This Might Just Be the Most Romantic Place to Get Married in Italy (Sans Tourists!)
We've all heard of the beautiful rolling hills of Tuscany, the magical Amalfi Coast and of course, the perfection that is Lake Como... but we bet you've never heard about THE hidden gem of Southern Italy. The town of Ostuni in Puglia will enchant you with it's white washed walls, ancient olive trees and a charming masseria at every turn. The best part about it? NO tourists!! It's no wonder Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel decided to tie the knot in this undeniably romantic region. Federica Beni and Sandra Fazzino joined forced to produce an editorial shoot that represents the true beauty of Ostuni, featuring beautiful floral arrangements by Siloh Floral. Don't miss out on the full gallery captured by Sandra Fazzino to fall instantly in love with your new favorite Italian wedding destination!
From Sandra Fazzino + Team... The inspiration for the design of this intimate wedding and engagement session came from the white washed walls and the ancient olive groves of the farmhouses that can be found scattered throughout southern Italy's town of Ostuni, Puglia. Known as the White City, it offered a high key backdrop for this modern, earthy, chic yet casual inspirational shoot. Federica Beni sourced a passionately talented team of vendors and curated an ambiance that embodied a neutral color palette, organic fabrics, hand dyed silks and cotton, and rustic accents to compliment the antiquity of the grounds.
The organic flow of the Cortana dresses added subdued drama to the all white rustic setting of the masseria. The hair and makeup by Alessandro Mancino is soft, feminine but also warm and sultry. He is the master of classic, romantic hair and made Alice look effortlessly beautiful. Liz Griffith blew us away with her floral selections, some that she transported on her lap on the plane from Milan to Puglia! Her airy organic style combines layers of soft color enhancing the space with just enough tonal variation in carmels and ochre to give interest without distracting from the various monochromatic textures throughout the design scheme.
It was amazing to witness the suspended arrangement come to life for the ceremony site. We love the asymmetry and how it seems so natural in its setting. The dinner plates were especially designed for us by a local artisan, Enza Fasano Ceramiche, and we think they are a powerful example of modern meets rustic. The olive trees surrounding the farmhouse are over 2,000 years old! There is something almost spiritual about their presence, a nod from ancient ancestors. The wood and metal benches fit the scene perfectly. Plume Calligraphy knows just how much or how little to add to an invitation suite to keep it interesting while adhering to the neutral palette. We especially love the envelope liner she designed and the natural edges of the 100% cotton paper. These candles and candle sticks were one of our most favorite details, because the hand dipped candles come in the most gorgeous range of colors.
The team had a really hard time deciding which three hues to select. Choosing various tones offered depth to the monochromatic table settings, just one more way to keep things interesting when working with a neutral color palette. Since the intimate ceremony was based on neutral colors, we went in the opposite direction for the engagement session or day after session. We went with strawberry red for the bride and a crystal blue for the groom.
We all had goosebumps (not just because it was a chilly morning) when Alice walked out in her dress. The way the wind played with the fabric, and the way the bright colors popped against the white walls of the masseria - it was magic! We hope that you see something here that may inspire your viewers. The team traveled far and wide to join forces. We overcame some terrible weather, rescheduled everyone at the last minute bumping up the shoot by one day, and we had some mini cakes that never made it to the location due to a car accident (!). The team could not have been more professional, kind and generous with their spirit, talent, and passion.
