Europe Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

This Couple Got Married at a Castle in Austria and Its Giving Us Major ‘Sound of Music’ Vibes

The hills are alive with the sound of wedding bells! We couldn’t be more obsessed with today’s romantic real wedding from A Very Beloved Wedding, set in the hills of Southern Austria. The three day celebration began with a lakeside welcome dinner in typical Austrian attire and ended with a jaw-dropping firework show! Hana Holdener blew us away with her floral installations, from the ceremony staircase to the towering table centerpieces. Don’t miss out on the full gallery to experience all the beauty this destination wedding weekend has to offer – taken by Sotiris Tsakanikas!

From A Very Beloved Wedding… Julisa and Stefan met during their MBA in Harvard and immediately fell in love. Julisa comes from Dominican Republic and Stefan from Austria. Both decided to get married in the South of Austria, region of beautiful lakes. The three day Destination Wedding Weekend started with a Welcome Event on a Castle with an overview of the region, typical Austrian attires, food and drinks followed by an unforgettable party.

The wedding ceremony took place on an island and antique church, followed by a boat trip and a beautiful alfresco dinner and party reception in one of the most exclusive hotels by the Woerthersee lake. The reception was all about white and greens, very classic with a lot of glass elements, representing the element water. So was the stationery design. It was all very light, like the summer nights we had those days.

The never ending firework at the reception was incredible and stunning, followed by the Dominican Hora Loca and lots of dancing. The Farewell brunch took place at the pool and lake with typical Dominican food. As you see it was all about bringing Dominican Republic and Austria together, with one element in common: the love for water. “As rivers and oceans, as waters so deep. As roundness of love words, as kisses so sweet. Water keeps going, keeps touching until you weep. Waters illusionary sharpness of one’s truth, makes grounding so complete.” – E. Cardich

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Photography

Sotiris Tsakanikas

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A Heart-Warming Summer Wedding in a Portuguese Palace With Just 14 Guests

14 guests, a cheerful summer color palette, floral magic by Flow and a stunning, sun-soaked indoor reception… these are just a few things we’re falling head over heels for in today’s gorgeous wedding planned by Splendida Weddings. Don’t miss out on the full gallery for every inspiring detail for your intimate wedding – taken by Diane Sotero Photography.

From the photographer, Diane Sotero… When Kayla and Carlos contacted me and we had a video call, I quickly felt the sweetness and love between both of them. They had booked me before even having chosen a venue for their wedding. For the next month, Nikolina Silva (From Splendida Weddings) and I spent a few days visiting a number of wedding venues to help them decide which one would be a better match to their personalities, wedding style and to fulfill their wedding dreams. Kayla & Carlos chose a beautiful Portuguese palace to hold their celebration. On the day of their wedding it was a beautiful warm afternoon, filled with the best light. The styling and design were just stunning, and their family and guests were so lovely. One of my personal favorite moments was their first look, they had such an emotional first look. During the entire time while I was photographing this precious moment, I could feel how their hearts were full of happiness and love. All of their feelings were overflowing through their eyes and movements which made a remarkable moment that I was honored to capture and that I’m sure they will remember forever. The ceremony was small and intimate. It was guided by the delightful sound of precious violins, Kayla entered the isle holding hands with both of her parents, such a sweet way to show her gratitude for them. Carlos and Kayla said “I do” in the presence of 14 guests, including family and friends. Kayla and Carlos shared with me that from the beginning all they wanted was to share a beautiful and meaningful celebration with the most important people in their lives and they were so happy when they saw their dining table that they even shed a few tears. It was very emotional when each guest read their place card where Kayla and Carlos had written a personal message stating why each guest was special to them. Photographing this wedding gave me precious insights into their beautiful love story. I could feel the love that each guest had for them and the love Kayla and Carlos felt for each other. Intimate destination weddings like this one are magical.

From the Wedding Planner…Kayla and Carlos decided to get married abroad and elected Portugal as their wedding destination. They have never visited Lisbon prior to their wedding day but their desire to experience something new and enjoy all unique experiences regarding well known Portuguese cuisine, good late summer weather, unique picturesque felt as they have always new that it was the one! Selecting the wedding venues was challenging and as they have never visited this beautiful country before, but they deposited all their trust in our team. After a while beautiful their heart won unique Pestana Palace in Lisbon and beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, just perfect fit for their intimate wedding celebration that counted with 16 guests. Wedding ceremony had palace as a perfect backdrop and neutral chairs with beautiful floral arch and live string duo created magical moment of the union. Regarding wedding design all the aesthetic and wedding paper got inspired by couples ‘love story, favorite colors, desired royal-like dining experience and a bit of modern tweaks with unique floral design. The exquisite table setting was carefully hand-picked to improve overall dining experience and unique intimate atmosphere at the most elegant and delicate way. Many details had personal and hand-written messages by bride and groom and one interesting detail is that each place card had unique and meaningful message that the couple Kayla and Carlos wrote for each guest, so they feel how special and unique their presence is for them. The speeches made all the guests crying of how emotional and unique their love union is.

From the Bride… What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning? We had many different thoughts about our wedding prior to planning. Ultimately we decided we wanted an adventure. Portugal quickly became our choice, a place we had both never traveled to but seemed to have all of the things we enjoyed. Once we decided on an intimate destination wedding, we knew we wanted to highlight a unique Portuguese venue that would create an exceptional experience for our guests celebrating with us. We found our planner, Splendida weddings who helped us work through finding our ideal venue from a far. We chose a palace setting in Lisbon, that had a mix of regal elegance, beautiful grounds and top quality food. You felt like you are in a different world as soon as you enter the property, not right in Lisbon. What was your color palette and your style vision? We wanted to enhance the incredible palace which had so many beautiful details while incorporating some of our color preferences. The color palette was light purple, sage green, blues with accents of pinks and gold. Our paper details were handmade with aquarelle modern tie dye pattern softly tying in our colors. The ceremony and cocktails were in the gardens with the palace as the back drop. We then moved inside the palace where we dined for a five course meal. This allowed us to have the best of both worlds and take in all the venue had to offer with elegant and romantic details in each setting. What unique elements or DIY details did you include? Our planner suggested to include a personalized quote for each individual on their place card. Our guests loved them and everyone went around and read their personalized quote out-loud and it ended up being such an emotional and beautiful moment in the day that wasn’t expected. It was another small way to show our appreciation and love for our guests.

Our photographer, Diane Sotero, shot the wedding in film. That combination with her artistic ability to compose and capture beautiful moments and details gave us everlasting memories. What was your favorite moment? There are so many small moments of the day that pop into my mind but the ceremony was incredible. We had been together almost six years before getting married but expressing our love and vows to one another with my husband’s life long friend conducting our ceremony, surrounded by our loved ones was incredibly meaningful and joyful. We had written the ceremony together so it was special to see it all come to life and share our own vows with each other. It was way more emotional than I ever imagined. Your favorite crafted detail? All of the little details are what made the day so personal and tied everything together creating the vision of the day. I loved our guestbook, it was a sketch of Pestana Palace and it is something that we will have framed in our home forever! But overall the way our dinner table came together was another moment that took my breath away. The flowers, place settings, candle light enhanced the atmosphere. It felt so regal yet inviting with beautiful light through the large windows, that faded as the night went on as we ate, drank and celebrated in candle light with our fourteen guests. Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc. My Modern Tousseau guipure lace fit and flare gown beautiful and had a timeless feel. I loved my Bella Belle shoes in soft blue with pearl and bead flower details. For jewelry I kept it simple with statement earrings from Kate and Mari Jewelry and bracelet from Kendra Scott, both with mother of pearl details. Our florist was so talented. The flowers and arrangements were breath taking. There was a mixture of roses and other garden flowers that added so much movement, texture and color. The floral arch was incredible, it felt like a dream and evoked such a romantic setting in the garden for our ceremony. It was one of my favorite elements of the day. My bouquet was also out of this world and made me smile every time. Our favors were all items made in Portugal: Port (of course!), handmade soaps, traditional Portuguese pastry for a late night/early morning snack, with handwritten thank you notes to each of our guests. What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be? Prioritize which elements are the most important to you.

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Diane Sotero Photography

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Petit Bouquet

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A Few Major Reasons Why Eloping Is Beyond Worth It

Elopements are such a beautiful way to tie the knot. And thanks to incredibly talented vendors like weinprovence and Wepagency, not even a little bit of style has to be sacrificed in order to have the truly unique and intimate elopement of your dreams. Allow today’s gorgeous Château Martinay editorial to inspire and get your creative juices flowing (yup, the same chateau where Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner got married!) Don’t miss out on the full gallery, captured by Tamara Gruner Photography for all the details!

From wepinprovence… As Covid-19 is turning our world upside down we want to stay positive and remind us of the beautiful things in life such as planning your wedding day. In times of healthcare and economic crises planning your own wedding can get challenging. You might be torn between hosting a large wedding in your home country or just elope to a special place with the most important people in your life. While we are all under lockdown, now is a good time to plan your very special day. And today we would like to focus on elopements. Elopements allow for a more intimate wedding with your closest family and friends enjoying a long weekend at a special location. You will be able to host a welcome party, arrange a tour, plan for your rehearsal dinner, your wedding and the brunch after your wedding day in one or two locations while spending time with your loved ones.

To plan your special wedding weekend it’s important to hire a local wedding planner, who can navigate you through choosing your wedding location and your vendors. Your planner will take care of your wedding budget and since it will be a smaller wedding you will be able to spend more money on location, flowers and decor, food and photographer / videographer instead of spending it on the mass. Choosing your elopement location is key to your unforgettable wedding day and some of my favorite European locations are France, Italy and Spain. Although right now these countries are hit very hard by the Covid-19 pandemic it is important to look positively into the future and still plan your wedding in one of those countries if you are a huge fan of Europe. It’s exactly now that countries who got hit hard need our economic support after the pandemic is over. Let’s not abandon them. Let’s be grateful and let’s thank these countries for always having their doors open for all of us, visitors. Now is the time to give back and support local businesses even more! And to remind you how beautiful an elopement in Provence, France could look like we would love to share this incredibly stunning wedding celebration at Chateau de Martinay.

You might recognize the name of this gorgeous chateau! Yes, it’s the chateau where Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas said ‘YES’ to each other in June 2019. Though we didn’t see much of their wedding location we want to highlight in these images all the pretty nooks and corners of this chateau at which you can plan your wedding weekend. Let’s just start at the incredible chateau entrance – it’s the perfect place to set up your intimate wedding ceremony with a grand entrance. Our talented florist Celine from Flower by Celine framed the chateau entrance door with foliage in deep reds, blushes, pinks and greens, which can be used on a fall wedding day. Classic French chairs were the perfect match for this romantic wedding ceremony, from where the wedding guests cheered our Newly weds after their ‘I do’s!’. Our bride, Savannah, wore a stunning Inbal Dror wedding gown, while Rodolphe looked very handsome in his black tux. Planned by our favorite Provence planner, Stephanie from WEP in Provence, and styled by the very talented Carrie Moe from Type A Society, this wedding ceremony couldn’t have been more perfect.

While the chateau entrance can be used for your tented wedding reception at large guest numbers we chose the dinner to take place at the grand tree alley on the side of Chateau de Martinay. If you remember this was the location Sophie and Joe Jonas said ‘I do’ to each other. But we wanted to create an intimate atmosphere. And this is just one example of how you can make use of different parts of the pretty chateau. Pops of colors were used to reflect the love for life and colors for this intimate wedding table. A turquoise table linen stands out in the same way the flower centerpieces do. Deep reds, pinks and blues pop out. The table is framed by a fun foliage of different colors to create an even more intimate feeling in open nature. The wedding cake reflects a fun play of whites, blues and pinks. And just as the colors of the flowers on the reception table pop out those fun pink flowers stand out on the cake as well. What would be a wedding celebration without a grand exit? For that, our bride changed into her breathtaking Berta Bridal blush gown. Rodolphe and Savannah both exited the chateau in an old-timer, but not in a classic black or white old-timer. It was a fun green one, again reflecting the love for color. And here, our fabulous florist, Celine, filled this old-timer with colorful hydrangea. Truly an unforgettable site and a wedding celebration! Follow along our elopement gallery and start dreaming and planning your own very special elopement in Provence, a place in France, which allows you to dream endlessly.

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Petit Bouquet

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A Whimsical Marie Antoinette-Inspired Editorial in Soft French Blue Hues

To say we’re sad to be missing out on romantic European summer vacations this year is the understatement of the century. Luckily, we have beautiful styled shoots that we can live vicariously through, like today’s stunning Marie Antoinette inspired editorial in France from Manna Sun Events and Stella Yang Photography. Head on over to full gallery for a sea of french blue hues and steal-worthy whimsical details.

From Stella Yang Photography… Teaming up with Manna Sun Events and Ahles Fleurs, we flew to Paris for this wedding shoot and had an absolutely luxurious experience which was filled with elegant European charm.

As we entered the front gate of Château de Villette we were blown away by its stunning beauty. Surrounded by two lakes, a magnificent cascade fountain, a glass green house and orangery, this French chateau is perfect in every way. It has been one of the most remarkable chateaux in France since the 1680’s. The design inspiration came from the dreamlike interiors of the chateau, specifically the shade of French blue in the reception room.

The florist used soft blush, purple, and white blooms in a great mix of organic pastels. This soft feminine color palette was a perfect addition to the whimsical and romantic Marie Antoinette inspiration. Elopements have become very popular among our couples. With COVID-19, more couples want to have smaller weddings, but still filled with luxurious details and to provide great experience for the guests. With this beautiful shoot we want our couples to see that elopement can be designed with such style and beauty.

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The Heritage Collection

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An Intimate Lake Como Wedding at Hotel Villa Cipressi Thats More Romantic Than the Movies

From the bride’s princess Lena Berisha gown to a sparkling ceremony on Lake Como, to the pergola covered reception – the amount of breathtaking beauty in this wedding is truly endless. Don’t mind us, we’ll just be sitting here for the rest of the day drooling over Julia Kaptelova Photography’s flawless pictures, especially those stunning floral arrangements from Il Florista. Keep on reading for words from the bride telling the story of their special day, including her favorite moment, that happened to be one she never even planned for.

From the Bride Darya… Our little Italian wedding. We were always fond of all things Italian, despite never being there before. My husband and I could not imagine a better place to celebrate the beginning of our life as one. And so, when we found the most charming Hotel Villa Cipressi, we instantly knew it would be the place to remember. With breathtaking views of Lago di Como and the Botanic Garden encompassing the villa, we decided to go with a simple yet classic wedding style that I believe allowed us to experience the true taste of Italian culture.

The sunny outdoor terrace on the shore, with a string quartet and bouquets of roses was the most magical place to say the most important words: I do. After which we wondered to the cool shaded paths of the garden with our talented photographer Julia Kaptelova and her team to capture the euphoria of our special day through her lens.

To those who are in the midst of planning their weddings, the success of your wedding depends on how comfortable you feel around your photographer. My hubby and I were extremely lucky to instantly connect with Julia, whose humble character, work ethic and ability to guide us through the process left the most delightful imprint on our hearts.

On a hot mid-September day, nothing brings more joy than refreshing bubbles of prosecco, a light lake breeze on the elevated terrace with spectacular views and enchanting classical music. In the spur of the moment, Elisabetta from Prelude Musica asked Ryan and I to dance for our guests during the cocktail hour and, I must say, my first thought was “the first dance is planned after dinner” but the atmosphere was so compelling that we could not say no. And so, my favorite memory of our wedding was a dance I never planned for.

We wanted to make sure our guests knew their presence was equally important to us. Therefore, one long table Italian-style for the reception was the perfect solution for a small family-like wedding. A charming pergola, soft sounds of the fountain and warm string of lights created an intimate ambiance which became the main ingredient of an unforgettable Italian wedding.

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Petit Bouquet

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This Is the Gorgeous Island You Shouldn’t Be Overlooking for Your Destination Wedding in Greece

Today’s lavender and blue hydrangea-filled wedding planned by Corfu Wedding Planner by Lorraine Young is satisfying all our European summer cravings. The darling couple tied the knot in a ceremony by the sea, the bride donning a knock-out, origami-inspired Victor and Rolf dress. The entire day was beautifully decorated by Rizos Garden’s pastel creations, in heavenly shades of purple, powder blue and pops of pink. The couple decided to incorporate a few meaningful Greek traditions to their wedding that truly made the day all the more special. Head on over to the full gallery, captured by Kostis Mouselimis, to see all the pretty!

From Kostis Mouselimis… What do you get when you blend a breathtaking origami-inspired Victor and Rolf wedding dress, Bella Belle shoes, a million lavender, and blue hydrangeas and a wedding ceremony by the sea? The most romantic and delicate wedding of the summer! Photographing Christina and Michael’s wedding was truly inspiring! These two were so in love and they made the atmosphere electric around them. Originally from Lebanon, Michael visited Greece on vacation and immediately fell in love with the country. He knew then that this would be the place where he would marry his loved one. He wanted to tie the knot in Corfu, a popular (for good reason!) destination for a wedding for its unique and cosmopolitan character!

The wedding planned by Lorraine Young of Corfu Wedding Planner was a true celebration of sophisticated details and romantic shades of purple, powder blue and pops of pink here and there! We started the day with a mini boudoir session and capturing all of the details Christina chose for her wedding day.

Our focal point was the sophisticated wedding dress that reminded us of a Japanese kimono out of origami paper with its breathtaking oversized bow! We loved the minimalistic yet extremely elegant approach of our bride to makeup and her overall styling, proof the less is more when it comes to wedding day chic! The ceremony was filled with all the greek traditions that symbolized the union of two people in love with the exchange of the rings, the shared cup of red wine, the wedding crowning and of course with tossing the rice!

The sea was the perfect backdrop to this and all the guests could not contain their enthusiasm for these two! After the ceremony, we captured Christina and Michael, now husband and wife, in the most glorious greek sunset.

Does it get dreamier? Actually, it does! After the ceremony followed a reception filled with flowers, champagne, and funky jazz tunes! What we loved the most? The milky powdery shades of the flowers, the glorious naked cake, and the hand-embroidered wedding favors! Christina and Michael’s wedding was truly beautiful! Not only because it was picture perfect but because these two were genuinely in love and could not wait to spend the rest of their life together! Don’t believe us? Their wedding portraits say it all!

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A Town & Country Inspired Engagement Dinner With a French Twist

A romantic, carb-filled picnic by the stream, a stroll through the charming Courtomer streets and an all-white welcome party at a jaw-dropping chateau complete with the most delicious french cuisine… talk about the perfect recipe for an unforgettable destination weekend. Whether you’re celebrating an engagement or your big day, allow today’s french fête to inspire you, with images from Lauren Fair and Julie Paisley, and design by Oleander.

From Lauren Fair Photography… The inspiration for Rebecca + Mark’s engagement session + engagement dinner was inspired by A Chic Weekend away from Paris, Market Strolling, Cafe and Normandy Cider / Countryside Picnic.

We also pulled inspiration from Ralph Lauren… We pictured Town & Country with a French Twist, giving our sweet real couple a delicious picnic full of local Normandy cider, apples, and French breads and cheese.

Following the shoot, we hosted a welcome party at our workshop continuing the theme and pulling in local veggies, an all white color palette and delicious French cuisine to celebrate!

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Lauren Fair Photography

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A Limoncello Inspired Welcome Dinner and Tuscan Wedding That Will Have You Dreaming of Italian Summers

Oh Italy, how we miss you so. Until we meet again, we’re living vicariously through this dreamy Tuscan weekend captured by Anya Kernes Photography with planning by The Tuscan Wedding. From a limoncello inspired welcome dinner that’s beautiful enough to be the actual wedding, to a fairytale ceremony and ballroom reception decorated in blooms from Flowers Living. The entire gallery will leave you feeling inspired and dreaming of those perfect Italian summer nights.

About the Welcome Dinner…

From the Bride… Shortly after deciding upon a destination wedding in Florence, we knew we wanted to host more than just a wedding ceremony and reception, so we could treat our friends and family to multiple events and celebrations — after all they were traveling great distances to celebrate our special day, and we wanted to maximize our time with them! Therefore, in lieu of a traditional “rehearsal dinner,” we decided early on that we would have an all-guests Welcome Dinner the Thursday before our wedding to welcome guests, break the ice among those that didn’t know each other, and welcome our loved ones to Tuscany, with a night filled with everything that we loved about it in the first place: hand-made pizza, flowing wine, views of rolling hills, Italian hospitality, and of course… the wonderful early spring weather under the Tuscan Sun!

With the help of our lovely wedding planner, Dani of The Tuscan Wedding, we discovered Villa Medicea di Lilliano — a XVII century villa and former retreat of the Medici rulers of Tuscany (talk about history!) turned family owned wine and olive oil estate! We visited the Villa on a bitter cold and rainy February day in 2018, but even then we were instantly enchanted with the Villa’s breathtaking views and charm. We knew that the Villa’s wonderful outdoor garden and stunning views would be the perfect location to kick off our Italian Wedding Weekend!

Color Palette/Design Aesthetic:
We were torn between a “true-to-Tuscany rustic and natural” aesthetic versus “classic-elegant-Duomo” inspired aesthetic for our wedding, and felt lucky that we could have both — the former for the Welcome Dinner in Villa Medicea di Lilliano, and the latter for the Wedding at Villa Cora. For the Welcome Dinner we wanted to lean into all-things-Tuscany, embrace the beautiful outdoor setting of VML, and pay homage to the natural vineyard, olive grove, and abundant lemon plants. We let the natural surrounding and Tuscan vibe inspire every inch of our Welcome Dinner.

Because we were doing a more traditional color palette for the Wedding, we wanted to have “a little fun” with the Welcome Dinner. We decided on a lemon yellow and blue-and-white porcelain design for the table setting, with royal blue wine glasses for a pop of color. We’d always dreamed of a dinner under twinkly lights at a long table with all of our loved ones, and brought this dream to life with a stunning never ending table in the VML garden for dinner. We had the idea early on to work lemons and wine bottles (both nods of admiration to VML) into our décor and aesthetic, and worked with Dani to create Lemon Leaf name cards and Wine Bottle Table numbers — two small touches that made all the difference! Those touches, accompanied by eucalyptus and airy linens as a runner made for the perfect never-ending table.

Unique Elements:

· Ice Cream Miss 500 Car: What’s Italy without Gelato? And of course it must be served in an Italian Fiat – no? Italy is synonymous with great food, and Ben and I fell in love with the Gelato that Florence had to offer during our first trip together. We knew we wanted to serve our guests Gelato at some point, and to be able to do it in such a charming and fun way was a plus! We were able to select 4 flavor for our guests to enjoy, and heard later that many of our guests tried all 4 (can you blame them?): coffee, pistachio, lemon (duh!), and straciatella.

· Charming Signs: In addition to the beautiful rattan lounging furniture, twinkly lights, and seemingly endless dinner table, we wanted to work in some personalized whimsical decorative signs. Dani worked with a local shop to create one that we had read the essentials of the night: Saghar & Ben, Pizza, Vino, Formaggio, & Spritz. We also had an olive oil tasting station set up with various olive oils from the Villa, and a matching signed that described each one. We wanted to provide as many little Tuscan and VML touches as possible, so our guests could fall in love with Italy as we had.

· Limoncello to Go: We knew we wanted to serve small take-away gifts for our guests, and decided small Limoncello bottles to go were the perfect touch. We worked with Dani and our Florist (Flowers Living) to create a charming sign that read “When Life Gives You Lemons Make Limoncello.” My parents still have a bottle in their kitchen!

Bride’s Dress:
I knew I wanted a long sleeves lace dress for the big day, so I wanted to go in an entirely opposite direction for the Welcome Dinner. I knew I wanted to incorporate an open back, a high neck line, and white satin — so I worked with my mom’s friend (&seamstress) to custom make my dress for the welcome dinner. Satin can be stubborn, so it took several fittings, but the end result was worth it! I wore my grandmothers pearl earrings and matching bracelet to the Welcome Dinner — it was very special to be able to include her in that special moment.

The end result was an unforgettable night filled with happy tears, full stomachs, wine-stained teeth, and belly laughs. We remembering saying to each other then that if nothing else goes right the rest of the weekend, this will already have been the best night of our lives. It was truly special to enjoy what Italy has to offer in a beautiful Villa with our closest family and loved ones. The night ended with shuttles into town while cheers-ing our Limoncello’s and hitting up a Whiskey bar in the Florence with our close friends until 4 AM (this is why we did the event 2 nights before the wedding, not the night before!). It was the perfect start to the perfect week!

About the Wedding…

Why Italy?

Ben and I had been dating for 2 years, when we visited Italy for the first time together in August of 2015 for my “Bar Exam Trip” (typically, law student graduates go on a trip after spending grueling months studying for the bar exam). We were fortunate to travel all over Italy and enjoy every minute of it… But Florence, was definitely a highlight. One night during our trip, we were enjoying take-away wine while sitting in the Piazza Santo Spirito when we casually mentioned how lovely it would be to come back to Florence with our closest friends and family.. Perhaps a destination wedding one day? Fast forward 3 years later, Ben proposed on Valentines Day in our favorite neighborhood restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and within a week we scheduled a quick trip to Florence to look at venues. After consulting with family and close friends, we were determined to pull off a dream wedding weekender in Firenze!

Before our venue-hunting trip in Florence, we quickly interviewed a handful of wedding planners via Skype (thank goodness for technology!). After interviews and research, we trusted Dani of The Tuscan Wedding to help us put together our dream wedding! Dani was an easy pick, because she was very responsive and even put together an itinerary for venue hunting without our asking. Having a wedding planner with boots on the ground, and one who was fluent in English and Italian, was absolutely essential to our planning process. Halfway through planning, Ben and I moved from NYC to LA, which made the time difference with Italy even more challenging (read: many early morning wedding planning conference calls), but with the help of technology, a very responsive wedding planning team, and bride-groom team work we were able to pull off long distance planning, and have fun doing it.

Ben and I were fortunate to be able to make two trips to Florence during the planning process — one to venue hunt and a second trip with our parents during Thanksgiving, which we called wedding-planning-bootcamp. During that trip we did what many couples do over a span of months in 4 business days: food/wine tastings, cake tasting, venue re-visits and walk throughs, florist appointments, etc (but don’t feel too sorry for us, pasta-tasting isn’t too tortuous). It was very important to us to see/meet with as many vendors as possible during this trip, and to give our parents a preview of what was to come. The trip was not only extremely productive, but became a memory for our families that we now treasure.

For two type A attorney’s this part was difficult, but we couldn’t recommend rolling with the punches and being flexible more! When your wedding is in a distant location, there are inevitably many features and details you won’t be able to inspect or witness first hand before the big day (even if you make two trips!). We decided early on, that while we had a certain vision and aesthetic, we vowed to be flexible on some of “small stuff” and to roll with punches and trust Dani.

Invites:
We wanted to get our guests pumped up about visiting Florence from the jump, and decided to work with Jolly Edition to create a custom wedding suite that laid out what the weekend would look like, and incorporated imagery from Florence. Laura of Jolly Edition hand painted the Duomo and Florence landscape on the inside of the wedding envelopes, created a map of Italy that featured our selected venues, and even created a custom crest of our initials! It took a few questionnaires, a couple of conversations, and collaborations — but we were so happy we decided to go the custom route for invites and make them extra special and individualized. (We also ordered vintage stamps for the envelopes which was a romantic touch many guests noticed).

Design & Aesthetic:
We knew we wanted the overall feel and design for the big day to be: classic, timeless, and formal BUT above all fun. And, importantly, we wanted to work in as many personal details and homages to Florence as possible — so when it came to color scheme, we drew inspiration from the Duomo di Firenze, and decided our colors would be off-white, eucalyptus green, peachy pink, and a touch of gold. We worked these colors into our black-tie affair by incorporating them in every detail and aspect of the wedding: invites, floral arrangement, signs and decor, dinner menu, napkins, etc. We also wanted to compliment the venue’s historic and timeless feel.

Venue:
Dani introduced us to Villa Cora during our trip to Florence, and we were immediately taken aback by this stunning property. Villa Cora — a stunning modern-day luxury hotel built in 1868 by Baron Oppenheim as a gesture of love for his bride Eugenia Fenzi — was everything we had dreamed of for our Florentine wedding and more: stunning indoor and out door spaces, unparalleled hospitality, unforgettable Italian cuisine, AND A HEATED POOL (IN FLORENCE!). We knew Villa Cora would be the perfect back drop for the elegant and intimate affair we were planning.

We were slightly obsessed with details! We wanted to individualize the wedding week as much as possible, and have our guests fall in love with Florence the way we did.

Dress & Tuxedo:
When thinking about our wedding day, I knew I wanted to look as timeless and classic as possible, and quickly entrusted Oscar de La Renta for my wedding gown. I had a vision of long-sleeves and lace, and knew immediately that my dress was the one, when I put it on the first time. I wanted my hair and makeup to be subtle, natural, and compliment the gown. Most of all I wanted to look like myself that day — nothing too drastic or different. Ben wore a bespoke tuxedo and shirt designed by Johnathan Behr in his shop in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles. The Jacket was white, shawl-collared, with a delicate floral pattern stitched into the fabric. We had our groomsmen in tuxedos, and bridesmaids in different black satin-back crepe gowns — all tying into our black tie and classic feel.

Otter Napkin & Cuff Links:
Because the wedding was going to be Italy, our favorite four legged friend and rescue pup Otter could not be there. Ben has had Otter since he was a puppy, and he is truly a part of our relationship, so we wanted to include and honor him on our special day. We worked with an Etsy Shop, The Emerald Hound, who created a custom portrait of Otter for napkins and cocktail sitters to be used during cocktail hour, and we decided to go with a punny slogan, “I’ll Have an-Otter.” Being an intimate wedding, most of our guests know and love Otter, and loved the napkins! I also had pictures of Otter incorporated into custom cuff links for Ben, which I gave to him as a gift on our wedding day.

Champagne Scrolls:
We wanted the place cards to have an added double feature — champagne for toasts! So we had Champagne Name Scrolls created for each guest which they picked up after cocktail hour, right before dinner, to keep the energy going. They turned out beautifully and were a lovely elegant touch.

Italian Beverages During Cocktail Hour.
We kept the nods to Italy going with two of our favorite drinks during cocktail hour: Sposi (Bride): Aperol Spritz, and Sposa (Groom): Negroni. We also had a three piece Italian folk trio (accordion, guitar, and violin) play traditional Italian songs during the cocktail hour, which led to dancing early in the day! We also incorporated little signs during the cocktail hour which said Cheers in the three relevant languages: English, Farsi, and Italian.

Persian Ceremony:
I am Iranian-American, so Ben and I knew early on we wanted to do a traditional Persian Ceremony — one that is culturally rich, filled with symbolic gestures and decor, and ancient in historic precedent. One of my dad’s best friends conducted the ceremony, and we wrote personal vows which we exchanged for the first time during the ceremony.

Favorite Aspects

Quality Time With Guests:
We felt so fortunate that we were able to celebrate our wedding by celebrating on multiple days, and maximizing our time with our closest family and friends. Some of our favorite memories of that week are the days leading up to the wedding where we laid pool side at Villa Cora with our best friends, ate pizza and drank wine in the Piazza Santo Spirito with our guests, and celebrated at VML while enjoying views of the rolling hills of Tuscany. Being able to spend quality time with our guests in the days leading up to wedding, reduced a lot of the stress of “hosting” on the big day. Ben and I never made formal rounds to the guests at dinner during the wedding, because by then we had already chatted with everyone multiple times – this was great!

Amazing Music:
Another memorable highlight from the wedding was the music! We entrusted DJ Sam Young, Deji Carr, and Ben the Saxman (all hailing from London), to create a unique music ensemble — DJing our favorite hip hop and pop tunes with live Saxophone and drumming. Our guests were blown away from the music, and it felt like we were at our favorite dance party.

International Affair:
Our wedding was truly a reflection of our diverse and international relationship: held in Florence, Italian food, guests from America/Iran/Turkey, music from England, Sofreh decor from Iran… All made for a memories we will cherish!

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The Tuscan Wedding

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Petit Bouquet

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An Italian Destination Wedding in an 8th-Century Abbey Nestled in the Umbrian Mountains

I don’t think I’ve come across a wedding where I’ve said “oh my” out loud so many times when scrolling through the gallery – it’s just so insanely breathtaking in so many ways… the bridesmaid dresses, the stunning images from CHYMO & MORE Photography, the venue, the atmosphere… it’s all too much to handle. My Umbrian Wedding planned every last detail of this unforgettable fête, see all the inspiring moments at the full gallery!

From CHYMO & MORE Photography… Jenny & Lino held their gorgeous Italian destination wedding in an 8th-century abbey Abbazia San Pietro in Valle nestled in the mountains in Umbria, Italy. The couple chose this venue during a month-long road-trip throughout Italy one year prior to their wedding. When they saw this historical abbey nestled in the mountains they knew immediately this was the one. Before heading to the chapel, they played door games and did tea ceremony as Jenny’s family are from Hong Kong. They both dressed up in traditional Chinese costumes and followed through this amazing ritual. One of my most memorable moments was when the couple exchanged vows in the chapel. Lino had just finished his vow. Jenny suddenly broke into tears when it was her turn and couldn’t stop sobbing for a minute. It was so touching to watch and photograph. As a photographer, this wedding is everything I personally dream about. Madly in love, full of emotions, beautiful details, stylish aesthetics, and a mix of different cultures. Jenny & Lino really pulled off an unforgettable and it was my absolute honor to be part of it.

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

From the Bride… My wedding was exactly what I envisioned. It really couldn’t have been any better ♥️

What was your color palette and your style vision?

I mainly had a lot of nude, pale pink, peachy tones with a touch of red and burgundy. I wanted it to go with the beautiful stone colours of the cloister at the venue.

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

We found a beautiful wedding invitation and menu design online that complimented the lush green of the Umbrian region in Italy. We also had a guestbook corner with a Polaroid camera for guests to take selfies. We kept the seating plan simple.

What was your favorite moment? Your favorite crafted detail?

My favourite moment was definitely the beautiful speech given by our priest at the church during the ceremony and how I then bursted into tears (embarrassingly, after I told my bridesmaids that I think my husband Lino will cry before me).

Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.

My gown was very simple with an a line cutting and an open back (with a bow) ♥️ I couldn’t have found a better dress. It was exactly what I was looking for, simple but elegant and sexy. It is a Spanish designer Jesus Piero. Our wedding cake was an authentic Italian millefoglie, we invited the chef to make it in front of all the guests and they asked my husband and I to add the fruit on top as a personal touch. It was such a fun and authentic moment that I got to share with all my loved ones, it helped that it tasted amazing too!

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

Don’t panic, relax and enjoy the day.

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Petit Bouquet

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How to Pull off the Edgy Look While Keeping It Timeless

We love a bride who isn’t afraid to get a little edgy with her wedding décor. We’re talking tousled blooms, a moodier color scheme and a seriously intimate feel. Today’s inspiration shoot from Lauren Fair Photography, Julie Paisley and Oleander Curated captures just that, all while keeping the design completely timeless in style. Get ready for your Pinterest page to blow up after taking a peak at the full gallery of images.

From the designer, Oleander Curated…. The inspiration for this shoot was Neutrals, Smoky Blues and Greys, with touches of Aubergine & Soft Charcoal.

The wild countryside of Normandy inspired a looser, a bit more intimate, with a slightly edgy, tousled, moody look.

We focused on shooting intimate, lovely close ups with a lot of black + whites, an edgy feel to the portraits and a slightly moody approach – all while still keeping it in our signature airy, organic style. Chateau de Courtomer was our host for our workshop this week and was a truly spectacular old world setting!

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Lauren Fair Photography

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A Venetian Inspiration Shoot Featuring a Jaw-Dropping Dress Fit for a Modern Queen

To all you fashion forward brides looking for some epic inspo – this one’s for you! Grab your passports and stroll through the gallery of today’s gorgeous styled shoot on a rooftop in Venice from Shades Waves, Linda Champenois and captured by Jeremy Froeliger. Just wait until you see the gorgeous gowns, including one with a train so endless it will quite literally take your breath away, who doesn’t love a good royal wedding moment are we right?!

Once Jérémy Froeliger, photographer, contacted me to offer me an inspirational shooting in Italy about a love story from the meeting of their union, it was obvious to me, highlighting the stages of the relationship through a city full of mystery, seduction and romance, the amazing Venice.

Within Venice, charm and authenticity mingle with the refinement of this city, just like our newlywed couple. Through this scenography, we wanted to represent the love that transcends 2 beings from their first glance, on their first date and until their marriage that united them. Artistically, I wanted to innovate and make the fan a fine art accessory, flowered with finesse and lightness to represent the Latin charm.

My declined accessory, my style, which is borrowed from my Asian origins. I wanted refinement through the floral composition and the Bridal bouquet, light, soft and unstructured, in tune with the times and mixed with the charm of Venice. Our favorite was one of the most beautiful views overlooking Venice, from the terrace of the sumptuous Palace Gritti, a historic gem where culture and heritage meet in a setting celebrating the revival of the Venetian style. A custom wedding stationery, with illustrations handmade by Atelier Preszburger. Sumptuous couture dresses, the designer Mae Collection Paris alluring for their meeting, the soft color of the Marchesa dress for their first delicate moments, and Nicole and Felicia Couture on the steps of the basilica which makes our bride, a queen of modern times. I let you discover this beautiful story that transports us on video with Rouge Wedding, a city that defines an exceptional wedding setting that we wanted to share with you through the work of each professional who makes up our magnificent team.

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A Modern French Chateau Wedding With Old World Details? Oui, Oui!

When the insane talents of Lauren Fair Photography and Julie Paisley Photography come together to design an inspiration shoot in France, you just know it’s going to be out of this world epic. Complete with lush blooms by Oleander, a timeless color palette of neutrals, greige, ochre, mink, and tarnished silver, and the most jaw-dropping backdrop of Chateau de Courtomer… it’s all just too beautiful for words. Head on over to the full gallery to experience the magic!

Lauren Fair + Julie Paisley brought together an incredible team at Chateau de Courtomer in Normandy, France for this stunning inspiration shoot. Pulling in opulent old world details, lush florals, an epic chateau ceremony site and beautiful location with our real couple Olesia + Charles, this day was a dream!

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Lauren Fair Photography

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This Couple Got Married at Sting’s Villa in Tuscany and It Was Nothing Short of Spectacular

Yup, that’s right. This couple got married at Sting’s villa in Tuscany and if that isn’t the coolest place you’ve ever heard to tie the knot then we don’t know what is! The weekend festivities started off in the only way a Tuscan destination wedding should – with an al fresco pizza party of course! Their wedding day, planned by Weddings in Tuscany, was all sorts of magical. From the reception under sparkling olive trees to the romantic arrangements from Jardin Divers. Just wait until you see the full gallery captured by Elias Kordelakos, we’re still melting from that picture of the groom’s reaction to seeing his beautiful bride for the first time.

From Elias Kordelakos, the photographer… This is what a dream wedding in Tuscany looks like! The wedding venue is Sting’s Villa (yes, the singer Sting). The couple is from the US, madly in love and surprised their guests with a fireworks show. Plus they had a wonderful al fresco dinner reception amongst the olive trees. Talking about a dreamy wedding in Tuscany! You should definitely also have a look at the rehearsal dinner where the guests enjoyed traditionally baked pizza. Ally & Brian made the most out of their destination wedding in Italy with an engagement session in some of Tuscany’s most picturesque villages! Chiara Sernesi from ‘Weddings in Tuscany‘ realized the dream and made sure the wedding days run perfectly!

From Chiara Sernesi, the wedding planner… The peaceful Tuscan landscape is primarily rolling hills, with vineyards, olive groves, cypress trees and hilltop villages all bathed in a soft, amber light. To many it seems familiar, and rightly so: during the Renaissance it was often used as the backdrop for the paintings of the masters. It was here Ally & Brian decided to crown their love and to say “I do” in Sept 2019. A whole year of intense emailing went by before their wedding day . A year of emailing may sound like a lot, but this becomes the average. Through email, we create relationships with our couples, one that is more than purely business. Our clients often end up sharing much more, typically resulting in a personal relationship. During their sites inspection in Tuscany they feel in love with Tenuta il Palagio where their wedding was held and where their 50 guests, from the US and UK, stayed for 3 nights

Ally and Brian had decided to have their civil wedding back at home in the US , but the main celebration was to be held at the Villa where we organized a symbolic ceremony to be performed in the beautiful panoramic terrace of the main villa, We set up the celebration area, with the guests’ chairs facing the breathtaking view of the valley.

The ceremony was sweet and simple, some guests shed a tear of two, some others were really moved, but everybody commented on how appropriate and beautiful it had been their wedding dinner was held on the garden by the pool under olive trees and a lots of fairy lights created a very romantic atmosphere , the beautiful flower centerpieces and olive oil bottles as party favors were enticing the guests who were now ready to appreciate the typical Tuscan menu.

After the dinner, everybody moved to the courtyard area where music and drinks accompanied the end of the evening. And all this in the amazing environment of the Tuscan hills, immersed in the smells, the peace, the sound of the night crickets; outside the window, the fields of ripe, golden wheat gleaming under the sun setting behind the hills, and all around, farmed land marked off by lines of tall cypress trees, and more vineyards and olive groves. Everything was captured by the talented photographer Elias Kordelakos.

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Sugared Fig Paperie

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A Classic Oscar De La Renta Wedding at the Four Seasons Athens

If you’re a couple who loves all things glam, then this chic Athens wedding is about to be your latest obsession. From the bride’s one-of-a-kind Oscar de la Renta gown to the dazzling reception made beautiful by studio 7‘s floral creations – there’s plenty of pin-worthy moments to go around. Head on over to full gallery to see it all, with planning by the12events and captures by Sotiris Tsakanikas!

From Sotiris Tsakanikas… Zoe was 3 months pregnant when Chris popped the question. “We had a couple’s massage and stayed at the villa at Crown Casino, Melbourne. The room was covered in rose petals”, Zoe told me. As the two kept busy building their dreams, traveling the globe and starting their family they had to take a step back from their wedding celebrations. Once everything was in place they decided to explore the magic of Greece and had their closest and dearest fly to the sizzling city of Athens for their nuptials. Zoe and Chris did not simply involve saying I do with an Orthodox wedding but creating a perfect celebration of love for their daughter, their families, and friends.

Zoe’s choices for the big day were a classic Oscar de La Renta gown and Altuzarra heels, a fashion choice she wished to share with her baby girl who also wore a matching dress and shoes of the same designers. The big day preps began at Nafsika Resort of The Four Seasons Athens, which was also the couple’s reception venue, while the ceremony was held in a beautiful Athenian church. Chris’ choices involved Louis Vuitton, Hermes & Tom Ford, so if you’re a couple who loves everything chic you’re bound to Pin their style right away. The day rolled seamlessly planned by The 12 Events, who brought together the best vendors in Greece to make Zoe & Chris’ dream come true. One of my favorite moments was to see my bride and groom going on their first dance to George Michael’s “Moment with You” (their song) and then hugging their daughter and dancing together as one.

From The 12 Events… Once the summering den for billionaire Greek shipping tycoons, along with what used to be called the ‘international set’, Astir Palace relaunched last summer after a massive makeover as Four Seasons Athens. No sweeter spot for our uber-elegant couple Zoe & Chris to tie the knot in Athens. Swathed in scenic azure vistas, looking gloriously chic under the milky light, and appearing almost afloat in the Aegean, Vouliagmeni’s new gem instantly drew our couple’s attention. The sea-view gardens, the ravishing pièce de résistance pool which twinkles soon as dusk falls, the crisp designer furnishings and terraces flooded with retro-vibe spaces were not only a perfect canvas for the reception and party but were the A-list grounds these two sought after to spend their honeymoon after the wedding festivities. Zoe and Chris gravitated around a sophisticated celebration in classic whites.

Delicate white and pastel florals, a dash of gold, light linens, and minimal decor, all comprising wedding details that will never go out of style. Chris’ Black-tie tux and Zoe’s wedding dress design were seamlessly stylish and the very definition of the classic wedding, but so was everything else. A black-tie dress code, streamlined and elegant cocktail to the sound of jazz, & dinner settings were kept simple with a clean, contemporary feel. Utilizing a neutral wedding color palette enhanced both the venue and the overall wedding design. We brought the indoors outside and transformed the private terrace to a sophisticated dinner party setting with long statement dinner tables, plush seating, and outdoor lantern lights to set the mood. To accompany the classic wedding style, the sit-down dinner was complete with an elegant menu to highlight the sophistication of their event. Visionary plates with vibrant colors followed by elevated entrées of local ingredients to what became a stunning take on Grecian flavors. A tastefully embellished white tiered cake complemented the classic statement, without overdoing things with fancy dessert decorations. The party held indoors at the private discotheque was also imbued with stately sofas, florals, and elegant bars, while the highlight of the night was the live performance by Greek superstar singer Glykeria and her band.

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Photography

Sotiris Tsakanikas

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A Dreamy Destination Wedding at the Hôtel Ritz Paris Every Francophile Needs to See

For this gorgeous couple, a late Fall wedding in Paris was the perfect recipe for their “I do’s”. Floraison Paris decorated their day in rich greens and blooms in a feminine color scheme of pinks, lavender, and soft hints of white. The results were breathtaking to say the least (just wait ’till you see the floral-filled grand staircase) Thanks to Loli Events, the festivities went off without a hitch! Head on over to the full gallery for all the garden wedding inspiration – captured by Oliver Fly Photography!

From Oliver Fly Photography… What began as a chance meeting on New Year’s Eve turned into the love of a lifetime for Meghan and Peter. As fate would have it, both New Yorkers made the trip to Aspen, Colorado for the same NYE event, and the rest, as they say, is history. Four years later, the couple returned to the spot where it all began for a mountaintop proposal, surrounded by dear friends and the perfect snowfall. As Meghan and Peter considered locations for their late fall wedding, Paris became the obvious choice. Thanks to a long-standing love of French food, fashion, art, and culture, the city had always held a special place in Meghan’s heart, and luckily Peter felt the very same.

As their wedding plans began to take shape, Meghan and Peter decided on a multi-day destination event set in their favorite city in the world and everything planned by the talented team of Loli Events. The iconic Hôtel Ritz Paris was selected as the ceremony backdrop thanks to its rich history and unparalleled beauty. Meghan had always dreamed of a Parisian garden wedding, and the Ritz courtyard was everything she’d envisioned. Set just minutes away, the couple chose Hotel Le Marois as their reception venue and loved the opportunity to enjoy multiple locations with their guests—many of whom had never previously visited Paris.

Thinking about the design moments of their day, Meghan and Peter chose to draw inspiration from their ceremony location with a color palette of rich greens, pinks, lavender, and soft hints of white. They also incorporated subtle nods to French historical icons, with touches of pale pinks a la Marie Antoinette, and a bee icon on the invitation suite as an homage to Napoleon.

Meghan and Peter knew fashion was going to play a significant role in their black-tie wedding, and their fashion selections didn’t disappoint. After searching showrooms all across New York, Meghan selected an A-line Reem Acra dress featuring asymmetrical embroidery, lace, tulle, and sequins for a couture yet timeless look. To complement their fashion-forward aesthetic, Peter donned a midnight blue tuxedo custom-made by Knot Standard.

The wedding weekend began with a private cruise along the Seine, where guests were able to catch sight of the Eiffel Tower and many famous landmarks throughout the city. The cruise served as the ultimate kickoff to their multi-day celebration and gave loved ones a glimpse into all the festivities ahead. Following the welcome event, Meghan and Peter held a Moroccan-inspired rehearsal dinner at Alcazar in the 6th, as they introduced guests to the vibrant Left Bank and built up excitement for the big day to follow. On the morning of their wedding, Meghan and Peter were greeted with a gorgeous autumn day and not a hint of rain in sight.

Their afternoon ceremony was not only incredibly picturesque but also beautifully heartfelt, as they exchanged handwritten vows in a ceremony officiated by two of their closest friends. Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a cocktail hour and reception set at Hotel Le Marois, where their team of talented vendors made sure no detail went untouched. The evening featured a stunning array of design moments, including a floral-filled grand staircase as a continuation of the Parisian garden aesthetic. As day turned to night, Meghan and Peter’s guests were treated to a multi-course meal of traditional French cuisine and continued dining, dancing, and toasting to the happy couple well into the evening hours.

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Petit Bouquet

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A Romantic Luxury Wedding in Taormina at Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo

As we sit here and admire the beauty of today’s wedding in Taormina on the island of Sicily… we can’t help but think of everyone being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope this gorgeous wedding day brings you all a little bit of warmth, happiness and calm to your day – it’s truly something magical. Wedding Sicily left no detail unturned while Rossini Photography was there to capture every inspirational moment. Check out the full gallery for all the heavenly moments.

From the Bride… I really envisioned my day as romantic, sophisticated and elegant. Both my husband and I absolutely love Italy and we both wanted to do a destination wedding. Italy really encompasses the overall romantic vibe we wanted from the get-go. The food and the people are also fantastic– not to mention it is gorgeous!

My husband and I had never been to Sicily so we decided to take my parents recommendation and have our wedding at the gorgeous Belmond Grand Timeo in Taormina.

Taormina is truly one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Sicily. I planned everything with the help of the hotels event planner, Alessandra Marisca. My advice to future brides would be to enjoy the planning process and enjoy the moment because it really does go by very fast! Also, try to have a moment after you finish the ceremony to let it all sink in.

Wait Until You See This Firework Finale At This Romantic, French Château Wedding!

Get ready for ALL of the feels for this romantic, French wedding at the Chateau De Santeny! With every single photo by Chymo & More Photography, you can feel the love between these two, from their heartfelt first look to their endless smiles. Dream Weddings Europe outdid themselves with subtle gold details and deep red and pink florals around every corner by Decorelle!….oh and the black and white photos are To. Die. For.

From Chymo & More Photography…Sarah & Jason’s summer wedding in Chateau de Santeny was an absolute real-life fairytale. Chateau de Santeny is located just outside Paris, with a sense of elegance and old-world charm. The couple had their first look in the main hall down the gorgeous staircases which set a perfect start of the day.

These two couldn’t stop giggling and kissing all day long, which made my job as a photographer super easy. Having family and friends over from Hong Kong and the U.K., they held a spectacular yet intimate celebration on this warm summer day. I could never forget Sarah’s tears during the vows and their tightly-held hands against the bright sky lit by fireworks.

From Dream Weddings Europe…As a main accent in the wedding design, we chose gorgeous peonies in a rich burgundy color with a combination of soft pink, ivory, peach, and golden touches. This color palette was applied to all elements of the wedding: from the round ceremony backdrop, the tidy bouquet with large flowers and minimal decorative small flowers, the 2-layer wedding cake with bold burgundy sugar flowers, and the long dining tables with soft peach tablecloths, burgundy napkins and beautiful low centerpieces with burgundy peonies.

An interview with the couple…

Q: What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?
A: I wanted my wedding ceremony in a garden and the reception in a cute little Châteauesque mansion, but not a castle because we wanted a small wedding with only our closest family and friends.

Q: What was your color palette and your style vision?
A: The theme color was burgundy, supplemented with blush and cream, and little dashes of gold. I wanted a classy and elegant wedding yet it should not scream over-the-top luxury.

Q: What unique elements or DIY details did you include?
A: With the small number of guests, we decided to use a “signing frame” instead of a guestbook. Our guests wrote messages on little wooden hearts tokens that went into the frame. It now sits in our living room next to our wedding photo.

Q: What was your favorite moment? Your favorite crafted detail?
A: My favorite moment was we said “I do” because it meant we are officially married. And it marked the start of celebration and the champagne flowing.

Q: Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.
A: Having chosen the color palette, I trusted my planner to communicate with the florist to pick the best seasonal flowers. And the flowers turned out to be perfect!

After trying on ten different dresses and not getting the right feeling, I started to get a bit frustrated. Then I went back to my Instagram for the very first dress I saved for inspiration. I hunted down the shop that had this dress in town. When I finally tried it on, I knew it was “the one”.

The cake was a 2-tier cake with simple edible floral decorations that echoed with my bouquet.

Q: What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?
A: On my wedding day, I was so nervous and tensed until the end of the ceremony. Don’t be like me. After months of hard work planning, you have got to relax and enjoy your big day.

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Petit Bouquet

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A Romantic, Rainy Tuscan Wedding at Villa Medicea DI Lilliano With Breathtaking Views of the Duomo

As we go through this difficult time amid the spreading of COVID-19, our hearts and prayers are with everyone in Italy and around the world affected by this disease. Today, we’re celebrating the beauty and strength of Italy with this stunning Tuscan wedding at Villa Medicea DI Lilliano planned by Anne Laure Weddings. It’s the perfect recipe for a magical destination wedding in Tuscany – a pizza party rehearsal dinner in the garden, a first look among the olive groves, and cocktails on the terrace overlooking the Duomo. From start to finish, this day is nothing short of a dream. Head on over to the full gallery, captured by L&V Photography, to see all the destination wedding inspiration.

From Anne Laure Weddings… Sophie and Joey tied the knot last August in Tuscany, not far away fro Florence. This sweet couple from Seattle are Italy lovers and wanted a small intimate affair surrounded by their dearest friends and family members. They chose the Villa Medicea di Lilliano as their wedding venue and the rehearsal dinner took place in one of the other villas of the property. For the rehearsal dinner, they chose to have a real garden pizza party with a mix of aromatic plants and lemons as centerpieces, wooden tables and chairs, sage and white striped napkins and string lights crossing the lawn. And the gelato cart as dessert was a must!

Their wedding day was as elegant as the pizza night. The bride wore gold Miu Miu bridal shoes and a romantic V-neckline satin gown, the groom Gucci moccassins and a white tuxedo jacket with black lapels. Black accents were everywhere to see, from the bridesmaids dresses to the flowers and charger plates. After their first look in the olive grove of the villa, the couple couldn’t not go to Florence for their couple shots! They enjoyed the view over the Florence Cathedral on Piazza Michelangelo and strolled on the Santa Trinita bridge with the Ponte Vecchio as a beautiful backdrop before coming back for their wedding ceremony. Sophie and Joey chose to celebrate their union on the terrace overlooking the Duomo and whereas the rain started just when the guests arrived, it stopped the moment the bride set foot on the terrace! The dinner took place in the amazing garden of the villa surrounded by lemon trees. The long table was adorned by the stunning floral arrangements by Chiara Sperti Florals Events and covered by a ceiling of fairy lights.

From the bride & groom… Sophie studied abroad in Florence while she was in college. Ever since then, it was always her dream to be married in Italy. Both our families have Italian heritage, so Italy holds a special place in our hearts. We wanted our wedding to be memorable and special for every guest that attended. Our goal was to plan an intimate, classic, and romantic destination wedding. In order to achieve a classic/modern look, we decided on white, black, and gold as our color palette. We wanted the entire wedding party in black – bridesmaids, groomsmen, and our parents. We just love this look because it’s timeless. It’s a look that never goes out of style. One fun aspect of this style was having Joey wear a white tux jacket so that we would stand out from the rest of the wedding party. Sophie’s grandpa wore a white tux jacket at his wedding as well, so this style choice was a way for us to incorporate deeper connections between our history and our future. Most of our wedding attendees are from the Seattle area, so we were asking a lot of people to have them travel all the way to Florence. Some people had never been to Italy, let alone left North America.

We decided that instead of just having a one day affair, we wanted to make our rehearsal dinner more of a welcome dinner and invite everyone who was attending the wedding. We wanted this to be laid-back and fun, and thought it would be a great way for everyone to socialize ahead of the big day. We decided to do a floral dress theme because Joey loves his crazy floral shirts. The dinner consisted of casual, outdoor dining that included pizza, wine, and a gelato cart! At the welcome dinner we also made bags with our venue illustration on it, and filled it with wine and olive oil from the venue as a thank you gift. Our favorite moment aside from saying “we do” was our wedding dinner. We hosted this in the venue lawn just as the tuscan sun was beginning to set. Our table arrangement was one long table that fit all 44 of our guests, and we had fairy lighting spanning the entire length above us. We also had architectural uplights that lit up the venue throughout the evening. It was magical! Dinner was served over three delicious courses, and in between those courses we slotted in all the speeches nice and evenly. We topped it all off with a live and interactive traditional Italian wedding cake presentation. For flowers we wanted all white to contrast with everyone wearing black and we wanted an array of local flowers. For the dinner table setting we wanted the table lined with flowers and candles to keep it romantic.

For the bridal bouquet I knew that I wanted to have my Grandmother’s rosary intertwined, every woman in my family has used it in their bouquet since her. Joey carried his Aunt’s rosary in his pocket all day, this was special because she had recently passed away. Both of these aspects were extra important to us because it was another way to incorporate our families. Sophie found her gown at Nordstrom and it was by Jenny Yoo. It was not what she had originally envisioned for her wedding dress, but once she decided on it, she could not have been more pleased. She felt the A-line shape and simplicity of the dress would go perfectly with our Italian villa wedding. For favors, since we had already given the guests their welcome bags, we kept it simple and provided everyone with a bottle of limoncello at their wedding dinner seats. For the assigned seats, we had acrylic plaques made with everyone’s name on them and they were able to take these home as mementos from the wedding. For the cocktail hour we wanted to have an assortment of meats, cheeses, and Italian appetizers. Aperol Spritzes were served as the cocktail. We also decided to have a three piece Italian band playing to add to the ambience. For our wedding cake, we decided to do a traditional Italian cake instead of the traditional tiered American cake. We also decided to have our wedding cake made live in front of the guests. We thought this would be fun and entertaining. Little did we know that we would also be helping to make our own wedding cake! The caterer came up to us and asked if we wanted to help, and of course we said yes! They placed a chef cap on both of our heads and gave us each a piping bag with the cake filling in it.

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

I know everyone says this, but the day goes by in an absolute flash. Try your best to enjoy every minute of it. Spend as much time with your spouse as you can and try not to get separated too much. It is the one day that is just about the both of you and you should really cherish that. If you are planning a destination wedding, try not to worry about the little things. Just focus on getting the big things right. For example – we were not able to visit the venue before we got married, so the first time we saw it in-person was 4 days before our wedding. We had to trust our wedding planner, venue, and vendors to help us achieve our vision without us ever stepping foot onsite. Making the right decision in those three categories will save you so much stress later on. So don’t sweat the small stuff and try to focus on the bigger picture. And get a wedding planner! There is no way we could have planned our wedding without the help of Anne-Laure. We were not able to visit the venue beforehand, so the first time we saw it was 4 days before our wedding. Anne-Laure made sure that we knew every detail about the venue and did an onsite visit where she FaceTimed us so that we could see everything. She truly understood our vision down to every detail. She kept us on track and brought amazing vendors and ideas to the table.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Meryl Davis and Fedor Andreev’s Provence Wedding Is So Stunning It Deserves An Olympic Gold Medal

This French countryside wedding has officially stolen our hearts. Olympic Gold Medalist and Dancing With The Stars champion Meryl Davis said “I Do” to Fedor Andreev at the exquisite Le Mas des Poiriers, an 18th-century farmhouse that feels as if you’re stepping into a fairytale. Inspired by Meryl’s grandmother’s collection of chinoiserie, Matthew Robbins Design created an ambiance of elegance and charm that speaks perfectly to the picturesque setting. The enchantment of the day was forever captured in time by the ever-talented Oliver Fly Photography. Visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the dreamy details.

From the bride… After having been together for many years, and several phases of life, we really wanted our wedding to be about hitting pause on the hustle and bustle of every day. Travel and adventure have been a big part of our lives and we’ve always been quite taken by the way that a particular place can influence a person’s feeling, perspective and experience. So, envisioning an intimate garden ceremony, dinner and celebrations outdoors, the magical landscape and timeless elegance of Provence spoke to us.

After deciding on the location, I was introduced to our planner, Matthew Robbins Design. Matthew, Fedor and I chatted about our vision and we knew we were in good hands. In particular, I mentioned to Matthew that my paternal grandmother had collected blue and white chinoiserie and that the pieces reminded me of intimate family dinners as a child. Matthew and his team really took it from there and made the experience so personal; they got to know us as a couple and integrated pieces of our story into the plan for our wedding weekend.

We were so incredibly grateful to share a few beautiful days celebrating life, love, family and friendship with just under 100 of our closest friends and relatives. The ceremony and celebrations were everything we could have imagined and we felt that the setting allowed us to breathe deeply and be present for this special time in our lives.

This Santorini Stunner Is Everything We Love About Destination Weddings

We dare you not to swoon over every detail of this destination Greece wedding. From the breathtaking ceremony overlooking the water to the most elegant seaside reception, this is one celebration we wish we had attended! All the magic was perfectly put into place by White Ribbon Boutique Events, and Vasia Photography was there to turn all the special moments into sweet snaps that will last a lifetime. You won’t want to miss the full gallery for all the dreamy details.

From White Ribbon Boutique Events… The beautiful couple, Dana and Frank had been in a long-distance relationship, between Los Angeles and London, so they decided the best location for their wedding would be a destination wedding in Greece. They were going for killer views and a romantic ambiance so naturally, Santorini was the answer!

The décor was based on a soft color palette of pastels including soft pinks, dusty blues and pale greys paired with some gold accents and lush florals. Their ceremony took place on a balcony floating over the Santorinian Caldera along with their reception, at the stunning Cavo Ventus Villa.

It was a breathtaking wedding event with emotional speeches by the couple’s family and friends. With the beautiful location and feeling of love from beginning to end, it was definitely a party to remember!