An Italian Elopement

Written by: louise

Imagine the beauty of a styled shoot curated by a team of the most talented wedding suppliers, hosted at a luxurious venue just outside Rome, with no boundaries or brief other than elegance and style. Imagine that styled shoot was not just a shoot, but a real elopement wedding, a surprise to everyone except the bride & groom themselves? There's no need to imagine... when a group of photographers gathered at the end of last year for fine art photography workshop Retreat Rome they had no idea what they were about to witness.

On the first evening of the workshop, after shooting Jacqueline & Trebor's engagement session, everyone was handed an invite for the next day and big secret was revealed. Of course, with such a talented team involved, it's filled with the most swoon-worthy (yes, I did just use that word) peach and aqua details coordinated by Fine & Fleurie; beautiful calligraphy and stationery from Signora e Mare, floral design to-die-for from Bo Boutique, the stunning surrounds of Villa Bertolami and a perfect dress by LWD Couture.

I am so thrilled to share these elegant images from Bea of Photography by Bea & Jude, who was there to capture this very special celebration...

Jacqueline tells their most romantic story ~

Trebor and I actually have known each other since school. We didn't really hang out in the same crowd throughout our middle and high school years. He was very serious about wrestling and I...well...I liked to have fun! To be honest I always said he was a jerk! Go figure... We didn't "meet" again until about 4 or so years ago. Our mutual friend wanted us all to hang out; I remember saying, "Trebor from high school?? No way, not coming!" We ended having an awesome night. We snuck into a concert, had drinks, shared laughs, and of course...there was that mutual flirtation and attraction immediately. He was not the same guy from high school, thank goodness. Normally guys never grow up! After that we became great friends. Trebor took me on a lot of adventures. And of course...I was swooning over him. Didn't take long! The proposal was Trebor's usual style - it's always an adventure. He nonchalantly suggested we go to our favourite hiking spot called Max Patch. I was having a really stressful week, so I thought he was just trying to take my mind off things. Never did I suspect a proposal. He even brought along champagne, delicious cheese, raspberries....the works! Still, I just thought he was being super sweet (which he always is). We got there about an hour before sunset. It was absolutely beautiful, with views of the rolling hills & mountains. We hiked up and found a little spot to lay our blanket down to pop open the bubbly! There weren't a lot of people there so we had all the amazingness to ourselves. We walked around for a bit, and then all of a sudden he just gets down on one knee and proposes! Of course my jaw dropped to my knees and it took me a minute to really know what was going on. I just screamed, "YES!"...then it was like a scene from the Sound of Music. He picked me up in his arms, twirled me, the whole sha-bang. It was awesome. Then of course we drank lots of champagne, cuddled up, watched the sunset...complete bliss. We really didn't choose anything, it was presented to us. HUH?! Our elopement was part of a photography workshop called Retreat Rome 2013. I am a model here in Asheville, NC so have plenty of friends in the wedding industry. One of them, Liz White a talented dress designer here in Asheville, shared a post from Jessica Gallo of Fine and Fleurie with an off-the-wall inquiry about looking for an adventurous couple that have passports... she persuaded me I should send in some pictures of Trebor and I just to see what it was. (Fun fact: Liz White designed my wedding dress!) I immediately got a response from Jessica, and then she let out the big surprise - she was looking for a couple to come and actually elope in Italy and to be a part of their workshop! We would model the first day for the "engagement shoot", then the second day was going to be a surprise elopement for all the photographers attending the retreat. Jessica continued on to say that every beautiful detail from the stationary to the cake would be taken care of, all we had to do was show up and get married! Sounds to good to be true right? Yeah, that's what I thought. I think I was so giddy reading the whole thing that I was squealing and bouncing up and down in my chair. I was in complete disbelief and awe! An elopement in Italy?! Everything taken care of?! What?! What's funny is that I responded with an immediate YES without even talking to Trebor. I knew that he would totally do this crazy thing, because that's what we do...we have adventures, we're spontaneous, and we love to travel! Better yet, he did not have to see me become a crazy, wedding obsessed planning bride-zilla. Everybody wins! What can I say, it was a true fairy-tale in every way. I was never one of those girls that knew exactly what type of cake and dress I wanted to have on my wedding day...I just knew I wanted it. More importantly I dreamed about the man I was going to marry, not the wedding. All of the vendors involved made our wedding day absolute perfection. The flowers by Amy Bowley of Bo-Boutique were some of the most beautiful arrangements I had ever seen! My favourite part was the venue. I had no idea where I was going to get married at in Rome until that day when we were driving there. I knew it was a Villa, but I had no idea what to expect. Villa Bertolami was an absolute dream! From the rustic fire place, the amazing art, the beautiful wood panelling...it was everything you would think a villa in Italy would be. Every sense of mine was filled with it's historical beauty! Trebor and I just walked around with our jaws dropped and then would just look at each other and laugh! I wore a custom bespoke gown designed by Liz White Couture. Of course our favourite part was saying our vows (we heard nothing but sniffles behind us!)....but afterwards was divine! Our "reception" started with the most delectable champagne and hors d'oeuvres by the most amazing catering company, Natalizi. We sat around the fire place with everyone which had now felt like family even though we only met all the attendees of the workshop the day before. We drank, we laughed, nothing felt out of place or unnatural. Poor Trebor was the only male there! He handled himself well! At dinner we sat around the absolute most beautiful table ever! And the meal? Delicious doesn't even cover it. The best night of our life hands down. We met some amazing women that will always hold a special place in our hearts. We are so thankful for the amazing experience and adventure! I can't give that much advice for the planning process, as with our unique situation I didn't have to plan a thing. I will say this, the best thing you can do is be true to yourselves as a couple. I feel as though many couples have a lot of pressure on them when it comes to planning their big day. I always want to ask, "Who are you planning it for?" The answer should always be you...not anyone else. Forget about what Aunt Joan wants or where your mother is going to sit. Geez! Relax and do what you want to do. That is why Trebor and I eloped without a second thought. We stayed true to ourselves. What better way to start out our lives together but with an amazing adventure it Italy! Life is too short not to have fun and do what makes you truly happy. A beautiful cream silk chiffon gown with hand sewn Swarovski crystals adorning the bodice. Classical elegance.

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Categories: real weddings · Tags: blue, bo boutique, elopement, Fine & Fleurie, intimate, italy, mediterranean, pastel, Photography by Bea & Jude, pink, retreat rome workshop, rome, surprise wedding