FEDERICA ARIEMMA

EMOTIONAL WEDDING IN PUGLIA

An Intense and Heartfelt Love Story

In the heart of Puglia, under a sky brimming with promises and hope, one of the most intense and moving love stories I’ve ever had the honor of photographing took place. This emotional wedding in Puglia saw Josy and Matteo, a young couple with a bond that had withstood the test of time and the harshest challenges, unite in marriage at a moment when everything seemed more fragile, yet extraordinarily meaningful.

After 14 years together, Matteo unexpectedly proposed to Josy during one of the most difficult periods of her life. His proposal wasn’t just an act of love but a promise to stand by her side through every adversity. This emotional wedding in Puglia was a hymn to resilience and the strength of love.

This promise united not only Josy and Matteo but an entire circle of loved ones. Friends and family paused their lives to turn this dream into reality. None of us knew the exact day; everything happened quickly, and we all worked together to make this wonderful couple's dream come true. Matteo’s family Masseria became the venue: an intimate setting filled with memories and symbolism, where simplicity met magic. This emotional wedding in Puglia transformed the Masseria into a place of pure emotion.

Josy, with her disarming courage, wore a dress lovingly sewn by her mother. It was white but featured lilac sleeves, her favorite color, which adorned the entire wedding. Matteo, on the other hand, wore a hat designed by his mother—a detail that made everything even more personal and special. It was meant to connect him to his beloved, who would wear her wig on that day. That moment was truly special because when Josy put it on, it was as if she donned a superhero's cape. Her smile, despite everything, lit up the day. Clinging to Matteo, her eyes brimming with tears, she faced each moment with a grace and strength that moved everyone present.

During the ceremony, Josy placed the hat on Matteo’s head. The officiant, Matteo’s brother—a professional actor dressed as a priest—brought laughter and tears with his accordion and a Tex comic book as his lectern.

The exchange of vows was undoubtedly the most poignant—devastating, even. It was a moment where everything paused, and you couldn’t help but reflect. I don’t even need to describe it; sharing a few lines from the bride’s vows is enough:

“Life? I still don’t understand it, really. It’s like Google Maps suggesting the best route, but the road is awful. Even now, I have no idea where this life wants to take me!”

“I’ve never liked the ‘till death do us part’ formula... I prefer to see it as ‘till our hearts desire.’”

“I’m not marrying you because I’m dying, but because I’m alive, and I want to live this life fully with you as long as our hearts desire.”

The ceremony ended with applause, joyful shouts, and tears streaming down all of our faces, even soaking the mandatory masks we wore that day.

Next came the dinner—a tribute to Puglian traditions, featuring dishes that told stories of home and roots. Among the flavors were pasta all’assassina, panzerotti, zampina, and Solero ice cream, Josy’s favorite ice cream, a detail that made everything even more intimate and special.

An Emotional Wedding in Puglia: Black and White as a Narrative Choice

Photographing this wedding was the most challenging work we’ve ever done—not just technically but emotionally. Every shot was a journey into Josy and Matteo’s souls, into their strength and love. We chose to tell this story in black and white so that no colors could distract from the pure essence of the emotions. Black and white turned every smile, glance, and tear into a universal symbol of resilience and love. This emotional wedding in Puglia found in black and white the perfect medium to convey its intensity.

This love story isn’t just a testament to an extraordinary bond but a lesson for anyone fortunate enough to witness it. Through this narrative, I hope to share my experience with everyone.

It’s no coincidence that this emotional wedding in Puglia won fourth place in the international MyWed contest—a recognition that meant so much to us but, most importantly, to Josy and Matteo, whose love resonated far beyond the borders of their Puglian Masseria.

Josy and Matteo taught us that love is the greatest force of all, capable of lighting up even the darkest moments. It was an honor for us to tell this story through our lens. This emotional wedding in Puglia will forever remain in our hearts as one of the most significant moments of our careers.

PHOTOGRAPHERS Federica Ariemma e Matteo Lomonte

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