For Alexander and Alexandra, a big wedding was a “been there, done that” for the couple. They had a big wedding in their hometown and wished to spend more time with family and friends in a picturesque setting. They chose the bucolic Piero Mancini Winery in Sardinia, Italy for their authentic Italian destination wedding.

“Everyone was in a holiday mood which made for an amazing atmosphere,” Alexandra said. “It was not primarily about us getting married; it was more about everyone enjoying life and celebrating it at its best.”

Thanks to Antonio Patta for the absolutely breathtaking photos that make us want to jet off to Italy!

Alexander 27, & Alexandra, 28

Location: Sardinia, Italy

Wedding Date:  May 28, 2016

Number of Guests: 55

Wedding Cost: $30,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Piero Mancini

Wedding Reception Location: Li Finistreddi

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We had a big wedding with more than 120 family and friends before in our hometown. That’s why we wanted to spend some more time with our closest in a beautiful Mediterranean environment. Everyone was in a holiday mood which made for an amazing atmosphere. It was not primarily about us getting married; it was more about everyone enjoying life and celebrating it at its best.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

It was really great to search Sardinia for the perfect intimate wedding location. Once we decided to do it, there was no turning back! But then it turned out to be quite complicated to organize and translate the German—Italian wedding approach all by ourselves. At first, we tried to manage everything on our own, but soon we got to a point at which we were happy to hire a wedding planner.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

No, we just followed our hearts on this one.

Did you have any issues with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

No, not really. Since we communicated the save the date one year ahead, all of our friends and family were more than looking forward to a unique and really fun time.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The official just rocked the ceremony, making jokes, singing, playing the piano, reminiscing, philosophizing and praying, and of course the beautiful intercession. Everyone said it could’ve taken a few hours longer because it was so entertaining. Every engaged couple approached the official because they thought he was just incredibly cool. Too bad he retired this year!

What were the highlights of the reception?

Sea food fiesta, an awesome party and a photo booth and the pool crushing at the very end at dawn.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Spending unforgettable time with each other during a once in a lifetime experience. It was absolutely priceless.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Attention to detail pays off!

Vendors:

Ceremony location: Vigneti Piero Mancini

Reception Venue: Li Finistreddi Exclusive Country Retreat

Wedding Planning: Anthea DMC

Photographer: Antonia Patta 

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

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Groomsmen can be difficult to buy for, but have no fear – we’ve rounded up ten perfect gifts for your groomsmen from Etsy that will be sure to be a hit.

These laser engraved arrow scotch glasses from FlowertownWeddings look fabulous and will be used for years to come.

This handmade wood beer bottle opener and cap catcher from TheHenryHouse is awesome and practical.

Forget the usual wine gift bag and upgrade to this personalized wooden wine box from EverythingEtchedAZ.

A heavy duty personalized leather bag from LifetimeLeatherCo is a gift that will be cherished. Why not fill it with some of the grooming products pictured below?

How about this deluxe kit from CraftsmanSoapCo? It’s a great choice for any bearded beer lover in your life. It comes with beard oil, a bar of soap made with craft beer, and a tin of beard wax.

This shaving kit from DaveandAthena is perfect for the groomsman who likes to pamper his skin.

Who wouldn’t appreciate these waxed canvas dopp cases from PegandAwl?

Keep the groomsmen looking dapper with these unique velvet bow ties from ScoccaPapillon.

Personalize a pair of socks from shopsockprints for all of the guys in the wedding party.

And finally, your groomsmen will love these superhero cufflinks from SkeltonsTreasures.

*This post contains Etsy affiliate links.

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Chances are you’ve already got dishes, cookware and many other household essentials. Why bother with a wedding registry?

Wedding registries don’t have to be confined to household items. In fact, you can register for just about anything – and that includes items to make your honeymoon dreams a reality.

At Boscov’s, your wedding guests can gift you everything from luggage to fitness trackers to keep you active on your travels. To help you kick start your registry list, we created a list of travel essentials that will have you saying bon voyage in style!

1. A toiletry bag is essential for all of your travels. We suggest The Royce leather toiletry travel bag not only for its good looks, but also because it’s washable – and perfect for him or her.

2. If your travels include shopping, we recommend the London Fog Lancaster Frame Satchel. Not only is it super chic, it’s practical and full of pockets to securely hold all of your essentials.

3. On your travels you will need a place to safely hold your passport. The Top Grain Nappa Leather passport wallet not only keeps your passport safe, it also has pockets for credit cards, ID, foreign currency and travel papers.

4. A suitcase is essential for traveling – but don’t settle for any old suitcase. Travel in style with the Jenni Chan Aria Broadway 20-inch Spinner. It features lightweight construction, a comfortable slim telescoping handle, easy to grab carry handles, a fully lined interior, pockets and straps for keeping your clothing in place.

5. Planning on a few nights on the town? You’ll want to bring some bling – but where will you store it? We suggest the Mele & Co. Joy faux leather travel jewelry case. A drawstring pouch inside the case will store your necklaces and bracelets, while a snap out earring strap on the interior of the lid will hold your earrings.

6. Traveling is exciting – but it can also be stressful. Stay calm and centered with aromatherapy via the HoMedics Blossom Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser, which delivers a fine mist of natural aroma (see #10) into your surroundings.

7. What would a vacation be without music? Whether you are looking to relax with some classic jazz or go up tempo with the latest electronic beats, Sentry’s Bluetooth Deluxe Headphones will make you feel like dancing. It’s also engineered to provide a comfortable, enjoyable listening experience and is compatible with most mobile and audio devices.

8. Rest and relaxation is probably high on your vacation priority list – but slacking off entirely might not be such a great idea. With the Nuband ACTIV+ Activity and Sleep Tracking Sports Watch, you can stay on track with your exercise routine while on vacation. The device will count your steps, providing calories burned and distance traveled – as well as chart your sleep. This activity tracker is also Bluetooth enabled so you can easily track your activity, goals, and history on your mobile app.

9. If you are heading to a warm, sunny destination, we suggest the White Mountain Bluejay thong comfort sandals, featuring seed beads, gem stones, and a molded suedette cushioned foot bed. Practical for heading to the beach – but dressy enough to wear to dinner.

10.  You’ve already packed your diffuser – now all you need for your aromatherapy to kick in is an essential oil blend. The HoMedics wind down oil is a great way to calm down from your daily stress. It is made of Lavandin, lavender, vetiver, clary sage, Balsam of Peru, marjoram, ylang ylang, and cardamom.

Now that the travel bug has officially bitten you, go ahead and create your Boscov’s registry online – or in store, it’s up to you. Known for personalized service, there is an actual registry consultant in each Boscov’s store to make the process of creating your registry easy peasy.

Along with your travel items, you can also register for the vacation itself with Boscov’s Travel Registry. The registry gives your guests the opportunity to contribute funds toward your honeymoon. How awesome is that?

Want to learn more? Visit Boscov’s Registry.

Sponsored post.

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The hills are alive with the sweet romance of Holly and Josh’s rustic elopement! Their big day in Tennessee started with a hike up to Roan Mountain, which was the perfect spot to say their vows. Not only was the spot breathtakingly beautiful, it was where Josh proposed to Holly six months earlier.

Photographer Katy Sergent captured all the beautiful magic for the lovely couple to treasure forever. Gorgeous!

Holly, 32 & Josh, 35

Location: Roan Mountain,Tennessee

Wedding Date: June 29, 2016

Number of Guests: None. It was just us, the officiant, and the photographer.

Wedding Cost: Around $1,500 including the photographer, officiant, dress, etc.

Wedding Ceremony Location: Round Bald in Roan Mountain State Park

Wedding Reception Location: We didn’t have a reception.

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

Neither of us wanted a traditional wedding. We wanted our wedding to be about expressing our love to one another, and I think the stress that comes with having a large wedding can sometimes take the focus away from that. Also, having an intimate wedding allowed us more flexibility in choosing a spot that would be meaningful to both of us. Since we both love hiking and being outdoors, we thought Roan Mountain would be a perfect location since it’s beautiful and also a special place for us (we got engaged there six months prior to the wedding). Another reason we liked the idea of a small and simple wedding is that it would allow us to put more money into our future, like preparing for buying a house.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

Trying to plan out all of the small details was a little challenging but everything came together perfectly on the day of the wedding. Another challenge was the weather since we wanted to do an outdoor wedding. Roan Mountain is especially tricky because it tends to be either rainy or very overcast during the summer. We were extremely lucky to have a clear and sunny day with beautiful mountain views even though the weather forecast had been showing rain prior to the wedding.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

It was a little difficult to decide if we wanted any friends or family members there, but we ultimately decided to keep it simple and just have it be the two of us.

Did you have any issues with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

We didn’t really have any issues. Both of our families were very understanding and happy for us. It helped that we had great photos to share with everyone afterwards.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

We couldn’t have asked for better weather and we found a great spot with beautiful panoramic views of the mountains in the background. We were also lucky to find an amazing photographer, Katy Sergent, who was willing to hike up to Round Bald with us and help us find the perfect spot for the ceremony.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Our wedding was very low pressure and relaxed, so we both felt like we could really enjoy our day and focus on each other. Since we didn’t worry about all of the craziness that comes with planning a big wedding, we were able to put our full attention into all the small details and make sure everything turned out exactly the way we wanted it to on our wedding day. We were both amazed at how smoothly everything went.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Choose a spot that is meaningful to both of you and reflects your personalities. One of the best parts about having an intimate wedding is that it gives you the flexibility to do that. Keep things simple to make your wedding day low-stress and focused on the two of you truly enjoying your day. Also, I think finding the right photographer can be particularly important when having an intimate wedding (especially if it’s just the two of you) so you can share pictures of your day with friends and family. Research photographers and find one with a style that suits the type of wedding you are planning.

Vendors:

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Photographer:  Katy Sergent Photography & Design

Dress Designer: BHLDN

Jewelry: Blue Goldsmiths

Floral Designer: H and H Botanicals

Officiant: Karl Hess – Universal Wedding Officiant

Location: Roan Mountain State Park

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Today’s dreamy styled shoot was inspired by the Kentucky Derby. Here’s what Chelsea Tetreault from Chelsea Renee Photography had to say about the shoot:

“When it came time to select a venue for their summer wedding, the bride and groom knew they wanted to share their love of the Kentucky Derby with their guests. The Sam Houston Race Track made for the perfect backdrop to document their love story – showcasing the bride’s own horse, Diesel, as a big part of the wedding day celebration. They toasted with mint juleps while dancing the night away on the dirt track surrounded by family and friends, reminding them of where their own love story got started.”

Kudos to Chelsea Renee Photography and Lynsey Creative for the stunning photos, and to wedding planners and designers Laced with Grace and Designed Affair  for the gorgeous styling.

Vendors:

Photographers: Chelsea Renee Photography and Lynsey Creative

Wedding Planner & Design: Laced with Grace

Design: Designed Affair

Floral: Striking Stems

Mobile Bartenders: Palace Party Beverages

Hair & Makeup: Haley Hair & Co.

Cake: Yummers is Yummy

Linen: Lavish Linens

Calligraphy: Camel & Birdie

Invitation Suites: Sarah Johnson

Bridal Gown: Houston Bridal Gallery

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