Marialaura and Fausto’s wedding unfolded inside a 15th century castle in Southern Italy. The couple filled it a botanical soft goth atmosphere where black, jewel tones, greenery, and autumn shades set the mood. They walked into their planning armed with the Rock n Roll Bride as their guide, which they said they literally shared with suppliers as a visual manifesto! Their aim was a balance of dark romance, inclusivity, and natural beauty.

The ceremony featured pagan handfasting traditions. Family and friends carried coloured ribbons representing values like strength, health, kindness, and wisdom. Each person was chosen because they embodied that quality in the couple’s lives, and together those threads were woven into the cord that bound Marialaura and Fausto’s hands. It was personal, emotional, and communal. They also created a memory corner for loved ones who had passed, including Marialaura’s mother. Her presence was carried in a tribute within the bouquet, and her grandmother’s poem about love and destiny appeared in the invitations and ceremony booklet.

Accessibility shaped every choice. Both bride and several relatives live with disabilities, so inclusivity was at the forefront of their mind from the start. The bride told us, “From selecting a fully accessible venue to carefully designing a layout that would feel safe and inclusive for everyone, our priority was to make sure each guest felt truly seen, welcome, and comfortable. We paid special attention to neurodivergent and disabled guests, with accessible seating, lighting, and flow – making sure the entire day felt harmonious and respectful of everyone’s needs. We also included a note in our wedding invitations, asking guests with specific dietary needs to inform us when confirming attendance. This allowed us to work closely with the catering team to ensure that the menu was as inclusive as possible, accommodating allergies, intolerances, vegan and vegetarian choices. It was important to us that no one felt left out.”

The reception leaned into soft gothic romance with colours of deep teal, wine red, violet, and antique gold. Marialaura designed the stationery herself. Favours combined incense, a crescent moon holder, and scrolls explaining both the symbolism of the gift and a donation to AIGlico, the Italian association for GSD 1b, the rare disease she lives with.

Their biggest expense was clothing. Both plus-size, they worked with an Italian atelier to design bespoke garments. “We chose to have our outfits designed by based on our own ideas, which meant selecting unique fabrics and working closely on every detail to make sure they truly reflected our personalities and aesthetic vision”, she continued. “As a plus-size couple, we were aware that it might require some extra care in tailoring, but we were honestly surprised to discover that larger sizes often come with additional costs, not just in terms of materials but also production. It felt unfair and a reminder of how the wedding industry still tends to penalise non-standard bodies. The additional cost was disappointing, but our outfits were stunning, bespoke, and of the highest quality. They were our biggest expense and we wouldn’t’ change a thing about them.”

Looking back, they had no regrets. And when asked what they wish others understood about non-traditional weddings, their answer was pretty straight forward: “For us, it was not about being different for the sake of it, it was about being true to who we are. At first, I was afraid of disappointing my family. I worried that stepping away from tradition might hurt or confuse them. But everything shifted when my father, who came with me to choose the dress and gifted it to me, saw me in the black gown and said, ‘You shine in this. It suits you, it’s beautiful, and it’s you.’ He reminded me that my mother would have wanted me to wear something that truly represented me, not something traditional for tradition’s sake. That moment changed everything. I realised the fear of disappointing others wasn’t real, it was something I had created inside myself.”