We've got something a little bit different for you gorgeous lot this afternoon...can you guess what it is yet?

Today folks we have a beautiful beachside elopement for you to pour over. Elopements aren't really something that we feature all that often on these glossy pages but we absolutely adore the romance and spontaneity associated with them and when they're as dreamy as Martina and Fabiano's is I can't help but want to feature them every single day.

Martina and Fabiano are Italian but traveled to the East Coast of South Africa to tie the knot. Marrying on a windy beach with just the pair of them, their venue co-ordinator and their minister, this 'I Do' is the epitome of intimate.

As their amazing wedding photographer - Monica Dart - said to me when she submitted the elopement to us...'magic happened that day on the beach...' and I'm inclined to agree.

If you love Monica's work she'll be in the UK shooting weddings in June, and later in Sweden shooting in July. Nab her while you can!

Martina The Bride:My husband Fabiano and I are addicted to travel, that's why we decided to say "I do" in South Africa: I flew to Cape Town just with my backpack and my wedding dress. We are Italian, and both hail from Rome so why did we choose South Africa?

We wanted to get married on a stunning beach, at sunset, whilst we were travelling. South Africa was on our "countries-to-visit" top ten list and it offered great and unique venues. It was a romantic and simple ceremony, just the two of us, no guests! A magic landscape, Mother Nature, and very few people around us and of course no shoes... And obviously everything was very easy to arrange.

My wedding dress was the "Alabama" by bridal designer Yolan Cris; Francesca Manzetti from Manzetti White Couture boutique in Foligno, Italy found it for me. I applied my own make-up and styled my own hair. Whilst I was barefoot most of the time I did wear a pair of shoes by Janet & Janet.

We married at Grootbos Nature Reserve and Walker Bay was the sandy beach where we said "I do". Our ceremony and decorations were arranged by Grootbos Private Reserve (thanks to Grootbos Private Reserve's wedding planner, Lana Conradie. We opted for a wedding arch with some glass bottles reflecting light which created a lovely effect, rose petals and paper lanterns. My bouquet was provided by Okasie.

We reached the beach in a 4×4, so funny! We were really freezing as it was a windy day. The ceremony was exciting and sweet. After the vows we exchanged our wooden wedding ring, made by an Italian artisan (Lorenzo Vella); it's olive wood, the internal inscription is "Franchichi 4.9.2013" (the mix of our surnames - Franchitti and Chichi - and the wedding date.) The ceremony was led by Mr James Grey, who blessed us in a very special way: his speech was dedicated to the ocean, the sky, the wind... Wishing us (our love) to be inspired by powerful nature.

After the ceremony we enjoyed a candlelit private dinner in Grootbos Private Reserve's wine cellar. Ok, I must admit that, at that point, we were a little bit drunk, but it was so cold outside! I can't remember what we ate, but it was a fve course dinner. And a chocolate wedding cake, delicious!

Photography by Monica Dart
Venue Grootbos Nature Reserve, South Africa | Dress Yolan Cris | Shoes Janet & Janet | Florist Okasie.