A Glorious Real Wedding In Southern Italy

Event : Wedding
Dates : 20-22 May 2011
Number of guests : 80
Location: Puglia, Southern Italy
Photography Credits: Carlo Giorgi
Wedding Planers: Luna Rosa
The Couple: Andrew Pavitt & Charlotte Blencowe

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Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

Andrew and Charlotte got married in Southern Italy on a glorious day in late May. The bride and groom who both have busy careers, Charlotte is a Public Health principal and Andrew is a Hedge Funds Manager trusted the planning of their wedding to Italian Wedding Planners, Luna Rosa.

Designer Wedding shoes
Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

The couple chose Puglia for its warm climate, beautiful beaches and most amazing cuisine. The celebrations took place over 3 days. The legal, civil ceremony was held the day before in the hill top town of Ostuni in an open air courtyard. Following the ceremony there was a family meal held at La Somitta’ in the historic centre which also has spectacular sea views.

italy Weddings
Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

Saturday 21 May 2011

Charlotte and Andrew selected the luxury 5 star Venue , which has earned celebrity status for its beautiful location; and the quality of its facilities and its sublime food. In 2011 it was featured amongst the top 10 in the Gambero Rosso restaurant guide. This historic venue dates back to 1730 and used to be a fortified watchtower. The Masseria still has the ancient church with some original frescoes.

Italian Wedding Planners
Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

Luna Rosa’s production team decorated  the venue for the ceremony and dinner. Charlotte and Andrew opted for a minimalist white and cream theme and the venue was decorated with a profusion of calla lillies, white roses and white hydrangers and alium. Each guest was given a hand made, bespoke designed fan which incorporated the order of ceremony. A quartet and harpist played at the beginning and end of the ceremony and during the exchanging of the rings and the signing of the register. Charlotte and Andrew opted for an Italian ceremony in the olive groves in front of the Masseria. This included traditional readings from the Italian civil ceremony and this was personalised to include readings by Charlotte’s mother and Andrew’s mother. The venue offered is a variety of staging areas for the reception; while most venues might have an area for drinks, then an area for the meal and dancing, the Luxury venue has many areas to delight guests including a lawn for the aperitivo and antipasti buffet, walled gardens containing a dining area, the pool, a roof terrace for cocktails and the old olive mill where Charlotte and Andrew housed their DJ.

Wedding In italy
Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

There was a special canopied aperitivo area for guests to relax with pre dinner cocktails. Guests were then led to lavishly stocked buffet tables which Luna Rosa decorated with flowers and candlebras. Luna Rosa arranged for freshly-made mozzarella to be served by a top chef which definitely added the “wow” factor to their special day.

After sunset, guests were led to the pergola area and bougainvillea walled garden for the sit down meal. Tables were decorated with hurricane lamps, candles and white calla lillies with white hydranger and white roses.

Wedding menu:

Wedding Food
Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

Cavatelli Pasta with Adriatic Lobster and Ginger infused Sauce
Adriatic Sea Bass with Aromatic Sea-Food
Puglian mixed Charcoal Grill with Lamb, Sausages and Veal Meatballs
5 tables full of Puglian desserts served on the poolside

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Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

After dinner, guests were invited to the poolside for the ‘cutting’ of a tower of mini cakes with shimmering candles and the ‘first dance’. Something that really impressed the more sweet-toothed guests were the five tables of desserts, cakes, gelato bar and freshly prepared crepes!

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Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

Instead of having a traditional guest book table Luna Rosa created a sign in Italian which said “Warmest wedding wishes” “Auguri di Cuore” and on the guest book table there were framed vintage pictures with an Italian coastal theme. Guests signed bottles of the finest “Primitivo” wine which Charlotte and Andrew took home with them.

To complement the pristine white building, Charlotte and Andrew kept the decor minimal and worked in a lot of lighting features. The walkways were carpeted in white, and the exterior was illuminated with over 200 lanterns and candles, including floating candles on the pool which created a spectacular effect during the party. Guests danced late into the evening, entertained by a pianist and singer who was flown in from London.

Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi
Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

Charlotte and Andrew and their families were delighted with the whole event.

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Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi
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Image Courtesy of Carlo Giorgi

Quote from Bride: “We truly had an amazing time and appreciated all your hard work. The day was spectacular and exceeded all of our expectations”