don’t think we’ll ever stop looking through them.

Photographer: Rob James @robjames.co | Planning: Loviu Events @loviuevents | Flora: Iosi Design @iosi.design | Videographer: Dani Bains @dani_bains_creative | Ceremony Location: Palazzo Marchetti @palazzomarchetti | Reception Location: Principe Di Salina @principedisalina | Ceremony Drinks: Pa.Pe.Ro' al Glicine @pa.pe.ro | MUA: Tannaz Beauty @tannaz_beautybar | Hair Stylisy: Sarah Elhaj @saraelhajhair | Band: Casabianca & The Band @casabianca.and.the.band | DJ: Vincenzo Bonura @vincenzo_bonura10 | AV: Didyme Music Movement @didyme_music_movement | Dress: Victoria Beckham @victoriabeckham | Cape: The White Room @thewhiteroomuk | Suit: Richard James @richardjamesofficial | Second Dress: Self Portrait @mrselfportrait| Bridesmaid Dresses: Christopher Esber @christopher_esber; Bernadette @bernadetteantwerp; De La Vali @delavaliofficial; AFLALO @aflalonyc; Camila Coelho @camilacoelhocollection; Mango @mango; Free People @freepeople; Reformation @reformation | Handmade Fan: Bam Bam Studio @bambamstudio_