A Glamorous Venice Winter Elopement

Venice Winter Elopement – Courtney Lynn Photography 1

Who’s up for a little cozy Winter Italian romance?

It’s supposed to be in the 90s here in Portland (mid-30s for our European counterparts) and just the sight of Bride Jami’s fashionable faux fur coat & sparkling wedding dress is already cooling me down. Set in December, this Venice elopement shows off the very best of running away to Italy during Winter.

I’m a longtime advocate for traveling during shoulder & off-seasons; Venice (and so many other popular European destinations) glimmer in the winter sunlight and provide refuge from summer tourists. Thanks to the chillier weather Jami & Tim were able to avoid the crowds and make their elopement truly “intimate” (aside from the most adorable vow interruption at the front doorstep of real Venetians!)

The couple wandered about the gorgeous city, rode gondolas and then toured Italy with honeymoon stops in Venice, Verona, Bologna, and Florence. For anyone following Jami & Tim’s steps, here’s my own Florence honeymoon guide!

Our Love Story

We worked together for 3 years and became really great friends. I worked as a publicist for a barbecue brand and traveled around the country with their owner for book signings, TV appearances and grand openings. Tim was from the operations side of the business and he traveled with us to make sure everything was top-notch. We became a well-oiled machine and worked really well together. He was my best friend by the time I took another position, but we stayed in touch and he finally got the guts to ask me out.

We had been talking about getting married for years. We knew we would be together forever as soon as we started dating. Before Tim’s mom passed away a few years ago, she gave him her wedding ring and told him to promise he would give it to me. (So sweet!) But, something always got in the way. I wasn’t ready or one of our kids was planning a wedding. It just wasn’t our time and we really weren’t in a hurry.

Last April we planned trip to Miami. One night we were headed to dinner and Tim said he wanted to take a walk on the beach first. When I walked out in the beach, he had written “Will You Marry Me” in the sand with a giant heart. He dropped to one knee and proposed. We both cried and everyone on the beach clapped. The Cadillac Hotel had a photographer, champagne and roses all waiting for us too! It was so sweet and well thought out. I’ll never forget it!

The Dress & Attire

I wanted something glamorous for our elopement in Venice. I picked the BHLDN dress because it made me feel timeless and beautiful. I knew it would be chilly in Venice in December so I also chose a deep green fur coat from Banana Republic. And, who doesn’t love hot pink shoes?

We picked a classic sport coat and navy pants for Tim. He loves blue and I think he’s so handsome all dressed up!

Favorite Moments

I loved wandering around the streets of Venice with Tim, We held hands, danced and kissed on gorgeous bridges. Our photographer, Courtney, did a fantastic job finding hidden spots around the city where we could have special moments.

My favorite memory was finding a gorgeously old, paint peeling, been there for centuries door to say our vows. We turned to each other and were starting to pour out our hearts out while saying our personal vows when the door opened and a family walked out. We were saying our vows at their front door! It was so funny and perfectly “us”.

Advice to Other Couples

Make the day about you! I loved eloping and would definitely recommend it. Taking the time to look in to each other’s eyes and have that personal moment is everything.

The Honeymoon

We honeymooned all over Italy – Venice, Verona, Bologna, and Florence! It was incredible to have so much time together to explore the cities and eat all of the incredible food. Tim was a chef in a previous life and we love to eat and drink great wine. This was the perfect honeymoon for us. We rode the train, stayed in boutique hotels, walked miles every day and soaked up the culture and history in each city. It was an amazing adventure we will never forget. We love Italy and can’t wait to go back!