A Romantic Poolside Wedding at Casale del Gallo

Lauren Megerdichian
February 20, 2019
Categories: Destination, Real Weddings, The Blog

Intimate destination weddings will always be a good idea. Let this poolside celebration captured by Peter & Veronika in Rome’s countryside at Casale del Gallo be your proof! There’s just nothing more romantic than exchanging vows in front of a small group of your absolute closest friends and family – especially when you’re tying the knot in a place as romantic and special as Italy. Keep on reading to see the magic of this day unfold…

From Bride and Groom… We met at the University of Alabama nearly 6.5 years ago, the connection was immediate. After school, we landed in New York City pursuing our dreams. When deciding to settle down, we then moved back to Erin’s hometown of Nashville, TN.

After the engagement, we toured all of the usual venues in and around Nashville but nothing felt quite right. At the time, Erin was sourcing leather for her handbag line, ELT Collective, and an idea started brewing – We threw out a curveball: a destination wedding in the countryside outside of Rome.

We wanted a memorable experience to remember for us and our guests. Nestled along the Apian Way, we contacted Guilio at Casale Del Gallo—a fourth-generation Roman countryside estate as our destination wedding venue. After carefully weighing the pros and cons, our decision was made and we were off to the races!

Joined by our closest friends and family, the Christie-Thompson wedding party of merely 31 guests made the trek to Rome for four nights of traditional Italian culture. We spent time exploring the natural beauty of the richly historical family property – complete with olive tree groves, swimming pools, pizza ovens, local vineyards and a public golf course. Other days were spent in the heart of this historic city, navigating the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Vatican City.

The wedding day was spent cooking and enjoying an Italian brunch and lounging by the pool with friends. In the golden hour, we moved to the front of the house for the ceremony. Under a gorgeous floral and greenery arch, we said “I do” with one of my closest childhood friends as Officiant. I wore a custom-made, hand-tailored Italian Wool suit by Hickey Freeman. Erin combined two dresses from Lela Rose; she wore the “Desert Gown” for the cocktail hour and added the cape from her “Cape Gown” for the ceremony.

As the sun set on the country hills, we gathered in the gardens for an antipasti cocktail hour featuring an array of local meats, cheeses and wines. The music began to play as we moved to the gardens for dinner. The harvest moon rose high as we shared our first dance to Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” with the band’s Italian twist. We enjoyed a traditional Italian five-course meal, all cooked in the kitchens on site, including two homemade pastas. The table was dressed with whimsical olive branches, candles and white and pink garden roses. As the night wore on, we floated between the dance floor and the table, enjoying great company and great wine… all we could ask for!