It was a case of fate finally taking its chance for today's real wedding - Thelma and Alessandro (almost) crossed paths so many times but not quite, until one day in Italy, the love story began. But as for everyone in the last few months, the couple had to undergo the trial by Covid in getting up the aisle. They eventually had a beautifully intimate wedding in their gorgeous home of Polignano a Mare in Italy. It's a little escape to a place so many of us are aching to return to, so enjoy today's beautiful wedding and sweet love story captured beautifully by Valentina Oprandi.

Thelma and Alessandro met in 2017 when the Carlow woman was working as an English teacher in Bari before moving to Polignano after falling in love with the place on a visit. "Around the same time, Ale was moving home from Dublin to set up a restaurant in the area," Thelma explains. "We unknowingly lived on the same street for about four months before our first conversation. As we got to know each other, we discovered lots of times in the past where our paths had almost crossed. He had visited Dubai on business years ago while I was living there and later I was living in Drimnagh while he was only down the road in Inchicore. I'm not a big believer in fate but it did feel like we were slowly being nudged together by a higher power."

While in Italy, Thelma explains, big engagements are not a thing, Alessandro knew it meant a lot to her. "Alessandro knew about the Irish way," she told us. "He actually asked my Mam and Dad for their blessing first before reserving a private room at a Michelin-star restaurant and got down on one knee. He later confessed that he had Googled what exactly he should do! He asked, 'Do you want to get married with me?' and then handed me a ring along with a bundle of papers attesting to the ethicality of the diamond. He was so nervous that he'd mess something up but it was the sweetest thing."

When it came to the early stages of planning, this pair took note of a top tip from our One Fab Day podcast. "I remember doing that 'your wedding in three words' trick from the podcast," Thelma admitted. "We both kept choosing words that meant, more-or-less, the same thing: relaxed, chilled, happy, laid-back, fun, easy-going. At least we were clear on what we wanted. I would say it turned out that way too."

But they jumped over their fair share of hurdles to get there. "We had our wedding during Covid and as a result, our priorities completely changed," Thelma told us. "When we were initially planning, our top priority was to create this happy, fun party for our families to finally meet and join together. As we have both lived abroad and have people we consider family dispersed around the world, we thought this was our one big chance to have everyone under one roof. We kept calling it 'the party' instead of 'the wedding'. The decision to go ahead with our wedding last year meant that we couldn't have that. The focus of the day became just about us which in a lot of ways, was special. We do still want that party though!"

As for choosing a venue for their celebration, this couple found inspiration in an unlikely place. "We saw our venue for the first time on the Italian version of that TV show 'Four in a Bed'," Thelma admitted. "It's very popular here in Italy and the owner seemed so sweet. The place looked really beautiful on-screen but when we got there we were just overwhelmed by everything - the views, the gardens, the suites, the staff... it was all perfect!"

With many of their family not able to make it on the big day, the memorable moments came from special moments courtesy of their nearest and dearest. "I guess the things that stand out were when my six-year-old niece Sophia learned the words to an Italian love song and my sister sent me a video of her singing it on the wedding day," Thelma gushed.

This couple's advice comes after they join a long list of others who planned and celebrated their weddings in the most bizarre of times. "I would echo the advice of a lot of other Covid brides featured on One Fab Day by saying that although it feels like you're making a thousand compromises, it doesn't feel like that on the day," Thelma said. "Our wedding day wasn't anything like we imagined but it was so special, it felt just as significant and just right."

Thanks so much to today's couple Thelma and Alessandro for sharing their truly divine Italian wedding with us and to Valentina Oprandi for capturing it all.