Romantic Outdoor Rome Wedding

On a September day Valentina and Arianna stood hand in hand in the Italian countryside just outside Rome, surrounded by their closest family and friends, and promised each other forever. Their wedding was everything they dreamed of—intimate, authentic and overflowing with love.

From a love story that began in middle school to a heartfelt ceremony filled with lilac blooms and laughter, Valentina and Arianna open up about their journey, their wedding day, and the meaning behind every detail. Scroll through their stunning wedding day photos and read their Q&A below to see how their story unfolded.

Who proposed? Tell us about the proposal.

Valentina: Arianna proposed, in a moment as simple as it was deeply ours. It happened in her bedroom, right where it all began, many years ago, in middle school, when we first met. It was summer, and – as happens between those who really love each other – we had just had a fight over a trifle. Nothing serious, but enough to create some tension. I had no idea what was going to happen. Arianna, on the other hand, had already decided. So, after letting go of the moment of nervousness, she looked at me and pulled out the ring. When she asked me to marry her, I was completely shocked. I hadn’t expected anything, I hadn’t taken even half a hint. My first reaction? Tenderly sticking my head into the pillow! It was a spontaneous gesture, trying to contain the wave of emotion that had swept over me. After a few seconds of silence – time to really realize what was happening – I said yes to her. A full, sincere, happy yes. There were no fancy dinners, film sets or prepared speeches. Just the two of us, in the most familiar place possible, with all the love that has always bound us together. And maybe that’s what made that moment so perfect.

Tell us your love story!

Our love story has its roots a long time ago: we met in middle school, two young girls who immediately formed a special bond. We were very close, we looked for each other, we laughed a lot together. Even back then, Arianna was lively, full of energy… let’s say she had her own special way of attracting my attention: she literally threw balls at me! Every other day. In the end, she won me over by exhaustion. But also by the way he managed, in his own way, to make me feel important. Then, as often happens, life separated us. With the transition to high school, we took different paths: Arianna chose the scientific high school, I chose the classical. And for ten long years, we hardly saw each other any more. We knew about each other, occasionally passing each other in passing, but nothing more. Until one day, in 2014, Arianna decided to invite me to her medical thesis discussion. We had not seen each other for some time, but that gesture rekindled something. From there, a spontaneous, natural rapprochement began. We started seeing each other again, initially without expectations, just with the desire to spend time together. We were constantly looking for each other. We saw each other often, even if only to study – although, to be honest, we did completely different things. But the point wasn’t what we did, it was being together. That was enough. And so, day after day, that complicity we had as children returned, but with a new depth. Between 28 November – when Arianna showed up at my birthday with ten presents, one for each birthday she had missed – and the beginning of our relationship, a few months passed. Intense months, full of restrained emotions, glances that spoke for themselves, endless laughter and a sweetness that held us together in an increasingly evident way. There was no single revelatory moment, but a series of small gestures, attentions, shared choices… and then, at some point, it was clear: we had found each other. Starting a relationship between two women, in a context where certain things are not always easily told, was not without its difficulties. But we supported each other. We really got to know each other: me, more reserved, precise, meticulous; her, more impulsive, expansive, instinctive. Two different worlds that, instead of clashing, found a perfect fit. Over the years we have built a daily routine made up of simple gestures, a house, a big dog we love to death, shared projects and many trips, even if only in our imagination. Then, one day, in the little room where it all began, Arianna proposed to me. I had understood nothing: we had just quarreled, and I was convinced that the evening was to be forgotten. Instead she, with her stubborn sweetness, pulled out the ring. I, shocked, buried my head in the pillow to hide my emotion. And then I said yes. That yes brought us all the way to our wedding, surrounded by the people we love most, to celebrate a love that has been able to cross time, grow with us and become stronger every day. This is our story. A story that began in school, was interrupted and then resumed as if time had never passed. A story of choices, of expectations, of imperfect but perfect fits for us. And I know that the best, the most beautiful, is yet to come.

What colors were used in your wedding?

For our wedding we chose a palette that represented us deeply, both in taste and meaning. The main colours were lilac/purple and sage green, two shades that for us evoke balance, sweetness and harmony. Lilac and violet, in their most delicate shades, were the common thread running through the flowers, the arrangements and many small decorative details. They are colours that express spirituality, depth and sensitivity – qualities that we feel are very close to our way of experiencing love. The lilac and purple flowers, soft and enveloping, accompanied the entire ceremony, framing the altar and enriching the vases arranged along the avenue. Green in its different shades, on the other hand, was present in a more discreet but essential way, in the complements, foliage and natural materials. It is a colour that conveys calmness, freshness and authenticity, and we liked the idea of it acting as a counterpoint to lilac, creating a visual and symbolic balance. Together, these two colours spoke of us: of our difference and our harmony. We wanted everything to be coherent, but not rigid: a beauty that was neat, but spontaneous, like our way of being together. These colours accompanied every moment of the day, with elegance and delicacy, leaving a serene and harmonious visual memory, just as we wanted it.

Describe your wedding flowers.

The ceremony set-up opened with a charming cobbled walkway, framed by neatly arranged white chairs, leading to a small stone chapel. Dominating the scene were two tall floral arrangements on the side, composed in a cool, romantic color palette: shades of purple, lilac and lavender intertwined with more intense touches of blue and azure. Lisianthus, carnations and delphinium created a soft but dynamic ensemble, enriched by turquoise flowers with veined, almost velvety petals, which gave a sophisticated and contemporary touch to the composition. The same floral style was taken up at the sides of the altar, creating continuity and visual harmony with the rustic backdrop of the chapel and the greenery of the nearby olive trees. To complete this frame of natural beauty, Valentina’s bouquet gracefully reflected the colours and shapes of the decorations. A hand-picked bouquet, tied with rough twine, combined intense purple, mauve and white flowers with touches of delicate green. Amongst these stood out anemones, craspedia and small essential branches, in a balance between spontaneity and care. The bouquet seemed almost an extension of the landscape, perfectly integrated with the atmosphere of the entire ceremony. Each floral element told something about us: the choice of cold, natural tones spoke of elegance without ostentation, while the free and harmonious composition reflected an authentic love, made up of small details and big emotions.

Tell us about your wedding ceremony.

Our ceremony took place outdoors, in a place that felt deeply ours: a farmhouse surrounded by greenery, with a small stone chapel in the background and an intimate, authentic atmosphere. The late afternoon sun gently warmed the air and lit up the pathway on which we walked, side by side, surrounded by our closest people. We reached the altar each accompanied by our own father, in a moment full of emotion and meaning. That short but intense walk was a way of honoring our roots and the bond with our families, before we met at centre stage and began a new chapter in our history together. It was a custom-made ceremony, built with our celebrant, who guided the moment with deep sensitivity. There were no rigid formulas, but a sincere telling of our bond. Every word, every gesture and every piece of music was designed to tell who we are and what marriage means to us. We wrote the promises in our own handwriting. We wanted them to be true, to tell without filters the road we have travelled and the one we commit to travel together. Reading them aloud, in front of those who accompanied us on our journey, was a moment of great emotion and intimacy. The words trembled a little, but they were full of love and awareness. One of the most special elements of the ceremony was the Lego ritual. It represents us perfectly, because Lego bricks are a common passion of ours. We wanted to use them as a symbol of our love, a love that is built day by day, with patience, care and imagination. Each color had a meaning: lilac for Valentina, green for Arianna, white for the foundations of our union, yellow for joy and blue for change and complicity. It was a simple gesture, but deeply ours. During the ceremony, friends and family read thoughts and words that touched us deeply. The readings by Cristina, Marco (on behalf of all our witnesses), Anna Maria, Silvia and Alice added warmth and authenticity to the moment, telling from the outside what we live inside. More than a ceremony, it was a real collective embrace. A way of telling the world, but first of all ourselves: ‘We are here, we choose ourselves, and we will do it every day’. Everything was exactly as we wanted it: simple, sincere, emotional. Unforgettable.

Did you have a first dance? If so, what was your first dance song?

The song chosen for our first dance was ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ by Aerosmith, a song that has been with us since middle school. It has been our song for as long as we can remember, the one that makes us smile, move and go back in time every time we hear it. Dancing to it as wives, surrounded by the people we love, was one of the most intense and meaningful moments of the whole day.

How did you personalize your wedding?

We tried to personalize our wedding in every detail, putting a lot of effort, heart and… a lot of manual work! The idea was that everything should really speak of us, our style and our values, without relying too much on pre-packaged solutions.
Vale, with her maniacal precision (which is one of her superpowers!), took care of many creative and organizational aspects: she personally took care of the graphics of the invitations, created the tableau de mariage, the place cards and lovingly personalized the solidarity favors we had chosen together, buying them from Emergency. It was important to us that this gesture also had a deep meaning, that it spoke not only of love, but also of solidarity and commitment to others. Every detail – from the colors and materials to the arrangement of the names and the choice of flowers – was carefully thought out, without delegating too much, precisely because we wanted every element to tell something about us. It was tiring, but incredibly beautiful and rewarding to see everything take shape. In the end, the result was a wedding that was truly ours: simple, authentic and full of meaning.

What challenges did you face as an LGBTQ+ couple planning your wedding?

We sincerely feel lucky because we did not encounter any major difficulties related to being an LGBTQ+ couple. Although we were guided a little by first impressions, all the suppliers we chose turned out to be professional, attentive and respectful. Of course, there were a few little hiccups in the organisation – as happens in any wedding – but nothing that affected the beauty and serenity of our journey.

Did you encounter any pleasant surprises as an LGBTQ+ couple planning your wedding?

Absolutely. One of the most beautiful surprises was meeting our celebrant, Laura Vitale. She was very sweet, attentive and incredibly prepared. She really listened to us, from the heart, and built a tailor-made ceremony for us that fully reflected our story and our way of experiencing love. The most special part? She designed a symbolic rite based on our passion for Lego. An idea that excited us from the very first moment, because it perfectly encapsulated the meaning of our bond: to build something solid, together, piece by piece. It was a tender, original and deeply our own moment. It made us feel seen, welcomed and celebrated for who we are, without the need for filters. The atmosphere of our wedding was intimate, authentic and full of emotion. We wanted it to be a simple but meaningful moment where people could feel part of our story. The outdoor setting, the delicate colors, the music and the details we took care of created a cosy and serene atmosphere. We breathed love, complicity and a lot of joy: we really felt surrounded by goodness. Great credit also goes to the people who accompanied us on this journey. Our celebrant, Laura Vitale, guided the ceremony with a rare gentleness and sensitivity, building for us a symbolic rite that really spoke of who we are. The use of Lego as a metaphor for our love to be built together was an idea that moved us from the first moment, because it perfectly encapsulated the meaning of our bond. It was a tender, original and deeply our own moment, which made us feel seen, welcomed and celebrated for who we are, without the need for filters. Marco and Silvia Coscarella, our photographers, were a discreet but fundamental presence. With delicacy and respect, they were able to capture every emotion, every look, every gesture, without ever forcing anything. Looking back at their photos is like reliving everything, with my heart in my throat and my eyes shining. And finally Patrizia of Poppy Flowers, who with extraordinary sensitivity translated our every idea into reality. The flowers, in shades of lilac and sage green, were exactly as we had imagined them: elegant, harmonious and full of meaning. Her creativity and taste gave color and soul to our day, making it even more special.

What advice would you give to engaged LGBTQ+ marriers?

Our biggest piece of advice is: be yourself at all times. Do not try to fit into a pattern or ‘normalize’ what is already perfect as it is. Choose suppliers, spaces, people and words that make you feel welcome, free and respected. It is your day, not a photo shoot or a show for others. Your love deserves to be celebrated in the most authentic way possible. Don’t be afraid to show yourself, because every gesture of visibility is also an act of love for yourself and for those who will come after. Although it may be a little scary at first, building a ritual and a day that truly resembles you is one of the most beautiful things you can do together.

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FEATURED VENDORS

Photographer: CoscarellaPhoto (An Equally Wed Preferred Vendor)
Venue: Casale Campovecchio
Florist: Poppy Flowers
DJ: Music Wedding Rome
Officiant: Laura Vitale
Attire (Valentina): La Sposa di Maria Pia
Attire (Arianna): Sartoria al Corso