Nic + Rick by Zara Staples

We wanted our wedding to feel full of love.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Nic is a London-based fashion and wedding photographer with 12 years of experience capturing weddings and seven years working in the fashion industry on events and editorials. She recently opened her own photography studio. Rick is building a sauna-focused wellness business and has a passion for music. He has also started working with Nic at weddings and helping out in the studio. We love going on adventures together—whether it’s exploring new cities abroad or discovering new cities locally on Ricks motorbike. We live in North London with our dog, and some of our favourite things to do in the city include dog walks at Hampstead Heath, grabbing a coffee, visiting local markets, enjoying pub lunches, and trying new restaurants.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met on Hinge in 2018 and had our first date in Shoreditch that September. Rick took the lead on planning, but the first bar he’d chosen had closed down—and the second, a hidden speakeasy, turned out to be so hidden that neither of us could find it. After walking in circles for about 45 minutes, we gave up and headed to a pub instead, which led to ramen in Chinatown, a bar crawl through Soho, and ending the night at Ronnie Scott’s jazz bar. It turned out to be the best date I’d ever been on (Nic).

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

We found our dream venue on Airbnb—a beautiful stone-washed villa on the outskirts of Ostuni, Puglia. When we visited last October and met the owners, we knew instantly it was the place. We booked it straight away. We wanted our wedding to feel full of love—not just for us, but for everyone who travelled from near and far to celebrate. Throwing a great party for our guests was really important to us. Having photographed weddings for over a decade, I’ve been lucky enough to see so many incredible celebrations, which definitely helped when planning our own. We knew we wanted a full weekend together; one day just didn’t feel long enough. Being able to share three days with our favourite people was something we’ll never forget. A big focus for us was the flow of the day. We held the ceremony on the lowest level of the villa, moved up a level for drinks and dinner, and then headed to a space at the back for late-night dancing. It meant our guests experienced different parts of the villa throughout the day, and the whole celebration moved naturally from one moment to the next.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

During the planning process, we worked closely with our planner Jen, Kasia the florist and Davide who provided the furniture to create the perfect setting within the villa. Every detail was carefully considered to make the space feel both intimate and elevated. The result was beautiful—deep red and green florals by Kasia complemented the villa’s soft, neutral tones, while curved tables dressed in white linens and paired with clear chairs allowed the vibrant florals—and our guests’ colorful outfits—to really stand out. Dinner was set at the front of the villa facing west, so as we sat down to eat, we could watch the sun set over the horizon.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

We really enjoyed the planning process. A friend gave us a great tip: instead of sitting at home going back and forth over to-do lists, turn it into a “planning date.” You’d find us at coffee shops or sometimes dinner, talking through ideas and decisions. One of the most practical things was a shared spreadsheet with everything written down—prices, timelines, contact details—so we could keep all the information in one place and update it as we went. We also drew on tips from weddings I’d photographed. For example, putting the bar next to the dance floor keeps guests close in the evening. Another idea we loved which I had seen at a wedding this summer, was a coffee table book for guests to write their well-wishes in, which we now get to look back on. At a wedding I shot this summer the bride bought a coffee table book and got their guests to write their well wishes in. Instead of disposable cameras, I collected film cameras from eBay over the year and put them on the tables. Not only did it cut down on waste, but we can pass them on to friends getting married next year. Hosting the evening before the wedding is another tip we’d recommend—it’s a lovely way to see your guests beforehand so you don’t feel pressured to circulate on the day. Go for your couples photos straight from the ceremony, it gives you time to decompress and just be together just the two of you (and your incredible photo and video team!). it also allows your guests to grab a drink and not stand in a line waiting to say hi – when you come back from your photos you will just fall into the reception naturally. Don’t stress the small stuff—only you know what was supposed to happen when. If something minor goes wrong, no one else will even notice! Lastly and most importantly – have fun!

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

All our vendors were incredible and a real pleasure to work with. I loved working with our planner and florists. We had bi-monthly Zoom calls and were able to meet in person to go over all the details. The venue couldn’t have been more accommodating—from the moment we met them right through to the end of our stay, the villa team was incredible. Their help with logistics and liaising with our Italian suppliers was invaluable.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

My dress was bespoke Bon Bride I first heard of Bon Bride through a previous bride whose wedding I shot a few years ago. And ever since I’ve followed Pippa, tagging her in wedding shots and often chatting over DM. I’d booked in a few places to try on and when I arrived at BonBride for my first appointment last November I had a really good feeling. Pippa is passionate about her designs and got so excited throughout the try on session. I had a vision in mind and wanted to experiment with lace. We collaborated with Sheila of unLIKEBRIDE on the dress journey—she helped capture content during the try-on sessions and, with her industry knowledge, guided me in choosing the perfect scent and earrings, fully immersing herself in the process.For the evening, I reimagined my gown by removing the lace overlay and adding a mini skirt, pairing it with black Anny Nord heels and a second pair of Completed Works earrings in black—perfect for dancing the night away. I absolutely loved this journey and would highly recommend Bon Bride and unLIKEBRIDE to anyone looking to curate their own dress journey!

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Rick designed my engagement ring (after a few hints on what style I liked) I loved the idea of having a chunky engagement ring so when we got married I paired it with a baguette ring to give it more of a stack feeling.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Music was at the heart of our celebration. Rick has been in a band since collage and After discovering our dream band during an après session in Morzine earlier in the year, we knew we had to bring that same energy to Puglia. Photography and videographer was really import to us its something I’m passionate about (Nic). TPhotography and videography were also incredibly important to us—something I’m passionate about (Nic). These are the things that last a lifetime; seeing a photo that brings back so many memories allows you to relive your day over and over. Finding our photographers and videographers was actually one of the easiest decisions we made. I came across Irin & Matej on Instagram and instantly fell in love with their work. I reached out immediately, and luckily they were available! Alongside digital photography, we wanted another format to document the day—film, either Super 8 or 16mm. I found Zara & Jared on Instagram, loved their style, and as luck would have it, they were in Europe at the right time. I truly believe that one of the most important aspects of wedding photography is the connection you have with your photographers, videographers, and content creators. Beyond loving their work, you spend the entire day with them, so it’s essential to feel comfortable and at ease with each other.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

Rick’s pre-dinner live band performance was a total surprise for our guests, and he had the best time performing. It set the tone for an unforgettable night of dancing. We also loved our speeches. I hadn’t planned to do one, but a few weeks before the wedding I decided I wanted to—and it ended up being one of the best decisions I made. It was such a special moment to tell our guests how much we love and appreciate them, because sometimes we don’t say it enough. Carrying out our cake instead of cutting it was another highlight. Our catering company made it exactly as I had envisioned—a long, rectangular cake nearly two meters in length. Carrying it through the tables was a fun challenge and added a fresh twist to a traditional part of the day. We got legally married in London two weeks earlier, which meant we could have a less traditional ceremony. Having our friend perform the ceremony made it so special to us—it felt relaxed, personal, and full of joy. There were plenty of fun moments, laughter, and surprises for both us and our guests!

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

Being married means having a support system and a best friend in one. It’s about sharing life’s highs and lows with someone who knows you completely and loves you anyway. For us, marriage is less about grand gestures and more about connection—celebrating moments, creating memories, going on new adventures, and looking back on old ones. We’re grateful to have each other and make time for date nights, exploring new places, and also giving ourselves space to grow individually so we can make our time together the best it can be.