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.

The post The great unveiling – should I wear a veil? appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

Adding An Italian Touch to Your Wedding Day

Many choose a destination wedding in Italy for the country’s natural beauty and gorgeous Mediterranean climate. With a wedding somewhere as beautiful as Cinque Terre, it would be a mistake to not include the local beauty into your ceremony. There are many ways to do this, be it in your food, entertainment, or decor.

Designing your wedding decor is a great opportunity to take advantage of all that Italy has to offer. With hundreds of plant and fruit species only found in the Mediterranean, your options are limitless. When working with your wedding planner and florist, consider including some of the local flower and fruit species available in Cinque Terre.

Tips for Using Fruit in Weddings with Floral Arrangements

Using fruit (and vegetables) in bouquets requires some pre-planning and decision-making prior to arranging. Check out some of our Pro Tips for using produce in floral arrangements so you can start off on the right foot!

• If you’re using fruit in a handheld bouquet, like a bridal bouquet, make sure you secure the fruit before you begin to walk around with it.
• Try to pick fruits that still have a stem so you can use floral wire or floral tape to secure it to the stems in your bouquet.
• Larger fruits, like pomegranates, sit better towards the center of your bouquet where they’re less likely to tip over and fall out.
• The best way to keep your arrangement together is to keep your bouquet upright!
• If you are using fruit in a bridal bouquet, we do not recommend using it for your bouquet toss (unless you have full confidence that someone will catch it and it won’t land on the floor)! Use an alternative toss-bouquet instead to save your beautiful fruit bouquet from any potential damage.
• Fruits that grow on vines, like grapes and blackberries, easily add depth to any spot in your arrangement. The vines also make it easier to tie to your bouquet. The abundance of fruit can also add easy height or width to your bouquet depending on your placement.
• Keep in mind that fruits produce ethylene gas. This gas speeds up the ripening process for other produce and can accelerate the blooming process for flowers, so take this into account when incorporating fruit into your arrangements and bouquets.

Now that you have a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can take a look at different bouquets to get an idea about what you’d like to create!

Floral Fruit Arrangement Inspiration

Photo courtesy of Bowtie & Bell

Kumquats

This autumn-inspired bouquet incorporates warm colors and tiny fruit to create a showstopping arrangement. The orange and red kumquats complement the rich colors of the flowers while adding a cheery feel to the overall display.

• Kumquat – These rounded are the perfect choice if you’re looking for smaller fruit accents instead of a large statement piece. The fruit casually hang down and out of the way of their floral neighbors.
• Rose – The light pink roses help round out the rich color palette for this bouquet and set the mood for this fall-themed arrangement.
• Dahlia – Full-bodied dahlias add texture to this highly contrasting arrangement. These big blooms accompany the roses as beautiful statement flowers.

Photo courtesy of Esther Sun Photography

Brunia Berries

Brunia berries are an easy way to pull a bouquet together without adding too much texture or weight to your arrangement. This bouquet thoughtfully places the smooth berries amongst the posh flowers and other protruding greenery for a delicate contrast. The light orange roses tie the arrangement together with their beautiful petals and soft color.

• Brunia Berries – These decorative berries are popular choices for winter bouquets and arrangements. Silver brunia are especially known for their soft color and effortless beauty.
• Anemone – The anemone flowers gently poke out of this bouquet to complement the beautiful roses and protruding foliage. Their distinguishable dark centers and soft petals make these eye-catching flowers popular choices for wedding bouquets.
• Rose – These light orange roses add the right touch of elegance to this lush bouquet. The big blooms of the roses protrude in the right spots to contrast the wild greenery in the bouquet.

Blueberries

Berries, succulents and voluminous blooms create a gorgeous arrangement with subtle touches of color. The tiny berries contrast the big florals and vibrant greenery in the bouquet to give a balanced and graceful look.

• Blueberry – Tiny blueberries add a whimsical touch to any floral bouquet. Keep these berries on the branch to easily place in any part of the arrangement.
• Succulent – Light-colored succulents are another unique greenery choice that instantly elevates your bouquets look and adds unique texture to the overall arrangement.
• Dahlia – The single white dahlia in this bouquet catches the eye and delicately contrasts the overall blue color palette in this arrangement. This white flower draws the eye and creates a beautiful center point for this bouquet.

Bouquet photo courtesy of Julian Kanz from Wylie and David’s wedding.

Olives

Olive trees are ubiquitous Mediterranean landscape and their branches have long been an global symbol of peace. However, their long, narrow leaves dotted in green or purple fruit can make a great addition to floral arrangements. Olive branches can be used as filler to add a subtle Mediterranean feel to your bouquet, or they can act as star of the show. Their long, willowy branches tend to create dramatic and creative shapes. Consider using flowering branches among other local blooms to add a nuanced texture to the bouquet.

Table photo courtesy of Facibeni from Andrea and Drew’s wedding.

Lemons

Lemons are a staple of Italian culture and cuisine and can be found as the key flavor in shaved ice, limoncello, lemonade, and gelato. They can also make welcome guests in any brightly colored floral arrangement.

Lemons look best among bright green, white, or blue arrangements. Sliced or whole, they serve as an excellent surprise to guests! Many florists also enjoy the look of filling up a clear glass vase with sliced lemons. The best part about using lemons in floral arrangements is that they are very acidic and will not brown leading up to your big day.

Table centerpiece photo courtesy of Ed Peers from Dominique and Rick’s wedding.

Grapes

Another local fruit perfect for wedding bouquets are grapes. Italy’s Mediterranean climate is home to hundreds of sprawling vineyards that you can take advantage of. Grapes are best included in floral arrangement near the bottom, cascading over the edge of the vase.

The most popular type of grape planted in Italy are sangiovese grapes, used to make red wines. If you catch them before being sent to fermentation, their dusky violet berries will provide a brilliant burst of color in your wedding bouquets. For weddings with a muted color scheme, white grapes are an excellent addition. Place some Cinque Terre grapes: the bosco, alberola or vermentino grapes, among white hydrangeas and soft green foliage for an elegant, traditional arrangement. Or contrast with some colour pop to add some rustic fun into your day.

Fruit and flowers also add a warm and elegant aspect to any gift. In addition to the examples here, you can also take ideas from old still life paintings that feature fruit and floral centerpieces. You can easily turn a regular bouquet at your dinner table into a living work of art with the right ingredients! Take your newfound fruit and floral inspiration to the next level by gifting perfectly paired berries and flowers to the favorite people in your life!

Written by guest Maddy for Cinque Terre Wedding. Maddy is nature lover who also enjoys discovering new music, exploring local restaurants, and petting every cat she sees.

The post How to use Italian Fruit in Weddings appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

Let Nature Help You Get Your Beauty Sleep

Your wedding day will be full of moments you’ll want to remember. Regular exercise and a well-balanced diet are crucial to looking your best, but there’s one element that’s often forgotten – sleep. Beauty sleep is real, and it can make a big difference not only in how you look on your wedding day but how you feel.

The Reality of Beauty Sleep

Sleep plays a role in your health and appearance. A study funded by Estée Lauder explored the connection between sleep deprivation and skin aging. The health of participants’ skin was evaluated through a series of tests, and it was found that those who slept less or experienced poor sleep quality showed more signs of fine lines, uneven pigmentation, slack skin, and reduced skin elasticity. Researchers also found that the skin of those who slept better recovered 30 percent more quickly from environmental stressors such as sun damage.

It’s not just your skin’s health that’s at risk. Another study compared the perceived health of participants after getting a full night’s rest to their perceived health after being awake for 31 hours. Observers looked at photos of the same people after both conditions. After sleep deprivation, participants were rated as looking less healthy, less attractive, and more tired.

Beyond your appearance, adequate sleep, that’s a full seven to eight hours, helps keep your appetite and metabolism in check, your immune system strong, and the emotional center of your brain in balance. Sleep is vital to your physical and emotional health.

Photo from Wylie and David’s Wedding in the Cinque Terre taken by Julian Kanz.

Getting Good Sleep with Nature’s Help

Destination weddings in places like the Cinque Terre, Italy, can provide a cultural experience. They also put you in the beautiful natural surroundings which can help you relax for better sleep. The outdoors can help reduce stress and anxiety, both of which are common before a wedding. Seaside weddings also have the benefit of providing natural white noise. Sudden sound changes are what wake you up at night, but white noise puts out a consistent even sound across all hearable frequencies. The rhythmic rush of waves can be the white noise that helps you drift off to sleep before your big day.

Photo from Dominique and Rick’s wedding in the Cinque Terre taken by Ed Peers.

You can also help yourself get better sleep both before and after your wedding by:

Finding the Right Mattress:

It is your mattress at home that can make all the difference to your ability to fall and stay asleep in the months leading up to your big day. If you are plagued by frequent waking or aches and pains, you might need one that supports your height, weight, and/or preferred sleep position – back, stomach, side.

Keeping a Consistent Sleep-Wake Schedule:

Going to bed and waking up at the same time helps your body follow its natural circadian rhythms, which are regular 24-hour biological and physiological cycles. Try to keep your sleep-wake schedule even on weekends.

Adjusting for Jet Lag:

A destination wedding in a place like the Cinque Terre might require you to adjust to a new time zone. While you probably can’t eliminate all the effects of jet lag, you can prepare in advance to help yourself get the rest you need. A few days before you leave, start moving your bed and wake time closer to your destinations time by 30-60 minutes each night.

Avoiding Screens Close to Bedtime:

The screens of some electronic devices like laptops and smartphones give off a bright blue light that can suppress the release of sleep hormones. Some devices have a low blue light setting otherwise you’ll need to turn them off at least two to three hours before bed to prevent a delay in the onset of sleep.

Getting your beauty sleep will help you enjoy your wedding day in a place like the Cinque Terre, Italy, to the fullest.

Photo from Wylie and David’s Wedding in the Cinque Terre taken by Julian Kanz.

Written by guest blogger Samantha Kent for Cinque Terre Wedding. Guest blogger Samantha Kent is a researcher for SleepHelp.org. Her favorite writing topic is how getting enough sleep can improve your life.

The post Beauty Sleep is Real – Top Tips for Destination Weddings from Sleep Expert appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

Cause let’s face it, it was a bit of destination wedding for American Meghan Markle who we watched do what a lot of destination wedding brides do: fly in their family and friends from a country far, far, away, fuse together the bride and groom’s cultural heritage and traditions and embrace the local culture.

So our top 5 destination wedding ideas from Harry and Meghan’s Royal Wedding are:

Destination Wedding Ideas Number 1: Simple Wedding Dress.

Or should we say dresses. 5 meter veil aside, (although we loved the symbolism of the embroidered flora from the 53 commonwealth countries) both of Meghan’s dresses were simple, fresh and classic. Meghan’s ceremony dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller of Parisian label Givenchy and her reception dress, by British designer Stella McCartney, were both pared down and relaxed – just perfect for a destination wedding. Think more luggage space, less time in front of the steamer and freedom of movement to explore the exotic location for your photos and most importantly to kick off your shoes to partay.

Photo credit: Glamour Magazine 

Photo credit: Hello Magazine

Destination Wedding Ideas Number 2: Incognito Cake Stands.

Allow us to drool at the cake for a moment please. Thanks. We just love, love, love the clean, fresh, semplicità of this cake. According to our Italian bakers it’s an easy cake to make and there’s even this nifty behind the scenes video on how it was put together but we’ll leave the baking to the experts.

Instead, what about the presentation? Of course, genius! Why should tiers sit squishy on top of one another when they can all have their own little perch of space to breathe and swing their arms around in joy and say: “look at me, ain’t I sweet!” We love this deconstructed approach to the traditional tiered cake, which is in fact a British design from the late 1700s inspired by the spire of St Bride’s church in London.

But enough of our geeky wedding history facts, what we love best about the cake is not the clean exterior, the deconstructed tiers or the glorious ruffled peonies (but how heavenly are they?) it is the wizardry of re-purposing the pedestal vases as cake stands that makes us gawk in holy moliness. Just when we thought we couldn’t get enough of metallic pedestal vases out they come masquerading as cake stands – you cheeky little vases, we see what you’re doing and we love it!

Photo credit: Hello Magazine

Destination Wedding Ideas Number 3: Going Han Solo.

It takes a bucket load of courage with a very big straw for a bride to walk down the aisle by herself. And Meghan did it with the eyes of the world watching. Thanks to this gutsy young lass, now brides around the world will find it easier to do the same.

Today, with nuclear families being less common, we often see brides and grooms juggle the emotions and expectations of split family dynamics when planning their big day. As a result, the tradition of the bride’s father walking her down the aisle and giving her away is becoming more and more outdated. Going solo is a diplomatic solution for many brides who would prefer to forego this tradition, a tradition that derives from, fact alert: ancient times of arranged marriages. Going solo instead brings the focus back to the bride and groom. So thank you Meghan for gifting us with a get out of jail free card for all couples who want to break away from tradition.

Photo credit: Andrew Matthews in the Times

Destination Wedding Ideas Number 4: Posey got back.

A pocket full of posies… or a bouquet full… whatever your poison, Harry and Meghan have bought posies back! Meghan’s discrete posey embraced the current wildflower bouquet trend and included white forget-me-nots, sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine astrantia and a sprig of myrtle to symbolise love.

Posies, most easily described as a small bouquet of scented flowers or herbs, are an English invention, yes, fact alert on its way: popular in Harry’s great, great, Grandmother Victoria’s era. The posey, also known as a nosegay or tussie mussie was popular in the early 1800s, when bathing opportunities were limited, so were carried to mask odours.

However, according to Hello Magazine, Buckingham Palace has 74 bathrooms, so we imagine Meghan’s bouquet choice was less to do with fragrance and more to do with taste. Or Harry’s taste to be more exact, cause here’s the real humdinger of the bouquet, Harry apparently picked the flowers himself!

This is a first! We are yet to have a groom pick the bouquet for his bride and we are hedging our bets on this becoming a top bridal trend. And why wouldn’t it be? It’s a clever way of multi-purposing the bouquet: “tadaa! Here’s your bouquet, but not just any old bouquet, it’s a bouquet with benefits: a wonderful gift, a super special gesture of love from your husband-to-be.”

So challenge to you all you up and coming grooms: Have you got what it takes to pick the bouquet of your bride’s dreams?

Photo credit: Jane Barlow – WPA Pool Getty Images in Glamour Magazine

Destination Wedding Ideas Number 5: Marry a Redhead.

(no, just kidding, though according to National Geographic redheads are said to be an endangered breed that could be extinct in the next 100 years, so not such a bad idea, after all). Anyway, let’s try that again…

Destination Wedding Ideas Number 5: Electric Wedding Car.

Our final O moment from Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding was when the couple left Windsor Castle in a Jaguar E Type Concept Zero. Yes, it was an iconic English automobile and yes, it was a little strange that the steering wheel was on the left hand side, more strange for Harry than Meghan of course, so perhaps it was a symbolic fusion of England and America, but the most trend forecasting joy was that the car was zero-emissions and battery-electric powered.

So for your destination wedding in Italy how about arriving in an electric Vespa, Ape or mini Fiat 500, or if you want to get to the chapel on time you may like to consider a Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo or our nonno’s favourite, the Ferrari? If there’s one thing Italians do well it’s cars, well, that is, aside from destination weddings, food, wine, fashion… ow, the list of what Italian do well is actually endless, so we’ll stop now and leave you to dream about the destination wedding ideas from the Royal Wedding. Sweet dreams!

Photo credit: Getty Images from Town and Country Magazine

Written by Melina Nicholson

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