Louise + Tariq by Days Made of Love - Together Journal

We opted for a neutral colour theme that was elegant, timeless and romantic.

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

Louise works in business development for a sports brand, and Tariq is a combat sports referee. We recently became parents, and we love our new roles as Mum and Dad. Our favourite thing to do is spend time together with our dog, Hector. We love to travel and visit different places, try new restaurants and cafes, and unwind in front of the TV with a new series after a busy day.

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

We met in London in 2017 while both working in the city. Our first date was at a local bar, where we chatted for hours and laughed so much. Following this, we saw each other regularly and, after two years, decided to move from the UK to the Netherlands. Moving was a huge step, but it has been the most exciting journey—from parties and festivals to starting our little family.

When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

We both knew that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together after we moved to the Netherlands and got our dog – Hector. Hector made us a family and from that point onwards, we couldn’t imagine life without one another.

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

When planning the wedding, the most important aspect to us was bringing everyone that we love together for an unforgettable couple of days. We knew that we didn’t want to do the wedding in the UK or the Netherlands, due to the weather. So, after some research and site visits, we decided to go to Sicily – a place that will forever be special to us. Sicily stood out, particularly our venue – Dimora Delle Balze – as we loved the laid-back yet luxurious feel. Using Sicily as our inspiration for the styling of the wedding, we opted for a neutral colour theme that was elegant, timeless and romantic.

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).

Dimora needed very little styling, and we wanted to let it speak for itself. The rustic buildings and views across the countryside were stunning. Our ceremony was held under the trees lining the entrance of the venue to ensure our guests kept cool in the Sicilian heat. The day then flowed throughout the venue with aperitif on the terrace, a lively dinner in the courtyard and a huge celebration and party by the pool to end the night. The day was a breeze and ran beautifully, thanks to our vendors, especially our wonderful planner, Giulia. Our guests all commented on how beautiful our venue was and how much fun they had. For us, it was the perfect day and one we will cherish forever.

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

We loved every single aspect of the planning journey – from researching vendors to visiting Sicily and exploring the region. Seeing our vision develop and come to life was so special and exciting. Our biggest tip would be to hire a wedding planner who you connect with and who shares your vision. Trust their knowledge and take their lead when it comes to vendor suggestions. Our planner’s input made our wedding a seamless experience – from planning to execution. A highlight of ours is our wedding video, and we never would have known about our videographer if it wasn’t for Giulia.

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

We knew that our bridal outfits had to reflect us but also be timeless so that in years to come when we look back at our day, we don’t regret the choices that we made. Louise wanted to wear a British designer, and Tariq went for the Dutch brand Suit Supply – a nod to our relationship and the countries where it grew.

What was 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?).

The first vendor we focused on was a photographer. We were always prepared to spend a little more on them as we wanted to have quality pictures to reflect back on the day. We wanted to ensure the day was captured in as natural a way as possible, with minimal inconvenience for our guests. As fun for our guests was a main priority, we also always knew that we were prepared to spend more on entertainment. We had a violinist for our ceremony and aperitif and a saxophonist during dinner and dancing, along with a DJ throughout. The saxophonist during dinner was such a surprise for our guests and really made what can sometimes be a boring part of the wedding exciting and fun. Everyone commented on how unique and memorable that part of the wedding was.

Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?

During the ceremony, the celebrant forgot Louise’s name – Tariq had to remind her! And the town mayor pronounced Tariq’s middle name completely wrong. It made us both smile at the time, and now we look back and laugh. So many things can go wrong during a wedding, so we feel lucky it was just this.