Luiz & Rovinya were a dream to plan a wedding with, and had such a clear idea of not just what they wanted their celebrations to look like, but how they wanted the celebrations to feel! It was all about family and togetherness, bringing to life their personalities, cultures and relationship.
I remember sitting around our beautiful Old Kitchen table with this gorgeous couple, along with Rovinya’s parents. The main memory of that planning meeting was discovering they all loved tequila, and a negroni! At this stage I knew we were in for an epic celebration.
Let’s hear from Rovinya & Luiz as we share this stunning Summer wedding at Thicket Priory. So where did the story begin??
How did you meet Mr/Mrs Right?
“We met in Secondary School in Mexico – both of our parents were working abroad. Luiz was definitely into Rovinya as he had to ask her out three times before she said yes. That was when we were 16/17 and had no idea we’d be going all the way to Rovinya’s native yorkshire to tie the knot – 13 years later!”
When did you know they were ‘the one’/ how did they pop the question?
“Luiz waited 13 years – seven of which were long distance – to take Rovinya back to a beach in Mexico and get down on one knee just as the sun was setting. All good things come to those who wait!”
The photographs below are a few from the ‘old school photo film’, and for me capture the sheer coolness of this couple! They just rocked being a bride and groom; we could see in every moment of their day just how much they were enjoying themselves!
What was the biggest MUST HAVE for your wedding?
“In fairness, it’s hard to narrow it down to one. An illustrator was a pretty big must. And so was an epic setting – after all that waiting, we had to make a great first impression as Mr & Mrs. But if we had to narrow it down to one thing, it was getting as many people as we could under one roof, because, if we didn’t get the people, there’d be no party!”
How did you find THE dress to say ‘I do’ in?
“Saw a picture one day and I just knew it was it. It was the first dress I tried and it made me even more sure. But just to prolong the whole “choosing” ritual, I kept looking for another 3 weeks until I came right back to the first one. Sometimes, things are meant to be!”
…and let’s not forget about what our groom was wearing…
How did you pick the perfect photographer/videographer to capture your day?
“I blatantly stalked our videographer on instagram for about a year before Luiz even asked me to marry him. So, again, I guess I just knew what I wanted!
And we actually found our photographer, LittleMissBoyco, when visiting a different venue altogether. She made such a good impression on us (and Frida!) that we couldn’t believe our luck that her style was exactly what we were after.”
Frida the beagle generously provided all the guests with a ‘doggy token’ that could be exchanged at the bar for a Negroni cocktail! What a good dog!
Other than saying ‘I do’ what is the most unforgettable moment from the day?
“Realising that we had amassed so many of our favourite people in such a magical place. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself when I think back on our big day.”
The speeches were such a special part of the celebrations, one which brought laughter and tears; showing the incredible closeness of not only Luiz and his family and Rovinya and her, but the closeness to each others families also. Truly touching moments which I felt very privileged to be part of.
Who gets the gold medal in the wedding Olympics for helping make your day amazing?
“There are so many people who could give the gold medal to. Not a single one of our vendors put a foot wrong and we still think our big day was flawless. But, if we’re honest with ourselves, there can be only one winner: Anna.
From our first meeting to the wee hours of our party Anna was right there, holding our hands through it all. We didn’t have to think about a thing – just live through it. And when we think back, that was such a gift. To just enjoy our big day and somehow keep to a timetable was hard enough, but to surpass our every expectation was just magical.
Also, Lily and Jess were fantastic too! Exceptional at their jobs, personable and knowledgeable. It simply wouldn’t have been the same without either of them.”
Dive in to Luiz & Rovinya’s highlights video, see if you can spot the Thicket Priory team at work!
Which supplier was a real stand out for you? The unsung star who deserves a special mention.
“I mean, again, how to choose!
Tru Groove was pitch perfect. And the cake made us feel like we were in the set of a period drama. But if we had to give joint first place, it’d go to H&A + Thicket Priory.
Not only was the venue a 1:1 reproduction of what we had on our minds when we were looking to tie the know, but the food was an absolute standout. And we’re pretty serious about our food! In fact, one of the only things we would have changed is for us to have had more of it!”
Out of 10, how involved was your partner in the planning process? Did this help with your planning process?
“10/10. All of the decisions were joint decisions. I don’t think I could’ve made it through the whole planning process without someone next to me the whole way.
(NOTE FROM THE GROOM: I didn’t even bribe her to say this!)”
What was it about your venue that gives it the WOW factor? Would you recommend this venue to other couples?
“Where to begin? The size and style of the venue are, quite frankly, unmatched.
They were probably the first thing we noticed. But the people at Thicket are what really sells it. For such a luxurious, magical location to look the way it does, and work so seamlessly as a wedding venue is beyond impressive.
However, we had quite a few people we needed to house coming from every corner of the globe. So, the many rooms for overnight guests and the closeness to York was a godsend. I don’t think there was anywhere else more suited to hold a massive collection of our favourite people.”
How did you style your venue? Did your wedding day have a theme?
“Not really a theme at all, more like our ‘vibe’. Flowers were simple and of the season. The cake matched the venue. And the stationery reflected the way Rovinya (a designer) likes to work. Besides, Thicket has enough style for any wedding as is.”
What’s your funniest memory from the day?
“Here are the highlights:
• Rovinya going for a wee just as she was meant to be walking down the aisle.
• Maid of honour ending the night early!
• Michael (Rovinya’s dad) being so happy about the midnight snack!
• The Bride vs Groom sing off, hosted by Tru Groove”
Finally, what’s your best advice you could give to couples who are about to tie the knot?
“One from the Bride – Pay attention to the little details. The little things are what lots of your guests remember. So even though you may (and should) stress a little about the big set pieces of your wedding, letting your personality shine through when you can will stay with people forever.
One from the Groom – Be present. When you get to your big day that you’ve been obsessing over for so long, you may be surprised how quickly it goes by. So keep your eyes open and your favourite person by you. Just so when it’s over, you have plenty of moments to keep with you forever.”
I hope you’ve loved seeing just how Rovinya & Luiz made their wedding dreams a reality here at Thicket Priory. A big thank you to them both, and to their very lovely friends families for bringing so much warmth, fun, heartfelt love and fun to share it with us!
Signing off, with love
Anna xXx
Suppliers Shout Outs
Bride and Groom’s full names: Rovinya Gabriella Sollitt & Luiz Bilbilovic Gola
Wedding Venue: Thicket Priory, Thorganby, York
Photographer: LittleMissBoyco (real name: Wiesia Bojko)
Bride’s dress (designer and shop): Half Penny Lane
Hair: Emily Hawkes
Make-up: Amy George
Flowers: Willow & Bear
Cake: Where the Ribbon Ends
Stationery/wedding favours: Rovinya’s very own work!
Entertainment: Tru Groove
Venue Styling/Chair Covers: Rovinya, again!
Videographer (if applicable): TopTableFilms
Transport (if applicable): BossTravel
Games: YorkshireGamesHire
Live Illustrator: Anna Dovbiy
Dog minders: BowWowVow
Nannies: ScapeSchool
