Italy Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

An Intimate Wedding in Italy with Whimsical Touches

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

Blue and white is a color scheme we both love and have throughout our home together. I (Danielle) am particularly obsessed with it from loving French pottery with delicate blue and white floral details, so I knew we had to go in that direction. Ryan loves color, so we didn’t want it to be only blue and white, so we brought in pops of other colors throughout the details (the plates, florals etc). My mom (who passed years ago) also wore a blue dress to marry my dad back in the day, so I wanted to include that as a way to honor her memory. My engagement ring is also blue and white sapphires with little pearls.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

We knew for a long time that we wanted a small wedding- neither of us love being the center of attention, and after photographing so many large weddings, I knew I didn’t want to have to deal with that stress. This lead us to start looking into destinations outside of the US for our wedding, since we also love to travel together it made sense to leave the country, and was a way to keep things on the smaller side. We looked at places in Italy and France, and decided on Italy! Ryan is a great cook and food lover, so we knew Italy would be a fun place for us to explore together and to bring our family & friends to experience this with us. Once we hired our wedding planner Natalia, she helped us pick out the perfect venue (I was mainly looking for a place with olive groves for the ceremony and a courtyard with greenery for the reception, so Borgo Bastia Creti was simply perfect!) and then we went from there with the decor. We kind of landed on a European, romantic spring vibe for the overall colors and design. We wanted the vibe to be fun, chic and romantic, and I think we got it.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]In 2019 we spent a few months living in New York for Ryan’s old job, and I fell in love with the city. So, once covid was a bit better/we were vaccinated, we planned our first trip since early 2020 for New York in November 2021 as kind of an early birthday present for me. I kind of thought Ryan would maybe propose in NY, but I knew we didn’t have the ring yet so I didn’t expect anything. We spent our first day going to an antique market near central park, and then went on a long walk around the whole park. It was a beautiful fall day, so we took a rest on some large rocks in the park near the water. When we got to get up to leave, Ryan went down on one knee and pulled out a ring pop and popped the question! We had decided to design my ring together since I wanted something pretty specific, so this was the perfect surprise. We then celebrated at our favorite restaurant in Brooklyn (Kings County Imperial) and at other favorite bars nearby. It was perfect.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]I love fashion, so I knew this would be a hard choice! But as we narrowed down the overall look/vibe for the day itself, I knew I wanted something romantic with sleeves. I was originally going to look for a blue dress, but I ended up falling in love with this dress when I was casually trying things on around Chicago to get an idea of what I liked, so I went for it! The neckline was originally high which I loved, but in the end it wasn’t as flattering as I wanted it to be, so we made it lower and I think that was the right call. I love the lace floral detailing and sleeves so much, plus it had pockets! It was definitely a lot of dress to travel with, but it was worth it. For my party look I wanted something fun, so I ended up finding a white sparkly mini dress (that also had sleeves because I love a sleeved dress!) and it was perfect for the direct flash photos I wanted with the champagne tower, and more comfortable for the end of the night hang out.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Since we only had 24 guests, who were immediate family only and then our friends who would have been in the party anyway, we decided against a formal wedding party. But our dress code was “festive semi formal” for all our guests and some people had a fun time with it![/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

Ryan wanted something on the lighter side (color and material wise) so he wouldn’t get too hot. When I decided to go with a white dress, we thought a light blue suit would be perfect for him! We went to Suit Supply and they helped us create his custom linen blended look, and gave us the knit tie option that we would never have thought about but ended up loving. He also lost his mom a few years back, so his sister gifted him some fabric from his mom’s clothing for him to carry during the day to have her with us as well.

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[field title=”Food & Drink”]This was an important part for both of us, as we wanted everyone to enjoy a taste of Italy! Our wedding planner connected us with the most amazing local chef and winery, who provided all our food, wine and a spritz bar, plus our delicious cake. They outdid themselves and everyone still talks about how good the food was. My favorite dish we had was a truffle gnocchi, and of course, all the amazing wine and prosecco![/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Besides photography, florals were the most important thing to me! I am a huge plant/flower/nature lover, so I knew I wanted to have minimal but stunning floral decor to compliment the venue space. I love an organic shaped bouquet and arrangements, so I told our incredible florist Rebecca that, plus our colors, and let her do her thing! We combined the florals with a handmade blue linen our wedding planner sourced for us for the main reception table, and had plenty of candles and string lights to create the overall romantic and cozy vibe.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Our cake was a traditional Italian millefoglie cake and it was delicious! It was filled with fresh cream and berries and had a beautiful minimal floral design.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]We didn’t do any readings during the ceremony, but we did have our good friend, who has known us both before we even started dating, officiate for us. She created a beautiful and simple ceremony that I told her to make under 5 minutes, and she did it! We were legally married in Chicago in our favorite park in 2022, so we didn’t need anything crazy, and knew we’d all want to get to the party part of the day quickly. We did private vows to each other after we did our first look earlier in the afternoon, which I can’t recommend enough! It was great to be able to say what we both really wanted to say without worrying about what anyone else thought.

I made playlists for each part of the day. There was the pre-ceremony music that was oldies love songs. Then I walked down the aisle to a string version of “Don’t Wanna Close My Eyes” by Aerosmith because Ryan and I have had a joke about that song for years. We walked up the aisle after the very short ceremony to the Golden Girls theme song because we both love that show so much. There was a dinner playlist that combined both of our music tastes, and a party playlist for the rest of the night. We had our first dance to “I’ve had the Time of my Life” from Dirty Dancing, which is another song that has been “our song” throughout our relationship. We love to joke around and be silly, so we wanted to include that part of our personalities in an otherwise very “classy” day. The best part about that song is how it has the short slow part and then the more fun part, so we did a little slow dancing and then when the beat picked up, we invited all our guests to dance with us for the rest of the song, and it was so much fun.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]I’m a wedding photographer, so I had a lot of little things/details I knew I/we wanted. I loooove shooting detail flatlays, so I made sure to include all of our curated details for Audra to play with, and she did an amazing job. My shoes were the ones I wore when Ryan and I had our legal ceremony here in Chicago on our 10 year dating anniversary the previous August. I brought the ring pop he proposed with, along with my moms wedding ring, and the ring I wore as a temporary ring while we were designing my actual engagement ring. It was a small pearl, so that’s why we also included pearls in my engagement ring. I embroidered Ryan’s pocket square with a phrase we use to talk about our two cats, Hugh & Barry, and made him custom cat socks with photos of the two cats we currently have, and our cat who passed away a few years ago. My something borrowed was a ceramic floral headpiece from my friend Kpoene’s dress shop who I love to work with, Mignonette Bridal, and my earrings were new from Etsy. My veil was gifted to me from Cindy who works at Mignonette but also owns the amazing Blush & Cinders veil shop. I also brought the vintage blue beaded purse I bought at the antique market in NY the day we got engaged, along with some other details and ring boxes I bought on our frist trip to Italy together in 2022. For our PJ photos, I got my dream set from Bon Vivian, and Ryan wore his favorite t-shirt that one of our cats’ Hugh has made holes in from when Ryan holds him, which is very cute.[/field]
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Photography

Audra Wrisley Photography

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April Showers and Spring Romance in Tuscany at Castello Di Petrata

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]White, blush, baby blue and green[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Garden looking, romantic, fun[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]I had grown quite close to one of Randy’s cousins, Westie, and her 13th Birthday was approaching. We had made plans to drive down to the Panhandle of Florida (where we now live!) to celebrate Westie’s birthday with family. Thankfully, I had gotten a manicure that day! We all gathered on the beach for a bonfire with Randy’s cousins, parents, grandparents, etc. There had been a running joke in the family for years that Randy was the last one (he has 3 brothers) to get married. The younger cousins had been asking “when are you going to engage Ariel?” for years at this point. Well, just as we got settled at the bonfire, the cousins chimed in: “When are you going to propose?! When are you going to propose?!” To which I replied “I did not put them up to this!” Randy, then, turned to the cousins and asked “Well, do you think right now would be a good time?” As soon as I heard the words leave his mouth, I turned to find him on one knee with the most stunning ring staring at me. I was in complete shock! So much so, that I forgot to say yes! After saying yes and crying hysterically, I turned to find my parents leaping toward me – Randy had flown them in to surprise me! We all spent the rest of the night celebrating together and beginning to plan our dream Italian Wedding. It was the best day ever![/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Custom design by Sherri Hill. I met with Sherri several years ago when I was preparing for the Miss South Carolina America pageant, and I knew I wanted something spectacular for the stage, but also recognized it as an opportunity to have a custom gown that I could someday wear at my wedding. I hadn’t even met Randy at the time, and wasn’t dating anyone – but I had dreamt of my Italian wedding since I was 5 years old… And what better to wear for my dream wedding than a custom long-sleeved gown covered in Swarovski crystals?
After becoming engaged 5 years later, I worked with Britt Wood of Atlanta (@jhbrittwood on instagram) to create an Oscar De La Renta Overskirt to add a more Bridal flare to the already-breathtaking gown. Britt also had the idea to add some vintage-inspired buttons to the sleeves and back of the dress to tie the Old-Hollywood inspired gown together with the timeless, luxe overskirt. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The Bridesmaids wore Amsale Sonia Dresses in the color ‘ice’. My bridesmaids live all over the US, so working with Bella Bridesmaids was extremely convenient for fittings and orders. I chose the Amsale Sonia dress because I wanted something classic and timeless that would flatter all different shapes & sizes. The Bridesmaids ranged from 5 foot 2 inches to 6 feet tall! Yet, I didn’t want different styles to distract from the detail of my gown. The Amsale Sonia dress was PERFECT! It photographed beautifully, was comfortable, and looked stunning on all 7 of my bridesmaids ranging in shape, size, and height![/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The Groom wore a custom-fitted Bonobos Tuxedo with mini-polka-dotted suspenders and vintage velvet loafers. As a former Collegiate American football player, finding clothes to fit his Athletic build can be difficult. We have found that Bonobos Athletic-Fit line provides enough stretch to fit over his muscular quads while still fitting his waist without appearing too tight or fitting uncomfortably. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The Food & Drinks at Castello di Petrata were truly unbelievable. Another reason we fell in love with this venue was the true farm-to-table experience. We could look out and see the vines from which the wine was made, the fields from which the vegetables grew, and the freshness was evident in every bite. On the night of the Rehearsal Dinner, the servers brought out more Gnocchi for the guests to have seconds, and so many people requested seconds (and even thirds!) that the chef finally just brought out a large vat of Gnocchi for everyone to help themselves! The venue later told us that they were stunned by how much Gnocchi we ate. We are both proud and ashamed of how stereotypically American that is.

Petrata was also wonderful about organizing meals for dietary restrictions and allergies. We had several folks with dietary restrictions in attendance, and they all raved about the food, too! [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Spring flowers, garden vibe, elegant decor.
For the welcome dinner – wooden tables, blue color, lemons
For the wedding day – more elegant, shabby chic[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Traditional Italian millefoglie with berries[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Peter Decker, one of the designers of our rings and a close family friend, read a toast to us that he wrote entirely in Italian. No one in attendance spoke fluent Italian, and he gave a translation only to the Bride and Groom. It was an incredibly special moment for us that we will always remember. It felt like a sweet secret that only we knew. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]We loved the ability for our guests to stay in the venue – we wanted it to feel like Adult Summer Camp and spend as much time as possible with our guests. Castello di Petrata provided just that! Another big factor was their ability to move the wedding inside without much notice and no extra cost – this was huge! And we are so thankful we chose Petrata, because 2 of our 3 nights ended up having to be moved inside due to weather! Their ability to make changes quickly & efficiently with the help of Happy Moments Collector was spectacular. Our “Plan B” was better than any Plan A we could’ve dreamt of![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]We enjoyed performing our dances during meal courses. That way, guests could enjoy their meals while watching our dances, and it didn’t take away time from the after party. Randy danced with his mother and step-mother, and also danced with my mother. This was extra special because we lost my brother, Alex, 15 years ago, and my mother never got the chance to dance with him at his wedding. Mother/Son dances have always been hard for her, and when Randy asked her to share a dance with him, she was beyond honored & excited. The Bride & Groom also danced to an unusual first-dance song: “Found You” by Kasbo. We took dance lessons to learn basic skills, but didn’t choreograph the dance, and it turned out perfectly! After that, the Mother of the Bride & the Bride performed a surprise choreographed dance to a compilation of fun & silly Country Songs that had been special to us throughout our lives. It was a blast! That was the perfect way to invite the rest of the guests onto the dance floor for the reception!
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Happy Moments Collector

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Embracing Pastels and Italian Summer at Villa Renaissance

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”] Our wedding colors embraced a pastel palette, mirroring the warmth of summertime love. [/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The vision was intimacy – a testament to the love shared within our family. The atmosphere bloomed with flowers and the melodies of our favorite songs, a nostalgic blend of old school hits and modern tunes, dancing us from the aisle to For your Love by Stevie Wonder to the dance floor to Tacones Rojos by Sebastian Yatra.
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[field title=”Proposal Story”]Our love story took off like a whirlwind, with marriage vows whispered under the white royal palace in Oslo, just weeks after acknowledging our love for each other. Though it was just the two of us then, we’re thrilled to have been able renew our vows with loved ones now.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”] Fate led me to my gown. When my original dress fell through, a last-minute trip to a Newport Beach boutique, Casablanca Bridal unveiled a gem that brought me to tears. In it, I felt like a princess ready to relive her love story. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Our bridesmaids shone in dresses of their choosing, provided they stayed within our pastel color palette. Their choices, a vibrant yellow from Banana Republic and a lovely pink, that was already in her closet, added to the bright and airy feeling of the celebration.

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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Dinner was a beautiful three-course meal served in an intimate setting.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Florals were the main detail and focus. The colors symbolized love’s tranquility, casting an airy and radiant ambiance over the entire celebration. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The bride chose carrot and almond cake as her wedding cake, her favorite![/field]
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Koman Photography

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A Periwinkle and Rose Lake Como Affair

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design chose pale hues of periwinkle, rose, ivory, and ivy for Serik and Ayana’s Lake Como Wedding. Our goal was to create a gorgeous, cohesive design, avoiding too much contrast; we introduced a gentle transition from color to color, creating a full sensory experience for the Big Day.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Hailing from San Francisco, California, Serik + Ayana knew that they wanted to host a luxury Destination Wedding in Europe. Choosing the iconic Villa del Balbianello for it’s incomparable views of Lake Como was the first step in the planning of their perfect day. Guests joined them for a lakeside Ceremony under a stunningly clear sky. Prosecco and apertif’s awaited them for the Cocktail Reception overlooking the rolling Italian mountains and Dinner was served beneath crawling vines covering a centuries-old stone Villa. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]From the couple: “Serik proposed to Ayana during their first trip to Paris in 2019. Serik specifically went to Paris before ahead (visiting Europe for the first time in his life) to find a perfect proposal place. Serik proposed to Ayana in Rafael hotel rooftop near the Triumphal Arch with a perfect view of an Eiffel Tower at ~11pm on August 5th 2019.”[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]From the Bride: “My main choices were between a silky slip dress and a more voluminous A-line dress. Silky dress design was winning in terms of transportation convenience, but I ended up going with an A-line taffeta ballgown because I really wanted a fairytale princess moment on my wedding day. The dress itself was purchased from a BHLDN store in California. It has a simple and minimalistic look, so I complimented it with a statement veil and pearl accessories. What I loved the most about this dress is that it harmonized a dreamy feel with a danceable functionality, so it was quite comfortable to walk and dance in, yet it still looked very elegant and magical.”
Dress Designer: Jenny Yoo
Shoes: Christian Louboutin[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]For our ladies in the bridal party, we adored a similar bouquet but smaller in scope to that of our bridal showpiece and in all white and green tones. Each of the bridesmaid’s bouquets had long flowing raw silk ribbons encircling their stems. We recommended each bridesmaid dressed in an olive green to compliment the space. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]For our Groom and his attendants, we recommended white and greenery boutonnieres. For our groom we suggested a chic, black tuxedo to really elevate the cohesive experience of the wedding. Custom cuff links and a statement watch were also essential to completing the attire for our groom.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Guests were escorted from the stunning ceremony location to the al fresco Cocktail Reception, where they were greeted with signature cocktails and sips of bubbles. We loved the use of a light blue patterned linen displaying glassware. A collection of lounge pieces set the mood for the cocktail hour and evening to follow.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]For the bridal showpiece we envisioned a collection of cream, ivory and pale blue toned blooms including, roses, peonies, wax flowers and ranunculus. Organic and loose greenery to complimented the blooms in abundance. We suggested an elegant but understated ceremony floral design to accent but not detract from the stunning
Lake Como view. To complete the ceremony look we loved a lush, a-symmetrical creation. The arch included floral elements such as bleached Italian ruscus, peonies, roses, ranunculus and organic greenery. The lush and organic piece was absolutely a showstopper. Remaining in line with the overall vision and vibe of the evening, the Reception table centerpieces were overflowing from their vessels, low to the table and running over the sides. Tapered candles in hues of ivory, cream, and blue were interspersed amongst the arrangements. We prefered an elegant and understated plateware and flateware set up. This complimented the abundance in the dinner space without competing with it. We just loved the neutral and white tones to the dinnerware.
We paired each setting with gold flatware wrapped in Italian ruscus. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]We adore the drama of a well done wedding cake! For Seric and Ayana, we suggested a three or four tier cake in an elegant and soft design. This was a standalone piece, so we suggested the added drama of a non-traditional cake in the textured design of the fondant. We incorporated natural elements to the cake, as well, to tie into the rest of the evening.[/field]
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]From the couple: “Two things that made our wedding ceremony so special were our wedding venue and weather. The Loggia Durini at Villa del Balbianello is gorgeous on its own, but during the golden sunset hour it looked especially stunning. On top of that, forecasted thunderstorms did not appear, so we were able to enjoy gorgeous views of the villa with nice weather. The atmosphere and the mood at our wedding reception were truly magical, mostly because of the design that came to life thanks to our amazing planners and vendors. Dimmed lighting, candles, and table setting design with floral centerpieces – everything contributed perfectly to the intimate romantic ambience of the evening. As a cherry on top, the groom’s performances and guests’ heartwarming speeches made the event extra special.”[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]From the couple: “Entire day was full of special and unforgettable moments, so it’s really hard to highlight a single favorite one. However, something that did stand out was seeing the smiles and joy on the faces of the people that happened to see us that day by chance. Whether it’s a random passerby near the Bellagio pier or in the Villa during the pre-wedding photography session, seeing everyone being so cheerful and supportive made us very happy.”[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]From the couple: “Going to the wedding venue in advance and exploring the area nearby is very helpful. Depending on the destination, the neighboring area can have a lot of caveats that are nice and sometimes crucial to know beforehand to ensure a smooth experience both for the wedding party and the guests. Lake Como, for example, is a very peculiar place that has a lot of small cities spread around different parts of the lake. Figuring out the lodging and boat transportation options can be hard for guests who haven’t yet been there, so having a travel guide will ensure a smooth experience during your and your guests’ stay.”[/field]
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BBJ La Tavola

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Lauren Fair Photography

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Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design

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Intimate Luxury Wedding on the Amalfi Coast at Villa San Giacomo

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Pinks, creams, whites, and pops of blue and yellow against a neutral palette.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]“As a designer, it felt a little overwhelming to decide what I wanted to do for my own wedding. So I did what I tell all of my brides to do – trust your intuition!” Kayla explained. With a love for color, Kayla wanted to lean into the bright colors of Italy, but in a softer and romantic way. She chose soft, spring pastels against a neutral backdrop. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]As a wedding planner, Kayla was used to planning elaborate affairs for couples in San Diego. When it came to her own wedding however, she envisioned the opposite. “I never dreamed of having a ‘big, white wedding.’ After 10+ years in the industry, typical weddings felt like work to me, so I wanted something so different,” she explained. “I had always dreamed of getting married in Italy with my immediate family only.” That dream became a reality shortly after Alex proposed to her in June 2022. They did not imagine, however, to plan the wedding so quickly! Alex serves in in the U.S. Navy and was slated to deploy at the end of the year, and with a busy wedding season ahead, they only had the options of getting married in September or October.

Kayla began researching venues in the Amalfi Coast region, and stumbled upon Villa San Giacomo in Positano, Italy. “Immediately when I saw photos, I could envision us getting wed there. The beautiful light pink walls, the backdrop of the city against the Mediterranean – everything about it screamed romance and intimacy.” While the villa typically rents out for a week at a time, they happened to have three days in September that were open. “It felt like fate, honestly – everything was coming together so smoothly and so quickly.” After discussing with their families, they moved forward, leaving exactly 95 days to plan their international wedding.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]“I was really only interested in two designers,” Kayla explained. “While my mom was in town, we had one week to find ‘the dress’. So I made an appointment at two stores in San Diego and two stores in Los Angeles.” At the flagship store in Los Angeles, Kayla chose a Galia Lahav dress from their Gala collection. Adding lace straps to the dress paired with the matching cathedral veil, the store promised the gown could be expedited to be delivered by the end of July. However, when it was delivered back to the store in July, the managers quickly noticed the top and bottom did not match. “They sent me pictures; the skirt was white and the corset was quite literally blush.” Because of this, the store had to send the dress back to Israel for repairs, leaving only a week for alterations. “The team at GL was incredible. They took every bride’s worst nightmare and made sure I got on that plane with a dress that fit properly and most importantly, matched!.” Partnering with The White Dress in Orange County for alterations, Kayla got her dress corrected and altered and fitted in just a week, boarding her plane to Italy only a few days later.

For her accessories, Kayla chose chiffon strapped Badgley Mischka ivory heels, paired with a borrowed diamond tennis bracelet from her mom, and borrowed three carat diamond necklace from a family friend. Her engagement ring is an elegant solitaire diamond paired with classic, thin gold bands. For her wedding day look, Kayla opted to accentuate her face and hair with a natural, elegant glam. “My beauty team was a dream. As someone who doesn’t typically wear a lot of makeup, the team used soft pinks and individual false lashes to compliant my natural features. I also knew I wanted to wear my hair down and showcase my long red hair, and the blowout with soft waves felt like the perfect pair. I have never felt so beautiful.”
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Kayla also asked all of the guests to dress in a certain color scheme. “Though there a small group of us, I really wanted the ambiance to feel elevated and luxurious. We were in Italy after all!” The woman chose floor length gowns in a champagne color, while then men all dressed in modern, black tuxedos. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Alex wore a custom Canali suit with black velvet To Boot New York loafers.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The staff at Villa San Giacomo prepared a stunning four course meal for us for the wedding night. Paired with our own selection of red and white wine, we dinned literally under the stars to a completely custom and curated meal for our family. Our signature drink featured the classic coastal cocktail, an Aperol Spritz. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]“I really wanted the flowers to be the focal point, and everything else to accent it.” Ashley with Esprit Floral Co flew from San Diego to capture the whimsical and romantic feeling of Positano, while Kayla brought out the rest of the décor. “Maybe it’s the type-A planner in me, but I didn’t love the tabletop items that were available in Italy in our short planning timeframe, so I brought pieces out myself! We bought our own pink coupes and gold rimmed charger plates, while the floral gold flatware and napkins were borrowed from my friend Samantha with Hostess Haven. Finally we rented the cream velvet table linens from Luxe Linen. Our suitcases were not light,” Kayla laughed. Complimenting the greenery in the pergola, Kayla added modern chandlers for a touch of drama and repurposed the ceremony florals at each end of the table. “One of my favorite moments was going around the reception table with Alex doing final touch-ups to the table and lighting the candles. It’s my favorite thing to do at weddings as a planner, so to share that moment with my husband before our families sat for dinner was so special.”[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The cake was an elevated four tiered layered wedding cake with simple white frosting paired with a cascading pink florals. We really wanted a modern twist on a traditional design. The stunning cake featured chocolate cake paired with a chocolate mousse and raspberry compote in each layer.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]One of the most important pieces Kayla and Alex wanted for their wedding was for it to be intentional. With only 14 of them total, they wanted every element to feel special. Alex and Kayla chose not to do a first look, but rather asked for a private moment prior to the ceremony to pray together. “I snuck up behind him and wrapped my arms around his and he prayed over our marriage. I still get emotional when I think about that moment – I felt completely at peace and so excited to marry him,” Kayla explained. Kayla did, however, choose to do a first look with her father. “Seeing his face light up was so sweet.” Alex and Kayla choose their siblings to be their Best Man and “Man of Honor”, respectively. “My brother Brett was the ultimate Man of Honor,” Kayla laughed. “We had a lot of downtime the morning of the wedding before the HMU team arrived, so my brother and I went on a walk through the city to get some excited energy out. He was so attentive to bringing me water, snacks, and adjusting my veil and dress. It was so sweet to see and I felt so loved.” Kayla explained they wanted all of their guests to have a role during the ceremony. Kayla’s godfather, Matt, also married the two of them, both of their father’s said a prayer over them during the ceremony, the brothers held the rings, and the mothers participated in a handfasting ceremony. As a nod to their Celtic and Nordic ancestry paired with their Christian faith, Kayla and Alex performed a handfasting ceremony, with each cord of a rope representing both of their families and God unifying together as one.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Kayla also added personal touches through the wedding. “The welcome bags were filled with a mix of Italy and San Diego – we included our favorite snacks, coffee beans from Better Buzz Coffee in San Diego, and a disposable camera for our family to capture their own Italian memories.” [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Kayla also created sunbeam drink tags as a nod to their home in San Diego. Loren with Four Things Paper also designed beautiful custom invitations, leaning into the Positano landscape. Loren even created a detailed map of Positano, sneaking in portraits of the couple and their golden retriever. Kayla also wanted to bring in her and Alex’s beloved golden retriever, Murphy. Pairing custom cocktail napkins with a custom cake topper snuck on the side of the chocolate and raspberry cake, Murphy was included in the celebration from afar – they even had moment to FaceTime him in![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Outside of the wedding, each evening the group dined under the pergola each night to three course meals cooked by the San Giacomo private chef. “All of the vendors and staff at villa San Giacomo really made our three days so magical. Gennaro, our host, felt apart of the family by the end of our stay. He gave me the biggest hug on the morning after our wedding – I cannot express my gratitude for the staff there enough.” Following the wedding, the group took a private boat out to the island of Capri. “Diving off the boat and floating int the Mediterranean with all of the people I love most around me was a moment I will never forget.”

**Side note: we also have an Instagram highlight via our videographer on my instagram handle @simplygorgeousevents ; I was unable to upload it here![/field]
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When an All-Star Vendor Team Makes Magic in Tuscany

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Our wedding colors were “Dusty jewel tones” with a key emphasis on dusty lilac – we really wanted to keep it light and whimsical, the venue was so gorgeous we didn’t want to over-power with bold colors. We asked all of our wedding guests to dress in the color palate which really added an elevated vibe. [/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]I really wanted to make it feel extra romantic– being in Italy, in a 1000 year old castle, on a vineyard was so magical and the rolling Tuscan hills in the background really set a scene. I wanted to make sure that for the whole 3-days all of the guests felt like they were part of an experience. Each day was set in a different part of the castle and drew inspiration from the surroundings. I loved an elevated glam but rustic farmhouse cross over which is what we really accomplished through textures and details. Over the pandemic we had loved shows like Bridgerton, we love country music, love wine and food and wanted to incorporate all of those things in the events. Our welcome party was “elevated country chic” theme, we had a cooking class, and wine tasting on the 2nd day available for our guests, then rehearsal dinner with a trivia game about Anthony and I afterwards. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Anthony and I met at work and quickly had a lot in common- our love for travel, wine, music, good food, and having our family/friends close. We often visited wineries and had many memberships (and a large collection!). Anthony proposed to me while we were on a trip to Walla Walla (in eastern Washington) at a gorgeous winery with some of our closest friends. Because we got engaged at a winery, we knew we wanted to tie-in wine and a vineyard into our special wedding day. [/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Surprisingly, this dress was the FIRST dress I tried on. I have always dreamed of being in a Monique Llhulier gown and was able to pick so many classic gorgeous gowns to try on. I picked a few styles which I thought were “different and bold” that were outside of my mental pinterest board of what I wanted to wear. To my surprise I was blown away. My friend immediately started crying. I wanted to make sure it was THE ONE so I tried on what I think were 100s of dresses.. but every time I put this one back on, whoever I was with would burst into tears. It was so wild. I knew that my mom would be the ultimate test of approval and she too did cry. She was the last person to see it on me and it was the last dress I tried on.. I immediately purchased it.

What I loved about the dress was that it was so unique. I didn’t want to wear a veil but I still wanted a dramatic look and the long silk cape just made it such elevated fashion. I’ve always been obsessed with fashion and designed our wedding aisle to be seating more like a fashion show runway versus a traditional aisle. Funny enough, once I said yes to the dress, I knew we needed a gorgeous dramatic venue. The one we had originally picked (in the US) was no longer going to “match the dress” :) [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]I wanted my bridesmaids to feel just as drop-dead beautiful as they each individually are. Each of them has a different style and different personality that I think really came through with the dresses. I helped curate ideas and wanted each to be in a different color/style/texture. I drew inspiration from a Giorgio Armani runway show where everyone had such different textures and fabrics and it all looked so great together.

combination of Show Me Your Mumu (Jasmine Halter Maxi Dress), Revolve (Sabina Musayev Skylar Gown), Marchesa Notte (Ruched Bodie Tulle Gown and Watercolor Floral Print Ruffle Neck Chiffon Gown), BCBG (Raven Pleated Cutout Gown), Ted Baker (Roger Wool Blend Suit) and Jenny Yoo (Essex Gown)[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Dressing Anthony for the wedding events was so fun. we worked with a stylist at Nordstrom and with a styling team in LA (stylelab) to create a mood for each event. I loved the look of a white dinner jacket (Armani) with tuxedo pants (Zegna) but wanted to play with textures so we got him velvet louboutin shoes. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]We were in Italy and obviously went with Italian food. The chef on site at Vicarello deserves a Michelin star — for our wedding meal we had a 3-course meal and served

Starter: Panzanella with Burrata cheese cream
First: Butter and sage tortellini
Main: Steamed salmon with citrus mayonnaise and spinach/ Roasted lamb cooked in milk with Mediterranean herbs

we had two signature cocktails (and drew inspiration from our favorite show FRIENDS, which also reflects somewhat our personalities as a couple)- “the Monica” was a tequila with lime juice (the way I drink my drink) and “The Chandler: was an old fashioned with blood orange (Anthony’s favorite).[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]To go with the fairy-tale vibe we sprinkled touches of butterflies throughout our decor (on the cake, stationary and some of the table settings). My florist and design team worked together to incorporate our color palate and really made it all look like a dream. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Our wedding cake was designed and created to match our theme and was a delicious Chocolate cake with gianduia cream and raspberry geleé. we also had a more traditional Italian Sponge cake with chantilly cream. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]My best friend since 7th grade officiated our wedding and we had a string quartet for our ceremony music. Nicky flawlessly delivered a heartfelt ceremony which included quotes from our favorite movies, tears and laughter. To draw inspiration from the show bridgerton, we picked all fun songs and wanted our guests to “name that tune”– our wedding party walked down to Hoobastank “the reason”, I walked down to “Speechless” by Dan + Shay, and we walked out as Mr. and Mrs. to the friends theme song “I’ll be there for you” by the rembrandts. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]First look with Anthony– we had a weather warning all day and were nervous about the rain. We had to call-in for last-minute tenting the night before the wedding and rushed to get everything set. Right as we were about to start out first look we got a few droplets of rain. Not only did Anthony cry, which I knew he would, it was just a magical moment between the two of us. We had about 20 minutes of special time together before we had to be basically shared for the rest of the evening. Those photos of the rain were some of my favorites taken the whole day. As we were wrapping up and got back to the main castle, the sky opened and it started POURING rain which caused us to delay our wedding for about an hour. As soon as the rain stopped, the sky cleared up and it didn’t rain the rest of the evening.. just leaving a perfect (a little warm) afternoon.
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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]All the little details. My team of vendors really did an amazing job pulling together the most perfect details– from the little butterflies in the cake, tied to the butterflies on the invites etc. alongside the gorgeous velvet linen (which we flew in from the US to match), I had no idea what the flowers or the cake was going to look like (I trusted my team to make those decisions) and they were just perfect. We also added a few Persian traditional moments throughout our day — we did a cake knife dance, and I was able to have special moments with my family — including a first-look with my Dad, where he cried so hard![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]We laughed, a LOT. there was a lot of special tears and a lot of laughter which is exactly how I wanted the day to go. Anthony held up the wrong hand during the ceremony and I put the ring on the wrong finger.. which led to a hysterical video, to jumping in the pool (every night) all with our clothes on at the end of the night. It was a big fun close-knit group that got to enjoy this special week with us.
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These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Jana Williams Photography

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Event Design

Sinclair & Moore

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Exploring Explosions of Color With Wedding Inspiration At Villa Della Torre

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”The Inspiration”]

The inspiration for this session was spring and its colors, the blue sky of Italy and the stones of an old mansion in Verona. Add a dress of soft ML flowered silk, and the perfect Italian wedding mood comes to life. Then came days of research for the details: the smallest details, such as the tassels of the place cards made by an ancient manufactory in Turin or the precious glass candelabras from Venice. With the help of Romina from SARTORIA FLOREALE, we created the palette of flowers, looking at ancient floral paintings, a unique harmony, and endless creativity. The cake takes up the tirelessly blue sky and touches of soft pastel flowers on the side. The dream was a very chic and elegant bride, surrounded by history and color.

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were blue, yellow, peach, pink, red, and purple.

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[field title=”The Venue”]

Villa Della Torre is a 16th Century Villa in Fumane, Italy characterized by its beautiful medieval architecture and beautiful views of the vineyard. It is a beautiful backdrop for an amazing wedding.

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The two gowns for this editorial were the Estelle from Marchesa and the Tuileries from Monique Lhuillier. We wanted both gowns to carry the floral theme of the design. The first gown was a traditional ball gown that had textured florals throughout the dress. The second gown was a colorful gown that really paired well with the colorful design.

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Florals played a very intricate part in pulling this design together. The use of various flowers and colors really gave this look an organic feel.

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[field title=”Favorite Design Element”]

We absolutely loved how the floral installation in the fountain paired with the floral installation in the entrance/ceremony focal point. We feel that this was such a great way to incorporate the already stunning architecture of the Villa to create a stunning backdrop for the ceremony.

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[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”]

Some tips to pull off this look is to not be afraid of mixing color. They can really come together to create magic..

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[field title=”DIY Moments”][/field]
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TheLockharts

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You’ll Love The Sunset Colors And Textural Details At This Castello di Vicarello Wedding

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Inspired by sunset: peach, copper, natural wood tones, blush, sorbet colors, highlighted by pops of minty greens and robin egg blue.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]We wanted to create a festive, natural but charming setting, detailed and colorful without being too loud, to fuse well with the surrounding nature and relaxed elegance atmosphere of the venue. We focused on textures and colors when choosing all the details.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]

From the Bride… Picture this, you’re with the one you love on the cliffs of Santorini, Greece. You follow your loved one, hand in hand, and at the end of the path is a beautiful cave villa overlooking the caldera at sunset. You spend a minute and take it all in, and then it happens: he says he’s blanked on words and asks if he should get down on one knee. You respond, “That would be nice!” Sounds like a movie, right? Well, that’s what happened. I obviously had to think about it (just joking, of course)! We popped some bubbly and celebrated with our friends.

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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The menu had an underlying theme of Italian classics with focus on top quality and contemporary presentation. We served prosecco from the moment the guests stepped into the venue, and ended with a full-on open bar where cocktails were overflowing. Spritz was served abundantly at cocktail hour as well as the venue’s own wine, which is of the highest quality, accompanied the seated meal.
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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

We focused on an abundance of flowers to add an overflowing garden look to the ceremony, the table setting, and all around the dancefloor and stage. The table setting, chairs, fabrics, candles, and paper goods all matched the design concept and brought it from page to reality seamlessly.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

The cake was an Italian millefoglie with berries assembled right in front of guests a moment before Kaitlyn and Chris cut it! Fun and delicious.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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For membership information, click here

Koman Photography

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Utter Romance At Lake Como’s Exquisite Villa Cipressi

Embrace the elegance of Italy’s glamorous Lake Como with an extraordinary celebration that captures the very essence of love. The picturesque Villa Cipressi set the stage for the awe-inspiring day all exquisitely planned and photographed by Janna Brown Design Co. Prepare to be entranced as we explore a sun-kissed, floral-filled affair that unfolded into a display of endless inspiration. See all the details inside the full gallery.

Perched high on the western shore of Lake Como, Villa Cipressi boasts some of the most beautiful views of Lake Como. With its award winning botanical gardens, tiered terraces, and winding pebbled pathways along the water, it ranks high on our list of most exquisite wedding venues on Lake Como.

Svea and Nico indulged in a floral-filled, sun-drenched affair with their loved ones, and it is a day we will not soon forget. Guests witnessed an emotional exchange of vows with a floral-filled aisle on the lower terrace while the sun danced on the water in the distance.

Cocktails were sipped on the east terrace before a warm welcome to a breathtaking reception on the upper terrace. Guests found their seats at the garden-inspired tablescape with an exquisite backdrop of Lake Como, celebrating the couple long into the evening under a blanket of stars.

Fashion Forward Wedding at Villa Balbiano on the Shores of Lake Como

Prepare to be enchanted as we take you on a journey through Lorena and Benjamin’s extraordinary wedding at the mesmerizing Villa Balbiano on the shores of Lake Como. This wedding celebration is brimming with endless inspiration artfully planned and photographed by Janna Brown Design Co. See all the details from this unforgettable affair inside the full gallery.

Lorena and Benjamin’s wedding at Villa Balbiano was a sign to behold as fashion-forward guests arrived in their finest attire to witness the nuptials in a truly grandiose setting. Lorena was radiant in her cinched waist silhouette gown, while her bridesmaids shimmered in custom hand-beaded gowns.

As the guests dined with their loved ones against the backdrop of the iconic villa, the tablescape of dripping candles and a sea of garden roses added to the utter romance of the evening. As the night drew to a close, the newlyweds made a stylish exit in a vintage Porsche, leaving their guests in awe of the fashion-forward affair they had just witnessed.

From the divine wardrobe to the custom cocktails sipped on the shores of Lake Como, every detail was carefully curated to create a truly unforgettable wedding. The event was truly a celebration of love and style, set against the backdrop of one of the most iconic villas in the world.

Lake Como Romantic Inspiration at Villa Sola Cabiati

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[field title=”The Inspiration”]

Inspired by the decadent and extravagant Villa Sola Cabiati. We took the artistic elements from the frescos and tapestries to the gardens and sparkling views of Lake Como and used them in every element of the design. Romance, ethereal details, and Italian flare created a unique yet timeless aesthetic.

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The colors were refined in monochrome tones of textured ivory linens and flatware, golds in the china and stemware, sage in the paper goods, and regal plum, lavender, and aubergine in the florals and paper.

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[field title=”The Venue”]

Built in the 16th century, the Villa Sola Cabiatiwas bought by the Dukes of Serbelloni in the 18th to be their summer escape from the heat of Milan. In this age of exuberant decadence, no expense was spared to make the Villa the most spectacular on the Lake. Exhibiting the epitome of old-world opulence, it was perfect for the vintage yet modern design—the history of the Villa along with the Italian light added to the ever-romantic wedding weekend.

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

The gowns by Hermione de Paula were romantic and ethereal with feminine detail. The first gown in sheer lace and delicate straps was perfect for the bride to wear, which complemented the interior of the Villa. The second gown was maximalist in a pleated full skirt and floral pattern with a modern white belt and cathedral veil. This second gown honored the exterior and grandeur of the Villa’s gardens and ethereal light that touched the Lake—the bride’s jewelry by J. Brooks Jewelers was an old mined marquise diamond against a gold band, ethereal petite pearl, and diamond earrings.

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The florals were organic and regal. The ceremony’s organic install mimicked the pattern on the gates just steps from the water. The bride’s bouquet was modern and romantic in tonal purple hellebore and soft sweet pea. The table florals were lush and paired perfectly with the custom luxe linens designed and created by Allegoria Textiles. The flatware, china, and glassware by Tableset Luxury Rentals provided the old world feel, and paper goods by LetterInk were ethereal and romantic in their shape, color, and calligraphy.

[/field]
[field title=”Favorite Design Element”]The flowers delivered straight from being harvested in Holland were a favorite element. We designed the petite bouquet, table florals and ceremony install on the gate in regal purples and rich color with organic ethereal shape to complement those elements of the gardens where the wedding took place. [/field]
[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”]

We honored and stayed true to romance, ethereal details, and old-world influence in every aspect of the design, which kept cohesion and let the beauty of the Villa and couple shine.

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[field title=”DIY Moments”]To keep the opalescence and ethereal nature of the design we added pearl detail to the champagne coups in organic patterns, which was a lovely subtle touch to their champagne tower pour. The coupes which sat atop a draped romantic pile of linen were poured with local champagne- a celebratory and ever romantic moment. [/field]
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Lauren Fair Photography

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A Floral-Filled Vision Set on Lake Como at Villa Regina Teodolinda

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Burnt Umber, Pink, Ochre[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]A floral filled vision set the stage for this stunning, yet classic Lake Como wedding. The couple drew off the colours of the villa’s unique palette, bringing in some pinks to pop against the natural Umber and Ochre of the facade. Guests had an uninterrupted view of Lake Como as the couple said their vows in front of their nearest and dearest. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Frank proposed during the height of COVID so we didn’t have the option of a getaway. Initially, Frank was planning to propose in Banff since we love being by lakes (which is part of the reason we chose to get married in Lake Como!). However, with COVID, Frank instead proposed at Big Sur, which is one of our favorite getaways in California. He woke up super early to prepare a picnic basket that was in the trunk, and had asked me if I wanted to go whale watching that day at Big Sur. I initially thought it was a little odd, since it wasn’t whale watching season, but was excited to go to Big Sur nonetheless. Once we got there, he had already scoped out a perfect picnic spot where we were sitting on a cliff overlooking the California coast, popped a bottle of champagne and had all of my favorite snacks prepared. I totally blacked out during his speech (which I’m sure was extremely sweet), and when he opened the ring box to pop the question, the box was upside down![/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Christine chose a classic silhouette by famed designer Monique L. She wanted it to be timeless and elegant, and the dress definitely met the brief. Trine Juel created two perfect bridal looks to compliment the gown in both the day and the evening. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]As it was a more intimate wedding, the couple opted not to have a formal bridal party and instead got ready with their closest friends. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]In true Italian fashion, no guest left hungry. Aperitivo was ripe with classic Italian fare such as cold cuts, local cheeses, fresh tomatoes and produce. For dinner, local cuisine was highlighted through seafood and pasta and to finish off, the couple provided late night noodles. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Elegant florals formed an arch for the ceremony and adorned the tables. Decor was simple yet timeless with taper candles and clean place settings. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]A traditional Italian cake was served as guests lit sparklers for the first cut and the champagne toast. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]There are two moments that stick out from the ceremony – (1) when Frank quoted Taylor Swift in his vows, and referred to her as my “favorite poet”, and (2) when our officiant started by asking us to pause and take a moment to look around at our venue, Lake Como and all our guests who flew so far to be with us in that moment. As we looked around, I think we were both filled with immense gratitude and love and felt fully present in that moment and what it meant to be getting married in front of all our loved ones.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]No Lake Como wedding is complete without a private boat ride for the couple after the ceremony. The perfect time for them to get away and soak up the reality of the day, while taking in the true beauty of the Lake. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]As the couple welcomed their guests at the start of the dinner, they announced that each setting had a special envelope under the plate for every guest. Guests opened their envelopes to find a photo of them with the couple, marking special memories that they each shared with them. It was a beautiful moment with plenty of tears, laughs and joy. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Our favorite moment from the wedding day is the post-ceremony boat ride. It was such a beautiful way to take a quiet moment to ourselves after the ceremony, where we could just bask in our post wedding bliss!
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[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/774291037 600 338]

Luxurious Fall Wedding in the Hills of Chianti at Castello Di Meleto

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Wild & Romantic Fall Colors – Wine reds, burnt orange, ombre yellows framed with organic fruits as supporting palette (Plum, grapes, pomegranates)[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The way we have always described the long-awaited celebration to guests would be a Tuscan affair where we would wine and dine to the best Chianti had to offer against the backdrop of the castle vineyard with the evening spread out against the sky – and with our hearts full, dance away the night under the Tuscan stars to the bride’s favorite vintage French jazz band.

For the ceremony, the highlight is the arrival of the bride and father of bride driving up the hill in a vintage white car in a long cypress lined road, tooting their horn to the fanfare of the guests’ fanfare and cheers. Against the backdrop of two French vintage jazz singers and the band crooning La vie en rose and an Italian garden setting on the hill overlooking the castle and vineyard, the bride walked down the aisle with clouds of white florals framing the scene. The design was stylish and organic to complement the lush Italian fauna, with two aged trees framing the view of the castle as the couple exchanged their vows. A special moment would be guests participating in the warming of the rings, where they passed the wedding bands around to imbue their well wishes and love into them before the rings are exchanged against the Le Moulins de mon Coeur song. As the couple were declared husband and wife, the bride throws her bridal bouquet back to the wedding party before getting into the vintage car, driving into the sunset against Ella Fitzgerald’s From this moment on.

As guests stroll down the cypress lined road to the herb garden overlooking the vineyard hills, the reception is the beginning of savory indulgences – with the appetizers made fresh on the scene – including live carving of prosciutto, stations of Italian hams, cheese and passed around carpaccios. Each food station was designed with vintage décor (Record players) and organic elements such as herb plants with waiters dressed in crisp black and white suits. Guests sip on their herb-infused cocktails against bossa nova and jazz acoustic pieces by the band.

For the dinner reception, the bride had decided on a less traditional design with a red and white antique patterned table cloth with white framed plates and mother-of-pearl cutlery, which accentuated the fruits and wild fall floral pieces on the tables, specially designed by Fluida Designs, a floral and landscape artist. There were a few special design choices the couple made: A special design element was the seating chart were green leaf-shaped cards that were hand calligraphed and placed on individual fruits that reflected the region and season. Guests also received a burgundy colored luggage tag as gifts that stated ‘And so the adventure begins’, hung on their chairs to bring home with. The bride chose to have a canopy of fairy lights to add an additional magic flair to the terrace lawn by the castle – to truly capsulate ‘Dining under the Tuscan stars’. The couple opted to have the Milliefoglie, a traditional Italian wedding cake made of crispy layers of pastry, fresh strawberries, raspberries and cream, made live in front of the guests which provided a very memorable moment. Guest have gushed that this was the best wedding cake they have eaten. The groom also specially requested to have a gelato cart where fresh Italian gelato would be served to guests for dessert. And as promised, after the couple twirled to their first dance, guests danced away the night to the bride’s favorite vintage french jazz band (Gatsby Follies by Jazz around midnight, who flew over from Paris and was decked out in full flapper dresses and suits). A unexpected surprise of the night was the after party DJ who guests have expressed as one of the best wedding DJs they have been treated to.

For the day after fancy pajama farewell party, the location was in a secluded garden area where guests were treated to a bohemian chic themed set up – filled with balloons, velvet sofas and lounge chairs, carpets and cushions. Guests were asked to dress up in their fanciest and most colorful pajamas – silk, feathers, pearls, etc. They milled around to the castle’s self-produced wine, live Italian barbecue against the backdrop of the playlist custom curated by the best man. Guests wrote their well wishes for the couple on the balloons, and before the end of the night, the couple released them to the night.
[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Kim and Yao met in international orientation and started dating in the freshmen year of college (They were college sweethearts). They have bonded over their love for food and travel – and have been meticulously checking off their bucket list food and travel destinations around the globe each year. Yao surprised Kim with a proposal in Tokyo in November 2018. It was unexpected for Kim as she has always insisted that the proposal, whenever that happens, must be private with no audience (she’s easily embarrassed clearly). Given the trip was planned to the detail by her and they were traveling with another friend, she thought there would not be a chance it would happen then.

The aforementioned friend had made an excuse that night when they got into Tokyo from Kyoto that he had to meet with his colleague in Tokyo for drinks – and would join them later. Yao brought Kim to a hotel bar they loved in Tokyo – at the Andaz Tokyo on Toranomon Hills that had the perfect 360 view of Tokyo night lights. Kim and Yao had stayed there a couple of times when they have visited Tokyo before. As they ordered drinks, Yao disappeared strangely for a long time on the excuse of going to the bathroom, before the hotel manager approached Kim and handed her a room key. She thought he mistook her for someone else and tried to deny vehemently to a flustered manager that she was not a guest there.

The flustered manager eventually blurted out her name and told her to follow her. At that point, Kim thought something was suspicious as he brought her to the door of a room and ran away, leaving an amused Kim standing outside. As she knocked, Yao opened the door and swept her inside to the words of ‘Would you marry me?’ in perfectly cut out letters on the bed – and photos of their travels over the years hung around the room along with champagne and flowers. Yao shared that this was the exact room they stayed in when they first visited Tokyo together – overlooking the Tokyo tower. And with the Tokyo tower lights glistening behind, Yao dropped on one knee, brandishing a ring. Frankly, at that point, Kim had blanked out and did not remember a single word of Yao’s speech (he swears it was a beautiful speech and he did not make her sign away her life savings). After she said yes, they had a champagne toast – and went back to to the rooftop bar to find their friend (who was in on it the whole time and helping decorate the room) to celebrate.

There were many hilarious moments that proved Kim was completely oblivious – Yao had carried his backpack the whole time on the trip (with the ring in it) which was extremely uncharacteristic. Kim had suggested taking a later train to Tokyo from Kyoto, which both Yao and friend had vehemently objected to. Kim had texted Yao while she was waiting in the bar when he disappeared, to which he texted back a poop emoji to keep her from suspecting anything. Their friend was hiding on the floor of the hotel room right around the corner to ensure Kim did not run into him when being brought to the room. Luckily, in the midst of laughs and fun, she said Yes and the rest is history.
[/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Ceremony:
• Dress: Oscar de la Renta Lace Wedding dress (altered with added sleeves) and custom matching veil.
• Shoes: The comfiest block heels by Sarah Flint! To navigate the grass lawn
Reception/Dinner:
• Dress 1: Naeem Khan long embellished crystal dress
• Dress 2: Naeem Khan Flapper dress for dancing to the vintage Jazz band!

Pre-wedding photo shoot:
• Dress 1: 16 Arlington (Dress with feather sleeves)
• Shoes 1: Amina Muaddi

• Dress 2: Alexa Maria (Dress with bow on back with altered added sleeves)
• Shoes 2: : L’autre Chose

Day after – Fancy Pajama Farewell party
• Dress: Gilda & Pearl (Satin slip dress with feathers)
• Shoes: Amina Muaddi[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Topshop mismatched blush dresses with gifted earrings from bride (Brand: Kate & Mari) [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Groom wore custom made tuxedo with a special tuxedo embroidered coat change for dinner.
Groomsmen wore their own black tuxedo & black bowties.
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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

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