Sara and Alessandro waited eighteen years before getting married so they wanted full control over how the day looked, felt and functioned, without having to compromise for other people! Sara is a wedding florist, so did all the flowers herself. They wanted the day to have a gothic, nerdy flair but also have some colour. They were married in Italy at La Fornace di Sammontana.

They planned a symbolic ceremony led by Sara’s sister and Alessandro’s brother. In Italy this was quite an unusual choice, which was part of the appeal. “We chose music from anime, video games and TV series that are important to us”, Sara said. “The same goes for the ceremony they wrote for us, filling it with quotes and phrases taken from the things we love. During the vows, we wanted to tease each other and make the guests laugh as well as move them.”

They also broke tradition by choosing their outfits together, staying together the night before and getting ready side by side. Sara also chose to walk down the aisle alone and for her dress she travelled to the UK. She knew the moment she found the one at Legend Bridal.

Everything at the reception was designed by the couple – from the flowers to the Ouija board inspired stationery and favour bottles which looked like magic potions. Guests found their seats by turning over tarot cards laid out on a fortune teller style table. Each card was made by the couple and paired a tarot arcana with a video game. Over dinner they played music from video game soundtracks.

They did face some criticism over their choices, mostly around their outfits and the fact the groom wore make-up. Sara explained, “There are NO RULES when it comes to organising a wedding. What people need to understand is that a wedding represents the couple, not traditions. It’s about what they love and want, not what ‘has always been done’. It doesn’t matter who you marry, what you wear, what food you serve or what kind of ceremony you have. What matters is the love that binds the couple, and that is what should be celebrated on their wedding day.”