We believe that your wedding day should be the most romantic day of your life. While that can mean a lot of different things for different people, for Darlene and Eric, it meant escaping to Rome for the destination wedding of their dreams. Not wanting to burden their family and friends with the cost and the logistics of traveling overseas, the couple eloped. They skipped the reception in Rome, focusing instead on the ceremony, the intimacy of their vows, and capturing – with the help of their talented photographer Tala – all the romance and the memories of their special day.
Darlene, 30 & Eric, 31
Location: Rome, Italy
Wedding Date: August 21, 2015
Number of Guests: 2
Wedding Cost: ~$5,000
Wedding Ceremony Location: Rome, Italy
Wedding Reception Location: We chose not to have a wedding reception. Instead, we placed our emphasis on the ceremony and our wedding photography.
Why did you have an intimate wedding?
We were mainly interested in planning a destination wedding because of the romance, the excitement, and the memories that we knew we would cherish for a lifetime.
What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?
Some of the challenges included figuring out how to offer some convenience for our families and guests, as well as figuring out certain wedding costs. We had to challenge ourselves to think outside the box in order to accomplish some of our wishes, and we had to remember to keep in mind what was most important to us.
Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?
This was the biggest challenge we faced. We are very close to our family and friends, and with the beauty and romance of Rome being thousands of miles away (we live in Los Angeles, CA), it would have been extremely difficult to ask our family and friends to attend without placing a tremendous burden on them. As a result, we chose to also have a wedding ceremony at home so that we can celebrate this special occasion with our friends and family.
Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?
Yes, we realized early on that it would have been extremely difficult to ask our family and friends to attend a destination wedding without placing a tremendous burden on them. As a result, we planned multiple wedding ceremonies. This allowed us to celebrate this special occasion with our friends and family and also allowed us to plan a romantic, destination wedding as well.
What were the highlights of the ceremony?
The highlight of the ceremony was the intimacy of exchanging our vows.
What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?
The romance, the excitement, and the memories that were captured.
What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?
Be willing to think outside the box and plan your wedding according to what is most important to you and your spouse.
Vendors:
Photography: Tala Nicole Photography
