Lewis and Sophia's Relaxed and Romantic Italian Wedding by Boho Chic Weddings

Happy Friday everyone and how are you all? Are you ready for the weekend? Our first weekend out of lockdown, what are you plans? As we are in Tier 3, not much has really changed. I have found a Christmas market to go to on Sunday, as well as some lights to take Dexter to see. We might try and squeeze a visit to one of our local farms, along with writing Christmas cards and ordering presents! So on with today’s wedding and I am taking you to glorious Italy for the second time this week, for Lewis and Sophia’s relaxed and romantic celebration. The day is beautiful with the most stunning views, all captured perfectly by Boho Chic Weddings Photography

Our wedding day was the icing on top of the cake after the best week of our life. Full of love, laughter, family, friends, flowers, twinkly lights, incredible food, a stunning sunset, awesome music and a picturesque view.

Sophia and Lewis were married on 3rd August 2019. The ceremony was on a stunning old tower over looking the sea followed by a beautiful rustic courtyard restaurant in the hills of Salerno, Italy. ‘We always wanted a wedding abroad for the sun and to be different! After having our first holiday in Italy together and getting engaged at Lake Garda, Italy it was the obvious choice! We had 50 guests in total including 12 children. It took around 22 months to plan, we booked it when I was 6 months pregnant and then married when our little one was one and a half.’

How they met
We met at Winchester University at 20 and 21. We were both members of sports teams so crossed paths on a few occasions. Things kick started for us on a night out in a bar where a very good friend of us both did some ‘secret setting up’. The rest as they say is history. We’ve been together 16 years! Engaged after 10. Baby number 1 after 11 years, number 2 after 13 years and then finally tied the knot after 15 happy years.

The proposal
Lewis whisked me away on a secret holiday to Lake Garda for my 30th birthday present. No part of me expected a proposal after him splashing out so much for a birthday gift so it really was a HUGE surprise. As a self confessed ‘detective’, I even had no idea when his case was randomly searched at the airport and he told me to go ahead to meet him further up – clearly panic rising due to potential discovery of hidden engagement ring!
On the first day, we explored Simione, enjoyed the spa and wine on the balcony Over looking the lake and then got ready for an evening out. Lewis called me on to the balcony for a pre dinner photo and as he put the camera back into its case, he pulled out the ring. He said some beautiful words of which I struggle to remember as I was SO SHOCKED. After 10 years and not seeing it coming, I was in a whirlwind bubble. I did put him through the Spanish inquisition before remembering to say yes!

How did you allocate your budget?
We had an amazing wedding planner – Julie Mckenzie from My Secret Italy who gave us rough costings from the outset. We went from there trying to keep it as low as possible but ensuring we had everything we wanted for our day.

Where did you splurge and where did you save?
We splurged on our flowers, my dress, our minimoon and providing our guests with a pre wedding bbq the night before. We saved by not having a wedding car or having a cake. I also found my shoes and the bridesmaids dresses on sale which really helped.

How did you choose your photographer?
Julie our wedding planner recommended some photographers based on the type of ‘look’ we were going for. After looking at Catherine’s stunning work on line we went ahead with a phone call to talk some more. She was so friendly and made me feel super comfortable that I knew she would be amazing, fit in with our wedding party and produce some timeless natural shots.

The dress
Emily by Pronovias. My jewellery was gifted to me from my sister and made by her best friend Elspeth Mills. My shoes were on sale at Aldo

The suit and bridesmaids
Zara for both the shirt and trousers, shoes from River Island and dickie bow from The Belfast Bow Company. Bridesmaids from Asos, shoes were their own, jewellery a mixture of rose gold bangles and earrings from various high street shops

Theme or colour scheme
The theme was ‘boho chic’ with the colour scheme of greenery, rose gold, blush and whites

Flowers
Stunning ones! We focussed on having lots of eucalyptus with white roses and white peonies for the bridesmaids, tables, button holes, aisle and flower garlands and added blush roses into mine and my daughters bouquets

Decoration
On the tables we had eucalyptus and white rose table runners with rose gold table numbers and simple white candles. The courtyard had twinkly lights dotted around the rustic courtyard which was all the decor it needed. It was romantic and stunning!

Food
We were treated to a four course dinner of antipasti followed by the best mushroom risotto in the world, sea bass or pork main and the most divine lemoncello tiramisu you could ever wish to eat.

Wedding cake
As the wedding didn’t start until 5 and dinner begun at 7, we didn’t think we needed a cake – we were completely right! Before the main course everyone was full up and wanted to dance! I ate my dessert on the dance floor. A cake would have gone to waste.

Entertainment
We had a live band (Maieutiké Liveband) perform for our entertainment. They were absolutely brilliant. They played to the crowd and even got guests up playing and singing with them! They were so much fun, we couldn’t have wished for a better group!

Who supplied the stationery?
My mum who is really creative did all of the name placings, table numbers and table plan. That saved a lot of printing costs, was personal and looked so professional.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Having 2 little ones, we didn’t feel comfortable going too far away especially after having a week on holiday with our guests leading up to the big day. We did treat ourselves and went to the Belle Vue Syrene in Sorrento for a 2 night minimoon straight after the wedding. It was a little slice of heaven to get away to.

Personal touches
We set off lanterns with our parents in honour of our grandparents the night before the wedding and I attached my Grannies ring onto my bouquet. The wedding party sang us a song written by the bridesmaids the night before the wedding as well which was so thoughtful and personal. The stationery on the day was a personal touch from my mum and we had our names engraved onto fans for the ceremony. All gifts given on the day were personalised which seemed to go down really well. The flower girl skirts were a gift that we’re handmade by my best friend.
My mum handmade my beautiful veil and my daughter had some petals from my grannies rose in her basket to throw down the aisle before I walked down

Special moments
There are so many to mention! The readings during the ceremony – one written by Lewis’s sister and a surprise reading from a close friend. Us dancing to the mandolin players in the courtyard after the ceremony, surprising the guests with ice cream, the band doing an incredible entrance for us coming into dinner, our first dance…..I could go on!

Advice for other couples

Do what YOU want, not what anyone else wants you to do. This is your day, if you can afford it, make it perfect for yourselves. Oh and get a videographer! Remember if your guests are staying in a hotel, they can explore the area prior to the big day. If this is the case then make sure you book luggage storage Venice Santa Lucia, in advance!

Biggest surprise
The lovely little touches thrown in by our wedding planner. She kept quite a few things under wrap which made things extra special for us.