Wrapped in the wild beauty of Italy, Australia-based couple Sallie and Jack became one. They wed in an intimate, heartfelt and stylish three-day celebration at Villa Livia. A world of serene romance, the estate boasts century-old olive trees, tranquil fountains and gardens blooming with fragrant blooms, it was a truly enchanting location for their once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Every single detail was thoughtfully curated and the decor and the palette were designed to highlight the natural beauty of the villa. Think soft whites, natural woods, lush greens, and gentle hints of yellow inspired by the Sicilian landscape.
With minimalist and absolutely magical bridal style, adorable flower girl style inspiration, fabric drapery, sweet bows, a stunning sun-kissed garden ceremony and a outdoor reception by candlelight, we know you will be absolutely enchanted by their spectacular celebration. If you’re dreaming of an al fresco summer wedding abroad prepare to let the inspiration wash over you with their exquisite images by Anna Vlasiuk and second shooter Salvatore Aiello.
Jack is from England and Sallie is from Australia where they live today. They met while they were doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and while they trained together for a year they never spoke despite always feeling a pull toward each other. “Jack eventually reached out and invited me on an adventurous first date hiking which ended with sitting on the beach together until the sun went down. After that day, we both knew. Everything between us felt effortless. We shared the same values, dreams, and sense of adventure, and being together felt like the most natural thing in the world. I remember messaging my friends afterward asking if it was possible to fall in love after one date – turns out it absolutely is. We were inseparable from that moment on. Neither of us believed it was true to marry your best friend, but now we strongly believe this.”
Sallie says that Jack had grand plans to propose but that he would found it impossible to plan something without her catching on! “Instead, he opted for something sweet, intimate and meaningful. Jack proposed to me on the beach, in a very special location where I would sit with my dog every day before he passed away. It was intimate and about just us in that moment which I loved. And now that location is even more special.”
For Sallie and Jack the most important thing was that their wedding was beautifully intimate and that it focused on the meaning of the day.
Sallie’s bridal look made our hearts flutter endlessly. She wore a breathtaking Grace Loves Lace gown which was accessorised with a floral lace-dappled veil, Billini shoes and pearl and crystal earrings by Saint Valentine.
“One of my favourite moments was watching the wedding come to life from the top-floor suite as I got ready. Seeing the whole setup unfold over the day felt magical after months of anticipation,” she shares sweetly.
With planning and styling from Mimi Plan Your Wedding Sicily the decor kept subtle, refined, and intentionally simple. “It was all about focusing on delicate touches that let the environment shine and created an intimate atmosphere. The planning process felt effortless thanks to our incredible planner, who understood my vision instantly and brought it to life even more beautifully than I imagined.”
They were joined by 18 of their closest family and friends. “It made it very special. Especially knowing that our guests had travelled from all over the world to celebrate with us,” she explains. Sallie’s brother gave her away and it is a moment that means the world to her and to him.
They tied the knot in a glorious ceremony in the lush garden bathed in stunning sunshine with their violinist adding to the intimate and dreamy feel of the service.
Their ceremony readings included an excerpt from their grandparents who couldn’t travel so it meant so much to them to have them included.
Sealing forever with a kiss!
When it came to their venue they wanted a beautiful location where the ceremony, photos, and reception could all unfold in one intimate, uninterrupted setting. “The villa where we hosted our three-day celebration was beyond anything we had dreamed of.”
Sallie opted for a minimal and classic bouquet of long stemmed creamy roses. So gorgeous!
A week after they got engaged they stumbled across Villa Livia online and it stood out immediately to them. “When I saw the lush gardens and rich history of the villa, I booked it on the spot, without seeing it in person and despite it having never hosted a wedding before,” she reminisces. “My favourite part was the incredible grounds: century-old olive trees, blooming gardens, wide open spaces, and tranquil fountains that captured the essence of Sicily. When we arrived and drove through the palm-lined entry for the first time, I cried in absolute awe.”
Sallie reflects on the atmosphere of their sun-soaked destination wedding, “Our wedding was intimate, heartfelt and immersed in the natural beauty of Sicily which the villa embodied so perfectly. It was the perfect balance of simplicity and elegance that was brought together seamlessly by beautiful Sicilian vendors.”
“My vision was for the natural beauty of the villa to speak for itself, with every detail thoughtfully chosen to complement the surroundings rather than overwhelm them. The villa and its gardens set the tone: soft whites, natural woods, lush greens, and gentle hints of yellow inspired by the Sicilian landscape. The fact that all the wedding vendors knew each other also added to the intimate feel, and the staff were truly wonderful,” she explains.
The styling for their alfresco reception made our jaws plummet!
When it came to selecting their first dance song they wanted a song that truly spoke to the meaning of their relationship. “As soon as we listened to Best Friend by Tim McGraw we knew it was the one.”
The wedding day can go by extremely fast no matter how hard you try to slow it down and Sallie has a wonderful tip to help make the most of the celebration together. “Set specific times for stopping and taking everything in so that you don’t forget. For example, once you’re dressed take 15 minutes to look at yourself in the mirror and take everything in. Do the same thing as a couple, for example after the ceremony, step away during the reception and look at your guests dining, during the party etc. Take as many moments as you can to take everything in from afar. If you have a coordinator actually pencil in these moments because there is so much happening and so many things taking your attention that it’s easy to get caught up.”
They also highly recommend a videographer for that very same reason. “The day goes fast and is full of emotion. We didn’t get a videographer and we wish we did so that we could sit down and re-watch the day.”
The newlyweds chose Italy for their honeymoon and they had a truly wonderful time. “For some of it we had our family traveling in the same location which was lovely. We travelled from Sicily all the way to the Dolomites. We definitely recommend a honeymoon after the wedding if possible to be able to spend quality time together after all the wedding planning.”
Congratulations Jack and Sallie! A very special thank you to our lovely couple for allowing us to share their dreamy destination wedding with One Fab Day and to photographer Anna Vlasiuk and second shooter Salvatore Aiello who captured every moment with such beauty.
You can find more destination wedding inspiration here!
