Alicia & Alexander
Ever wanted to run away and elope to Italy? Have you dreamt of a wedding overlooking the Italian blue sea? Alicia and Alexander made their very own dream of a seaside wedding without the fuss, come true with their gorgeous Italian elopement in Ravello. “Neither my husband nor I like to be the centre of attention, and we had no interest in blowing thousands and thousands of dollars on a traditional wedding” tells the bride. “We wanted the day to be just about us and our commitment to each other, but also wanted it to be blissful and to have some beautiful photos to remember the day. It was perfect.”
Enlisting Antony Merat Photography and Marry Me Abroad to capture and plan their day, they spent every moment together. They dressed together, walked to their ceremony together, and dined on stunning Italian food. And if you ask me? That sounds pretty perfect for the duo who met when the groom pursued the (uninterested) bride at a club, before finally winning her over.
It was in Scotland that he finally popped the question, Alicia fills us in. “Alex proposed while we were on our first trip abroad together, at secluded castle ruins in the countryside in Scotland. 30th May 2015. He took me by surprise because we’d saved so hard for the trip, I couldn’t fathom how he managed to buy a ring. We were wandering through the ruins and I turned around to see him on one knee. I think the first thing I did was question whenever it was a real engagement ring! We had talked about getting married and our intention to spend the rest of our lives together, but it still came as a shock. Of course, I said yes immediately though.”
The bride chose a stunningly simple gown by Johanna Johnson. “I wanted something simple and elegant that suited the location and feel of our wedding” she explains. “I also didn’t want anything too bulky as the dress had to travel with me for 5 weeks on our honeymoon. I am very fussy about style (of clothing in general), but I also really didn’t want to spend hours trying on dresses and being fussed over in boutiques. I bought my dress online as a sample, luckily it fit perfectly and no alterations were required, except having the hem shortened.”
The bride and groom walked down the aisle together to a live violinist as they made their way to their chosen spot at Ravello Town Hall gardens. Alicia telling “We chose the town hall gardens for our ceremony. I wanted somewhere outdoors, picturesque that felt close to nature. The views, the flowers and everything about it was perfect.”
While the newlyweds skipped most of the formalities for their elopement, they did have one special guest. “We didn’t have a bridal party. Our wedding was (sort of) an elopement. We told our family and close friends about our intentions because we didn’t want to upset anybody. They were supportive of our decision. Alex’s mother Iwona was travelling in Europe at the same time so we couldn’t deny her the opportunity to attend. She had a wonderful time and it was lovely to share the occasion with her” explains the bride.
Alicia and Alexander chose Marry Me Abroad to help them plan their day, the team doing everything from organising the paperwork, and the flowers to translating the traditional Italian ceremony. Alicia noting “We used Marry Me Abroad, as I didn’t feel I had the time or desire to work through all the complicated paperwork that is required when marrying overseas, and finding vendors in another country etc. it was just daunting. But Marry Me Abroad made it very easy. I knew they had everything in order, so all we had to do was make sure we arrived at the appointments on time.”
Of their photographer, Alicia remarks “After looking at Antony Merat’s website full of stunning but unique photos, it was an easy choice. Antony was fantastic. He made us feel comfortable and relaxed. He had been to Ravello many times before so he knew where to go to capture beautiful photos.”
And once the formal photographs were complete it was time to dine! Alicia telling “We went to Ristorante Rossellini and Palazzo Aveno for a meal. It was incredible, the food and the views and the vibe. Indulgent. Bliss. They also made our delicious wedding cake. We were eating it daily for the rest of our stay on the Amalfi coast.”
A big congratulations to the newlyweds! Thank you for sharing the beauty of your day with us! Thank you also to Antony Merat Photography for sharing today’s celebration!
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