We chose bold blue and orange accents to create a stimulating contrast.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We are Laura and Matteo. We have known each other since childhood and have been a couple since our teenage years.
Laura is an architect with a headstrong creative streak and a reluctance to compromise once she has an idea in mind.
Matteo is an industrial engineer, a planner with a focus on efficiency — but also a dreamer.
Generally, we love spending our free time outdoors, satisfying a rather stubborn need for movement.
When we do manage to slow down, we both enjoy painting whenever we find the time and quiet for it.
Our sense of style developed quite separately for a long time, partly because we spent several years in a long-distance relationship. Since living together, our individual tastes have gradually grown into a shared, almost intuitive understanding of what we like and value.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We honestly have no idea when we first met. Growing up in a small town like ours, you inevitably run into each other sooner or later. We shared several hobbies, and over time, we naturally became closer. Long before we realised it ourselves, people around us were already convinced that we were meant to be more than just friends.
Back then, we would often sneak away together during lively parties and take long walks through the gardens of our hometown, usually accompanied by a bottle of red wine. In retrospect, the wine was far too cheap, and our behaviour must have been remarkably obvious. At the time, apparently, we needed everyone else to figure it out first.
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).
Right from the start, we set a clear colour palette, which made every design choice much easier and ensured a consistent vibe in the different spots of our venue. Knowing that the plant nursery would be lush with greenery, we chose bold blue and orange accents to create a stimulating contrast.
We prioritised purposeful design over decorative clutter. Laura designed custom tablecloths, which were sewn by her mother and aunt and hand-painted by Laura herself – simply because she had always wanted to try it out.
We also cast our candle holders out of concrete. For the florals, we stayed minimalistic to let individual stems shine: beautiful blue delphiniums for the bridal bouquet, single orange dahlias on the tables and abundant blue hydrangeas and orange kalanchoe grown specifically for our ceremony by Matteo’s father, a professional gardener.
We also designed a custom blueprint logo – two stylised figures leaning together to form an arch. Throughout our planning, we rendered this motif in various artistic styles for our Save-the-Dates and invitations. On the wedding day, we turned the guestbook shed into a mini gallery showcasing these artwork iterations.
While we put these things together, the day became increasingly tangible to us, and we felt we were truly making it our own.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
The design aspect — from stationery and tablecloths to the décor — was definitely the fun part and a creative journey we took together. Beyond that, working with warm, collaborative vendors transformed the planning experience. Our caterer offered insightful guidance even on topics outside his scope, and our photographer, Victoria, spent time doing interviews and style alignment sessions with us beforehand. Sharing thoughts with experienced professionals helps you break through inner walls and discover ideas you wouldn’t reach alone. We were also endlessly grateful for our parents and siblings, who handled so many logistics and were always willing to offer their opinion whenever we had a decision to make.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
We were incredibly lucky with our vendors. Alongside our photographer and caterer, a stand-out highlight was the mobile coffee truck that served fresh coffee in the afternoon – It was a particular favourite among Laura’s extended family, who are passionate coffee lovers.
The relaxed and vibrant atmosphere throughout the day was largely thanks to our live band—a talented singer and multi-instrumentalist duo. They created a wonderful balance between soft, subtle moments and bursts of energy, setting the perfect musical backdrop while also knowing when to capture everyone’s attention and get our guests dancing. They even stepped up spontaneously when an unexpected rain shower hit, seamlessly saving our outdoor reception. Later, a friend took over as DJ, collaborating with the band for a flawless live-to-DJ transition.
Not officially professionals, but certainly worth mentioning as standout performers were our friends and family: The ceremony was scripted and delivered by our siblings, who were also our maid of honour and best man. They gave deeply personal and heartfelt speeches, filled with a depth and intimacy that surprised both us and everyone present. Choosing their words over a professional speaker was a decision we never regretted.
As Laura walked down the aisle, one of Matteo’s closest friends beautifully performed Can’t Help Falling in Love a cappella, setting the perfect musical tone for the ceremony. We closed the formal part with a second song, performed by another close friend on guitar, and everyone gradually joined in, singing together.
In the end, it was this unique mix of professionals, talented friends, and family that made us feel comfortable and at ease throughout the entire day.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
Laura’s dress was from a small, new boutique in Munich — the city where we used to live, study and work, where we eventually moved in together, and where we said goodbye after seven years to travel and start a new chapter of our lives somewhere new.
What made the dress especially unique was that the owner of the boutique designs and handcrafts each dress herself. We could choose and combine different elements and customise the design to make it our own. For example, we loved the back slit from one of her designs and chose to have it incorporated into our dress instead of the side slit.
Matteo’s outfit, on the other hand, came from a rather traditional, long-established boutique in the city we now call home.
In a way, we ended up wearing a little piece of both places without even planning it — our outfits became a beautiful connection between our time in Munich and our new beginning in a new city.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
The engagement ring came with a memorable backstory. Matteo had a very specific concept in mind and spent time trying to explain it to a silversmith. Eventually, the jeweller handed him a piece of wax and said, “Why don’t you carve it yourself?” When Matteo brought the carved model back, the silversmith smiled and said, “That looks great, let’s cast it.” While the ring felt a bit substantial for Laura’s dainty hands, it carried a special engraving: a rooster and a bear facing each other, playing on our last names – a motif we also printed on the back of our invitations.
Choosing our wedding bands took longer because we wanted something timeless. After testing various materials, we landed on classic gold. Matteo chose a wide, flat band, while Laura opted for a thicker, rounded profile. Though distinct, they complement each other perfectly.
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?).
We wanted our guests to feel completely taken care of and relaxed, which is why investing in live music and the mobile coffee cart was worth every penny.
Equally important to us was finding the right photographer. Victoria did far more than capture stunning imagery; her warm, grounded presence put all our guests at ease. Because everyone felt comfortable around her, the photos turned out beautifully candid and captured the true essence of the day.
Was there a favorite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
The unexpected rain shower during our outdoor vows could have been a disaster, but instead, it turned into one of the most intimate and unforgettable moments of our lives. Standing close together under a single transparent umbrella while reading our vows to each other felt utterly magical. When the sun broke through the clouds immediately after, the whole crowd streamed out into the gardens to start the celebration – it was an unforgettable transition.
Beyond that single moment, what we treasure most is the collective warmth of the day: every spontaneous conversation, seeing everyone we love so happy for us, and a dance party that lasted until the early morning hours. It felt like a dream that went by far too fast.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
People often asked us how we managed to build such a long-lasting relationship from such a young age, and we never had a quick formula to offer. Marriage feels similar – it´s hard to reduce to words. At its core, marriage means that being together feels even more like coming home.
We are both highly independent people who take pride in standing on our own feet, yet we know we wouldn’t be who we are today without each other. Life is simply infinitely richer as a team. We ground each other, keep our shared outlook positive, and give each other the space to dream about everything the future holds for us.
LOCATION Baumschule Kern, Bodensee, Germany, @baumschulekern_eventlocation BRIDE Laura GROOM Matteo PHOTOGRAPHER Victoria van den Hoven, @victoriavandenhoven_weddings ENTERTAINMENT Two Souls CATERING Zehrer Friedrichshafen, @zehrergastronomie; Mobile Cofee Truck – Espressini CAKE Godmother of the bride STATIONERY & SIGNAGE By the couple RINGS Visy & Tinkl, @tinklschmuck BRIDE’S DRESS Lilly Ingenhoven, @lillyingenhoven BRIDE’S SHOES MI/MAI, @mi_mai GROOM’S SUIT & SHOES Digel GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Tie – Real Guys, @realguys.de
