Chic Rime Arodaky Bridal Separates for a Glamorous and Intimate Italian Black Tie Wedding

Lovely readers, would you mind if I interrupted wedding proceedings to wish a Happy Birthday to my fabulous Mum, who is celebrating a very special birthday today? She’s a big Love My Dress fan (and in fact, was the one who introduced me to the blog in the first place, when I was planning my own wedding back in 2013) so it seems a fitting place to wish her lovely things for the year ahead.

Without further ado, lets move onto today’s beautiful and oh-so-chic destination wedding.  I love the anticipation of opening a set of wedding photographs before I write a feature; it’s such a privilege to be allowed such an intimate glimpse into a couple’s day and within just a few pictures I can get a really good feel for the location, venue and feel of a day.  One picture in from this set and I just knew this was one of our fabulous destination weddings, which in my experience, are always nothing short of super glamorous. Today’s is certainly glamorous, but also wonderfully relaxed, and features the most fabulous Rime Arodaky separates, relaxed al-fresco dining and a wonderful old villa near Pisa- just bellissimo. Meet Rebecca and Ryan, who work in marketing and personnel respectively, who married on the 18^th May earlier this year at the beautiful Villa Lungomonte, near Pisa in Italy.

“We knew we wanted to celebrate somewhere amazing abroad with all our close friends and this was the first villa we even looked at.  Above all we just wanted it to be a massive week-long party with all our closest friends and family.”

Captured by Lato Photography

“Since we’re both very laid back we wanted minimal stress and it was actually super easy to plan – just a big BBQ of delicious food with plenty of prosecco.  It was important our friends felt involved and were part of the day, and everyone contributed in some way, whether it was buying a last minute cake or creating my bouquet.”

“Ryan proposed on Christmas eve 2015 in the middle of an art installation in Amsterdam, then we went off to have a 6-course Belgian feast in an amazing local restaurant to celebrate.”

Rebecca wore the most gorgeous outfit from Rime Arodaky, purchased from The Mews Bridal in Notting Hill, who specialise in French Bridal couture.  Rime is fast becoming one of my favourite designers, with her quirky but romantic designs and I absolutely love the texture and cut of Rebecca’s skirt and top.  Chic doesn’t even begin to describe it.

“When I first started looking for dresses I knew I didn’t want something traditional and I wanted something I would wear again!”

“The dress I chose was actually made up of two pieces – a top and a skirt-  so I’ve worn both as separates since.”

The bridesmaids wore Dessy gowns in a gorgeous slate/ lavender shade which they paired with their own shoes and, like Rebecca, wore fresh flowers in their hair.  For accessories they wore silver ‘knot earrings’ given to them by Rebecca to thank them for helping her to ‘tie the knot’ that day.

“I’m not a huge shoe person so the caveats were simple, elegant and comfortable enough to dance all day and night in.  In the end Kurt Geiger block heeled nude sandals were ideal.”

In her hair Rebecca wore fresh flowers, bought from the Pisa flower market, and for jewellery, a pair of diamond earrings which were a gift from her Mum.  Hair and makeup were the work of Marianna di Muro, who owns a local salon near the villa.

Ryan looked incredibly smart in a black tuxedo paired with silver cufflinks engraved with his and Rebecca’s (now joint) initials (RM) and the wedding date, which were a surprise gift from Rebecca.

All the male bridal party and guests joined him in wearing black tie and the contrast between the dapper attire of the guests and the relaxed feel of the day is wonderful.

These evocative and intimate images are the work of Lato Photography, who are based in Modena, Italy, but travel the world photographing weddings. I particularly love the portrait shots of the newlyweds in the gardens, but the informal pictures are equally fabulous and really capture the laid back atmosphere.

“They are the most amazing couple who are so incredibly talented, lovely and produce stunning work. We were both delighted to have them as part of the wedding and part of the day and hope they enjoyed themselves. We would recommend them without any hesitation to anyone.”

Rebecca walked down the stairs to the ceremony space on the arm of her father to ‘Come and get your love’ by Redtone and the couple spoke some short, but meaningful words to one another before exchanging rings from Galio, St Albans.

“My favourite part of the day was our sit-down outdoor Italian feast with all our closest friends and family.  It was magic and also felt very mafia-chic!”

Friends and family played a big part in this intimate gathering.  Flowers, including Rebecca’s pretty bouquet, were bought from Pisa flower market and put together by the couple’s friends on the day and the cake was bought at the last minute by the father of the bride and a friend from a local Carrefour.  It looks absolutely delicious. The rest of the catering was provided by local caterers (no details).

The Villa had a sound system and the newlyweds and their guests spent the evening dancing under the stars.  Absolutely magical.

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“My advice would be to relax and enjoy it – it’s meant to be fun.  I’d also massively recommend getting your friends and family to be part of things if it’s a small intimate wedding since it brings a completely unique and personal touch to everything. Overall, don’t make it too formal.”

So many thanks to Rebecca and Ryan for sharing their beautiful and intimate day with us- I hope you’re both still in the sunny happy world of newly-wed-ness! Many thanks also to Laura and Tommy of Lato Photography for the beautiful images.  Love Rebecca’s dress? Take a peek here for some other Love My Dress brides wearing fabulous Rime Arodaky gowns.

Much love,

Shona x