It’s beautiful to read stories from brides and designers that truly create weddings that are a marriage of the environment and the aesthetic of the couple. Callie, the bride, and Lesley, the stylist, worked within their venue to create stunningly simple decor that enhanced the beauty of their surroundings.
From the Bride:
One of the main reasons we chose Italy for our wedding is that we have enjoyed many happy holidays there, including to Venice, where James proposed and 7 years before then, to Rome on our first trip away together. The food and wine is another reason we chose Italy. Italian food – fresh, seasonal, artisanal – is quite possibly our favourite and very different to what can be offered at wedding venues in the UK. Finding Masseria Salamina was the icing on the cake – family run, a unique building in beautiful surroundings in an untouched part of Italy. And when we were shown to the bridal suite where a painting of the Doges PalaIce in Venice where we got engaged, was displayed by the entrance, we knew it was meant to be!
From Lesley Lau, the stylist:
When Callie and I discussed the design of her wedding, her only request was that the design should incorporate lots of olive branches. Luckily, the venue – a 17th century Italian farmhouse – was set in 200 hectares of olive groves, giving us an abundance of foraging opportunities. I also took inspiration from the richly-coloured earth of the Puglian countryside and the beautiful stone structure of the masseria to create the natural colour palette of this wedding.
All of the florals and foliage were foraged from the surroundings: from the olive branches for the garlands and centrepieces, to the oleander and bougainvillea for the bouquet and boutonnieres. The masseria itself was a treasure trove, filled with hand-made furniture from weathered olive wood and artisanal terracotta pots, which became part of the design. Pillar candles filled the ancient stone alcoves and decorated the tables, alongside linen napkins and menus calligraphed in olive-coloured ink by Script Merchant for a truly Italian feast!
Photography: Brushfire Photography | Styling and Florals: Lesley Lau | Venue and Catering: Masseria Salamina | Calligraphy: Script Merchant | Flatware: Helene Millot | Ribbon: Froufrou Chic
