On January 31, 2023 Cam and I celebrated our twenty-year wedding anniversary. I refuse to stop celebrating milestones in our lives in a memorable way. Every big birthday, every big anniversary needs to be a joyous, memorable occasion. Otherwise, it’s 18th birthday party, 21st birthday party, wedding, dead. Non mi piace.

We knew we’d be in Brescia for a week, enabling us to settle in, have a little ceremony somewhere beautiful, and still explore the area. I did a bit of Googling and came across a wedding photographer whose work I loved…and after stalking her Instagram, discovered a hidden-away chapel in the countryside 20-minutes from Brescia that she had photographed a wedding at.

Laura Stramacchia was such a lifesaver across many emails over the last 12 months. She helped me out with a wonderful make up artist, Francesca Mamone. She checked my Italian emails to the church in Nave, Pieve della Mitria. Meeting her on the morning of our re-wedding was like catching up with an old friend. One full of energy and who LOVED taking photos! On this, Cam and I were burnt at our real wedding two decades ago by our photographer who didn’t process the film correctly, meaning we only have about 4 decent wedding photos. And these were taken by friends. This means that every time we’re looking schmick, we want it recorded!

The weather looked sketchy when Francesca arrived at our apartment at 7am (VERY early for the St.Clairs…we are more wake at 9am, sleep at 1am types). “Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata” she said hopefully (rain on the wedding day is said to bring good luck). She gave myself and the girls bouncy fifties curls, and painted me with pin-up style makeup with dark lashes and fire-red lips. Probably the best makeup I’ve ever had done, and the girls looked incredible.

I’d found my dress online 6 months ago. The “Iris” dress in emerald green, my favourite colour, from the label “self-portrait” (allegedly one of Kate Middleton’s faves). I had found a vintage brooch and clip-on earrings from a costume jewellery collector on Facebook Marketplace. We picked out some fresh flowers from Franciacorta Fiori in Brescia. White blooms with some eucalyptus tied in a simple bouquet. (These serendipitously matched with green and white flowers left in the church by a wedding party a few days earlier!). The girls wore Avalon’s Year 10 and Year 12 black formal dresses. Cam looked sharp in a charcoal jacket, jet black skinny jeans and black RM Williams boots (for that taste of Australia).

After checking out Laura’s fabulous photos (the ones below taken in our apartment), you’ve got to admit, we looked classy a.f.

The ceremony was very brief, and all delivered in Italian by Don Ruggero in his church which was originally built in 1000AD, and remodeled and decorated with frescoes from 1446. Four elderly locals from the parish watched from the back. It was the first time I’d seen the church in real-life. It is only opened for special events, and it was just glorious. We re-read our wedding vows too from the original booklet. There were tears.

I Cameron, take you Daniela, to be my wife. I choose you above all others to share my love, my friendship and my life. I promise to respect you, trust you, cherish and protect you. I want to laugh with you, have you sleep in my arms, and stand by your side through good times and bad. I will love you in joy and in sorrow, now, and for all the days of my life.

I Daniela, take you, Cameron, to be my husband. I choose you above all others to share my love, my friendship and my life. I promise to respect you, trust you, bring light into your life and warmth into our home. I want to laugh with you, sleep in your arms, and stand by your side through good times and bad. I will love you in joy and in sorrow, now, and for all the days of my life.

Laura took some more photos in the adjoining property which was filled with old farming and wine-making equipment. The whole space was right up our alley. Vintage, crumbling, but filled with tales and spirit.

As predicted, the rain set in, so we had to cut the shoot short…but “Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata”!

Let’s do it all again in another ten years!