Jesus Peiro Elegance for a Black Tie Italian Wedding In The Umbrian Hills

I’ve got something really rather special for you lovelies today. We’re going to Italy (where I actually am at this very moment) for the most elegantly-styled wedding with a colour palette of whites and greens.

It’s been sublimely captured by our Little Book members and artistic photography duo Grace & Mitch Photo & Film and I think you’re going to agree that their work is exquisite. The bride and groom are audit manager Lauren and dental therapist John, who chose Agriturismo I Frati, Paciano in Umbria, Italy for their nuptials on 7 July 2018.

Lauren had spotted Grace & Mitch’s previous photography work on these pages (you may have previously seen their work under the name Grace Elizabeth Photo & Film). She loved it so much she asked them to capture her own day – both through photography and film. For more of their romantic, modern work do check them out on our Little Book.

Photography Grace & Mitch Photo & Film

“We loved Grace and Mitch and can’t recommend them enough. We chose to have an engagement shoot with them so we knew what to expect. From that moment they were incredibly kind and friendly but really focused on how to get the best out of you. Everyone on the wedding day commented on how hard they worked, how they were never intrusive but seemed to get shots of everything.”

“It was really important to us to have some shots taken in the local town. They’d done their research in the days before so on the wedding day they knew exactly where to take us and didn’t waste any time deciding on locations. We were a little disappointed as the weather was turning but they were entirely unflappable in adapting to the change in our plans. We’re left with the most perfect memories of our day.”

An  ancient convent and farm, it offered plentiful accommodation, a wonderful setting and an historic vibe for their day which they created with the help of Chiara at Avenue Cipresso. The result? An authentically Italian day with touches of white and green which let the beauty of the venue and the magnificent view shine.

The couple planned their day over the course of two years, after John proposed in Venice on their ten year anniversary.

“I went to university in John’s hometown and he went to university in my hometown but somehow through mutual friends and lots of shared interests we met. We were together for ten years before we got engaged.”

“We always knew we wanted to get married in Italy, preferably in Umbria. We wanted it to be a venue that was authentically Italian with enough accommodation for our guests and beautiful views. This venue ticked all our boxes as well as being five minutes away from the town where John’s parents have an apartment, so it just seemed perfect.”

She wore diamond stud earrings, a wedding gift from John, and Faith at Debenhams shoes. Lauren finished with a special scent; Acqua Di Parma’s ‘Gelsomino Nobile’.

“John chose his first (Acqua Di Parma’s Colonia Club) and I was still stuck on what to choose so I copied him. I love anything jasmine-scented as it always reminds me of Italy, so it was the perfect choice for the day. When I smell it now it reminds me of the wedding.”

The groom opted for a dapper tux, choosing it at Hugo Boss and adding shoes from Crockett & Jones and a Junghans watch,  Lauren’s wedding gift to him.

“John had three best men, with two of them getting married in the same year as us.”

Another of our Little Book suppliers, White Closet Studios in Liverpool, was used by Lauren in the search for her dress. Her Jesus Peiro gown is impeccably styled and suits the romantic yet modern aesthetic day so well.

“I’d had my eye on Jesus Peiro dresses from the start. I knew I wanted a simple dress with a dramatic silhouette and all their dresses were exactly my style. I chose this one because I loved the cobra taffeta material, the detail in the straps at the back and… because it has pockets!”

I’m smitten with the bridesmaids’ outfits; jumpsuits in pure white by Lavish Alice – don’t they complement the bride’s style so well?

“I have to give all the credit to one of my bridesmaids for picking them out at a sample sale with the only vague instructions I’d given her, ‘white jumpsuits’! Not only did she find something that suited all of them, she also saved me a fortune.”

They wore them with their own shoes and an initial necklace from Topshop. The girls all had similar hair and make-up – elegant buns swept off their faces and vibrant lipstick, a look which the bride’s cousin Lucy created.

The bride entered the airy, bright ceremony room on the arm of her brother Russell as ‘Photograph’ by Arcade Fire played. I love how the aisle is lined with white rose petals and pillar candles – just so romantic. Seeing Lauren walk up the aisle is John’s favourite moment.

John: “It was seeing Lauren walk into the church and having everyone that knows and loves us in the same place at once.”

A touch of softness came from her dreamy white veil by Joyce Jackson Veils, adorned with a very special accessory.

“My cathedral length veil with satin ribbon edging came from the seamstress who adjusted my dress, Boutique Alterations in Stockport. I wore a really small and delicate wax beaded garland in my hair, taken from my nana’s wedding veil from the 1940s. Sadly a few of the beads popped off during the day but it felt so special to wear it.”

“We had the traditional Italian civil wedding vows. While it’s basically just reciting the civil code we liked the way it’s written – it’s all about making shared decisions in how you run your home and raise your children, should you choose to have any.”

As well as the vows, the couple exchanged rings made by Two Become One Jewellery.

“Some friends of ours married a few months before and they’d purchased their rings from here. They recommended them to us and we were so pleased we went with them. They were super-friendly and I’ll never forget picking up the rings in the run-up to the wedding and getting some great advice from them on how to stay calm. The answer? Stop worrying about things that might never happen.”

Lauren and John look gorgeously happy as they step out as newlyweds before having their romantic portrait shots taken against the Umbrian stone buildings of the town. Lauren mentions this as her favourite moment of the day.

“It was when we went into the town with Grace and Mitch for pictures. There was hardly anyone around but any time we bumped into anyone they wished us congratulations in Italian! It was so quiet and the first time we’d properly spent any time together; it was exactly what we needed after the madness of the day leading up to that point.”

“We didn’t want a ‘wedding colour’ as such so we stuck to lots of whites and greens. We knew the surroundings would be so beautiful that we’d be able to keep it really simple with the styling, and it really worked out in the end.”

“Chiara was incredible, both in the run-up and on the day. We’d only hired Chiara for on the day co-ordination, which meant we sourced all our own suppliers. She went above and beyond to support us in the preparation stages and really was invaluable. Calm, unflappable, knowledgeable and so friendly, I can’t recommend her enough.”

“Booking our wedding in Italy in July meant our whole day was geared up for bright sunshine. In the end there was light rain during our vows which meant our planned outdoor meal had to be moved indoors. In the end it worked out for the best; if I could do it all again I wouldn’t change it as the indoor meal with all the candles twinkling provided a beautiful atmosphere that all our guests loved.”

“Chiara worked incredibly hard to get everything moved and set up indoors. In fact, she was so efficient we didn’t even realise it had been done. Yet another reason why an on the day coordinator (and especially one as good as Chiara) is a lifesaver. In the end the skies cleared by the time we sat down to eat and it meant we got some beautiful sunset pictures.”

The green and white aesthetic continued with the day’s flowers, opulent and wild-looking, which were styled by Roberto Fiori.

“Roberto was at the venue with another couple on the day we were having a look around and the venue owner recommended him to us. We didn’t really know how to describe what kind of flowers we wanted so asked for seasonal white flowers with greenery for the bouquets and lots of greenery and cut lemons as table runners, to echo the design of our save the dates. We sent a link to our Pinterest board with ideas and he did a wonderful job of the design.”

More beautiful foliage and lemons adorned the save the dates which were designed and made by one of the best men.

“Sam designed and printed our incredible save the dates which we couldn’t have been happier with. Chiara at Avenue Cipresso hand-lettered names onto all the menus and produced escort cards for us with the most beautiful calligraphy, even checking what shade of green ink we wanted.”

Back at the Agriturismo, the guests sat down for an Italian feast. Although an al fresco dinner overlooking the atmospheric hills was originally planned, it had to be moved inside due to a spot of rain. Despite this, I love these photos; they convey such a sense of stillness and peace. The garlands of foliage, dotted with candles and cut lemons, are just so elegant and pretty too.

Night fell and with it, dancing to live music by the light of hundreds of candles.

“Our first dance was ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ by Frank Sinatra – an oldie but a goodie, especially if you’re a ‘Father of the Bride’ fan.”

“The Wedders provided the evening entertainment and we can’t recommend them enough – energetic, professional and playing long after they should have finished (even allowing one of our guests to join in at one point!).”

“Blue Moon Jazz Trio played during the aperitivo and the meal, and provided the perfect atmosphere.”

“Apollinare Catering came recommended by Chiara as she’d used them for her wedding. They did not disappoint. It was really important to us that everyone enjoyed the food and drink as, let’s be honest, it’s often all people can remember! All our guests still talk about the quality and amount of the food on offer, which is exactly what we wanted.”

“We asked for a traditional Italian wedding cake, which is layers of pasty cream, mille feuille and fresh berries. We loved it so much and it was so big we finished it off for breakfast with our guests.”

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“The best advice I was given was to take some time away from all your guests with your new husband and take everything in because the day goes by so quickly. We were staying onsite so we were able to keep nipping back to the room to have some champagne and a bit of a breather together. I’d really recommend it, even just to have a catch up!”

“We also made a point of not being separated for too long during the day – we didn’t want to meet back up at the end of the night having not seen each other for hours! It seems like an obvious thing to say ‘spend time with your husband on your wedding day’ but it’s easy to get swept up in the day and your guests.”

I could dream over these photographs all day. Thank you so much, both to the newly-weds Lauren and John and also photographers Grace and Mitch. It really has been a joy to share this wedding. Lovelies, if you’re inspired to create your own destination celebration you’ll find plenty of ideas here.

Ele xx