An Essex Wedding - September/October 2026 (Issue 130)

TO FOREVER From Ibiza dancefloor After falling in love across two countries, Sebastiano and Reece celebrated with a stylish June wedding at Leez Priory, where sunshine and a surprise drag performance made for an unforgettable day Images courtesy of Sarah Carter Photography Sebastiano and Reece first crossed paths in Ibiza, where Sebastiano was on holiday and Reece was working for the summer. Although they only spotted each other before Sebastiano flew home, they connected on social media and soon began a long-distance romance between Rome and London. After months of travelling back and forth, they realised they had found something special. Sebastiano made the bold decision to leave his life in Rome and move to London, a choice they both agree was the best one they ever made. On 6th August 2024, Sebastiano surprised Reece with a proposal in Ibiza, the island where their story first began. Returning to the place they met made the moment even more meaningful. Now, it was time to plan the wedding. Leez Priory was the first and last venue they viewed. Sebastiano remembers, “We felt like it was gonna be our ‘little private village’ for one day.” They booked the date and on 2nd June 2026, they became Mr and Mr Stocco Le Beau. SETTING THE SCENE Sebastiano explains, “We can split the day into two parts: a very stressful morning and an amazing afternoon. We stayed at the venue the night before our wedding and were so happy, we couldn’t believe our big day had finally arrived. At the same time, we were really stressed because the weather wasn’t looking good. We woke up to rain, and the forecast wasn’t promising for the rest of the day. We worked with our wedding manager, Rachel, to rearrange everything for an indoor ceremony. Of course, we were still so happy, but we were also a little sad that we might not have the outdoor wedding we’d dreamed of. Then, just one hour before the ceremony, everything changed. The rain stopped, the sun came out, and a race against time began to move everything back outside. Everyone pitched in, the venue staff, our photographers, and our wedding designer. We can’t thank them enough for all their hard work. They truly made it possible. We had our ceremony in the sunshine, and it turned into the best afternoon of our lives.” DRESSED TO IMPRESS Sebastiano wore a black Alexander McQueen suit with a reverse lapel, paired with a white shirt featuring silk detailing. He completed the look with black wholecut Oxford shoes from Meermin. Reece wore a bespoke suit by Belladonis, styled with white Monolith leather flats from Prada. Their groomsmen all wore black suits with white shirts and pistachio bow ties. Sebastiano’s best men opted for classic two-piece black suits, while Reece’s groomsmen chose black double-breasted suits. The venue looked incredible, decorated with white blossom trees to keep the elegant fresh, clean colour palette. A noteable touch was that the couple chose to make a donation to a charity they really care about, Heal Foundation, instead of giving favours: a charity that helps the research for neurological children’s cancer. TIME TO CELEBRATE Sebastiano reveals, “We had drag queen, Tiana Biscuit, perform a 40-minute live singing set, and it was one of the highlights of the day. We were gathered in front of the main tower to cut the cake, and then she appeared through the main door and started to sing. Everyone turned around, saw her, and we all rushed back to the front of the house to sing along, dance, and have an amazing time. It was such a fun and unforgettable moment.” ADVICE FROM THE HAPPY COUPLE “Don’t follow the crowd; make your wedding your wedding. It’s one of the most special days of your life, so make it a reflection of who you are, rather than what everyone else does. Express yourselves, be creative, and make it uniquely yours. At the end of the day, if you don’t feel happy and comfortable, neither will your guests.” REAL WEDDINGS 23

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