This editorial took place at Cava Puglia, and the venue itself became one of the leading characters in the story. Incredibly unusual and highly exclusive, the space has only recently begun hosting events, with very few celebrations held there so far.
What makes Cava Puglia so special is how little it resembles a traditional Italian wedding venue. It's essentially a natural stone amphitheater, surrounded by monumental rock formations and extraordinary architecture, and the scale and rawness of the space became the foundation for the entire creative concept from the very start.
The models wore soft, romantic gowns that worked beautifully against the monumental setting. The delicacy and femininity of the silhouettes struck a striking contrast with the raw stone and dramatic scale of the amphitheater, adding a strong fashion element without ever competing with the location itself.
The ceremony area was positioned against one of the venue's most beautiful views. Existing stone elements became part of the setting itself, including natural seating already integrated into the landscape, giving the whole ceremony a sense of belonging to the architecture rather than sitting on top of it.
The large central stage of the amphitheater became the visual heart of the editorial, every other scene and design decision developing outward from it. Instead of trying to transform the venue, the goal was to work with what was already there, letting every added element feel like a natural continuation of the landscape itself.
The dinner setting took shape on the enormous central stage at the heart of the amphitheater. A large circular table anchored the scene, its open center filled entirely with florals. The tablescape leaned into tactile, natural materials, rope-like woven and macramé-inspired details, clay and ceramic pieces, organic textures, all set against a warm, earthy palette. Green sunflowers and a handful of unexpected floral choices added an extra layer of surprise to the whole design.
A large cocktail bar was built as part of the editorial too, complete with professional bartenders actually preparing and serving drinks. It brought real movement into the imagery, giving the scenes the feel of an actual event unfolding rather than a static editorial setup.
As the sun went down, the whole atmosphere shifted. Professional architectural lighting was used throughout the venue, illuminating the stone formations and drawing out the scale and texture of the amphitheater in a way daylight never could. It gave the shoot an entirely different visual chapter after dark, dramatic evening shots that felt almost cinematic.
EDITORIAL for WedVibes Media | PLANNER & CONCEPT Rachel Birthistle & Lake Como Weddings | EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION WedVibes | VENUE Cava Puglia | FLORIST Chiara Sperti Floral Events | LEAD PHOTOGRAPHY Roman Ivanov Photo | EDITORIAL VIDEOGRAPHY Ellen de Raad | FILM COVERAGE Gione Silva | CONTENT CREATOR Socially Michelle & Co | BTS Alex Gaidashev | AV & LIGHTING Light Tracks Service | RENTALS The Como Collection | DRESSES Rara Avis Group | BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES Aware Barcelona | MAKEUP, MAIN & GUEST COUPLES Snežana Karović Corić & Bridal Beauty SK | HAIR, MAIN COUPLE Let’s Hair | HAIR, GUEST COUPLES Dolo Hair | STATIONERY Liv Laermann | STYLIST Vlada Semenova | CAKE Dolci Creazioni di Maddy | BAR Joe Bar Catering | MAIN COUPLE Laura & Mattia | GUEST COUPLE Natalia & Alberto, Sarah & Marco
