Masseria Mozzone

Masseria Mozzone is an eighteenth‑century masseria in white stone, surrounded by centuries‑old olive trees, with trulli and prickly pears all around. It has a style of its own: you walk in and you feel Puglia straight away, without anything added.

If you’re thinking about it for your own wedding, I wrote a separate guide to the venue, with the spots I like most for photos.

The morning

I started with the details: Victoria’s jewellery, her sandals, the wildflower bouquet, Nick’s bow tie and watch, the two dresses hanging in the room. Then Victoria, in her robe on the terrace, relaxed and laughing with her friends while the last things were being done.

Before the ceremony

Nick spent the hour before the ceremony with his friends in the courtyard, a beer in hand. Victoria got dressed with her bridesmaids, each one in a different colour.

The moment I remember most from this part of the day is her dad on the terrace, seeing her in her dress for the first time.

The ceremony in the olive grove

The ceremony was in the olive grove, under a very old olive tree, with straw bales for the guests and flowers by Botlea along the aisle. Nick walked in with his mother. Then Victoria arrived with her dad, who waved at everyone on the way, and Nick was moved before she even reached him.

Their friends read, the guests laughed and cried, and at the end the two of them walked back down the aisle under a shower of petals.

Aperitivo and portraits

After the ceremony everyone went back to the masseria for the aperitivo, with lemons and oranges everywhere and an orange spritz in hand.

I took Victoria and Nick away for a while for their portraits: first among the prickly pears, then between the olive trees, and at the end on the terrace while the sun went down. It was the most romantic part of the day, and the quietest.

Dinner in the courtyard

Dinner was at long tables in the courtyard, under the string lights. Everything was organised by Enzo Melchiorre Events, and it all ran smoothly.

Before sitting down, a band played on the terrace: Nick danced with the musicians and Victoria danced with her dad. Then they ran into the courtyard while all the guests waved their napkins. The speeches were long and very funny.

The party

After dinner the energy changed completely. Victoria ended up on her friends’ shoulders, they walked out through a line of sparklers, cut the cake in front of the luminarie and had their first dance under the lights, with Victoria in a short white dress. Then the DJ took over and the party went on until late.