Kim and Dario took their celebrations to Italy for a relaxed day filled with good food and plenty of dancing – and an Italian bagpiper
Kim Gillespie & Dario Quinn
28th May 2022
Venue | Hotel Posillipo, Gabicce Monte, Italy
Photography | Michael Cosenza Film Photography
After deliberating for months over whether they should marry at home or abroad, Kim and Dario finally made a decision: their wedding would take place in Gabicce Monte, a little town on Italy’s east coast.
“Dario’s parents live in Italy, and he’s been going to the town with his family since he was a baby, so the idea of marrying there really appealed to both of us,” explains Kim. “We got engaged at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, and our first holiday together was to Italy, so the country is very special to both of us.”
In order to confirm numbers with the hotel hosting the reception, Kim and Dario sent out save-the-dates a full year in advance, and in the end were joined by 90 of their loved ones.
The couple decided to have their religious and legal ceremony in the town’s chapel. “We wanted it all local, so we had our drinks reception in the cafe at La Piazzetta, the nearby square,” Kim tells us. “We extended the aperitivo so Dario and I weren’t rushing about after the ceremony and could enjoy it with our guests.”
Having a wedding that was a mix of Scottish and Italian was important to the couple, and as luck would have it they managed to hire an Italian bagpiper. “She was amazing,” beams the bride.
Music was a key theme throughout the day: the priest arranged for a soprano to come and sing – it was so beautiful, some of the guests thought it must be a recording; a jazz trio got the party started at the drinks reception where the couple’s niece Gabriella even gave an impromptu performance; and during the meal the DJ got everyone dancing on the chairs between courses.
The latter took place at the Hotel Posillipo, which was chosen by the couple for two reasons: it has stunning panoramic views over the coast, and it serves the most amazing food (which, in proper continental style, they tucked into at around 11pm!).
Marrying abroad isn’t without its challenges. As Kim and Dario discovered, a lot of paperwork is required to marry in Italy. “The process was really convoluted,” recalls the bride. “First, we had to raise the Marriage Notice form (known as the M10 form) in Glasgow City Chambers in order to get a certificate of No Impediment.”
Once these forms were returned to the couple, they were stamped, along with a Statutory Declaration, by a solicitor, and sent to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to be legalised and to get an apostille certificate.
“The documents then had to be couriered to an approved translator in the region of Italy where the wedding would be held, who took them to the court to get stamped, and then posted them to the local town hall where we got married.”
In Scotland, you can only raise M10 forms three months in advance, so the timescale was incredibly tight. “We actually had to ask our MP for help as there was such a backlog at the FCDO that it looked like we wouldn’t get the documents until well after the wedding date. Thankfully, it all got sorted in time.”
Any stresses on the day itself, however, were smoothed out by Federica from Joy Wedding Planner. Hiring someone with local knowledge is Kim and Dario’s key piece of advice if you’re considering marrying abroad: it is especially useful if there’s a language barrier.
“We debated this for a while, but it was the best money we spent. Federica had so many local recommendations for suppliers, and every one that she suggested totally exceeded our expectations. She was there on the day and it ran so smoothly with her coordination.”
While the newlyweds wouldn’t change a thing about their big day, they do suggest you try to arrange at least one planning trip to meet suppliers before the wedding so you can relax when the day comes. “I would also advise getting a travel box for your dress,” the bride tells us. “This means you can carry it as hand luggage so you don’t need to check it in.”
Venue and catering Hotel Posillipo
Wedding planner Joy Wedding Planner
Photography and Videography Michael Cosenza Film Photography
Bride’s dress Eleganza Sposa
Bride’s shoes Manolo Blahnik
Groom’s outfit Forbes
Groomsmen’s outfits Slater Menswear
Hair and makeup Roxy Rose
Flowers and decor La Rosa Scarlatta Floral Design and Blossom
Piper Chiara Temporin from Cisalpipers
Drinks reception music Gli Stralunati
Reception music Mirko Donnini
Engagement ring Blair & Sheridan
Wedding rings Katie Lees Jewellery
