When getting to know the British couple, we remember the bride, Georgia, telling us that in no uncertain terms, whatever the groom, Angelo, says, when they first met she DID NOT chase him. While separately, Angelo, had already told us with a cheeky grin that Georgia had chased him, “from the moment Georgia laid eyes on me she wanted to be a Rossi”.

While “who chased who” to this day remains a mystery, nine years later, their closest family and friends gathered right here in the Cinque Terre, to witness Georgia officially becoming a Rossi.

It was full belly laughing from the start of this fun and lively wedding, dad pranks during the wedding rehearsal, photo shoots in the bath (one of our favourite wedding photos ever – see below) and the retelling of their unique wedding proposal:

The original planned proposal was big and romantic in style: in front of a massive gold heart in Times Square, during a holiday to New York. However, the weather was freezing: –16 degrees according to Georgia and even colder still at -19 degrees according to Angelo. So due to the glacial weather, Georgia insisted they return to their hotel room. And what followed in that New York hotel room, was arguably one of the most unexpected and therefore also undeniably romantic proposals we have ever heard. Angelo got down on one knee, while Georgia was brushing her teeth, and proposed. Magic!

As intensive care nurses, it is no surprise that this kind-hearted, witty and beautiful couple put their family and friends front and center of their wedding experience.

For wedding flowers and decor, we took inspiration from the couple’s brilliant sparkle and went bright and bold in a way only our fabulously flawless florist can.

So, in the spirit of the five lands of the Cinque Terre, here are Georgia and Angelo’s top five tips and pics captured by our clever clicker photographer.

Why a destination wedding in Itay?

Angelo’s Nonno is from Liguria, and we have always loved going to Italy. We just knew that is where we wanted to get married.

Why the Cinque Terre in Italy?

The question should be, why not the Cinque Terre? It is the most beautiful, picture perfect place to get married.  We just knew, we wanted to have our special day in Vernazza, there is no  better place to share our day with our closest friends and family.

How was the destination wedding planning process?

Planning a wedding during covid was no easy task, and quite daunting. However, Melina made the planning process so easy.

Best part of your wedding day in the Cinque Terre?

The service written by celebrant, Matteo, and spending the day with our loved ones.

Top Tip for future Cinque Terre Wedding Brides and Grooms?

Put your faith in Melina, and you won’t go far wrong.

For more information on your Cinque Terre Wedding contact us.

The post The making of Mr and Mrs Rossi – real Cinque Terre Wedding special appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

The wedding fairies in Manarola have declared a new wedding location for destination weddings in the Cinque Terre, Italy. Well it’s not new, the clifftop terrace has been here for thousands of years – pretty magical, but it’s being used for the first time for official civil weddings.

What’s more, it is one of the few locations in the Cinque Terre where civil weddings can be held outdoors in mother nature’s beauty – bliss! The new wedding terrace, nestled into the vine-covered cliffs and overlooking the Mediterranean sea, is a new wedding ceremony spot experienced by few but guaranteed to wow all – especially those who choose it to say “I do!”

After 14 years in business here, we are so excited to be able to offer this dreamy site to our brides and grooms and can’t wait to celebrate – we have Prosecco bubbles at the ready!

To be one of the first to marry in this destination wedding location in the Cinque Terre, Italy, contact us.

The post New wedding location in Manarola appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

Hayley doesn’t believe in love at first sight. For humans that is. Quite rightly. We figured, there were a possible 450 sightings, between Hayley and Evan over the years, at university, fraternity parties and even actual private dates. But it wasn’t until years later, after they had parted ways and changed cities, that true love hit – a chance meeting in a Karaoke Bar, where Hayley was singing the Spice Girl’s “Wannabe” – zigazig ah!

Aside from 90s pop, this beautiful loved up couple, also share a grand passion for world travel. Together they had visited London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Florence, Barcelona, Paris and the Cinque Terre. Out of all these places, in all the world, it was on seeing the Cinque Terre for the very first time that Hayley and Evan experienced “love at first sight.” So we were thrilled that they decided to return to the Cinque Terre with their families, for a wedding surrounded by love and kindness, to become husband and wife.

In the spirit of the five lands of the Cinque Terre, get your goggles ready for a deep dive into Hayley and Evan’s top five tips on planning their destination wedding in Italy and their most beautiful and intimate moments snapped by Pure Wedding Photography.

Why a destination wedding?

Evan and I never imaged a big wedding for ourselves. It seemed that a big church wedding with 100+ people was something that was socially “expected” versus something we really wanted. There were many benefits to having a destination wedding. It is cost effective, it is more intimate, the location is unbeatable, and we both knew that we wanted to share our love of traveling with the people that are the most special to us, our families.

Some may say that a destination wedding does not fall under the category of a “traditional wedding”, I disagree. I believe that this experience was more traditional as it focused on our marriage and the blending of families together. This destination wedding was a trip of a lifetime for both families and the opportunity for our families to connect on a much deeper level.

Why the Cinque Terre in Italy?

In 2016, Evan and I took a day trip from Florence to visit all 5 villages of the Cinque Terre, and it was love at first sight. Each village has its own distinct beauty and charm that left a lasting impression on us both. When we got back to the US, we continued to rave about the location to family and friends. Once we got engaged in 2017, within a couple hours we decided the Cinque Terre would be the place where we would become man and wife.

How was the planning process?

I could not have asked for a better planning experience. I have been a bridesmaid 7 times over the course of the past 10 years and I saw my friends stress and obsess about every detail of their wedding to the point of exhaustion, frustration, and tears. As someone very “A-type” and prone to stress, I knew that I could not plan a wedding that way. We searched online for wedding planners and found Cinque Terre Weddings. After speaking with Melina and Sarah, I knew that I had a great team of ladies working to plan our dream day. I developed a very solid and trusting relationship with these ladies 4,900 miles away, across the Atlantic Ocean, and with a 7 hour time difference. I knew that I could email them at any time and they were very quick to respond to any emails/concerns/etc. It was the highlight of my mornings to wake up and see emails from Sarah on next steps in the planning process.

The wedding packages offered by Cinque Terre Weddings are flawless and come with everything needed for the big day. There is no need to fly over extravagant decor, as the scenery of the village is more than enough to make your day perfect. Cinque Terre Wedding listened to my wishes and hopes and incorporated these details into our wedding. In addition, I want to note that the vendors that Cinque Terre Weddings works with are all professional, talented, and easy to work with. It is obvious that Cinque Terre works exclusively with these partners and that a strong platform has been established.

Best part of your day?

As the bride, I loved being able to enjoy the day of my wedding. Cinque Terre Wedding set up a cute lunch for the ladies and kept the schedule of events while I was able to sit back and enjoy the time with my mother, mother-in-law, and matron of honor. There was no need to worry about the time of appointments, where to be, needing to pay vendors, etc. The day was so much fun and full of laughter.

Once it was time for the wedding, Evan and I were able to take in each and every moment. Having a destination wedding meant that we were relieved of pressure to entertain guests. The families could all sit together and enjoy the special day without “feeling like we had to” do anything. It was the most special day for us and we will carry these memories with us forever.

Top Tip for future Cinque Terre Wedding Brides and Grooms?

For those considering a destination wedding, always know there is a level of uncertainty and there is not room to control every single detail, but Cinque Terre Wedding takes the time to develop a relationship with you and coordinate the most highly anticipated day of your life. The uncertainty will quickly transpire into astonishment the day of your wedding.

For more information on what your Cinque Terre Wedding contact us.

Wedding Planner Sarah Pozzi from Cinque Terre Wedding.

Written by Melina Nicholson.

The post Love at first sight in the Cinque Terre appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

Classic Blue Mood Board

So to start with, Sarah turned to her friend Mr Pantone, who always sets the colour palate for the year and for 2020 the Pantone Colour is Classic Blue. Well, if any colour title suits the style of a destination wedding here in the Cinque Terre it is Classic Blue. Classic Italian Riviera style on the Blue Mediterranean Sea. Oooo, doesn’t get much better than this.

Confession: I have a blue crush. A very similar colour palette, Midnight Blue, was the colour palette of our wedding back in 2010, see this article on our wedding published in Cosmopolitan Bride for a peek. What can I say, in 2010 I was ahead of my time, or rather I just love blue so much that whenever Mr Pantone announces a blue colour of the year, I’m instantly on-trend. But enough reminiscing about yesteryear, in the inspiration board below you, can see how Stylist Sarah hoverboards this classic colour into the crisp pretty present. Pairing free-spirited bouquets with classic accents of deep blue, metallics and fresh clean white. The Cinque Terre’s signature rustic look underlining all.

Photo credits (clockwise):   fior_deco bouquet  / Instagram wedding cake / Whimsical Wonderland Weddings table set  / Wedding Wonderland stationery / fior_deco bouquet  /  Grace & Thorn boutonnieres  /Mariage.com place cards / Grace & Thorn bouquet / Wedding Wonderland table set

Tutti i Frutti Mood Board

Well, we are all fruity here in the Cinque Terre, seriously: oranges, grapes, figs, olives, apricots, peaches, cherries, loquats and the most beloved of them all: the lemon. To give you an idea, outdoors you’ll find lemons hanging out on pretty much every corner, over every wall and from every balcony in the village, just lazing around in all their golden yellow glory. Then once indoors, the lemon adoration continues on every table with our Limoncino, Sorbetto Limone, Crema di Limoncino, Lemon Marmalade, Lemon cake and Acciughe Limone… we are unofficially the mecca for all lemon worshipers. Why, just like all the Saints, we even have an annual date to celebrate the Lemon at the Festa di Limone. On most years, aside from this strange one, the Festa di Limone takes place on the last Saturday of May.

So what better way to bring the spirit of the Cinque Terre into your wedding décor than by welcoming the citrusy fruits themselves onto your table. The result: an explosion of fiery colours and playful compositions that don’t just look deliciously sweet, they are deliciously sweet. So feast your eyes on these incredible edible table settings below and if you’re thinking ow, two for one: free fruit salad for dessert included in a table setting, you’re right on our wavelength. Wink wink!

Photo Credits:  Pinterest bouquet / Pinterest table set / Style Me Pretty decor / Pinterest centerpiece / Style Me Pretty table set / Pinterest decor / Pinterest bouquet / Pinterest table set

Freedom Pass Mood Board

Hoo boy, if like us by now you’re tired of being cooped up, locked down and distanced from, we gift you the idea of a Freedom Pass in the mood board of wedding delights below. Think of all the colours in the rainbow, times them by ten, then times them by ten again and your starting to visualise the brilliant colour palette below. Then forget physical restraint and your four walls and stretch out your arms out as far as they’ll go to scoop up every bloom type you can think of. And don’t worry about staying in the lines of the design, no one-metre rule here folks, as you pull together your bouquet of wildflowers let your buds press up close together any way they like. Now, also forget matching tableware, that’s for those who are housebound three meals a day – instead imagine running through your best home-ware stores, not online, but actually in the store, and picking out one favourite tabletop item from each, no one item the same, all exquisitely different – just because you can!

Now if you’ve followed our train of creative thought then you’ve probably styled a wedding similar to the one styled by stylist Sarah below. And if you haven’t, better still, that’s the beauty of the Freedom Pass, go ahead create the wedding of your dreams with no limits.

Photo Credits:  Style Me Pretty table set / Pinterest bouquet / Rock My Wedding cake  / Love and Lavender centerpiece / Pinterest bouquets / Etsy stationery / Pinterest boutonniere / Pinterest chair decor

If you would like a wedding in the Cinque Terre planned and styled by Cinque Terre Wedding contact us here.

Mood board by Cinque Terre Wedding Stylist Sarah Pozzi.

Written by Melina Nicholson.

The post A 2020 summer wedding mood board for all styles appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

And so it happened that strapping English gentleman, Paul, and ow, so pretty Irish lass, Aimee, met at a bus stop in Sydney, Australia, of all places, two adventure seeking explorers, with a shared cheeky sense of humour and a drive to live life to the fullest.

So it is no wonder that the engagement of this bright, sparky couple happened in on a nameless secluded beach in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, a place that the couple have now titled “our beach.”

When first hearing of Paul and Aimee’s travel love story it was clear that they wanted to create an incredible celebration and holiday not just for them but for their family and friends too. It would be the one utterly thrilling adventure the couple took with everyone they loved most involved.

And it was just that. A holiday in the Cinque Terre topped with a wedding unlike any other. The ceremony was held in front of the Mediterranean Sea, the aperitivo overlooking the medieval fishing village and the reception with live music and signature cocktails in the vineyard saw the party continue into the wee hours.

And to match the contagious energy of the couple’s we helped create a wedding setting with bright playful colours, wild care-free flowers and rustic down to earth features. Even village personality, who we endearingly call “Comandante”(The Commander), got caught up in their festive celebrations trying his luck in the Italian superstition of kissing the bride to bring good fortune.

In the spirit of the five lands of the Cinque Terre, get your peepers ready for Aimee and Paul’s top five tips on planning their wedding here and top five and a bit pics captured by the talented clickers at Pure Wedding Photography.

Why a destination wedding to celebrate your travel love story?

From a young age I always knew I wanted to get married abroad. I’ve always liked to do things differently and luckily Paul was happy to go along with my dream. He loves Italy, almost as much as his dad Geoff who we must admit is Italy’s biggest fan. Also, we have lived abroad (Australia, Canada and currently New Zealand) for our entire relationship and so when it came to planning our Wedding we knew that having all of our loved ones together in one place for a week would be extra-special. We love to travel, having visited over 40 countries together, so, I guess we wanted to share our love of travel and exploring new places with the most important people in our lives.

Why a destination wedding in the Cinque Terre, Italy?

The town of Manarola in Cinque Terre was my first ever screensaver on my computer (and continues to be to this day). When I first saw it I thought it was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. Years later when Paul and I were planning a long holiday to Italy we decided to include a stop in the Cinque Terre. We stayed in Manarola for 4 nights and when we were there I said to Paul “if I ever get married I want it to be here”. So, when Paul proposed in 2018 I knew our wedding had to be in Cinque Terre.

How was the planning process?

Surprisingly very easy, we are living in New Zealand and were worried the time difference would make things more stressful. But, Melina was perfect – so organised, honest and down-to-earth. She made something that can be very stressful seem like a breeze.

Best part of your destination wedding day?

The Ceremony – Matteo was the perfect choice for celebrant and he put so much thought into the ceremony. It was very emotional and our guests still to this day comment how exceptional he was. Some have even requested the script for his speech, which he kindly provided after the ceremony. I think Matteo may have been the star of the show.

Top Tip for future Cinque Terre Wedding brides and grooms?

Keep it calm, this is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. It can be easy to get caught up in the stress of it all, but remember why you’re doing it.

For more information on celebration your destination wedding in the Cinque Terre contact us. 

Written by Melina Nicholson.

The post Bright Summer Wedding in Italy: A Travel Love Story appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

B.LOVED is a luxury wedding blog that is ranked amongst the UK’s top 10 wedding blogs. It focuses on stylish, contemporary inspiration and ideas for modern brides as well as lifestyle, travel and fashion. And it just so happens that today its front page is adorned with the best of Cinque Terre Wedding loveliness. Pretty awesome, huh?

So take a peek at the photos and you’ll understand why. Laura and Marco, a Scottish Lassie and Italian Don, are a sweeter than honey couple that even we fell in love with. So for this couple who were looking for a simple, fun and natural wedding vibe, the seaside vineyard in the village of Monterosso in the Cinque Terre was the perfect fit.

A scene of green vine covered mountains, sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea and a pastel coloured medieval fishing village were the backdrop to which were added sprinkles of baby’s breath, olive leaves, Italian herbs, terracotta and loose lemons fresh from the orchard, to represent the couple’s personal style. Truly, what more could you want? A traditional Italian millefoglie wedding cake? Well, that’s in there too.

So enough of the spoilers, you can enjoy the photos by superhero photographer Pure Wedding Photography and the flowers of prettier than pretty Fior Deco in the B.LOVED dreamy vineyard wedding feature here or click through on the photo below.

And stay tuned for Cinque Terre Wedding real wedding feature where, in the spirit of the five lands of the Cinque Terre, Laura and Marco will share five tips and five and bit pics on what it was like to plan and celebrate their destination vineyard wedding in the Cinque Terre, Italy.

Written by Melina Nicholson.

The post Laura and Marco’s Vineyard Wedding featured in B.LOVED appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

Following the swim it was hair, makeup, then a stroll down the medieval alleyways to their ceremony venue – the terrace of a medieval Castle that dates back over 1,000 years. Their view? 35 loved ones and the infinite sparkling Mediterranean Sea. After the vows the couple celebrated with prosecco, appetisers and good Italian food and wine at dinner in the Castle’s Restaurant, before cake and dancing under the stars.

We wonder if Jessica and Justin ever dreamed of such a wedding day when years ago they found each other on match.com? For Senior Engineer, Justin, and Wellness Center Manager, Jessica, who both share a love of exploring the world and the simple things in life, like family, friends and nature, perhaps a destination wedding in the Cinque Terre was always their destiny?

And the sign that sealed their fate? Roma! Not the name of Italy’s capital city but in their case, the name of one of their dogs. You see, after asking Jessica’s father for permission, Justin surprised Jessica, while on a hike with their dogs. Halfway along the trail Justin suggested they stop at a bench to give the dogs some water and asked Jessica to check Roma’s new collar as something seemed amiss. But on closer inspection, Jessica found all was exactly as it should be: attached to the collar was a sparkling engagement ring and when she turned back around, Justin was down on one knee!

And how glad we are that their dog’s name was not Paris, Barcelona or Athens! Instead bella Roma it was and therefore bella Italia it was!

When Jessica and Justin first contacted us at Cinque Terre Wedding, they knew they didn’t want a big wedding, didn’t want to spend a fortune, and truly wanted the day to represent them, their passions, and love.

It was hard not to fall under the love spell of Jessica and Justin, so in love with travelling, their families, life and each other. The style for this wedding reflected the location of Vernazza, Cinque Terre, and the couple’s personalities: natural beauty, relaxed romance and no fuss. This can be seen through the rustic romance theme of the flowers by Fior Dèco and decor which included carefree soft toned wildflowers and eucalyptus – true romance at its best.

But don’t just take our word for it, enjoy Jessica and Justin’s love and wedding story below where they share, 5 tips and 5 and a bit pics captured by destination wedding photographer star, Laurken Kendall.

Why a destination wedding in Italy?

Justin and I both have a deep love of traveling and exploring the world. When we got engaged, we wanted this experience to truly represent us, our passions, and our love. We knew we didn’t want a big wedding, we didn’t want to spend a fortune, and we truly wanted the day to be about us and what we wanted. We traveled to Italy in 2016 and fell in love with the people, culture, food, and wine!

Why the Cinque Terre in Italy?

We had visited the area in 2016 and found it to be so incredibly magical – it’s still so authentic and untouched. We both knew that we wanted to share our love for the area with those that we loved most. Once we heard of the incredible venues that the region had to offer for a wedding, we were sold. How many people get to say they were married at a castle on the Mediterranean Sea? (at least those of us in America 🙂 )

How was the wedding planning process?

Amazing! Melina had everything under control and prompted us on decisions that needed to be made. I truly went into the wedding not worried about all the details – I just knew that we were in the most beautiful place getting married and that truly is all that mattered.

Best part of your day?

So hard to choose! Probably the ceremony. It was beautiful, simple, romantic, and everything we ever pictured.

Top Tip for future Cinque Terre Wedding Brides and Grooms?

Be present in every moment of the day, as it goes by so incredibly fast. Don’t worry about the details, Melina and her crew have it covered and they’ll tell you where you need to be and take care of the rest.

For more information on celebrating your relaxed romance wedding here in the Cinque Terre contact us.

Written by Melina Nicholson.

The post Relaxed Romance Wedding in the Cinque Terre appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

So decide on what your overall budget is and then simply breakdown your budget into these categories to discover your spend for each item.

No idea where to start with your overall budget? Well industry leading wedding blog, The Knot, places the average destination spend at US$27,227, which we think is a realistic guide to follow.

Though here in the Cinque Terre you may be suprised to know that the average wedding budget is well below this figure. For instance, if we look closer at Cinque Terre Wedding Fun Facts we see that the average destination wedding budget here in the Cinque Terre is just €14,646*. If we break it down further, weddings with under 50 guests spend an average of just €7,644*.

This does change slightly when looking at weddings with 50 guests or more, this is when we come closer to the industry average, with Cinque Terre Wedding couples looking at an average budget of €28,419*.

So now you have the budget and an idea of costs, next question, who’s paying?

Well, if it was ancient Roman times payment responsibility for the wedding would completely be in the hands of the bride’s family. Traditionally, when parents were negotiating the arranged marriage, the bride would be presented with a valued dowry. As the bride and groom most probably did not know each other at the time, the healthier the dowry, the more attractive the bride to the potential groom. And the dowry didn’t just include money but also household items, like furniture, linens and even animals. So a bride with a chicken, may be less attractive than a bride with a pig. And a bride with a cow?  Next level, completely.

So in ancient Roman times both the dowry and payment of the wedding celebrations were all covered by the bride’s family. In return the groom and in-laws would take on the responsibility of providing for the bride till death do them part.

So depending on where you lie on the traditional fence, and since you are marrying in Italy, why not try using the: When in Rome… line and see how that flies with the parents of the bride (though you didn’t hear this suggestion from your wedding planner of course)?

Alternatively, if you are looking to do something a little bit more millennial, you will probably be looking at paying for your own wedding. Here at Cinque Terre most couples do cover the wedding costs themselves, with some also benefiting from help from parents depending on individual circumstances.

One way of approaching this topic with parents who do wish to contribute is to have them cover a category of your day, like catering, music, or photography. Or even breaking it down further into things like cake, open bar or ceremony music. This is a great way to make your family feel involved in the wedding and give them ownership over a special part of your day.

And once you know your overall budget, how much to spend on each category and who will foot the bill, you’ll be set.

For more tips and ideas on what the budget for your destination wedding in the Cinque Terre could look like contact us.

Photo by Pure Wedding Photography

Written by Melina Nicholson.

*Statistics are from Cinque Terre Wedding Fun Facts, based on 89 destination weddings held in the Cinque Terre. And please note the above budgets exclude travel costs, accommodation, attire and bridal jewelry and accessories.

The post Wedding Budget – how to budget for a destination wedding appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

Founded by Chrissy Arpie Ott in 2008, the Perfect Palette now has over 550,000 followers. As editor, Chrissy brings together two of her favorite things: a love for colour and a love for helping couples visualise the wedding or party of their dreams. Today the Perfect Palette is known as the international go-to colour resource for couples who dream of a unique, creative, and meaningful wedding day.

And unique, creative and meaningful, capture exactly the essence of Susie and Andrew’s wedding day. It started with a Roman Catholic ceremony in the oldest Marian Sanctuary in Liguria, Italy, followed by a reception in a medieval Hermitage, all overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Ow, si, si, si, their wedding does belong in the pages of a fairy tale.

As for colour, well, the couple’s soft blush palette paired with the Cinque Terre’s signature rustic details, created an old-world romance that was ever so dreamy.

Dreamy indeedy! From the meticulously styled florals of Fior Deco and the crafty calligraphy of Cinque Terre Wedding Stylist Sarah to the: how does she do it? hair and beauty of Malino Beauty, the result is a pretty perfect palette.

You can get an eyeful of all the pretty things that make up Susie and Andrew’s destination wedding by the sea in the Cinque Terre, through the lens of Pure Wedding Photography in the Perfect Palette article here.

Written by wedding planner Melina Nicholson

The post The Perfect Palette features Cinque Terre Wedding by the Sea appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

It’s a modern day anomaly from the old world – the bridal veil – more often than not it is bought and then pops up on wedding day prepared to go, but there’s always a lingering question on whether it will be confirmed for the main event at the last minute or not. We feel for the veil as often its staring role is left in the hands of the hairdressers: will it go with the desired hairstyle or be up staged by a glittery hairpiece or fresh flower? Or will mother of the bride or the bride herself deem it uncomplimentary to the final overall look? Or will the bride’s modern accustomization to ease-of-movement and easy-to-wear banish the veil to the never-to-wear realms of the corset, garter belt and the crinoline (the highly flammable petticoat that killed thousands of women in the Victorian era)?

And if the veil does make the cut, the second question is, how do I wear it? And then when do I take it off? So before we analyse what our brides have been doing today, in our Cinque Terre Wedding Fun Facts*, let’s jump back in time to find out what our brides of yesteryear did.

So super interesting fact is that the wedding veil is the oldest member of the bridal ensemble, going back to ancient tribes who would wrap the bride head to toe to represent the untouched maiden and protect her from prying eyes and evil spirits. We also know, over 1,000 years ago, in the Middle East, bridal parties traveled beneath a protective canopy. The modern veil is thought to be a miniature version of this. Symbolic of purity, privacy and concealment, it has always been reserved for brides marrying for the first time.

Photo: Reproduction of a terracotta slab from Campania during the Roman period, of the Marriage of Peleus and Thetis. Source: Mikimedia Commons

Historically the veil has also been used for practical purposes. In the days of arranged marriages, which were very common around the world until the 1700s, the veil was used to hide the bride’s face from the groom and only to be raised after the vows had been said. With many couples not having seen each other before the wedding day, this was a way of stopping the groom from reneging on the deal, in the case he found his new wife not pleasing to the eye.

And in the past, different cultures used the veil in different ways. The ancient Greeks wore scarlet coloured veils, representing Hymen, the god of marriage and after the ceremony offered up their veils to Hera, the goddess of women, marriage, family, and childbirth. While the ancient Romans wore vivid saffron coloured veils over braided hairstyles or garlands of wildflowers.

Perhaps due to the cost of creating the sheer veil, it lapsed in popularity from the early anglo-saxon brides of the 400s until it disappeared completely by the 1700s. But two important events brought the veil back into fashion in the 1800s, firstly advances in technology brought the mass production of tulle to the market and secondly Queen Victoria decided to be the first modern monarch to marry in a veil. Apparently not wanting to hide her face from her subjects, instead of wearing the veil over her face she wore it cascading over her shoulders and down her back. And if ever there was a love story to influence the ages it was the love story of Victoria and Albert so it’s not surprising that her legacy still carries on today.

Painting of Victoria and Albert Wedding by Sir George Hayter.

In the 1930s Vogue magazine declared the practice of wearing the veil over the face “outmoded” but for religious ceremonies and romantic-minded brides we still see some brides celebrate the lifting of the veil as one of the high points of the ceremony. Think Duchess Kate and Meghan – “outmoded” we think not!

Photo: Dominic Lipinksi/AFP/Getty Images                                        Photo: Pascale Le Segretain/Getty Images

So what are brides today doing? To veil or not to veil? Well, our Cinque Terre Wedding Fun Facts show that around half, 51 per cent, of brides are still wearing veils for the ceremony.

And for those who are wearing the veil, the majority are wearing it Queen Victoria style, face exposed, cascading down back. In fact, just 14 per cent are opting for the long-held tradition of wearing the veil over the face when walking down the aisle, Kate and Meghan style. Notably, 83 per cent of those covering the face are religious weddings.

Real Cinque Terre Wedding of Kelly and Ross.  Photo by  Pure Wedding Photography.

And when it’s time to partay? The majority, 70 per cent of brides, remove the veil for the reception part of the wedding.

And for those brides going without the veils, what seems to be the popular alternative? Well, around 16 per cent of our brides are wearing hair pieces such as decorative hair combs, vines or tiaras.

Real Cinque Terre Wedding of Jess and Dan. Photo by Facibeni Fotografia. 

While 10 per cent are wearing floral crowns and 9 per cent are wearing fresh flowers.

Real Cinque Terre Wedding of Dominique and Rick. Photo by Ed Peers.

And if in doubt, a small number, around 14 per cent of brides, are opting to go naturale with no veil or hair embellishment, at all.

So by the looks of things we are still, in the main, carrying on the traditions of our ancient tribal ancestors, wearing veils for the ceremony and then offering them up to the goddess Hera, before partying on at the reception. Literally, following in the footsteps of women who have walked down the aisle before us as brides for thousands of years. Kind of makes every step all the more special, right? We think so.

Real Cinque Terre Wedding of Marianne and Andreas. Photo by Miriamo Rossignoli.

Written by Melina Nicholson. Feature photo: Real Cinque Terre Wedding Stephanie and Ben. Photo by Facibeni Fotografia. 

*These Cinque Terre Wedding Fun Facts are based on 82 destination weddings held in the Cinque Terre, Italy, with couples from around the world including but not limited to: Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.

In the purpose of recognising and respecting cultural diversity, we acknowledge that this article is Anglo-Saxon focused, written from the insight of destination weddings in Italy, and does not explore veil wearing traditions at weddings that could be practised in many other parts of the world by many other different cultural and religious backgrounds.

Reference: I do! I do! By Susan Waggoner, 2002.

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