Adelle & Stephen

Elopements are always rather magic, and eloping on the other side of the world, might seem impossible right now, but is a little seed of hope we can plant in our souls and dreams, for those better times ahead. Today we’re sharing the most pretty, the most romantic, the most intimate elopement of Aussies Adelle and Stephen. The pair, who enlisted photographer Roberta Facchini to capture it all and The Tuscan Wedding to bring their own dream to life.

Let’s begin this story, with the tale of how these two first came to meet in Stephen’s words. “We worked together a long time ago. I was searching out people who had been very kind to me in my past and Adelle was the last person I tracked down. We met for a glass of wine and the rest is history.” And the proposal? It was a week-long buildup! “For the seven days leading up to the proposal, I gave Adelle a beautiful card. On my birthday, I proposed on the balcony of our new home, overlooking the ocean.”

The vendor dream team, made this day go off without a hitch says the groom. “Because we eloped I’d like to call out the people that ensured our day was perfect. First, our wedding planner The Tuscan Wedding they are amazing, second my wife’s hair and makeup (she looked so beautiful) Cherie Spisso of Florence, third our Photographer Roberta Facchini, fourth our flowers by Flowers Living and fifth our celebrant Jo Bertolino“.

Before celebrations began, the bride received a very special gift from her future husband. Stephen explains “I purchased a bracelet on the Ponte Vecchio the day before the wedding, in honour of the bride’s family – her uncle did the same thing for her aunt on their 25th wedding anniversary. She wore it on the day.”

The bride wore a gown designed by Rebecca Ingram for Maggie Sottero. The groom donned a blue suit from Aussie brand Oxford.

The couple were married in the garden in a private ceremony led by Jo Bertolino. Stephen shares “It was a very personal wedding centred around myself and my wife with our own written words to each other, a poem I wrote and readings from our Celebrant Jo Bertolino.”

Stephen? He is a big fan of eloping! Telling “We just made sure the focus was on us. Our wedding planners ensured this in every way. Because we eloped, our wedding planning team took all the pressure off us and stepped in where ever needed.”

Stephen remembers one of his favourite moments of the day. “After the ceremony in the garden we climbed some stairs to a place called The Fortress a beautiful structure at the villa. The villa says at this spot time stands still. That couldn’t have been more true. We took a breath, drank some champagne and enjoyed each other’s company. It was magic.”

Advice for couples yet to tie the knot? “Hire a wedding planner,” says Stephen. “If your wedding is a destination one, either eloping or with lots of people, having a wedding planner makes the whole process so much easier and removes stress.”

To celebrate their marriage, the newlyweds were treated to a private dinner in the onsite Winter Garden. Says the groom “The whole day & night was filled with love and music. There was no formal dance.”

“We gave quite a specific outline to our wedding planner around the lead-up, ceremony, photos, dinner. Our expectations were exceeded in every way. At the heart of our wedding, we wanted a memorable experience that we would fondly look back on for the rest of our lives and we got that and more.”

A big congratulations to you both Adelle & Stephen! Thank you both for sharing your story with us today. And thank you to Roberta Facchini & The Tuscan Wedding for sharing today’s wedding!