Liala & Andrea

How much fun did this gorgeous couple have at their outdoor Italian wedding? The answer is LOADS. You can just tell from all the moments captured by Sarah-Jane Ethan Photography that it was an absolute riot, using every inch of the Borgo Dei Conti Della Torre villa to its fullest potential. There were gorgeously styled drinks and food stations, hanging bottles and miniature lampshades. There was even a roll top bath full of blooms. My fabsolute favourite spot has to be the pool side seating area with antique furniture. Such a cool place to relax and soak up all the atmosphere. There are so many more wonderful ideas to marvel at too. The outdoor cinema and adorable sweet heart table for one. This is definitely not one to be missed.

The Wedding

Liala the Bride: We have been together for 6 years when Andrea asked me to marry him. We were living in Panama but our desire was to celebrate our wedding in Italy, in my small village located not far from Venice. Organise a wedding…well our wedding...living on the other side of the world was just exciting ;) From the beginning our common wish was to share and live such unique event with our families, our special friends, coming from different parts of the world and with our two best four-legged babies: Jeffrey and Bowie. For this reason we decided to celebrate our wedding in a small countryside Church, with an African gospel choir, during an Italian sunny summer’s afternoon; continuing with dinner and wedding party in the green and leafy garden of an ancient Italian Villa. Freedom, love, freshness, shabby chic details, pastel colors, wildflowers, sunshine, smiles, simplicity, joy: a mix of these ingredients represents the aim of our wedding.

The Dress

I had tried dozen and dozen of wedding dresses during my holiday in Italy, one year before the wedding; sharing this special moment with my mother, my mother-in-law and sister in law …it was so funny…the initial idea of my wedding dress was totally different from the final one that I choose. I just literally fall in love with my dress at first look...simple, fresh, soft, stylish and elegant. It is handmade in Italy from the collection of Stefano Blandaleone; all made in silk and fine fabric. I bought it in a really special Boutique, Marika Mode, supported in my decision by Laura, the owner. I added a long veil with a small bow, to recall my sandal’s bow.

The Shoes

Generally I don’t like classic wedding shoes…My idea was to find sandals that could be original but at the same time refined for such an important event…and the search began… Finally I found my stunning silver sandals with bow by Pura Lopez, but…what are the perfect shoes for dancing during a wedding party, near the pool with a rock and roll band? Of course a pair of Converse with glitter and studs! I just adore them!

Hair & Makeup

I don’t like to makeup myself too much, for this reason Blanca, my makeup artist, suggests me a really natural makeup, emphasizing the depth of my eyes. The tresses of the hair dress reflected my natural and simple style, created by Alessandro and Roberta, that put all their love and professional experience, in preparing me for the wedding.

Grooms Attire

Andrea the groom: I went directly to my favorite Boutique, Ferracin, they have a unique style, combining handmade Italian product with the last fashion accessories. Federico and Simone already perfectly know my style and they guide me to choose the perfect dress… they just took me and prepare me for the wedding ceremony. We end up with a Tagliatore suit and some beautiful accessories like my braces and cufflinks.

Venue

When we saw for the first time the Villa of Borgo Dei Conti Della Torre we immediately thought: this is the place! This ancient villa, with its green garden, nestled in the silence of the countryside, its beautiful pool and big trees. Our idea was to create a “dynamic dinner” where people is free to move, speak, walk and relax; enjoying our magic night. For this reason we decided not to prepare a Tableu marriage but we just said: “sit where your heart suggests to you!”

Food, Decor & Flowers

It’s recognized that the Italian food is just delicious but to find someone that is able to cook it fresh at the moment with having an amazing preparation at the same time it’s really unique. Massimo and Gloria Santi, owners of Santi Group Catering, were able to realize all our desires. The decor was so important for us and considering that we love crafting and Liala has thousand of ideas, they were able to mix Liala’s creativity with their professional skills. A huge antique chandelier hanging from tree branches, glass bottles with wild flowers, baskets of straw with Mediterranean aromatic plants, a swing in the green, an old bathtub full of flowers, candles, lanterns, deck chairs with vintage canvases around the poolside, bird’s cages, an old cinema, vintage, simplicity and originality…just the perfect mix for creating our party and at the same time representing us like a couple. Sixty hearts handsewn by me and my mother Cinzia, one for each woman that has been invited…wooden placards prepared by hand from my father and decorated by precious hands of Kiki… This was the atmosphere of our wedding dinner and party.

Photography

When we saw the pictures by Sara-Jane Ethan on Rock My Wedding we were simply astonished. We loved their soft colours and light, their spontaneity and the happiness that they reflect. We just said: we have to call her for our wedding, also if she has to travel from UK to Italy… She perfectly reflects our spirit and she can catch in her photos the joy of our wedding! We do not love classical wedding photos and we were looking for something that authentically reflects the emotions of each single moment. The connection with Sara-Jane was perfect from the beginning, all our guests immediately fell in love with her… we had a lot of fun together and the result is simply ...Perfection !

Entertainment

We desired to have a lot of fun during our wedding, enjoying the pool and the beautiful garden with our friends and families. The location was perfectly prepared by Santi Group with an open bar ready with all type of cocktails and a wonderful atmosphere. We choose our favorite Rock & Roll band: the Alter Ego, and the show was spectacular… everybody was dancing for hours without stopping!