25 Jan Styled Shoot in Porto Cesareo, Italy

GiGi and Alex were like many others their age that decided it was time to see the world. It was their mutual love of the beach life that took them away from their quiet lives in Rural South Italy to travel the coastline of New Zealand.

Despite growing up only a few hours from each other, the two had never crossed paths however, while both enjoying some of the most amazing beaches the world has to offer, Gigi and Alex met along a stretch of private beach just days before Alex was due to return home.

Some would say fate brought the two together… They said it was just ‘meant to be’.

With her beautiful long dark hair and classic Italian looks, GiGi had Alex smitten and the pair instantly connected. So much so, Alex delayed his plans to return home and the two continued travels around Bali and South East Asia. Spending every moment together they grew close very quickly and soon fell in love with their shared interests of travelling and laid-back take on life. To many it may have seemed too soon, but the couple were in love. So in love in fact that Alex arranged a magical proposal and promised GiGi that they’d return home and say “I do” on a private beach in Italy, just the two of them, just how it had been when they first met.

Wanting to bring their promise to life Claire Clarke of Claire Clarke Weddings and Daniela Ferry of Ferri Photography pulled together a collaborate styled shoot which they simply felt had to be as relaxed and care free as the couple were. After finding the perfect location, an elopement shoot was planned on a private stretch of beach in Porto Cesareo, Puglia.

With Daniela’s beautifully soft feel to her documentary fine-art photography style and with the realism Marco Schifa Photography was able to capture in his stunning film of the day, we feel this elopement love story was perfectly told in this styled shoot.

Claire and Daniela wanted to utilise a different palette to that usually seen so a shoot with a mix of powder blues, greys, pale pinks and peaches combined with warm copper was planned. Predicting textures to play more of a part in both bridal fashion and tablescapes, this was also a focus for the shoot.

Il Ristorante dell’Isola gave the perfect backdrop to the shoot with floor to ceiling glass windows and gorgeous views of the Ionian Sea. Sharing its location with Isola Beach Club the couple were able to wonder the private beach and have a magical location for their marriage vows at the edge of the private island.

With perfectly classic Italian looks, our models for the day encompassed the relaxed and laid back feel we felt was needed to bring our story for this shoot to life.

Maria Antonietta Miglietta of Brunetti6 Hair Parlor styled our bride with a Hollywood glamour yet laid back look allowing the beautiful separates from Cambridge based couture bridal and evening wear designer Bowen-Dryden stocked by Woburn Bridal steal the limelight. With gorgeous appliqué florals delicately attached to the skirt of this two-piece combined with the elegance of the plain silk top, we were able to incorporate the textured trend we predict is going to appear in bridal fashion and weddings.

Our groom wore a blue vintage inspired waistcoat and trousers from the Southwold range from The Vintage Suite Hire Company. Teamed with their grey wool bow tie, rolled sleeves on a crisp white shirt and brogue styled brown leather shoes from Keep Original our groom was beach shoot ready!

Florals for the day were created by local Puglian florist Annalori Blasi of Fiori Eventi Puglia. Annalori worked with a mix Ranunculus, Calla Lilies, Freesia and matthiola in a variety of pale pinks, peaches and creams tied loosely alongside lots of foliage which gave an effortless boho feel to the florals. Wanting to move away from the current trends of floral archways Claire and Daniela set about creating something suitable for a ceremonial statement but with a difference. Annalori was asked to create a wild ring of florals and greenery which placed against the light stone ground and blue sea backdrop, gave the whimsical look they were looking for and hopefully will set a new trend!

Playing on the blue tones of the beach backdrop, silks and linens were provided by Kate Cullen in a variety of blue, grey and cream shades. Ribbons in pale pink and peaches were used to tie in the florals and these colours combined all worked perfectly against the beach wood bare tables used in our tablescape. Copper was used alongside the soft colours to create warmth and our pale blue candles from Nordic House looked stunning in our copper candlesticks. Wanting to focus more on textures, grey toned plates featuring Aztec prints were paired with a pale grey linen and finished with florals to add height.

In hope to tie in the beach theme whilst being environmentally friendly, Claire and Daniela sourced washed up sea glass and worked with stationery designer Laura E Patrick to create a custom designed suite incorporating these as name place cards. The end result not only gave an ethical touch to the shoot but also shows how different textures can be used to create something beautiful. Using the sea glass as inspiration the rest of the suite featured coppers, blues and greys matched perfectly with vellum pieces to mirror the part transparency of the glass.

The opal and diamond engagement ring from St Gyles Jewellers styled alongside a light blue velvet box from La Petit Box and macarons from Maison Des Macarons in a mix of pale peaches and powder blues we’re styled with vintage stamps, ribbons and washed up sea wood to give some swoon-worthy images.

We feel the beach boho finish of this shoot and the soft details work around the elopement story perfectly making any reader fall in love with the concept and imagery. 

A huge THANK YOU to all the amazing suppliers involved in making this vision come to life!

Venue: Il Ristorante dell’Isola @ilristorantedellisola
Photographer: Ferri Photography @ferriphotography
Videographer: Marco Schifa @marco_schifa
Wedding Planner/ Stylist: Claire Clarke Weddings @claireclarkeweddings
Male model: Giulio Centonze
Female model: Alessandra Renis
Florist: Fiori Eventi Puglia by Annalori Blasi @annalori_blasi
Fabrics and ribbons: Kate Cullen @katecullenstyle
Dress boutique: Woburn Bridal @woburn_bridal
Dress designer: Bowen Dryden @bowendryden
Suit: Vintage Suit Hire @vintagesuithire
Male Shoes: Keep Originals @keeporiginals

Hair: Brunetti6- Hair Parlor @brunetti6hair
Make Up: Brunetti6- Hair Parlor @brunetti6hair
Stationary: Laura E Patrick @lauraelizabethpatrick
Engagement Ring: St Gyles Jewellers @stgylesjewellers
Ring Box: La Petit Box @lapetitbox
Macarons: Maison Des Macarons @maison_des_macarons