Every couple (including this one first featured in the Real Wedding Special) has their own definition of marriage. Bride, Belle jokes that it’s £spending your life with someone who will always tell you when your hair is bad.
Clearly a fun-loving couple with a passion for travel, Belle and Ben opted for a destination wedding in Ravello, Italy. £We were planning our honeymoon in Europe and I randomly came across a Belmond Hotel Caruso wedding on my explore’ page, I called them that day and booked it. The online reviews and photos were enough to seal the deal for me.
Using their Amalfi Coast surroundings as inspiration for the day, Belle and Ben kept everything simple and contemporary. £We wanted romantic, slightly over the top flowers, fresh white, lots of candles and olive trees everywhere, the couple explains, though they confess the detail that topped their list of faves were the custom books they made for all their guests.
£We didn’t just want to place a menu on the table without special shoutouts to our bridal party and parents, so we created a fun booklet that had funny one-liners about each of them, as well as a very special mention to our grandparents who aren’t with us. It ended up being a solid talking point and icebreaker for the entire evening and it made something as clinical as a menu personal and made people feel appreciated to be with us on the day.
Certainly a close-knit group, Bella (who rocked a Karen Willis Holmes gown) and Ben invited their friends and family to join them in Positano for the lead up to the wedding. £We have so many amazing memories and fun stories that we’ll never forget, they tell us, admitting that it’s hard to pinpoint their £absolute favourite moment, though one, in particular, definitely stuck out amongst the rest.
£We had a private moment after photos looking over a balcony at all of our family and friends scattered underneath the olive trees overlooking the most breathtaking view of Ravello. It was a super humbling moment knowing that all of the guests had travelled halfway across the world to celebrate with us.
While friends, family and lots of love were ever-present, two more folks made the long trek to Italy for Belle and Ben’s big day, photographer Dan O’ Day Photography (who also shot this wedding here) and his partner in crime Andrea. £We found Dan through Hello May and decided that he was the only one that could do our wedding justice. Dan and Andrea aka Dandrea’ made those awkward couple photos fun and made everything look like an absolute dream. We could not be more stoked to have had them there.
Want to see more weddings like this one? Pick up Issue 13, on sale now.
CREDITS Photos Dan O’ Day Photography // Bridal gown Karen Willis Holmes and Rachel Gilbert // Veil Karen Willis Holmes // Hair piece Bo and Luca // Robes / getting read tees Silkandmore via Etsy // Lingerie Honey Birdette // Shoes Christian Louboutin // Accessories Samantha Wills // Hair DD+Co // Makeup The Beauty Lab // Rings Carabez Fine Jewellery // Bridesmaid gifts Myer, Silkyeyemask via Etsy, Mimco and Hankys // Suit and shoes Calibre // Socks Pussyfoot Socks // Watch Breitling // Groomsmen suits MJ Bale and TopShop // Groomsmen gifts Teals Prairie via Etsy // Florist Armando Malafronte // Stationery Nate Cairns // Printer D&D Letterpress //Ceremony, reception, catering and cake Belmond Hotel Caruso, Italy // Cake topper Host & Toast Studio via Etsy // Decorative elements and signage Kitsch Studios via Etsy // Wedding favours Nate Cairns and Invitation Tea Towels // Celebrant Anna Sorrentina.