Our Wedding Story: A princess bride in Tuscany

Trina Gray (29), from Swords, Co Dublin, and Louis Freiter (29), a manager at Ted Baker, from Kent, met in a hostel in Sydney in 2009 and “built a solid foundation, on an extremely limited budget” exploring the city together.

Their first official date was in London after a few months apart.

“I remember how nervous we both were,” said Trina, who works for Accenture. “But deciding to take the next step would mean one of us making a big move over the Irish Sea.”

In March 2010, one year after they met, Louis made that move.

He proposed over Christmas 2013 – with an antique ruby and diamond ring – in Rathdangan, Co Wicklow, where Trina’s family was renting a house.

“Louis was waiting patiently to ask my dad permission that Christmas Eve – in the end he couldn’t shake me off so had to wait until I went to bed, at which point he texted my dad to meet him in the sitting-room,” said Trina.

A hundred and ten guests travelled to Italy for the church ceremony in Spaltenna and reception at Castello di Meleto, Tuscany on September 4th.

The bride walked up the aisle to an instrumental version of Storybook Love from The Princess Bride – one of Trina's favourite movies – and the newlyweds left to Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve.

The venue was found after a four-day search, driving from Milan to Rome in a tiny rental car with Trina’s parents Cathleen and Dave Gray.

Mother of the groom is Kelly Piper. His father Andy and stepmother Sarah accompanied the couple on one of the Italian trips, helping to choose flowers, the photographer and organising the Italian DJ.

Louis’ sister Megan, a bridesmaid, and her boyfriend hand-made the wooden place-card holders on the dining table.

Trina’s dress was from House of Mooshki at Frilly Frocks in Drogheda, her friend Audrey’s Jimmy Choo shoes were her “something borrowed” and friends Louise and Lee did make-up for the bridal party.

The groomsmen were gifted with Ted Baker suits and the bridesmaids with personalised Nike ID trainers.

The couple, who made their own playlists instead of hiring a band, arrived into dinner to OMI's Cheerleader, "just for fun", and had their first dance to Cat Power's Sea of Love.

Apart from seeing Trina coming up the aisle, the groom’s favourite part of the day was “a special moment with my nan in the church before anyone else came in. She travelled over, at 80, despite a serious fear of flying and it was really special having her there with me. I didn’t realise how nervous I’d be, so we went in for a quiet moment before all the madness.”

Photographs: Fabio Mirulla, fabiomirulla.com/home

Sarah Geraghty