Natalie + Philip’s stylish wedding at Villa Nemora

Champagne celebration at wedding at Villa Nemora. Photography by Ela Tatiana — Photography: Ela Tatiana Photography

Natalie and Philip’s love story began with a kiss at a work party in 2013. Their romance blossomed over a trip to Rome in the early days of dating, followed by countless adventures across Italy. Living in rainy London, with their shared passion for Italian cuisine and sunshine, it was clear that Italy would be the perfect setting for their wedding after they got engaged in 2022.

After scouring La Lista and with the guidance of their wedding planner, Ilaria, Natalie and Philip toured three venues in Puglia and five in Tuscany in the search for somewhere that gave them ‘wow-factor’. “We really liked the Masseria style in Puglia but the emotional connection we felt upon arriving in Tuscany sealed the deal—it had to be Tuscany.”

Not only did Villa Nemora provide the ‘wow factor’, but it also gave them different options for settings for their weekend-long celebration. Here, Natalie and Phillip hosted a stylish, modern wedding that would unfold over an entire weekend with their loved ones.

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The Engagement

“Our engagement took place on August 16th 2022, at the stunning Playa Akumel in Mexico. Phil had arranged for us to swim with turtles, fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine. He had intended to propose while we were swimming, however I was too focused on the turtles to notice! Later, as we floated together in the sea, he finally asked the question. Even after 9 years together, it was a surprise—though certainly overdue (in my opinion!). We celebrated the rest of the day with frozen margaritas!”

Why Italy?

“Italy holds a special place in my heart, as I spent many summers there as a child. My aunt's wedding in San Gimignano left a lasting impression on me, with family and friends coming together to celebrate with amazing food under the Tuscan sun.”

Stand Out Moment

“The moment that stands out most for me was seeing Natalie walk down the aisle—she looked absolutely stunning.”

The Budget

“We spent €55k. After hearing horror stories about runaway costs, I overestimated expenses. This turned out to be a good thing, as it gave me some leeway when I wanted to splurge on other things. We set aside a ‘fun budget’ of £3k, which allowed us to add a band at the welcome party and the sparkler cannons—both of which turned out to be some of our favourite memories.”

The Venue

“We wanted a venue with a 'wow' factor. It was particularly important to me that the main wedding venue remained a surprise for most of our guests. Villa Nemora was perfect, with three villas on the property. We hosted our welcome party at Villa Felciai, ensuring that when everyone saw the wedding setup at Nemora for the first time, it truly had that wow factor.”

Did anything go wrong on the day?

“On the wedding day, a Sahara cloud swept over Italy, bringing red rain! We were panicking, but our planner, Ilaria, was incredible. She assured us we wouldn’t have to move everything indoors, and she managed to cover all the white linens and other essentials to prevent the red rain from staining them. Miraculously, by 4 pm, the sun was shining again!”

Stand out suppliers?

“Our photographer Ela felt like a friend from the moment we met. Her warm and friendly demeanour made us feel at ease. The stunning photos she took not only exceeded our expectations but also perfectly captured the essence of our day. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about how beautifully she captured the love and joy of our wedding. Also, our planner Ilaria made our day exceed every expectation, thanks to her professionalism, attention to detail, and dedication.”

Top piece of advice

“Remember, you’re the guests of honour, not just the hosts. This is your day, so focus on enjoying it. There were moments during the planning and the wedding weekend itself when we reminded ourselves that this celebration was for us. It was a bonus that everyone else had a great time, but we made sure to enjoy every moment ourselves.”

The Community

“I’d say I was a ‘La Lista bride.’ Many of the suppliers we chose were recommended by the La Lista team or community, and the Facebook group was an invaluable resource for advice and support during the planning process.”

The Cake

“We had a live presentation of a Millefoglie cake—truly the most delicious cake I’ve ever tasted!—complete with sparkler cannons and champagne spraying in every direction. It was a moment of celebration, surrounded by all the people we love, and I’ve never felt more cherished.”

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Natalie + Philip’s stylish wedding at Villa Nemora

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