A Romantic Italian-Inspired Wedding in Adelaide

Location: Adelaide, Australia
Setting: Catholic Church and Wine Center
Season: Spring
How long did the couple plan the event: 3-5 months
The number of guests: 280
Wedding theme/style: Dreamy Italian garden soiree under the stairs.

Stephanie and Nicholas’ love story blossomed from a strong foundation of friendship. Meeting at 18, their long journey evolved to a romantic relationship, with Nicholas patiently waiting for Stephanie’s love. The proposal at Hentley Farm in Barossa Valley was a real surprise for Stephanie: “I thought I was surprising him with a birthday lunch but he surprised me with the proposal.”

Their shared value of family greatly influenced their desire for a wedding celebration that honored this deep connection. Originally planned for 29 January 2022, the wedding faced a postponement due to COVID-19 restrictions. Fortunately, restrictions lifted the day before their rescheduled date, allowing their guests to join in the full celebration with dancing and joy.

The wedding day began with Stephanie and her bridesmaids sharing moments of joy and anticipation. She was wearing a classy and chic wedding dress, highlighted by a hand-beaded lace veil. The bridesmaids complemented her look in dresses of buttery tones, echoing the wedding’s color palette.

As Nicholas prepared for the wedding surrounded by his friends, a special moment unfolded. His mother gifted him a brooch featuring photos of his grandparents, adding a meaningful touch to his outfit for the day.

At the church, Stephanie walked down the aisle with her father, a moment reflecting a classic wedding tradition. There, she joined Nicholas, and together they listened to speeches from their family and friends. After those warm words they exchanged rings, officially marking their union. The ceremony ended with the couple being warmly greeted and congratulated by their guests outside the church.

After the ceremony, while waiting for guests to arrive at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide for the reception, the couple and their wedding party had a joyful and chic photo session.

For their reception, Stephanie and Nicholas had envisioned a winery setting surrounded by vineyards and greenery. Given the large number of guests, they adapted their plan by choosing the terrace of the Wine Centre, which allowed them to recreate the feel of an outdoor winery in the city.

They designed the space with a custom arch that drew inspiration from Italian architecture and buildings. The decor featured an abundance of flowers in ivory and cream tones with accents of yellow, and cascading satin signage that enhanced the dreamy aesthetic. A unique touch was added with a champagne tower, offering a less traditional but equally elegant element to their celebration.

At the reception, Stephanie and Nicholas, along with their wedding party and family, made a grand and amusing entrance. Everyone brought their own creative touch to the moment, adding to the fun atmosphere. The couple then ceremoniously filled a champagne tower, marking the official start of the celebration.

During the reception, Stephanie and Nicholas took a moment to be alone, a tender scene skillfully captured by photographer Dean Snushall. As the sun set, casting a warm and serene light, Dean’s knowledge of photography shone through, creating beautiful and intimate photos.Through his lens, we could feel the warmth and love from each photo.

The evening progressed with enjoyable speeches and a tasty dinner under fairy lights. Stephanie and Nicholas’s first dance, set against the backdrop of fireworks, was a highlight. This opened the dance floor for all the guests, making the rest of the night a lively and fun celebration.

Advice from the couple:

• Amongst all the chaos that comes with a wedding day – photos, formalities, video etc, make sure at some stage of the day/night you and your partner take 1 minute to stop and observe and be fully present. Have that pinch yourself moment.