Morgan + Jake’s bold Sicilian wedding at Braccialieri
Photo: Westbrook and Grace
Morgan and Jake’s wedding at the iconic Braccialieri was never going to be like any other. London-based and full of personality, the pair leaned into the venue’s mix of old Sicilian charm and modern edge to create something completely their own. Morgan ditched convention and designed a day that flipped seamlessly between refined garden-party elegance and full-blown Studio 54 energy. Think crisp whites and timeless greens for the ceremony, then a sunset switch-up into bold reds, hot pinks, disco balls, and a starry-sky ceiling that had guests gasping. A wedding that started classic, ended electric—and was entirely, unapologetically them.
The Welcome
The Engagement
“Jake planned the engagement for an entire year, keeping a running notes file of everything I loved. The ring became his anchor point. He worked secretly with Spinelli Kilcollin via their London representative, Lizzie Watch, meeting at Ham Yard to design a pavé band with hidden emeralds, Jake's birthstone. The ring was crafted in Los Angeles, routed to their New York showroom, and then hand-carried to London by my best friend Cydney on what can only be described as a covert mission.
He whisked me away to Kefalonia, a place that's incredibly special to us. At sunset on our hotel terrace overlooking the sea, he proposed, followed by a scrapbook documenting eight years of souvenirs and precious moments together. It was private, cinematic, and entirely us.”
Why Italy?
“There wasn't one particular reason, we simply knew we wanted a whole weekend affair with glorious weather, incredible food, and the right atmosphere. After researching wedding costs, we realised that Italy wasn't necessarily cheaper, but you definitely get more bang for your buck.
After meeting with several wedding planners via Zoom, Jake took a call with Manuela at Agnese Sogna Sempre whilst I was at work, and they instantly connected. That solidified our decision. Manu walked us through the venue, food, and drinks options, and from there it was a no-brainer. Nothing we found in the UK could compare to what was possible in Sicily.”
The Venue
“Manu had connections with Braccialieri, a venue that hadn't even opened yet, and invited us to view it. At super short notice, we booked flights and went. The moment we arrived, we knew there was no turning back, Braccialieri was the one.
We were among the first people to visit, and the owners were so accommodating. The venue matched everything we'd envisioned. It was naturally stunning with colourful, immaculately maintained grounds. It had on-site accommodation, a unique and bold pool, and multiple areas across the property perfect for different moments throughout the weekend.”
The Style
“I work as a freelance fashion stylist, so when I started mood boarding, everything came together very organically. I knew I wanted two distinct moments.
Our outfits set the tone for doing things differently. I wore a short in the front, extra long and dramatic in the back corset dress from Annie's Ibiza in champagne (not white) that gave Italian elegance with a modern twist. Jake wore a white embroidered Bode suit with a custom shirt I designed that said "Just Married" and the date on the back in our signature red. We wanted to feel uniquely us, not cookie-cutter bridal.”
Best Money Spent
“Without question, the entertainment. This included the traditional folk band for the welcome party, the string trio for the ceremony, the saxophone player and illustrator for cocktail hour, the show band for dinner and the evening reception, and the DJs who took us through to the pool party.
One thing we did well was ensuring our guests were entertained from beginning to end. We wanted the weekend to be about everyone coming together, not just showing up for us.”
Standout Moment
“There was a moment during cocktail hour as the sun was setting when the saxophone player was doing his thing, and my bridal party and I were up on the pool ledge dancing. It felt like something out of a movie. We were surrounded by live cooking stations with octopus and red prawns, drinks were flowing, and it was absolutely perfect.”
The Budget
“Let's just say we exceeded our original budget by three times but we have absolutely no regrets. All the little things you don't think about really add up.”
Stand Out Supplier
“Can we say our wedding planner again? Besides Manu, that's such a difficult question because it wasn't about one supplier individually, it was about how everyone came together to create magic. Everything complemented each other, and that's what made it so special. The florist enhanced the venue, the band set the tone for the evening, the catering blew people away. It was the perfect symphony of talented people.”
Advice For Couples
“Book the planner. We genuinely enjoyed the planning process because we connected so well with our wedding planner. From the moment we met Manu, it was like she was inside our brains, she understood the aesthetic and vibe we wanted to create. She negotiated and arranged everything on our behalf and now we have a friend for life. Yes, it's an extra cost, but for us it was absolutely worth it to remove that mental load. Having a big destination wedding is stressful enough as it is.”
VENDOR TEAM
Planner: Agnese Sogna Sempre | Venue: Braccialieri | Florals: Intrecci Di Fiori e E’arte | Content: Wed Amore | Photography: Westbrook and Grace | Video: Ruby Seresin | HMUA: Yana Konteseva | Band: Sol and The Gang | Folk Band: Orchestrina Siciliana | String Trio: Gabriele Bosco | DJ: Jamie Rodigan | Sunday DJs: Run Up Radio | Dress: Annie’s Ibiza | Welcome Party Dress: Arcina Ori | Groom Suit: Bode | Groom Shoes: Ami Paris | Accessories: Manolo Blahnik, Agent Provocateur, Camper, Oscar de la Renta , Miu Miu, 4element
Categories
PLANNING | REAL WEDDING | SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT | INSPIRATION | WANDERLUST
