It started with a modern meet-cute on Bumble and a first date at the Berlin Zoo. A second date stretched into hours over cake (“we each ate about four to five pieces because we didn’t want to leave”), and a third date at a photo exhibition opened the door to one of Christian’s big passions: photography. The love came in different moments—Christian says he fell for Elena watching “her strategic approach and compassion” as she supported a friend’s career at brunch; Elena knew he was it when she shattered her left shoulder on their first vacation and “Christian never left my side.” With roots in the Marche and a shared love of travel, they set their sights on Italy for a community-minded, design-forward blue and yellow wedding.

What We Love About This Blue and Yellow Wedding

• Dolce & Gabbana–inspired palette, prints, and florals
• Lemon details from escort tags to vases
• Family-style Italian feast that brought everyone together
• Centuries-old monastery venue tucked in a forest clearing
• DIY printables and hand-sourced blue-and-white porcelain

Featured Vendor:

Sarah Russ Photography

Choosing Italy and Shaping a Weekend of Events

With family ties to the Marche, the eastern coast of Italy was an easy yes. “Once decided, Italy set the tone for our wedding.” They booked Eremo dei Frati Bianchi in Cupramontana—“a romantic hideaway…the monastery is a magical place”—and built a full weekend: a relaxed Friday welcome dinner at Ristorante Pizzeria Gina and a Sunday farewell beach day at a favorite lakeside bar in Apiro (complete with sun chairs, roasted pig, lasagne, and a local band).
Couple’s tip: Think beyond one day. “We budgeted for three days instead of one because most guests traveled far. Our presents were our guests celebrating with us.”

Elena and Christian’s Wedding Day Style

Elena went for a fashion-forward gown with a blush underskirt, 3D floral appliqués, and a corset-style bodice, beautifully altered when she became pregnant. “It was like a baby belly shoot and  wedding shoot in one,” she shared. Instead of strict attire rules, the couple gave their guests a loose brief: “Think: Summer, Flowers, Dolce & Gabbana (just for inspiration), Bella Italia, Chic Comfort.” The result was an effortlessly stylish crowd where everyone could feel like themselves.

Christian found his look spontaneously at Joop in Konstanz while on vacation with his parents, choosing a light linen suit paired with light-brown accents and leather sneakers to stay comfortable in the Italian heat.

Shop Men’s White Leather Sneakers:

Smart Budgeting and Finding a Team They Could Trust

Top spends were “from most costly to least: caterer, location, photos, dress, flowers (big gap), wedding planner, transport, bar, DJ, decor, nannies.” They balanced these costs with creative savings, like sourcing eBay vases for just 5–15 euros, turning Etsy fabric into tablecloths (later cut into keepsakes for guests), and repurposing ceremony florals for dinner. To keep everything on track, Elena and Christian maintained a spreadsheet to monitor spending and vendor payments. 

Equally important was building a team they could trust. Through their venue, they met planner Anna Paola, who connected them with local vendors and helped bridge both language and vision. “We wanted kind, realistic people who told us what was possible and what wasn’t—and vendors who got excited about doing something new.”

A Unique Schedule All Their Own

They shared their first look with everyone along the monastery’s tree-lined alley, then served cake and champagne before the ceremony: a berry-covered millefoglie (“a thousand layers”) that guests loved. 

Their free ceremony—led by Elena’s best friend and moderated alongside the best man—mixed English and German, handwritten vows, and a perfect 40-minute run-time.

The Undeniable Importance of Photography 

“Photography was incredibly important to Christian,” so they booked Junebug vendor Sarah Russ with second shooter Katherina Schreiber right away. “We don’t regret this for a single moment. They captured every emotion and were always up for creative ideas, guiding us gently. This energy was everything!” Their tip: Don’t skimp on photos. “These memories last forever and let you see your day anew through your guests’ eyes.”

Nailing the Look With Dolce & Gabbana Inspiration

“I always liked Dolce & Gabbana’s Sicily-inspired designs, especially the white, blue, and yellow tile patterns.” That cue anchored their blue and yellow wedding aesthetic: blue-and-white porcelain, lemons “as a bit of the star,” and bold prints balanced against the monastery’s old-world calm. Elena kept a dedicated notebook for decisions (locations, food, flowers, music, babysitters, more) and used Canva to design the invitation, seating chart, menus, bar signs, and lemon glass tags.

She and her mom hunted eBay for porcelain vases, then found a blue-and-white tile-optic fabric on Etsy for tablecloths. “These really brought the location to life.”

Dinner, Dancing, and the Joyful Chaos

They skipped games to make space for meaningful congratulations, offered a flying aperitivo, and welcomed heartfelt speeches from family, plus a song from a four-year-old niece that melted hearts. Later, they slipped away for portraits at a tiny chapel and on an old clock tower.
“We wanted guests to mingle and explore the monastery; time made everything feel personal, not rushed.”

Family-style dining matched the spirit of the day, and the dance floor spanned generations. A memorable gown-bustling scene turned into a group effort mid-party; when the late-night fatigue hit, Christian simply pulled a chair onto the dance floor for his seven-months-pregnant bride. “We let go of perfection and went with the flow. The wrong exit song didn’t matter. The unexpected moments did.”

Lessons Learned and Advice for Couples

• Communicate clearly. “Pick one or two channels (our website + a big WhatsApp group) and document decisions, progress, and payments.”
• Share the load. “Start early, sit with a glass of wine, and talk about what you like and don’t like, then take notes.”
• Explain your vision. Blue florals aren’t typical locally; photos and your planner’s translation help bring vendors along.
• Think about kids. “With eleven children there, hiring nannies was a great idea so parents could relax.”
• Release control. “Let go of your expectations before the wedding starts so you can enjoy the moment.”

In the end, the contrast made it sing: a 13th-century monastery and a modern blue and yellow wedding filled with lemons, porcelain, and gold-rimmed details. As Elena puts it, “We aren’t Dolce & Gabbana, but we are a little bit of Italy—family, good food, soulful conversations late at night with a glass of red wine, colorful and unique in our own way.”