Rory Newton Dunn and Charlie McCourt turned a medieval Umbrian castle into a three-day village of their own – over 110 guests, Jacquemus tailoring and a celebration that began as an elegant Italian feast before descending into a disco.
The story so far
We met on Tinder in January 2017 and arranged a first date at Blues Kitchen in Brixton. At the time, Charlie had just moved to London, started a business and come out. Rory arrived wearing a black T-shirt that read “Trouble in Paradise”, and within a few hours both of us knew there was something special there. Nearly ten years later, that first date has grown into a life filled with family, friends, travel, food and an extraordinary community around us.
We got engaged in Umbria while cycling through the region before a friend’s wedding. On the second day, after a long climb to the top of a hill, Charlie got down on one knee while Rory was still wearing his cycling helmet, which matched the Cartier Étincelle engagement ring perfectly. The proposal was simple, unexpected and very us.
Venue
We married at Castello di Titignano in Umbria, Italy. We first discovered the castle by chance during the same cycling trip on which we got engaged, and couldn’t stop thinking about it. What we loved most was that it felt like a village rather than a wedding venue. We wanted everyone to stay together, eat together and celebrate together.
We hosted a three-day wedding weekend with over 110 guests. Friday was a colourful pizza party and welcome evening; Saturday was the wedding day itself, plus a morning run and Pilates class; and Sunday featured a pool party and a tongue-in-cheek awards ceremony celebrating the personalities and stories that emerged over the weekend.
Fashion
For the Friday welcome party we both wore Perte d’Ego. For the wedding day we chose Jacquemus tailoring, which struck the perfect balance between elegance and modernity. We both wore Gucci loafers or sandals. We wanted our outfits to feel stylish and contemporary without becoming overly formal. In the evening we changed into much sparklier outfits for the dancefloor and offered our friends a fancy-dress box of bits to join in with.
Jewellery
Jewellery played an important role throughout the weekend. Charlie wore a Cartier watch gifted by Rory following our engagement. Rory wore a Rolex inherited from his late father, making it one of the most meaningful items he wore. We both wore necklaces that inspired the visual identity of the wedding: Charlie’s bee necklace and Rory’s frog necklace. Rory also wore his Cartier engagement ring, and our wedding bands were provided by a family jeweller near Rory’s mother’s home in Kent.
Wedding party
Rather than having a traditional wedding party, we involved friends and family throughout the celebration. Our best woman was Sophia Martin Pavlou and our best man was Oliver Lewis. Rory’s brother-in-law, Tom Salvesen, led the ceremony, while our friend Kush conducted a singalong of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Everywhere’. Many other friends contributed through readings, performances, music, DJ sets, and hair and make-up, making the wedding feel like a true community effort.
Transportation
Most guests flew into Rome Fiumicino Airport. We organised coaches from Rome to Titignano and appointed volunteer “Coach Captains” to lead each one. Every captain received a briefing pack, clipboard and custom uniform accessories. To help break the ice before arrival, guests were also given a bespoke wedding-themed word search featuring stories, references and in-jokes from our lives. The coaches became one of the most talked-about parts of the weekend and set the tone before guests had even arrived.
Tablescape
The tablescape reflected our love of hosting and bringing people together. Long banquet tables were dressed with crisp linens, elegant florals and candlelight. Every guest received a personalised napkin hand-embroidered by Rory’s mother. Instead of table numbers, we created wooden cookbook-inspired table markers featuring books that had shaped our lives as enthusiastic cooks and hosts. Hidden inside each were multiple Don Julio shots, creating one of the weekend’s most memorable moments when we invited guests to open their cookbooks and indulge. Guests also signed a bespoke illustration of Titignano created by our friend Chris Lloyd, which now hangs in our home.
Food & drinks
Food was one of the most important parts of the weekend. Friday centred on pizza served in custom boxes designed by Patrick Schmidt, the artist behind Yard Sale Pizza’s iconic branding. Saturday featured an Italian feast served family-style, including two pasta courses followed by barbecued lamb with salsa verde, aubergine parmigiana and seasonal salads. Of course, we had to have tiramisu for dolci. Sunday was intentionally more relaxed, with fresh fruit, cold pastas and vibrant salads shared around the pool. Throughout the weekend, wines from the Castello’s estate, spritzes and cocktails flowed freely.
Entertainment
Entertainment was designed to mirror the balance at the heart of our relationship. We wanted the wedding to begin as an elegant, quintessentially Italian celebration before gradually descending into joyful gay disco chaos.
The ceremony featured a string quartet and a guest singalong of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Everywhere’, conducted by our friend Kush.
As the evening progressed, our friend and drag performer Mahatma Khandi led guests down into a medieval cellar transformed with disco balls, sequins, lighting and a custom neon of us. Charlie’s brother led the live band, followed by our friend Bestley headlining Saturday night, while a rotating cast of friends took over the decks throughout Sunday’s celebrations.
Beauty regime & wellness
In keeping with the spirit of the weekend, friends played a major role in helping us get ready. Hair and make-up were provided by close friends. The morning of the wedding also featured a group run around the estate, reflecting our shared love of fitness and giving guests a chance to start the day together.
Favourite wedding gifts
We registered with Borough Kitchen, which very kindly hosted our wedding list. We’re currently in the middle of renovating our home, so many of the gifts are patiently waiting for us at the end of the project. Knowing we’ll soon fill our kitchen with beautiful cookware, glassware and hosting essentials chosen by our friends and family feels incredibly special.
Honeymoon
After the wedding, we drove north from Umbria into the Dolomites. We spent our first three nights at Miramonte, hiking through the mountains, enjoying long sauna sessions and finally slowing down after months of planning.
From there we continued towards Sexten, where we spent another three nights exploring the region. One of the highlights was dining at Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, the three-Michelin-star restaurant led by chef Norbert Niederkofler, who generously hosted us for an unforgettable meal celebrating the ingredients and traditions of the Alps.
Our final adventure was an early-morning paragliding flight over the mountains, which gave us some of the most spectacular views we’ve ever experienced together. We finished the honeymoon with 24 hours in Venice, staying at the newly opened Airelles Venezia, where we enjoyed one final moment of calm before returning home to London.
Advice
There are no rules – you can do whatever you want.
Include people. We were amazed by how invested everyone was and how involved they wanted to be.
Focus on the details, but don’t sweat the small stuff. We planned meticulously: some things worked and some didn’t, but either way it was the best it could be.
With thanks to:
The couple: @rnewtonfun & @ch4rli5
Weekend wedding planner: @WeddingsbySamantha_
Wedding planning assistant: @rachellouise.events
Photographer: @leowedphoto
Catering: Nonna @castellodititignano
Friday outfits: @perte_dego
Saturday suits: @jacquemus, styled by @benyeofitness
Jewellery (watch and ring): @cartier
Shoes: @gucci
Venue: @castellodititignano
Flowers: @mariellacarolafiori
Artwork: @chrislloydart
Stationery: @adesignerinlondon
Master of ceremonies: @samueljlgearing
Band: Retrobates
Headline DJ: @bestley.world
Performer: @mahatmakhandi
Ceremony conductor: @kushkhanna
Pool party DJs: @georgecreed3, @ojlewis89, @btleakey and @smapostcard
Coach Captains: @dirtyoikmagnus, @alexched, @jojkelly
