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Ask The Experts: Combining Tradition and Nature in Your Bohemian Wedding
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30
Jan
2013
What better way to dodge the winter blues than with a huge dose of sunshine in the form of this lovely Lake Garda wedding. It has been sent into me by Craig Goode who has captured the day beautifully. With a relaxed feel this intimate wedding oozes sunshine, vintage DIY touches as well as a whole lot of personality!
Emma and Luke who were married on 1st August. ‘The ceremony and reception were both held at Malcesine, Lake Garda in Italy. It was one of my dad’s favourite holidays – I have great memories of him there and Luke’s family are Italian. Because we both no longer have our dads here, we wanted an intimate feel but instead of being reminded that they were missing… it would be more like a holiday atmosphere! We had 37 Guests and 3 children. Then we had a party in the UK (Derbyshire) with 80 guests, it took about 14 months to plan but that’s because a) we had to save money and b) because I designed and made a lot! And we organised the Italian wedding ourselves without a travel company!’
How they met
We met in a local pub when I came home to visit 5 years ago but later discovered we were at the same ‘mother and baby’ groups when we were 2! We found a newspaper cutting that we were both featured in!
The proposal
Luke took me out for a picnic for his 30th birthday so I wouldn’t have guessed in a million years! On his birthday on a Tuesday in February!?! He also asked my mum and because my my dad is no longer with us. He used my Dad’s wedding ring to ask me!
Why did you choose your photographer?
We have always loved Craig’s work, we love his informal and intimate style. Everybody always looks so relaxed and he gives so much attention to each tiny detail.
The dress
I designed the dress myself and my friend’s mum made it. I also made my hairpiece. Which I am currently setting up a website for so I can design and make more individual bespoke pieces for brides!
The suit and bridesmaids
Luke’s suit was from Paul Smith and the groomsmen wore vintage ties from Liberty. The Bridsmaid dresses were from Coast, H&M and Monsoon as I wanted the bridesmaids to have their own individual styles to match their personality
Theme or colour scheme
I didn’t want a colour theme, I didn’t want a theme in general but I guess one evolves naturally? So I guess it was travel? I designed boarding passes and boat tickets for the wedding invitations and luggage tags for name places
Food
We had our reception in an authentic Italian restaurant, this meant lots of aperitifs – 8 courses and a traditional tiramisu for our actual wedding cake (when in Rome and all that)
Entertainment
We had a string quartet for the service and aperitifs at the castle and we had a band for our party at home
Flowers
I wanted a ‘country handpicked’ bunch of flowers, bright with lots of different bold colours I had poppies, lavender, vintage pink roses, purple thistles and blue anemones (I had fake ones of theses because they weren’t in season) And the button holes were freesia’s with lavender
Decoration
I made bunting out of all of my grandmas fabric I have kept for years and I made heart confetti out of old Italian maps and we had a vintage suitcase with vintage hankie chiefs in for the service and we had old vintage Italian postcards in a suitcase for our guest book. We also had old family photos hung up so our loved ones who are no longer with us felt part of the day.
Personal/DIY touches
I made all of the decorations I have mentioned above and I made little thank you poem tags and name places as vintage luggage tags with individual badges for each guest and I made my hair piece and my garter! Oh and I designed and made all of the invites
Special moments
The string Quartet played Loui Armstrong ‘wonderful world’ when I walked in and The Beatles ‘all you need is love ‘ as we left the castle. This was a surprise arranged by my mother in law as they told us they couldn’t play it! Also the entire village followed us when we left the castle. Another amazing memory was when we all got on the boat all of the other boats beeped their horns
Advice
Just make sure that when it gets to even a week before the big day you enjoy every moment, because it wont all go to plan but no one else will notice, just go with it and enjoy every second because it will be over in a flash! If we could of we would have liked to have sneaked off for a quiet drink after the service before the meal
Biggest surprise
I received a beautiful fruit salad for all of the bridal party and lots prosecco for us and the groom’s party on the morning of the wedding from our good friends who couldn’t be with us! And I received a beautiful big bottle of Chanel No 5 from Luke! I was told that everyone will be lovely and it will be amazing but even knowing that it didn’t prepare me for how unreal and dream like it would be! It was like a film! I thought I would cry on the day but I was too busy smiling! Truly worth every second of stress and panic leading up to the big day… truly the best day of our lifes!
www.mr-and-mrs-wedding-photography.co.uk
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Phone number – 07970299089
This is beautiful – and the bride had one contagious smile! Loving the handstitched message on the groom’s tie too :)
Being based in Italy I was immediately attracted to this DIY wedding. Great work of bride and groom, I loved their attention to details without being obsessed and the relaxed style of their wedding. And then I agree with Laura that the bride was absolutely contagious – how happy they both look!
Love love love this,my boyfriend and I are hoping to get married there I hope I can plan an amazing day like this xx
hi
I’m looking into organising my wedding in lake Garda and am looking for a restaurant that we could have the reception in that can create that relaxed atmosphere and the pics look great! Where was the reception held please?
Hey Kat,
Did anyone answer your queston yet? I am also very interested in finding a reception/restaurant for after the wedding ceremony.
Thanks,
Anthony
What a beautiful wedding. So relaxed and chilled, and we find that’s the best way newlyweds enjoy their day
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