Inside: A Rome Wedding Of Timeless Elegance

From a chance meeting at a glittering Lagos wedding, to an intimate proposal in a restored nineteenth-century château on the sunlit shores of the South of France, step inside a timeless Roman wedding, where faith, heritage, and family legacy set the tone for an unforgettable celebration.

The Story So Far

Chuba and I first crossed paths at a wedding in Lagos, Nigeria, at the height of the infamous Detty December. It was one of those glittering, joy-soaked moments where celebration feels inevitable, and in many ways, it was the perfect setting for the beginning of our own story.

Our official engagement took place in the South of France, at the exquisitely refurbished Château de Théoule, an elegant 1800s soap factory transformed into a romantic château overlooking the Mediterranean. Chuba proposed with an oval cut, cathedral setting, yellow gold mined diamond ring, complete with a hidden halo. It was timeless, thoughtful, and perfectly reflective of him.

Venue

Rome held profound meaning for Chuba’s family, as his late father was a Papal Knight of the Catholic Church. It felt both natural and deeply symbolic that our wedding celebrations would be rooted there.

The Wednesday before the wedding, we were afforded the extraordinary honour of meeting Pope Leo XIV, who blessed our marriage. This was followed the next day by a blessing from the Cardinal, often referred to as The Red Pope, and culminated in a private mass held in St Peter’s tomb beneath the Vatican, attended by forty of our closest family members and friends. It was an experience of immense spiritual significance and quiet beauty.

Our wedding ceremony took place at the Basilica dei Santi Ambrogio e Carlo, a setting of breathtaking grandeur. The reception followed at the incomparable Villa Miani, with its panoramic views over Rome, which felt both majestic and celebratory.

I got ready in the Napoleon Suite, just a few minutes’ walk from the Basilica. Adorned with original Napoleonic artwork, the palace provided an extraordinary backdrop for the morning preparations. It also allowed for the most charming four-minute walk through the city centre with my bridal party en route to the ceremony, a moment that felt intimate and wonderfully Roman.

Our welcome drinks were hosted in the St Regis ballroom. Guests were greeted with live piano music by Gima Nwana, who took requests throughout the evening, alongside signature cocktails created especially for the occasion.

Fashion

I chose Torlowei to create my wedding dress, and we began design discussions in January, seven to eight months before the wedding. From the outset, we spoke at length about lace, location, and heritage. While I had always envisioned myself in a full lace gown that felt fitting for Rome, it was more important to me that the dress told a story.

Together, we created a piece of wearable artwork inspired by the Atlantic Ocean, the body of water that connects my two regions of heritage, Jamaica and Nigeria. The cascading wave silhouettes towards the hem of the gown were designed to emulate the movement and power of the ocean itself.

Later in the evening, after removing my train, Patience Torlowei herself added a collection of dupion silk flowers to the cornucopia feature at the back of the dress. This detail was intended to symbolise the idea that beauty can always emerge from darker circumstances. I wore Limited Edition Dior shoes.

For the welcome drinks, I wore an Oscar de la Renta runway piece.

My husband wore a Savile Row custom-made three-piece suit designed and created by Maximilian Campi. He later changed from an off-white dinner jacket into a classic black ensemble for the reception.

Jewellery

I wore lab grown diamonds by Anthea Manari on the wedding day.

Bridal Party

My bridesmaids wore custom-made Torlowei dresses. To complete the look and to comply with church regulations, each dress was paired with Torlowei’s renowned Tokoni shawls. After much deliberation, we selected a rich plum shawl to complement the dresses, finished with delicate blush pink lace embroidery. The Maids of Honour were distinguished with Old Gold shawls featuring the same lace detailing.

Transportation

Our wedding car was a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud.

Tablescape

Our wedding favours were deeply personal and thoughtfully curated. Guests received pashmina shawls, logo flip flops affectionately named Dancing Shoes, custom initial luggage tags, and personalised perfume.

Floral arrangements featured white hydrangeas, white Playa roses, white spray roses, white lisianthus, and cascading burgundy amaranthus, complemented by greens of lentischio, ligustro, and small-leaf ruscus.

Food and Drinks

We opted for a classic Roman menu, beginning with two antipasti in place of a single starter. These included cavatelli with king prawns, courgette flowers, and cherry tomatoes, lathered in a rich lobster bisque, alongside the quintessential Roman cacio e pepe. Guests then chose between beef or sea bream for the main course.

Classic Roman wines were served throughout the evening, with sommeliers on hand to explain their heritage and characteristics.

Entertainment

Our first dance was to Distance by Yebba, which we chose to do privately while the cocktail hour was underway. During the reception, guests were entertained by a live jazz band, and we made our entrance to the Brasstracks version of Always Be My Baby.

Beauty Regime and Wellness

In the lead-up to the wedding, I had regular facials with Dr Hala Mahmoud.

Favourite Wedding Gifts

Aside from the obvious favourites, anything by Le Creuset, my most treasured wedding gift was a pair of patron seats to the ballet at the Royal Opera House to watch The Nutcracker. This became our first date night as a married couple and has since taken on a deeply special meaning for us.

Advice

Choose your wedding planners wisely, as they truly have the capacity to make or break your wedding.
Accept help when it is offered.
Try your very best to enjoy yourself, as the day passes in a flash.