Rebecca & Ray:
Blissful fun at Commenda di San Calogero
Time to tell this story of laughter, fun, and joy of this wonderful couple travelling all the way from Melbourne, Australia, to celebrate their special day at Commenda di San Calogero in Sicily.
Rebecca and Ray wanted to get married in Sicily to pay homage to Ray’s father, who was Sicilian. As they had never been to Sicily before, they looked for someone to rely on to organise the whole wedding from half a world away.
This is where Amuri (and myself, Barbara) came into play: I scouted various locations before shortlisting a few ones and suggesting Commenda di San Calogero, near Syracuse. I thought that this enchanting place was going to be the perfect backdrop for their celebrations. Then, when the location was set, I took care of all the rest while always being in touch with the couple and updating them on my every move: wedding decorations, flowers, accommodation booking, pick-ups and drop-offs, food menus, music and much more.
Rebecca and Ray trusted me completely. It has been wonderful to feel their trust and support and we were all amazed by how everything turned out to be just perfect!
Destination wedding at Commenda di San Calogero
Commenda di San Calogero is among the top destination wedding venues in Sicily and a truly charming place for all kinds of events. A peaceful oasis nestled in nature, the Commenda offers great outdoor and indoor spaces – with great alternatives in the event of rain or bad weather. This venue boasts lush greenery and large spaces, including a wheat field, a pool, a spa, various gardens, olive and citrus trees. There’s so much to discover and so many wonderful places where to have your wedding dinner, ceremony or celebrations!
Rebecca and Ray booked a whole week at Commenda di San Calogero and some of their guests were accommodated here throughout (the venue can host a maximum of 24 people), while other guests stayed in accommodations nearby.
Seeing Rebecca and Ray’s wedding being featured on the Sunday Herald Sun was a proud moment for me: it was a pleasure to be part of their dream and I want to thank them both for trusting me on the day as well as in the runup to the wedding!
Rebecca and Ray’s wedding day
Rebecca and Ray tied the knot on June 29, 2023 in front of around 50 guests. The wedding ceremony was celebrated with a Catholic ritual in both Italian and English at the Basilica di San Sebastiano in Melilli. A shuttle service to and from the church was there to help guests arrive and depart from the venue easily and comfortably.
As we arrived back at Commenda di San Calogero, guests were greeted with a welcome drink and aperitivo.
The band Mizzica Mizzica delighted all guests with a fun mix of modern Sicilian folk and tarantella and as the newlyweds made their entrance, Rebecca couldn’t help but immediately dance – what a wonderful scene of joy and fun this was! Her love for dancing showed throughout the evening, giving us all an incredible dance fever that we couldn’t hold back (not even I could, I must admit!).
Rebecca and Ray’s dinner took place in a beautiful garden facing Mount Etna. The setting we created was really magical: the couple sat at a table facing two long imperial tables with all their friends and family. Different sizes christal chandeliers were placed on the ground to create a timeless atmosphere.
Behind the couple was a fountain with a gazebo adorned with big round candles and papyrus plants. This is also where the champagne tower was organised.
The garden was illuminated with fairy lights in warm tones while the dancefloor had low, pink lights of the same colour palette that was used throughout. The evening was accompanied by soothing background music by Mr Fabris, a fabulous sax player.
After dinner, it was finally time to dance! Rebecca changed outfit and wore a pair of white sneakers to dance the night away with a DJ and Mr Fabris.
Rebecca and Ray’s wedding style
Rebecca and Ray’s colour story is as fun as their wedding celebrations: pastel touches in lila, mint green, and pink were popping all around, while a more candid white was the colour backdrop of the whole setting. Bridesmaids wore coral pink tones while the groomsmen had mint green suits on.
Rebecca’s dad stole the scene with a purple and bordeaux suit and lilac vintage shoes from Las Vegas, while her mum wore a lilac suit and flower applications in mint green and purple. The colour coordination was just astounding and perfect!
Rebecca and Ray’s welcome board, tableau de mariage, name tags, and menu were created in the same pastel colour palette that characterised the whole wedding, with alternating colours depending on the time of day.
Their mise en place was elegantly prepared in total white with pastelli touches and candles all around.
Rebecca and Ray’s wedding week
As beautiful as Rebecca and Ray’s wedding day was, there’s so much more to tell! The couple organised a full week of events for their families and guests in the true spirit of a destination wedding!
One thing was clear from the beginning: Rebecca and Ray’s dream was to create a wonderful and fun experience for all the friends and family who were going to join them in Sicily. So my job was to organise a fun family trip, and it was just as fun for me to organise it!
During their wedding week, the guests enjoyed wine tasting trips around the area as well as day trips to Ortigia, Siracusa, and Noto – real gems of this part of Sicily. In Noto and Ortigia we also organised various welcome dinners where guests could enjoy delicious local food: on the day before the wedding, they all had a welcome drink at the Cortile Verga in Ortigia, the historical part of Syracuse that can be only accessed on foot. This was a very relaxing, soothing environment where to enjoy fabulous signature cocktails and tasty food creations such as bruschetta with goat cheese and figs. Here, Ray, his groomsmen and Rebecca’s dad honoured the groom’s Filipino roots by wearing a barong Tagalog, a formal suit worn during ceremonies.
A few events were also organised at Commenda di San Calogero: the day before the wedding, all bridesmaids and groomsmen spent a relaxing half day at the spa, while the day after the wedding, all guests enjoyed a party by the pool with a light lunch.
On the day of, the getting-ready part for the groom was all about enjoying that moment all together while drinking whisky and smoking some cigars. As for the girls, Rebecca and her friends got dressed and got their make-up done all together. Rebecca was wearing a stunning wedding gown by Grace loves Lace with a long train and a veil with lace hems. For her hair, she chose a half updo with pearl appliques on the front of her head.
A truly beautiful couple that radiated so much love, kindness, and good vibes!
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Planning your destination wedding with Amuri
When planning a destination wedding in Sicily, the sky’s the limit. I can help you create the wedding of your dreams, while taking care of all the organisational (and time consuming!) aspects. Contact me anytime to discover what’s possible!
Rebecca and Ray’s destination wedding was a celebration of togetherness: there was so much love, unity and fun all around – such an inspiring and joyful event!
Thank you, Rebecca and Ray for sharing these wonderful moments and for trusting me with most organisational aspects. It has been a pleasure and I wish you all the best for your future life together!
