The colours in Italy � be it in the picturesque countryside or within the walls of it's charming towns � are so warm and inviting. And NORDICA PHOTOGRAPHY have a way of bringing this warmth out of their subjects. Gemma & Rocco wanted a simple and relaxed wedding that exuded fun. Almost everything in the wedding came from the groom's home region of Reggio Calabria � aside from the bride's family who flew in from the United Kingdom, and friends who joined them from all over the world.

Meeting whilst working for the UN in Yemen, the gorgeous duo have since travelled and worked their way through several countries. �As we were both working in Iraq in the months leading up to the wedding, we had a great deal of help from Rocco's family in Italy to bring it all together. We had chosen the ceremony venue, in the abandoned village of Pentedattilo, by chance when we happened to decide to visit during a brief holiday to visit Rocco's family. We fell in love with the romantic, tumble-down location (which luckily still has a functioning church) and immediately booked an appointment with the local priest.

Almost everything else from there came from local recommendations and word of mouth and we couldn't have been happier with the way it all worked out. We were recommended the reception venue, Il Bergamotto, a wonderful working farm and agriturismo, by one of the members of the local church choir. After eating the wonderful rustic food, all of which either comes from the farm or local village, and meeting the extremely kind and hospitable owners we were hooked, Tiziana and Sergio. The recommendation for the band came from the owners of Il Bergamotto, and we ended up booking four fantastic local guys who play tarantella music � a kind of traditional country music from Calabria. They had everyone up and dancing from the first to the last moment of the reception!

The flowers came from a local shop and a family friend of Rocco's, whilst we ordered the same cake as his cousin had at her wedding the year before ours which was the best wedding cake either of us had tasted.

Our wonderful photographer from NORDICA PHOTOGRAPHY was another non-Italian addition, having joined us from Sweden. We wanted someone who was able to document the story of the wedding day in a relaxed, authentic way and Jakob definitely delivered over and above our expectations.

On the day itself, we had so much fun we'd love to get married to each other every year (if only someone else would pick up the bill!)."

Photography NORDICA PHOTOGRAPHY / Florals ITALFLORES CHIARA / Cake FRATELLI GIORDANO PASTICCERIA / Ceremony venue CHURCH OF ST PETER & ST PAUL, PENTEDATTILO, REGGIO CALABRIA / Reception venue IL BERGAMOTTO AGRUTURISMO, CONDOFURI, REGGIO CALABRIA / Band MIMMO MORELLO TARANTELLA / Dress PRONOVIAS / Groom's suit TAGLIATORE / Flower girls' dresses MONSOON