Shot by Giovanni Paolone, Alfredo and Maria Vittoria’s day unfolds naturally, with a little bit of ’90s fashion and a lot of Italian cinema aura. Maria Vittoria often says that what she lacks, Alfredo naturally has, and what he lacks, she brings into the relationship, and that balance became the backbone of their wedding, from the Catholic baroque church ceremony to cocktails at a 16th-century family castle and a forest dinner under string lights.
Location: L’Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy
Style: Elegant, Refined, Authentic
Time of planning: 9 months
Number of guests: 200
Setting: Church and Forest
Season: Summer
They met at a high school end-of-year party, when Maria Vittoria was 15, and Alfredo was 20. She noticed him right away, dressed in a black suit, smiling, and her first thought was simply: “Who is this hottie?” Despite being very young, Maria Vittoria says she immediately knew that he would be the love of her life. Their relationship grew over time, shaped by several periods of long-distance separation, which only clarified what was already there.
While Maria Vittoria was in Boston finishing her bachelor’s degree, Alfredo came to visit her. During a whale-watching boat trip she had organized, they were standing on a catamaran with two beers in hand when he casually asked, “But do you want to marry me?” pulling out the ring. Later, she discovered that the ring he used was her family ring, given to him by her grandmother, carrying the memory of her father and a meaning far deeper than its material value.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
From the beginning, Maria Vittoria knew she did not see herself in voluminous silhouettes and was drawn instead to something refined, understated, and aligned with her personality. The dress was a mermaid gown by Rosa Clará, model Albar, featuring an open back, delicate embroidery, and a line of small buttons running down the back. Although she had never tried on a wedding dress before, she chose this model for her very first fitting!
Accessories followed an almost unintentional nod to Italian tradition. She wore a pearl hair clip borrowed from her grandmother, diamond earrings gifted by Alfredo’s mother, and her engagement ring, a blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Her fragrance was Matière Première Vanilla Powder, a scent she associates with important moments in her life.
Makeup was kept natural and light, created by her best friend, to preserve freshness. Her hair, styled into a low chignon by Fabio Rosito Parrucchieri, was designed to enhance the open back of the dress and the pearl hair accessory.
Groom’s Fashion
Alfredo wore a custom-made cream-white dinner jacket in pure raw silk, paired with black pleated trousers, a linen tuxedo shirt, and black loafers with tassels. Mother-of-pearl cufflinks and a red rose boutonniere added personal and traditional touches to the ensemble.
Ceremony
When the lovebirds imagined their wedding day, this moment had to feel meaningful, intimate, and deeply connected to their family and values. They wanted a ceremony that felt simple and sincere, without any sense of performance, where emotion could exist naturally and without filters.
They chose to marry at the small church of the Convent of San Giuliano, set among the mountains and surrounded by greenery. Its modest size and quiet presence immediately resonated with them. The church felt warm and welcoming, perfectly aligned with the spirit they envisioned for their wedding, and offered a sense of calm that framed the ceremony in a very personal way.
Inside, the atmosphere was understated and intimate. The space encouraged closeness, allowing everyone present to feel involved in the moment. Choosing a church ceremony was important to them not only for tradition, but also because of the strong bond they share with their families, and the desire to anchor the day in something meaningful and familiar.
One of the most emotional moments of the ceremony was the reading of a letter Maria Vittoria had written for her father, who passed away when she was very young. The letter was read by her brother, who also walked her down the aisle, making the moment even more personal. Through his voice, she was able to include her father in the day, honoring his memory in a way that felt honest and deeply felt.
Moments Together & Cocktail Hour
The couple arrived at Castello Rivera in a restored red vintage MG that once belonged to Maria Vittoria’s grandparents. As they entered the courtyard, their chosen entrance song, Should I Stay or Should I Go, began to play, marking one of the most memorable moments of the entire day.
“We imagined the wedding as an experience divided into two atmospheres. The aperitif, desserts and after-dinner took place in the garden and courtyard of the castle, with live music and an elegant and welcoming atmosphere,” shared the couple. So the cocktail hour unfolded in the garden, with drinks and sushi curated by Yoichi. Seating was arranged throughout the space with sofas and informal lounges around the central fountain, creating an atmosphere that felt elegant yet approachable.
Some of the most striking and stylish images of the day came from this quieter part of the timeline, when Alfredo and Maria Vittoria finally had space to slow down and simply be together. Reflecting on this part of the experience, Maria Vittoria shared: “Giovanni was truly excellent. He managed to capture the essence of the day with a unique sensitivity, never intrusive, always maintaining a discreet presence while being attentive to every detail.”
Reception
The green of the pine forest and the garden became the main reference point for the reception’s color palette. Tables were dressed in light pastel olive-green patterned linens. Plates, cutlery, and glassware were intentionally kept minimal and classic, reinforcing a sense of lightness and balance throughout the setting.
White hydrangeas, Maria Vittoria’s favorite flowers, were paired with olive leaves to create arrangements that felt natural, luminous, and timeless. Candles and lanterns of different sizes were placed on each table.
Dinner was served in the pine forest and became one of the most emotionally rich parts of the evening. Beyond the food itself, what defined this moment were the speeches, delivered between courses by Alfredo’s father, his sister, close friends, both witnesses, Maria Vittoria’s best friend, and her mother. During dinner, two artists performed on raised platforms with saxophone and electric guitar. During breaks, the couple’s personal Spotify playlist took over, filled with songs they had carefully selected over months of planning.
As dinner came to an end, the main band returned, performing a selection of ’80s and ’90s hits that gradually pulled everyone onto the dance floor and led into the couple’s first dance. Alfredo and Maria Vittoria chose Mina’s “Mi sei scoppiato dentro al cuore,” a romantic and emotional choice that felt perfectly aligned with the mood of the day.
Immediately after, the cake moment unfolded in a playful and symbolic way: the catering team handed the couple two piping bags, allowing them to decorate their berry mille-feuille together before the chef completed it.
The evening continued in the castle courtyard, transformed into a dance floor with lights and a DJ set. Surrounded by music, laughter, and movement, the celebration carried on into the night, closing the day with the same sense of joy, authenticity, and shared energy that had defined it from the very beginning.
Advice from the couple:
• Our advice is to live every moment lightly and without focusing on perfection; the day passes very quickly, and what you will remember will not be whether a detail was precise to the millimeter, but the emotions.
• Surround yourselves with professionals you trust, delegate everything you can, and let yourselves go.
• And above all, carve out a moment just for yourselves during the day, even if only a few minutes; it is that little space of breath that will allow you to truly savor the essence of everything.
PHOTOGRAPHER Giovanni Paolone | VIDEOGRAPHER Valerio Di Filippo Wedding Film | FLORAL DESIGN Orchidea Nera Piante e Fiori – Alessia Clemente | HAIR Fabio Rosito | BRIDE’S DRESSES Patrizia Spose | CATERING Ristorante Tonino Cortona | COCKTAIL & SUSHI Yoichi | LIGHTING & SOUND Linar Eventi
