Tom Bates, 36, Director of Marketing and Communications at Nobu Hotel London Portman Square and Abi Bates, 33, Director of Harper, jewellers in Cobham, Surrey. They first met on Bumble and shortly met in real life for a bottle of red in a wine bar in Borough Market whilst Tom was living on Bermondsey Street. During the Covid pandemic, Tom managed to trick Abi into travelling to Venice under the guise of a work trip, and proposed at the water’s edge across from San Giorgio under dramatic moody skies.
The best part of our day was…
The dinner was particularly special for both of us. Entering the wedding dinner to the sounds of Sash’s epic Ecuador was incredible – seeing all the enjoyment on faces and energy from all of the people we love in our lives was simply wonderful. The dinner itself was also very special, with the most incredible of settings as the light faded, two pasta courses to die for and beautiful wine from the vineyards below the Castello.
We chose to get married at…
We both wanted to get married in the summer somewhere warm. Having both spent a lot of time in Italy (enjoying the epic food and wine!) and with our engagement being in Venice, Italy seemed a natural choice. It was really important to us both to be able to spend quality time with all our guests during the three days over our wedding, so finding somewhere beautiful that allowed all guests to stay in the venue was crucial. Castello di Rosciano in Umbria is a truly special family-run castello, and within minutes of meeting the wonderful owner Chiara, we knew this was our venue.
The most enjoyable moments of planning were…
As the team at the Castello were so incredible, we decided not to have a wedding planner. We put a lot of work in to make sure everything was how we wanted so we could switch off and enjoy every moment when the time came. The planning process was actually a really enjoyable experience as a newly engaged couple, and we also made it into an excuse to make two recce trips to Umbria, which mainly consisted of lots of delicious pasta and wine, all in the name of research…
The hardest part of planning was…
As Abi is someone who loves planning and a spreadsheet, and Tom has worked in the luxury hospitality industry for years, the planning process really wasn’t particularly tricky. The only hiccups came with some translation issues with vendors, which were quite easily resolved.
The best accounts to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo are…
As it was a destination wedding, we found it useful to follow photographers, videographers and florists who are from the area as they would often provide inspiration that fit well with the location and suited the aesthetic and vibe we were looking for.
If I was able to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is…
Honestly, nothing! If anything, we probably wouldn’t have had seconds of both pasta courses and secondi – neither of us managed to eat any of the desserts!
List of suppliers:
Venue: Castello di Rosciano @castellodirosciano
Caterer: Castello di Rosciano @castellodirosciano
Dress: Paloma Blanca – May & Grace Bridal @mayandgracebridal
Groom outfit: Suitsupply @suitsupply
Florist: Sartoria Floreale @sartoriafloreale_boutique
Tableware: Castello di Rosciano @castellodirosciano
Photographer: Andrea Corsi @andreacorsiph
Videographer: Sergio Minnici @sergiominnicifilms
Wedding rings: Harper Ltd @harperltd
Makeup: Guilia Acconciature @giulia_acconciature_sposa
Hair: Guilia Acconciature @giulia_acconciature_sposa
Bridesmaid gifts: Harper Ltd @harperltd
Related Article: Inside: An Elegant Wedding in Seville Spain
