Inside: A Spectacular Wedding In Florence

Jack Graham, owner of Raw Press, and Amelia Richards, freelance wellness & brand consultant, met back in 2016 when working together at Raw Press. They got engaged in the South of France in September 2021.

The best part of our day was…

Having everyone we loved together in the sun! Plus the boogying into the wee hours and the skinny dipping that followed! Also, unconventionally, my two younger brothers did a joint speech on the day which had everyone in stitches and was both touching and hilarious in perfect measure! The ballroom was filled with tears of joy and laughter.

We chose to get married at…

Villa Cora in Florence. It’s a huge favourite of ours and we’ve visited on several occasions. We discovered it after finding ourselves stranded in Florence one summer a few years ago and scrolling Mr & Mrs Smith to find somewhere last minute to stay for the night. It’s a breathtaking venue that was once a gift from Baron Oppenheim to his young wife, and the views across Florence from the rooftop are absolutely out of this world! We always knew we’d get married there when the time came.

I knew I found ‘The One’ when…

Honestly it took me twenty minutes to find my dress – and that was only because the lady helping with my fitting insisted I try everything I knew I didn’t want just to make sure! I guess I’m pretty decisive! I went to my first appointment with my really close friend Carla and, along with my mum, she was the only person to see my dress before our big day. My favourite part of my outfit was actually my earrings that I designed myself in collaboration with Salome.

The most enjoyable moments of planning were…

I honestly loved all of it! I’m a sucker for organisation (Jack would probably say ‘control’!) But I suppose ‘having to’ do a recce at Villa Cora in April didn’t hurt. The pool-side cake tasting was the highlight of the trip!

The hardest part of planning was…

Honestly I didn’t find it hard at all. My tips would definitely be to start planning as early as possible, to keep a spreadsheet or similar of your planning progress, and to have a separate inbox for wedding related matters (I didn’t actually do this but it definitely would have made things easier!). Also, if you’re getting married abroad, a visit and a meeting with each of your suppliers well in advance of your big day is a must!

The best accounts to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo are…

@meeleelou (just kidding) but actually I didn’t and don’t follow a bunch – I just went with my heart and with what felt right and unique to us!

Wedding menu highlights…

Aubergine Parmigiana (our shared death row first course) and a fancy take on tiramisu for dessert! Also our stunning cake which was as delicious as it was beautiful, with four tiers alternating between pistachio/white chocolate/raspberry, and fig/salted caramel/dark chocolate!

For our honeymoon we chose…

We had a mini-moon in Sardinia straight after the wedding but haven’t had time for a full honeymoon yet. We’re somewhat torn between visiting South Africa for wine and relaxation, or doing a more ambitious California/Hawaii/Japan combo!

My top three tips for any couple would be…

If you choose a beautiful location, you won’t have to spend as much on decoration and flowers.

Fork out (sorry!) for the best food and drink you can afford – it takes the day to another level and a well-fed guest is a happy guest. Plus you’ll need the fuel if you want to dance the night away!

Get your funniest friends or family members to make the speeches!