Wedding Date: 30.05.2023
Location: Villa del Cardinale, Rocca di Papa (Lazio)
Photographer: Irina Morina
Stylist: Elisa
Flowers: Skyflora
Wedding Planner: WowItaly
Text: Ekaterina Krapivnitskaya / Anna Strukova
Official Wedding in Italy
Margot and Matthew: An Elegant Wedding at a Historic Villa Near Rome
Margot and Matthew, a charming couple from England, decided to get married. Margot leaned towards an intimate ceremony for just the two of them in a secret, romantic location. However, Matthew always dreamed of a large wedding celebration with family and friends.
The bride found a compromise with the groom: “If we are doing this on a large scale, I want my dream wedding, and my dream wedding can only be in Italy with its stunning nature, delicious food, and atmosphere!” Margot and Matthew are both deeply in love with each other and with Italy, so there was no doubt left about the location and how everything should unfold. The team of professionals from WowItaly brought their vision of an elegant and refined celebration in Italy with their family and friends to life.
The Proposal
As the bride recalls, in August 2021, six months before the proposal, she and Matthew attended the wedding of his cousin in Liverpool. It was at that moment, watching the genuine happiness of the newlyweds and the celebration they had created for themselves and their guests, that Margot wanted her own wedding. While watching the event, she told Matthew that she wanted to be his wife, and he replied that, of course, he would marry her. At that moment, there was no official proposal, but that’s when everything began – the first thoughts about the wedding and what it could be like.
As Christmas approached, the couple debated where to go for the weekend. They chose Paris, where Matthew booked Margot’s favorite restaurant. During dinner, he briefly stepped away, and when he returned, he ordered two glasses of champagne. The musicians began to play the couple’s favorite song, “Only Love” by Ben Howard (which was unexpected because it’s not a widely popular song). The bride was surprised and didn’t understand what was happening. It became clear when… Matthew knelt down and asked the famous question! As Margot describes her feelings, she was on cloud nine – the moment was so touching and romantic.
Wedding Venue
For their wedding, Margot and Matthew chose a truly unique location, full of history and natural charm. The 17th-century Villa del Cardinale was owned by Cardinal Flavio Chigi and served as a residence for several prominent figures over the centuries. The villa is located 30 kilometers from the center of Rome along the ancient Appian Way, in the historic reserve of “Roman Castles” (Castelli Romani), surrounded by the green Alban Hills of volcanic origin. From here, there is a breathtaking panoramic view of the pristine blue surface of Lake Albano. The villa had a real wow-effect on the bride, groom, and their guests because it’s a true hidden gem in a highly visited tourist area.
In ancient times, the Roman nobility enjoyed resting at Lake Albano. The popes also chose Albano for their summer retreats to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city. It was in the summer residence of the popes, Castel Gandolfo, that Matthew and his “team” of friends and relatives began the wedding day.
At the same time, the bride arrived at Villa del Cardinale to prepare traditionally for the meeting with the groom and present herself to him in all the magnificence of her wedding look. Here, it’s worth making a small detour and talking a bit about the color concept and wedding dress, which supported the overall elegant wedding style – with touches of glamour and refinement.
Color Concept and Decor
Pure white, soft pink, various shades of natural stone, and gold – the location itself, harmoniously blending nature and human creation, dictated the choice of natural colors and tones. There was no need for excessive decoration or embellishment of the area – only delicate peony roses in pastel pink complemented the surrounding beauty. These roses were chosen also because they matched the color scheme of the bridesmaids’ dresses. Margot didn’t want pure white to be the main color of the wedding – she wanted to add a color accent, but not something too bold that would overshadow the other colors, and in the end, it turned out very fresh, stylish, and modern.
And the soft golden light was provided by Italy itself and its generous sun during the sunset, which was simply stunning that day. As the bride later admitted, she will never forget that sunset on the terrace and how she and Matthew, along with their guests, danced in its soft golden rays.
Wedding Looks
The bride had two dresses – one for the ceremony and photo shoot, and another for the active program and dancing.
The first dress was custom-made by the Italian brand Milla Nova. Margot didn’t take long to choose – it was only the second dress she tried on, and it was love at first sight! The smooth material, long luxurious train, and open shoulders resembled royal attire. Margot completed the look with pearl-embellished gloves, a Dior necklace and earrings, and elegant white shoes from Prada with a neat flower detail. In late May, Lake Albano enjoys active sun, so Margot added Prada “cat-eye” sunglasses as a necessary accessory.
The second dress was bought in Ireland and also custom-made. If the first dress was “a queen’s dress,” the second one could be worn by a princess. With a structured corset, subtle shimmer, and open shoulders – this dress was airy, romantic, and sensual, yet very comfortable as the bride would be dancing in it during the second part of the celebration.
The groom matched his bride perfectly. Matthew wore a perfect black tuxedo, custom-made by an Irish designer using high-quality Italian materials.
Bridesmaids’ Dresses
Typically, a single style is chosen for the bridesmaids, and often this style suits some, but not others – people are different, with different body types. Margot took a different approach – each bridesmaid could choose a dress that suited her, with the only important condition being the color. The bridesmaids wore dresses they loved, which flattered their body types, and in the photos and videos, they all looked harmonious thanks to the unified color scheme.
Interestingly, one of the bridesmaids was Matthew’s mother, Jackie. Margot’s mother passed away eight years ago, so she invited Jackie to share the wedding morning with her. This brought them closer and became one of the touching moments they’ll surely remember.
Wedding Ceremony
The official ceremony, after which Margot and Matthew could call each other husband and wife, took place in the villa’s amphitheater, reminding of the ancient roots of the place. During the exchange of vows, something no one could plan happened – rain with thunder! According to superstition, rain during a wedding is a sign of a long, happy, and prosperous marriage, so it felt like a blessing from above.
As Margot believes, the wedding day should not be perfect and predictable, repeating a pre-planned schedule down to the last detail. True magic happens in spontaneous moments, in feelings here and now, in emotions and surprises. Yes, on Margot and Matthew’s wedding, it rained, but then came an amazing golden sunset. Just like in life, where there are ups and downs, joys, and struggles. It’s those moments that make the wedding day unique and special, YOUR day, which stays in your hearts and memories.
Continuing the theme of surprises: the bride remembered the moment when she received a magnificent bouquet of soft pink peonies from Matthew in the morning. The entire wedding day script was known to her, she knew everything that was supposed to happen that day (except, of course, the whims of the weather), except for one thing – this bouquet, which included a card with a photo of their couple. In it, Matthew wrote incredibly touching and romantic words intended only for Margot. A small surprise, which became an important and special touch to the whole wedding day.
Food and Drinks
Pancakes stuffed with shrimp and fish stew, tonnarelli pasta with white mushrooms and truffle, fruit assortments, and desserts with prosecco – what could be better for a wedding buffet in Italian style?
The wedding cake was in the style and color scheme of the wedding – classic white, minimally decorated with roses. The couple loves pistachio cream, so the cake was filled with a delightful pistachio-flavored cream.
Tips from Margot for Brides
First: Do it the way YOU and your partner want! Don’t listen to anyone, try to avoid meeting others’ expectations. On this day, your family and friends will be with you, but you can’t please everyone. Remember, it’s your day, so make it the way you want it to be.
Second tip: Find yourself a therapist. No joke, I believe every bride needs psychological support. Just talk to your therapist about your worries and anxieties. Personally, it helped me a lot, especially in the last months of preparation.
Also, find a reliable wedding planner. It’s the best investment you can make because all the organizational worries are transferred to the professionals. Even if something goes wrong, they’ll help sort things out without involving you.
Be sure to discuss how everything will unfold with your partner, let him also be involved in the planning and discussion. Remember, a wedding is primarily a celebration for both of you.
I enjoyed every moment of my wedding day, where everything was perfect and exactly how we wanted it: the flowers, the cake, the fireworks, even the rain. Every tiny detail was special, because it was OUR day.
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