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.

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.

Trendy Bride is a destination wedding magazine and blog that celebrates having 113,700 Instagram followers and 785,500 monthly Pinterest viewers. That’s a lot of peepers!

Founded by Carl and Michelle Butler in 2008, Trendy Bride is focused on finding the most refreshing, original and exclusive wedding ideas from around the globe. In particular, they are super interested in exposing brides to real world concepts and invigorating ideas.

So you can imagine that we were more than slightly chuffed when they published the Cinque Terre elopement of Sarah and Steve, a wedding we planned right here in the Cinque Terre, Italy.

You see, the American due of yoga instructor and digital nomad, Sarah and Steve, first contacted us just 3 months out from their wedding day, looking for a small elopement surrounded by their loved ones in the Cinque Terre.

They asked “are we crazy to think that we can arrange this in only a few months”. And our thought bubble response: “Crazy? We love crazy!” So that’s exactly what we did.

From the moment of their emotional first look photos, this crazy in love couple celebrated their wedding with laughter, tears and well… love, lots and lots of love.

For a sneak peek at their Cinque Terre elopement in action, thanks to the clever clicks of photographer Lorenzo of Pure Wedding Photography and hair and makeup by Malino Beauty, enjoy the Trendy Bride feature by clicking on the Trendy Bride icon below.

For more information of how to celebrate your destination wedding in the Cinque Terre contact us.

Written by Melina Nicholson

The post Cinque Terre Elopement featured in Trendy Bride appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

For a couple who never dreamed of getting married, Cassidy and Michelle found themselves tying the knot in a setting found only in dreams: a colourful Italian medieval fishing village, on top of cliffs covered in luscious grapevines and in front of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Dreamy indeedy, right?

Well, for these two fast-paced professionals, Police Officer, Michelle, and Paediatric Intensive Care Nurse, Cassidy, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, Vernazza was the perfect destination. An ancient wonderland where they could slow down, take time out and celebrate their marriage with their most loved ones – their parents.

For Cassidy and Michelle the journey to their wedding began with an extraordinary meeting in the most ordinary of places – a cross fit gym. A sweet reminder that in the split of an everyday, very ordinary, second your life may change forever.

And the proposal? Well, not so ordinary: lying in a hammock on a beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands. At the time Cassidy had been joking about how much her parents wanted her to marry – so much so, they’d probably even pay for the ring. To which, Michelle had responded “Like this one?”, presenting Cassidy with an engagement ring and asking her to marry her. Confused, Cassidy’s initial response was to berate Michelle for joking about marriage until she realised that Michelle was serious. At that point shock, tears and trembling kicked in and the only word Cassidy was able to muster was a quivering “Okkkaaayyyy”.

A quivering “Okkkaaayyy” that’s became a bit of a mantra in their relationship and we imagine one that was used when they decided to celebrate their marriage in a same-sex wedding in Italy.

And we were rather chuffed when this beautiful, ultra thoughtful and super loved up couple agreed to share their wedding journey and some of their favourite photos with us. So prepare your peepers to enjoy their real same-sex wedding in Italy captured by the snazzy lens of Pure Wedding Photography.

Why a destination wedding?

We actually never planned to get married, so it was a huge surprise when Michelle proposed. We are both very private people so we knew from the beginning we wanted a very small, intimate, destination wedding with family only.

Why the Cinque Terre in Italy?

First off, we LOVE to travel. So the two week trip had already been planned before the proposal as a graduation trip for myself. My parents had previously been to Cinque Terre and after I saw their pictures, I knew I had to go one day. So we decided to get married in the trip in Vernazza and invited Michelle’s parents along and of course they agreed. We had thought our destination wedding would have been on a beach somewhere, but who can say they got married at a castle in Italy?? WE CAN! And we wouldn’t have chosen to do it any other way.

How was the wedding planning process?

The most stress free wedding planning I think anyone could imagine. Sarah immediately had our Pinterest board set up and we didn’t hesitate to use it. The communication via email was easy and she always responded within a day. We enjoyed the Skype conversations just to be able to put a face to the extremely talented people behind the scenes. The most difficult choice we had to make was which bouquets we wanted 🙂

Best part your wedding in Italy?

The actually ceremony for sure. The weather was perfect, the views were breathtaking and the photos turned out stunning. Matteo was phenomenal and the wine ceremony was very special and unique to Cinque Terre.

Top tip for future Cinque Terre Wedding brides and grooms?

Let Cinque Terre Wedding take the reigns. Do not be nervous about the destination planning process and having to be there or involved in every single decision. They are professionals and are the best at what they do. They know when to ask your opinion or when to involve you. We trusted them with everything and it turned out better than we could have ever imagined. It was exceptional.

For more information on having a destination wedding in the Cinque Terre contact us here.

Written by Melina Nicholson.

The post Same-Sex Wedding in Italy Special: Cassidy and Michelle appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

No strangers to life changing adventures overseas, Yvonne and Christoph first met in Norway during an international exchange programme at University. Kindred spirits and minds, they both studied Electrical and Mechatronics Engineering – a pair of smarty pants, indeed. And so before long, this clever duo were squaring personal algorithms, connecting friendship modules and building a lasting love that would span the world!

For this strikingly beautiful, kind natured and fun-loving couple, their wedding in Italy was a celebration of the strong bonds they share with their cultures, their friends and their families, including their dog, Mocha. Enjoy a sneak peek at their real wedding exclusive and hear about their journey planning a wedding in Italy.

Why a destination wedding?

First of all, we love traveling and love to give an excuse for our guest to travel. We also have family and friends between Europe, Asia and USA, so Italy is a perfect middle point for everyone to gather.

Why the Cinque Terre in Italy?

Needless to say, Cinque Terre is a very unique village. It is cosy and has lots of great Italian food! Every corner is postcard-pretty.  Born in Hong Kong, I wanted to get married somewhere near the ocean. Growing up in the alps, Christoph has special feelings for mountains. Cinque Terre happens to offer both the hilly and ocean scenery. Another main reason is the location, it is just a few hours drive away from Austria which is convenient for Christoph’s side of the guests. As for oversee guests, Cinque Terre is located right in the middle of many major cities in Italy such as Florence and Pisa. It is a perfect stopover town for the guests’ trip around Europe.

How was the planning process?

The planning process was super easy. Most of the planning is done via email. And if we need any immediate response, Justina was always ready to take our questions. Justina and Melina are also very organized with all the wedding event organization so we never had to worry about forgetting some details. The process starts with all the big decision such as venue and meals, followed by music and photography and finishing with pre/post wedding activities.

Best part of your wedding in Italy?

If we have to pick, definitely the aperitivo right after the ceremony. The food and the atmosphere with the band was just amazing. Every guest praised the wedding like it was a wedding from the movies. We also had a great wrap of the day by going to the beach with all the guests who survived the party!

Top Tip for future Cinque Terre Wedding Brides and Grooms?

Just sit back and relax on your day. Don’t get too excited in Cinque Terre and party too hard the day before the wedding, so that you can still enjoy your wedding without being hangover. If the wedding will take place in summer, make sure the guests reserve rooms with air conditioning.

Photos by Pure Wedding Photography.

To find out more about your wedding in Italy, contact the Cinque Terre Wedding team here.

Written by Melina Nicholson.

The post Real Wedding in Italy Special: Yvonne and Christoph appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

Owner of Speakeasy Digital, Casey, and Real Estate Broker of Mizner Residential Realty, Jeremy, were officially the first couple in the world to be married on this spot.

So this successful, strong loving couple, who have a streak of cheeky humour in all they do, not only sealed their vows but also history, promising to protect each other from outdoor sprinklers, love each other for their dance moves and attend at least one baseball game per year.

This incredible Italian seaside wedding in the Cinque Terre, surrounded by family and friends, was the result of an incredible seven-year romance that started with a simple knock on a friend’s neighbour’s door.

It was a knock by Casey that was answered by Jeremy and an awkward and quick conversation followed (Jeremy had been in the middle of cooking lunch at the time). However, it was a knock that would have a resounding effect on both their lives. The very next day Jeremy tracked Casey down on Facebook, asked her out and the rest is history!

A few years later, on a three-week holiday to Italy, in a restaurant in the medieval town of Assisi, following a cooking class where they were set to taste the fruits of their labour, Jeremy told Casey he had a question for her. Then, to the tunes of Barry White playing somewhere in the background, Jeremy popped the question. Due to shock, Casey barely remembers what was said at the time, but she does remember that she giggled nervously in response and quoted LeBron James “It’s about damn time”, before saying yes!

Lucky for them, Casey and Jeremy decided to return to Italy, choosing the Cinque Terre as the spectacular backdrop for their Italian seaside wedding.

Lucky for us, Casey and Jeremy have agreed to share their great top tips and jaw dropping pics taken by Pure Photography, so we can all enjoy what it was like for them to take the plunge.

Why a destination wedding?

We wanted something special, unique and intimate. With friends and family all over the U.S., many people were going to have to travel anyway. We’ve never met a person who dislikes Italy, and we couldn’t think of anything better than three days in Cinque Terre with our favourite people.

Why the Cinque Terre in Italy?

It’s absolutely gorgeous, laid back, and the food is amazing. We also chose Monterosso because it’s a nice sized town to host 30 friends. It’s small enough where we can see each other around town, but large enough if you want a little privacy.

How was the planning process?

The planning process was easy because we had a great planner that put us at ease. Planning a destination wedding definitely isn’t for everyone- if you want to be in control of every little detail, it’s probably not for you. Normally I’m a control freak, but I chose not to make myself crazy over wedding planning, and let Melina and our vendors take care of everything. Italy never disappoints—everything is always delicious and beautiful- so I trusted that my wedding would turn out perfect (and it did)!

Best part of your Italian seaside wedding?

It’s hard to choose. I loved our unique ceremony on the rocks, walking through the town, and just being surrounded by our best friends and family in Italy.

Top Tip for future Cinque Terre Wedding Brides and Grooms?

During the planning process, my best advice is to just communicate with Melina as much as you need to. If you are unsure about something, just ask, and she will put you at ease!

Once we arrived in Cinque Terre, the three days with our friends and family went so fast. Just sit back, take it all in, and enjoy yourselves. Everything is as it should be!

The post First couple to marry on the cliffs of the Cinque Terre appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.