While we only share Australian and New Zealand weddings, we couldn’t pass up today’s feature! It’s the perfect addition for our After Dark issue, and we’re honoured that it’s our only exception to our rule.

Complete with a candlelit ceremony, wild dogs howling in tune with the violin, bilingual vows and breathtaking views. Captured by the talented Antonio Patta Wedding Photographer, Jennifer and David’s Italian elopement was so beautiful, we simply had to share it with our Dotties!

Jennifer and David met online, planned to meet for a coffee date and have been inseparable ever since! That’s what we love to hear.

It was when David proposed to Jennifer at Christmas dinner in front of his entire family that things got really serious for the couple. And thankfully it did – because we now get to share their incredible candlelit elopement!

Let’s set the scene: Basilica di Sant’Eustachio Ruins, Scala, Italy. With the sun beginning to set, the glow of the candles starts to flicker against the ruins, and dogs can be spotted running along the mountainside.

It was only Jennifer, David and their incredible vendor dream team in attendance for their candlelit celebration. “Starace Florist and more by Maria Starace: I sent many photos of ideas and told them a combination of my ideas. She took my ideas and surpassed my greatest expectations. It was pure magic,” Jennifer explained.

“My planner, Ines, was also delightful. She is someone you just want to be friends with. Hire Mr and Mrs Wedding Planners from Scala Italy!

David walked down the aisle to his favourite song, “Your Song” by Elton John. Performing the live music for the couple was the talented Quartetto Nereidi. Jennifer walked herself down the aisle to “Goodness Of God”. “While the violin played, the dogs on the mountain sides around us softly howled with the music,” Jennifer shared.

Wearing a beautiful strapless gown with a corset bodice, a long train, and opera-length gloves, Jennifer looked otherworldly in the candlelit glow. She carried a bouquet of white calla lilies and roses, tied with a white ribbon, arranged by Starace Florist.

David wore a black suit jacket and grey pants to match Jennifer’s classic look. His boutonniere held a small stickpin photo of their beloved dogs, and inside his lapel, David had a small pin with a photo of his mother, gifted by Jennifer. “It said ‘she loved you first’,” Jennifer explained.

The candlelit ceremony was everything David and Jennifer had dreamed of. Backdropped by the breathtaking views of Italy, they shared their personalised vows. “I started mine out in Italian and finished in English. We lit a unity candle with the violin playing Adele’s ‘Make You Feel My Love’.”

Every flickering moment was captured by Antonio Patta. Jennifer was instantly drawn in by his heartwarming story of his father on his website, and was sold once she looked further into his actual work. “He was such a kind, gentle, and warm person. He is a great photographer. I’d recommend him.”

One of Jennifer’s favourite inclusions in their wedding was the photos she brought of her parents and grandparents. “My parents had been married 73 years, and my grandparents were married 75 years. I placed them next to a small mirror with writing on it. It said – the love stories that came before ours.”

On the back of their wedding cake, Jennifer included custom statues of their dogs. “I placed frosting on the nose of the naughty one,” she shared.

A huge thanks to Antonio Patta for capturing and sharing this magical elopement. And congratulations to Jennifer and David on this celebratory occasion!