With views like this, it’s no wonder our Italy archives are chock full of beyond gorg weddings, inspiration shoots and engagements. And today, we get to add yet another beauty, from Laura Bravi Events. Complete with an olive branch-adorned ceremony space, the prettiest shades of blue and al fresco dining to boot, this inspo is effortlessly elegant. Join me with Say Bre Photography in the gallery for even more.
From Laura Bravi… This love story takes place in a not too well known area of Italy, just above Tuscany: Emilia Romagna. This little slice of paradise is made of soft hills, olive groves, vineyards and ancient hamlets, small medieval villages and a lot of well kept secrets. We wanted to tell a story of timeless romance, of two soulmates promising each other their forevers, of delicate and classic details on a simple and authentic background.
This is the place we chose for this romantic elopement inspiration: a place that was secret, like the promises our bride and groom shared, delicately, like a whisper. Our bride and groom met for a first look shortly before their ceremony, before surprising each other with a more formal attire for their vow exchange. We designed an intimate space for this sacred moment, using an old gate as a backdrop, enriched with olive branches that looked like they were growing out of the ancient stone walls of the old barn, tall candles to bring a touch of romance and flowers overgrowing from old cauldrons that were found on the property. For the stationery we went with an all hand drawn suite, created by hand piece by piece and playing with grey and white Amalfi paper and a hand mixed grey ink.
For their dinner setting we chose a secluded spot and set a romantic table under the shade of a secular chestnut tree. We chose a cool grey linen and paired it with classic tableware. The decor included tiles called “cementine”, that have decoration motives that are typical of this area of Italy, to infuse some local elements into the design. The romance was amplified thanks to an abundance of blooms arranged flowingly in glass containers, and by the candles held by vintage brass candleholders.
The film photography helps capturing the mood of this celebration and it makes it freeze in time, gifting us with memories that will never fade or go out of fashion.
Photography: Say Bre Photography | Event Design: Laura Bravi Events | Floral Design: Grazie Dei Fiori Atelier | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Hair + Makeup: Barbara Montanari | Calligraphy: test | Venue: Il Castellazzo | Bridal Boutique: Boutique Alba | Headpieces: Guinevere vines | Silk Ribbon: Cocoon Silk Ribbon | Wedding Rings: My Golden Age
Make Sure your photographer Suits Your Style: Choosing a photographer before you begin planning your engagement session is one of the most important aspects to guarantee that you will be happy with the outcome of your photos. Most likely, the photographer you choose to shoot your engagement session will be the photographer who will photograph your wedding, so it is important to not only love the photos that they take but to also feel that you have a connection with them. My fiancé James and I love fine art wedding photography shot on film, so we knew immediately that we wanted Reid of 
Pick a Location that suits you as a couple: Choosing a location is a huge part of what will make your engagement photos unique to you as a couple, as quite simply, it reflects the type people that you are. If you love being by the water, have a seaside engagement session. Or, if you flourish in the hustle and bustle of the big city, a skyline backdrop at sunset would be beautiful! James and I decided that we wanted something very calming, casual yet unique so we opted for a beach with rolling dunes at sunset which we feel reflected us as an easy going, carefree couple.
Rules of dressing: What you wear for your engagement session is probably one of the most important aspects of how your photos will be conveyed. There are a few rules that I followed when it came to choosing looks for our engagement photos and they are as follows…
Dress stylishly yet timelessly: Choose outfits that are stylish and that fit your personality but ultimately choose outfits that you will look back on 10 years from now and have no regrets about wearing. Try to stay away from anything that is too trendy or graphic, and stick to solid colours, or classic patterns like stripes. Wear clothing that you feel comfortable in as ultimately, you want to feel 100% you when your photos are being taken. Tip* If you can, change into your outfits when you arrive at your engagement photo destination as this will keep your clothing from becoming wrinkled. Coordinate but don’t match: Couples who match their clothing can be adorable but for your engagement session, I think that it’s best to go for a coordinating look as opposed to something too matchy-matchy. If you are coordinated nicely your photos will come across looking much more authentic than say matching his tie to your dress. Choose an outfit that matches the location: While I love to wear heels, I decided that because our photos were being taken on a sandy beach that I’d skip the pumps and opt for flat, lace-up sandals as they were more aligned (and more comfortable) for the location we were in; just as a tux on James would probably clash with the backdrop. Try to think about where you will be shooting your photos and what type of clothing would look best for the environment you are in. Ask for help When/Where needed: For our engagement session, I wanted to look the best I could and really didn’t want to stress over my hair, so I decided to have it styled professionally as well as asking my friend who is an incredible florist to create a flower comb that added a little something extra and very “me” to complete the look. Whether it’s your hair, makeup, or ideas for props (we had a simple, loose bundle of flowers used in some of our photos because I love flowers) don’t feel as though it’s wrong to ask for help. I think that pampering yourself a little bit before your engagement photos is a great way to relax and will leave you feeling your absolute best for the photos ahead.
Don’t overthink it: Wedding planning can be overwhelming, so the engagement session should be a time where you can relax as a couple and just enjoy being together. For those that aren’t used to having their photos taken, I’d suggest that you lovely ladies let your partner know what to expect during the engagement session. By simply showing your partner what your photographers’ photos look like it will give your guy a good idea of the style you’re going for and some ideas for how he should pose and interact with you, his fiancé. Your photographer should also help you out if you need some direction, so don’t feel surprised or uncomfortable if they move your positions slightly, it’s all for the photo!
