Natasha + Richard by Chloe David

We knew we wanted a destination wedding set somewhere grand and dramatic.

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

We are London-based. Tash is an ex-fashion stylist turned motion designer and video editor. I currently work for a social-first creative agency, but in my own time, I make experimental digital work. Particularly working with generative software to create abstract digital art. Rich is a sound recordist, mainly in sport.

We’re also huge animal lovers and dream of one day having an animal sanctuary.

We’ve been together since we were teenagers, and Rich proposed under the stars in Palm Springs.

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

We first met in the spring of 2007 in East London through mutual friends – I gave him my jumper because he was cold – and he conveniently took it home with him. As it turns out, that was all part of his plan to see me again. The rest, as they say, is history.

This was back in the days when we were all in our emo phase and living on Myspace. I’d come across his profile before we met and remember thinking he was almost painfully cool with his tattoos and what we’d now call an ‘Emo Karen’ haircut, which was very of the moment.

R – I thought Tash was beautiful straight away. She seemed a bit shy at first, but in a really lovely way. She had the best smile and kind eyes. And I remember thinking she seemed genuinely caring. There was definitely more to her than you see at first, and that made me want to get to know her more.

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

Right from the beginning, we knew we wanted a destination wedding set somewhere grand and dramatic. La Foce felt like the perfect choice. The venue and its gardens are beautifully formal, but I’d say the foundation of our relationship is humour, and we definitely don’t take ourselves too seriously. So we were keen to avoid anything feeling overly traditional or stuffy.

We achieved that balance primarily through the colour palette. By using the surrounding landscape as our natural green foundation, we introduced bright, unexpected pops of pink through the florals and décor. This contrast softened the formality of the setting and brought in a sense of playfulness and personality, adding moments of fun and subtle quirkiness throughout.

Having a destination wedding naturally puts the guest experience at the heart of every decision. The fact that so many of our favourite people were willing to travel to celebrate with us felt incredibly special – and not something we took lightly. We wanted the entire weekend to feel considered and generous, from the first welcome drink to the final dance.

It was important to us that it felt less like a single-day event and more like a shared escape – relaxed, immersive and full of thoughtful moments that made everyone feel genuinely looked after.

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).

The pink serpentine tables were a mega moment for us. Again, we really wanted to use pink as our primary colour, but keeping it sleek & contemporary, rather than too girly or ‘Barbie’. Our home had scraps of pink fabric laid all over the place for weeks whilst Tash agonised over the perfect shade. It all came together so beautifully with the florals and tablescape.

And of course, it’s hard to describe the feeling the first time we set foot in that iconic ceremony area back in early 2024. It’s even more breathtaking in real life.

For the reception, we had the limonaia draped in rich red fabric. Tash created an edit of old Italian movies, like Dolce Vita, which we projected onto the back wall to make the space feel more immersive and bring a touch of vintage glamour

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

Our number one tip is that it’s ok to rewrite the rule book. You don’t have to stick to tradition for the sake of it or because you think it’s what people expect. If something doesn’t feel right for you as a couple, then don’t do it. The same goes for trends.

We honestly had so much fun choosing the music & choices for the different moments throughout the day, and really taking the time to consider how music can shape a moment. For example, one late evening, we came across Kaleidoscope Orchestra’s rendition of Daft Punk’s ‘Touch – Epilogue’. After it finished playing, we both had tears in our eyes, and we just knew instantly that was what Tash was going to walk down the aisle to.

Florence String Quartet really helped bring this to life. Queue ‘Just Like Heaven’ for the confetti moment, followed by covers of Aphex Twin and ‘ Gangsta Paradise’ for the Aperativo.

We had a traditional Italian wandering band during the second half of the Aperitivo, and they brought such a joyful, vibrant energy. We still catch ourselves doing impressions of one of their songs, which featured the unforgettable refrain, “Natasha! Natasha! Natasha!”

We’re also so glad we chose to have a live band, Brand New Swing, for dinner. They started with elegant, traditional Italian songs that created a beautiful backdrop, then gradually transitioned into upbeat, contemporary tunes that had everyone dancing by the time of the cake cutting. It was the perfect way to move seamlessly from dinner into the party.

Music is a huge part of our lives and has the power to make a memory live forever, turning fleeting moments into emotions you can revisit again and again.

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

It was really important that all our vendors aligned with our vision and just got it.

Rolands were amazing at catering for a fully veggie and vegan wedding. Not the easiest thing to pull off in rural Italy.

Kate’s flowers were exactly as we’d envisioned; she absolutely killed it.

Managing to find DJs for the reception that truly understood the art of playing Charli xcx b2b with Slipknot was not an easy feat, but we did it, and the guests went feral for it.

We had Jamie, the magician, walking around the tables at dinner. He was amazing and had the guests absolutely gobsmacked and really kept the energy up between the end of dinner & the party.

Of course, Chloe is so talented at what she does, and it was important to find someone we felt comfortable with. Her confidence in giving us direction made us feel so at ease in front of the lens.

Also, as a designer and film editor, I had a strong vision for the wedding film. I’m so happy to have found PaiPai to share that vision with!

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

It was really important that I felt comfortable in my dress, but also snatched to the high heavens. An oxymoron, I know. But I luckily had the most amazing angel of a seamstress who somehow made that happen.

Since choosing La Foce’s, I was dead set on having a dramatic cathedral-length veil; the space was just calling out for it.

I wore a pair of beautiful diamond earrings that Rich surprised me with on the morning of the wedding.

I wore my grandmother’s bracelet that she and my mother wore on her wedding day, a true honour. My mum presenting it to me was a moment I’ll cherish forever. It now holds an even deeper meaning, as my grandmother sadly passed away shortly after the wedding.

I still have a note that Rich wrote to me on one of my cue cards whilst I was revising for my GCSE’s 18 years ago that says ‘Always remember that I love you, Natasha Smith!’. I had that embroidered on my scarf, and it’s something I’ll covet forever.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

The engagement ring is gold with a white opal stone. I didn’t ever give Rich an inkling of what I wanted, but he nailed it! Our wedding rings are custom-made from an independent London-based Jeweller, Simon Wright, who was introduced by a friend.

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?).

Food and wine were incredibly important to us. Our guests travelled from far and wide to celebrate in a region renowned for it, so we wanted to give them a truly immersive experience that reflected the richness of the setting.

The limoncello fountain was also a must. As well as being a highlight of the evening, it held deep personal meaning, serving as a tribute to a dear friend.

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

The ceremony was so special. After being together for so long, it was nice to take a pause and reflect on all the reasons you love each other. Being surrounded by loved ones was truly magical.

Having my Dad get up on stage after dinner and perform was an incredible moment.

Making our entrance to dinner to the soundtrack of Fatboy Slim’s ‘Praise You’ was a moment we’ll never forget. Seeing all the people you love in one space, smiling back at you, cheering & celebrating love was truly special.

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

For us, marriage is about friendship first – laughing through the chaos, growing through the challenges, and choosing each other every day. Standing side by side, facing whatever comes next, knowing you don’t have to face it alone.