A couple of years ago, Marta and Oliver fell in love with the city of Matera in Italy, and we have to admit that, after seeing the photographs from their real wedding, we have too! The couple chose a real hidden gem, Altereno Cafè, as the location for their Matera wedding, and it's such a beautiful spot, that it needed little embellishment beyond some rustic greenery. We're totally smitten with Marta's fashion-forward bridal style, not to mention the late-night silent disco, but, quite honestly, it's the reception space that makes this an utterly unforgettable wedding day for us. Katja & Simon Photography captured the whole day in some heart-stopping images, so let's dive in!
This gorgeous pair tell us that they met at work. Marta says, "The first time I saw him, I knew he would be my husband!"
I actually can't cope with this city - it's like something out of a movie!
Marta and Oliver skipped the engagement part of wedding planning altogether - their guests didn't know they were getting married until the invitation arrived! "We just sent everyone an email saying, 'Guess What…' with a link to our wedding website and in big letters, it read, 'We’re Getting Married!'" Love this idea!
Marta's wedding-day look is pure bombshell. What a babe! Her BHLDN gown is a perfect fit for the dramatic landscape of Matera, too!
As first looks go, this one was pretty epic!
A stunning landscape calls for a stunning flower arch!
The couple encountered Matera in a totally random way. Looking for a good stop-off point between Naples and Puglia, Marta simply put her finger on a map and that's where it landed! "We randomly stumbled upon Alterno Café because the sign above the old walls said “Bar” and we were thirsty for our next drink. It is such a well-kept secret. You would never think the views and open-air seating are behind those walls. We sat down for a drink as the sn began to set, and knew right then that this place had captured both of our hearts. We asked to speak to the owner, Antonio Lamachhia, who gave us a tour and told us the history of the place."
That's one very happy bride!
Didn't we tell you this was a pretty spectacular setting? It's taking all our strength not to start googling flights for those views!
When asked to pick a highlight from the wedding, Marta chose, "getting to see each other for the first time during the first look. Doing this privately before the ceremony was so memorable. We also loved everyone dancing like lunatics during the silent disco!"
The couple chose simple decor with maximum impact. Keeping a local, rustic feel, olive leave bunches and garlands adorned the signage and tables, with pretty festoon lighting hanging overhead.
Marta tells us, "The history of Matera made us understand that our décor would not need to be extravagant, because the venue itself was so magical. But the olive groves in Puglia gave us inspiration for the green olive branches with white floral, which featured in the ceremony and reception spaces."
Marta's tip for engaged couples is such an important one! "Have patience," she says, "especially when getting married in another country where you don’t speak the language! And roll with everything. Do not let yourself stress out over the details, because everything will work out perfectly at the end. If you're getting married abroad and you don't speak the language, hire a wedding planner. It will be well worth it!"
What an atmospheric setting to break bread with your favourite people! We love it when couples planning a destination wedding bring their guests somewhere really special.
That's some backdrop for a first dance!
Before we leave you, we've got to say a huge thank you to Marta and Oliver for telling us how their put their wedding day together, and to Katja and Simon Photography for sharing the beautiful imagery.
