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A Breathtaking Castiglion Del Bosco Wedding That Will Have You Missing All Things Italy

As if we needed another reason to be missing Italy during these crazy COVID times, this wedding just made us fall even harder for Bel Paese (the beautiful country). Cypress lined streets, molten-gold patchwork, and sprawling vineyards surrounded the couple and their lucky guests at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, an 800-year old Tuscan estate. As you can imagine, it was magic from start to finish, all thanks to their talented vendor team, including planning by Caterina Majolo and blooms by Flowers Living. Head on over to the full gallery to see it all unfold, captured by Sotiris Tsakanikas!

From Sotiris TsakanikasIt’s easy to see how Tuscany makes one fall deeper, poetry has been written of its cucina, odes to its fashion and songs of its beauty. Bearing witness to Laura & Myles’ Castiglion del Bosco wedding -let alone capturing it- brought the same impromptu verbal reaction as any Italophile would probably have “La Magia” (the magic). Driving up the meandering, cypress-lined road to the Borgo, the historic heart of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, the 800-year old Tuscan estate which we’d rather thrillingly call “home” for the next days, it was obvious why the bride and groom had given the place double thumbs up for their big day.

It was molten-gold patchwork fields stretching out below towards Montalcino, sprawling vineyards mottled with olive-trees, and milky light in perfect sync with the rolling Tuscan terra. And that was only the beginning, as quite soon I found there’s so much more to it than wildly beautiful scapes. The couple’s villa at the Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco with its gentle rustic shades of ochre and flax, opened its shuttered windows to Laura’s preparations while guests were still enjoying their sumptuous colazione already laid out in the kitchen, apple pie, zucchini, homemade pastries and truffle-topped Tuscan bread with cold cuts from the farm.

The weather was turning right after the couple’s poolside first look, and although the ceremony took place alfresco by the ruins of the medieval castle that gives the estate its name, the reception was held indoors decorated with roses and in-season vegetation. Chiara and Massimo Ferragamo – the youngest son of Salvatore Ferragamo (yes, that Salvatore) – who co-own the Castiglion del Bosco make their genteel presence to congratulate Laura & Myles on their journey, while long dresses skirted the patio as the weather finally decided to oblige. Between champagne toasts and cake cutting, we congratulated the bride and groom again for having us bear witness to the bounty of beauty around. By the time we returned to the villa candles have melted right down to their base but as it turned out Laura & Myles had still one dance saved.

From The Bride… Myles and I met whilst we were still in secondary school together. We grew up in Skegness a seaside town in the east of England. I wanted to go to a concert at a seaside town on the other side of the country with my friend, a big adventure at the time as we were young with no transport, and somehow Myles was roped in to drive us, and I didn’t know him until that day. Since then we’ve been inseparable, spending every moment together over the last twelve years! We’ve grown through different phases of our lives, through college, and university, moving to London and starting our careers but our affection and reliance on each other is a constant in a world of change. We love to travel, and find joy in every day together. I’m always the impulsive one looking for excitement in the now, and Myles is the long term thinker ensuring we do all the things we dream up. Together we are a great team. Myles proposed in Manorola in Cinque Terre. It was a total surprise, but looking back on it now he was anxious in the build up! Typically Myles had planned ahead, but on the day he had to improvise as I had changed the plans. He got me up early saying he wanted to go and get some photos before the crowds, and we found a quite spot on the hillside, when I turned around Myles proposed. We spent the day doing some of our favourite things, hiking in the hills, eating gelato, and jumping in to the sea from the rocks.

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Photography: Sotiris Tsakanikas | Cinematography: Moon & Back | Event Planning: Caterina Majolo | Florist: Flowers Living | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Sugar And Spice Firenze | Invitations: E.I.Y. Love | Ceremony Venue: Caterina Majolo | Catering: Caterina Majolo | Groom's Attire: Tom Ford | Bridal Shoes: Aquazzura | Earrings : Annoushka | MC: TUSCANPLEDGES | dj/band : Alma Project | hair piece: jennifer behr

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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This Is the Italian Countryside Wedding Venue You’ve Seen All Over Instagram

You’ve probably already came across this historic 12th century abbey while scrolling through wedding inspiration on insta, dying to know where it is! Well, you’re in luck – it’s called La Badia in Orvieto, Italy! Also known as heaven on earth. Today’s gorgeous wedding at La Badia planned by Jacqueline Hallgarth will completely take your breath away. From Janna Brown Design Co.’s elegantly organic blooms to the bride’s timeless Carolina Herrera gown. It’s all at the full gallery – captured to perfection by Kurt Boomer!

From the Bride… The moment we came across La Badia in Orvieto, Italy, a historic 12th century Abbey converted into a boutique hotel, our hearts were set. We fell in love with the rich history La Badia and Orvieto encompasses and how every corner tells a story. Since the venue has a lot of rich historic tones, I chose a classic and clean Carolina Herrera gown. 

I accessorized my gown with custom made emerald drop earrings and ivory lace Rene Caovilla shoes. My hair stylist, Frank Giacone, pinned back my hair into smooth low bun. John matched the classic look with an Italian Canali tuxedo and patent leather Ferragamo shoes. 

When it came to the design/aesthetic, we wanted something to feel natural and organic in the space. For the wedding invitations and stationary, Victoria Krav illustrated the iconic La Badia arch for our monogram all on organic cotton paper. For our linens, we chose La Tavola’s Velvet Tamarind Linen which gave a rustic yet polished Fall texture to our tablescape. Janna Brown Design absolutely nailed our vision for the floral and overall look. She used organic rustic loose floral elements while incorporating soft feminine blooms that complimented the stunning La Badia.

Photographer: Kurt Boomer | Videography: Petro Motion Films | Event Planning & Design: Jacqueline Hallgarth Events | Floral Design: Janna Brown Design Co. | Dress: Carolina Herrera | Invitations: Victoria Krav | Shoes: Rene Caovilla | Catering: Trip & Co. | DJ: Second Song | Tux: Canali | Hotel: La Badia Orvieto | Venue: La Badia di Orvieto | Beauty: Frank Giacone | Groom's Shoes: Ferragamo | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Preludio Noleggi

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
This Stunning Destination Wedding in Ravello Was Planned in Just 45 Days!

A modern fairytale wedding set at a villa in Ravello? Ummm… yes please! Until we’re able to travel to Italy again, we’ll be living vicariously through the gorgeous imagery from today’s wedding at Villa Eva, captured by Lace and Luce with planning from Amalfi Soiree. Kuts Flowers decorated their day with delphinium, roses, hydrangeas and anthurium in delicate pink and pastel blue tones – perfectly matching the enchanted garden vibes. Don’t miss out on the full gallery for more!

From Monica of Amalfi SoireeWhat bride wouldn’t want something magical for her wedding? When Onome contacted Amalfi Soirée only 45 days before the wedding date, she had only one certainty: what she wanted was a fabulous evening, that was memorable, engaging and classy. The feeling with this lovely Nigerian-Canadian couple was that we were a perfect fit from the very first moments: I was waiting all weekend and super excited to see the proposal for the wedding theme & the bride wrote to me after I had suggested the idea of a romantic wedding inspired by the magic in the woods, fairy-tale setting and sanctuary of the soul as connecting element between earth and sky. “It seems like you were in my thoughts – you have beautifully translated everything I have wished for!”

From the bride… “We met thanks to a mutual friend”, Onome said, “but we were only friends for about a year, until we realized that ours was more than a friendship”. “We got engaged in February of 2018 and the proposal was done at a private restaurant with close friends and family. “It was a complete surprise because I thought it was my friend’s birthday party. Efe’s plan was to go to Banff, in Alberta, but it snowed so much that day that I suggested to rearrange the plans: I told my friend we would go some other time and then I decided to pick a place where we could do something for her birthday in the city… I even went the extra mile to pick up a cake for her, and I didn’t know I was planning my engagement party!” “When we got there, I saw that most of her friends were not around, while Efe was so well-dressed for the event. I didn’t think too much about it but, all of a sudden, he started talking about how far we had come. Then he went on his knees to ask me to spend the rest of my life with him. You know my answer!” 

A year later, Onome and Efe flew to Italy for a touching sea view wedding. On the wedding day, while the groom, in his Umberto Custom Tailor suit, strolled with his groomsmens along the picturesque streets of Ravello, Onome got ready wearing a gorgeous dress by Pallas Couture, and the jewelled shoes by Bella Belle. A sophisticated hairstyle was created by Papa Chichi Style while Bimpe Onakoya took care of the bridal makeup. The symbolic ceremony, celebrated by Blessings from Italy, took place on the panoramic terrace of Villa Eva and included the exciting release of a cloud of white butterflies, a symbol of love and purity. The enchanted garden of delphinium, roses, hydrangeas and anthurium created by Kuts Flowers in delicate pink and pastel blue tones was the setting for this modern fairy tale, while the notes of “Nothing else matters” by Metallica in the classic version by Pino Rispoli, tore tears of joy from the delighted guests. After the ceremony the party moved into the lush park of the villa where salted snacks and assorted canapes were served. A 5-meter wall covered with moss to create an impressive Prosecco Wall where everyone could stock up on the favourite Italian drink.

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Photographer: Lace & Luce | Videographer: Mirco e Anisa | Florist: Kuts Flowers | Wedding Dress: Pallas Couture | Invitations: Amalfi Soirée | Make-up: Bimpe Onakoya | Hair: Papa Chichi Style | Lighting: Capone Service Audio Luci Costa D'amalfi | DJ: DJ Baj | Groom's Attire: Umberto Custom Tailor | Officiant: Blessings from Italy | Transportation: Tatti Transfer | Bridal Shoes: Bella Belle | Butterflies: FarfallexEventi | Event Venue: Villa Eva | MC: Folly Fresh | Music: Pino Rispoli | Planner/Stylist: Amalfi Soirée | Rentals: Capone Service Audio Luci Costa D'Amalfi

A Fairytale Destination Wedding in the North of Italy That Took Personalization to the Next Level

Julia and Franz’ fairytale destination wedding is probably one of the most personalized events we’ve had the pleasure of sharing here on SMP! I mean, it just doesn’t get more bespoke than the actual faces of guests drawn on each individual place card – are we right?! Gifts of homemade limoncello welcomed everyone to a weekend they’d never forget, all thanks to the crazy talented team at A Very Beloved Wedding. To see all the magic from their day, including an abundance of romantic arrangements from A Very Beloved Bloom, head on over to the full gallery – captured to perfection by Ashley Ludaescher Photography!

From A Very Beloved WeddingA Fairytale Destination Wedding on the other side of the rainbow. An enchanted place for an enchanting wedding weekend with dreamy flowers, soft colors, happy butterflies, laughter, and beauty. Julia and Franz fell in love with this place a few years ago, thus decided to tie the knot in one of its gardens with a stunning view over Merano.

The design of this weekend was based on a concept of magic love between the sky and the earth. The floral design, stationery, cake, tabletop, everything was a match made in heaven and based on this concept made by A Very Beloved Wedding. It was all very intimate and bespoke, based on the couple’s love story.

You’ll see faces of the guests drawn on each place card, soft romantic flowers on every detail , Italian home made limoncello as part of the welcome gift for the first night, among other details. For the first night we designed a rustic, friendly, indoor welcome event, playing with the color yellow of the limoncello, which was also found on the stationery suite. The wedding day was about roses and butterflies. The latter could be found on the bride’s wedding gown and also on the stationery and cake. Music by beautiful artists from the Cote D’Azur accompanied each and every moment of this special weekend.

“Let’s meet where the sky meets the earth. Let’s sit and converse over the ring of Saturn. Let’s end up our day chasing the clouds. Let’s slip and slide on the rainbow. Let’s catch the shooting star in our palms. Let’s follow the moon and go wherever it takes. Let’s once again escape the reality and live in fantasy. – Rajshree Pandey”

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Photography: Ashley Ludaescher Photography | Cinematography: With Heart Films | Floral Design: A Very Beloved Bloom | Cake: Demel | Stationery: Shhh My Darling | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Zimmermann | Make up and hair: Alma Milcic | Groom's Attire: Lardini | Bridal gown: Liz Martinez (by Kinsley James) | Bridal shoes: Jimmy Choo | Chateaux: Castel Fragsburg | Destination Wedding Planning and Design: A Very Beloved Wedding | Music: Darling Duo

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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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.

Photography: Julia Kaptelova Photography | Floral Design: Il fiorista snc | Wedding Dress: Lena Berisha | Brides Shoes: Christian Louboutin | DJ: Luca Capelli  | Wedding Favors: Qualcosa di Dolce | Grooms attire: Giorgio Armani | Catering and cake: Hotel Villa Cipressi | Headpiece: Crown designers | Muah: Lydia Malinovskaya | Quartet : Prelude Musica | Villa Cipressi: Hotel Villa Cipressi

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
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!

Photography: Anya Kernes | Videography: Waterfall Visuals | Event Planning: The Tuscan Wedding | Florist: Flowers Living | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Stationery: /lauramazzetti the wedding letters | Wedding Shoes: Bella Belle | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Hair & Makeup: Natalia Issa Hair and Makeup Artistry | DJ: DJ Sam Young | Groom's Attire: Jonathan Behr | Wedding Venue: Villa Cora | Bridal Lace Robe: Homebodii | Custom Napkins & Cocktail Stirrers: The Emerald Hound | Drums: Deji Carr | Live Music (Cocktail Hour): Wedding Music And Lights | Photobooth: Funny Booth | Ring Bearer Sign: La Precisina | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Robes: Le Rose | Saxophone: The SaxMan | Styling Ceramics: Simple Things Ceramics | Styling Surface: Locust Collection | Vow Books: Ciarra Claire Fine Art | Wedding Invitation: Jolly Edition | Wedding Light Designer: Wedding Music And Lights | Welcome Dinner Catering: Galateo Ricevimenti | Welcome Dinner Ice Cream Car: Miss 500 | Welcome Dinner Lights Designer: Alma Project | Welcome Dinner Venue: Villa Medicea di Lilliano | Welcome Dinner Wine: Villa Medicea di Lilliano

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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.

Photographer: CHYMO & MORE Photography | Planner: My Umbrian Wedding | Wedding Dress: Jesus Peiro | Stationery: Pluma Creativa | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Birdy Grey | Catering: Apollinare | Makeup & Hair: Barbara Corso | Ceremony Music: Ensemble Hubay | Wedding Venue: Abbazia San Pietro In Valle | Bridal Shoes: Bella Belle | Party Band: black cat manouche

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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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Photographer: Jeremy Froeliger | Videographer : Rouge Wedding | Coordination : Vanessa Roussel | Floral Design: Linda Champenois | Wedding Dress: Nicole+Felicia couture | Stationery: Atelier Preszburger | shoes: Bella Belle | Shoes: jimmy choo | Shoes: Harriet Wilde | Venue: Gritti Palace Venice | Artistic direction : Linda Champenois | Assistant photographer: Vincent Kem | Bridal shop: Top Bridal Paris | Co organisation: Vanessa Roussel | Hair accessorizes: Elysian wedding | Jewels: Djoline Joailliers | Model: Caidy Lena | Model: Baptiste Nicol | Muah: Kassaundra Stephens | Suit and man accessorizes: Camilliano | Yellow Dress: Mae Paris | co organisation: Linda Champenois

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

Photography: Elias Kordelakos | Event Planning: Weddings in Tuscany by Chiara Sernesi | Floral Design: Jardin Divers | Wedding Dress: Inbal Dror | Stationery: Sugared Fig Paperie | Catering: Delizia Ricevimenti | Groom's Attire: Tom Ford | Groomsmen's Attire: Tom Ford | Wedding Venue: Il Palagio (Sting's Villa) | Bridal Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Lights: Wedding Central House

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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.

Photography: Rossini Photography | Photography: Rossini Photography | Photography: Rossini Photography | Wedding Planner: Wedding Sicily | Wedding Planner: Wedding Sicily | Flowers: Sebastian Flowers | Wedding Dress: Mira Couture | Bride's shoes: Valentino | Bride's shoes: Valentino | Make up: Daniela Guanziroli | Make up: Daniela Guanziroli | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Wedding Venue: Belmont Hotel Caruso | Wedding Venue: Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond | Bride's Dress: Mira Couture | Groom's tie: Hermes

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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Photography: L&V Photography | Videography: 2Become1 | Event Planning: Anne Laure Weddings | Floral Design: Chiara Sperti | Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo | Reception Venue: Villa Medicea di Lilliano | Bridal shoes: Miu Miu | Day of Stationery: Crème De Papier | Hair and make-up: My Wedding Mirror | Production: Alma Project | Rentals: Preludio Noleggi

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Looking for a Wedding Venue in Italy With Breathtaking Mediterranean Views? Look Right Here.

Bright pink peonies, a vintage getaway car, and views of Capri and the Mediterranean as far as the eyes can see – I mean, what more could a girl ask for, are we right?! Today’s wedding is filled with magic at every turn, planned by Capri Moments Event Design who made the couple’s dream of an intimate, relaxed yet glam wedding in Italy a reality. For all the details and unforgettable moments, from the first look to the last dance, head on over to the full gallery – captured by Peter and Veronika! P.S. you HAVE to read the adorable proposal story told by the bride below, it’s right out of a movie!

From Bride… After a few years of dating my now husband and I began fantasizing of our perfect wedding, and that’s where I first dropped the bomb – Italy. At the time, it seemed like a fantasy, but deep down I’ve always dreamt of a wedding in my beloved Italy. Since Nat is incredible, he replied, “I love that idea!” Maybe he was just going along with it for fun, I thought, but I loved him for it anyway. A few years later, on a perfect evening at home, with our dogs Hydie & Olivia on either side of me, he proposed. And what could possibly make the moment even better? Nat said “now we get to plan a wedding…in Italy!” I almost died of happiness. 

After telling our family and friends that, yes, we really are getting married in Italy, the question we were most asked was “Italy?! Why?” Well, that’s a no-brainer. The huge, formal affair I dreamt of as a little girl was actually the opposite of what either of us wanted; a small wedding, with people we love, in a place that’s the most special to us. For Nat & I, that place is Capri. We vacationed there a year before getting engaged and knew instantly that the tiny, beautiful island was going to be a very special place for us. 

The stunning colors, the warm & wonderful people, that magical blue water… Capri is truly like no other place on Earth. Nat & I envisioned an intimate and relaxed wedding, with effortless glamour, which is exactly Capri. With the ocean behind him, my cousin officiated; having someone we feel close to preform our ceremony was very special. Nat & I wrote our own vows that we’d not seen before the ceremony, which made is both laugh and cry. After we said “I do” and shared the best kiss of our lives, we walked back up the aisle to string musicians playing “Love Me Like You Do”, being showered in confetti that our guests made from a confetti table, to a champagne toast. The reception was adorned with bright flowers, lemons, cherries and endless white candles. 

My family is Italian and we love to feed people, so the food was a big focus. Canapes, champagne and Aperol spritz to start, followed by three courses from Il Riccio’s Michelin star kitchen and desserts from their famed “Temptation Room”. It didn’t stop there; we danced the night away upstairs on the roof deck. That’s when we first saw the cake – good God the cake – the biggest most beautiful wedding cake, taller than me. 

We asked our photographers and videographers to capture the real moments of laughter, tears, dancing, and kissing. Looking back at our photos and videos, it feels like we’re back in Capri on that perfect day. No wedding ever goes exactly to plan, but sometimes those are the good parts. Every part of our wedding was perfect – not because it was flawless, although it was to me, but because it was an absolute joy, and we would do it all over again exactly the same.

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Photography: Peter & Veronika | Videography: Mirco e Anisa | Planner: Capri Moments Event Design | Wedding Dress: Madeleine's Daughter | CEREMONY VENUE: Il Riccio | RECEPTION VENUE: Il Riccio | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | DJ: Peppe Croce | Audio & Lighting: Capri Dj Service | Floral Desgin: Capri Blossom | Groom Shoes: Brooks Brothers | Muah: Beauty Livery

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This Is the Ultimate Weekend Itinerary for a Destination Wedding in Puglia

Just when we thought we couldn’t be more in love with the whitewashed hill towns and charming farmlands of Italy’s beautiful region of Puglia, this wedding comes through and takes our breath away. Complete with a can’t-be-beat Italian wedding weekend itinerary from cooking classes to beach clubs, planned by Impression Villas & Weddings, we can’t help but live vicariously through Nastia Vesna Photography’s stunning imagery. Check out the full gallery for a one-way ticket to Italy’s most romantic wedding locale!

From Impression Villas & WeddingsBlush and gold inspired wedding in Puglia with a rustic feel. A beautiful couple Katie and Tom from Florida decided to get married in Puglia at the very end of September. Due to their work commitments, they could not come to Puglia in advance to pick the right venues to they relied entirely on their wedding planner and sister, who travelled to Puglia on her own to look at venues and choose the best place for them to get married. 

Initially, they planned a wedding for a smaller number of guests but ended up had around 70 guests. Their first out of the four events was a fun cooking class at a nearby rustic masseria with pasta making and wine tasting. The next day was an evening welcome event with cocktails and buffet of local delicacies at a beautiful beach club, where despite late autumn it was very warm and sunny. 

The third day was the wedding itself with a symbolic ceremony in a typical olive grove of Puglia with amazing olive trees. The maid of honour of Katie was her sister and the best man of Tom was his father. The processional and recessional song was played by an all ladies string quartet. Katie and Tom exchanged vows and rings, sealed their union with a kiss, and lead all the guests to aperitivo featuring his and her signature drinks (Aperol Spritz for Katie and Manhattan for Tom). 

Aperitivo was followed by a rich local buffet of starters. Soon after Katie and Tom had their first dance played by an amazing upbeat and vibrant live band from the UK – Jam Hot Band with 4 lead singers. The dinner was served on two long tables decorated with rich greenery garlands with blush blossoms. Ivory, blush, pale pink colors were seen throughout the whole wedding floral decor, which looked very beautifully with golden tableware and small square bottles of olive oil. The cake cutting was followed but surprise fireworks.

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Videography: Marco Abbatangelo | Florist: Flower Addicted | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Reception Venue: Masseria Pettolecchia La Residenza | Reception Catering: Il Fagiano | Wedding Favors: Olio Infiore | Groom's Suit: Hugo Boss | Best Man's Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna | Bridal Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Cooking Class: Puglia Kitchen | Cooking Class Venue: Masseria Torre Abate Risi | DJ & Sax: Nico Rinaldi Eventi | Fireworks: Sweet & Love | Groom's Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Groom's Watch: Rolex | Hair Styling: Alessandro Mancino & Marco Carpentieri | Live Band: Jam Hot | Maid of Honor Dress: Reiss | Rentals: IES APULIA EVENTI | Second Wedding Dress:: Marchesa | Sound & Lighting: Sona Service | Stage & Dancefloor: Sonido | String Lights: Centomani Lights | Wedding Bag: Sophia Webster | Wedding Earrings: Yoko London | Wedding Photographer: Nastia Vesna&Maksim Gladky | Wedding Planner & Officiant: Impression Villas & Weddings | Wedding Veil: Toni Federici | Welcome Event Venue: Torre Coccaro

This Travel Blogger’s Positano Wedding Is Prettier Than A Postcard

We bow down to travel bloggers’ supreme takes on traveling in style, so when Christine of Tour de Lust put together a destination wedding we knew it was going to be one for the books! Positano set the scene for this special day filled with awe-inspiring touches, like a sunset oceanview ceremony and a custom vintage fiat overflowing with flowers. Rossini Photography beautifully captured all the special moments, head over to the full gallery for endless destination wedding inspiration.



From the bride… Ryan and I fell in love with Italy when we first visited for our first international trip together. We kept finding our way back and fell in love with Amalfi Coast.



I envisioned having a classic and romantic setting with neutral and blush tones. Most of the vendors we selected were either from my research on Instagram or referrals from my wedding planner, Emma Events.



My advice for future brides on planning a destination wedding is to hire a wedding planner, trust them and don’t overthink everything that has to be perfect. Everything will absolutely come together, be happy and just have fun because you will remember these happy moments forever.

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Photographer: Rossini Photography | Wedding Planner: Emma Events | Florals: Armando Malafronte | Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav | Shoes: Bella Belle | Wedding Bands: The Clear Cut | Hair & Makeup: Beautini | Cake & Desserts: Antonio Ventieri | Earings rent: Verstolo | Getting ready/ceremny/reception: Lace Market Hotel Nottingham | Hairpiece & Dress Hanger : Etsy | Ring boxes: The Mrs Box | Video: Moon & Back | Video: Moon & Back | Wedding dress shop: Bridal Reflections

A Lavish Lake Como Wedding That Embraces Color!

Don’t get us wrong – we’ll always have a soft spot for classic blush and green weddings, but there’s truly nothing we love more than when a bride isn’t afraid to be brave with color! With the help of their planner, Rachel Birthistle, and their floral designer, Tulipina, this gorgeous couple embraced the lively hues found in Villa Pizzo’s enchanting gardens, allowing them to inspire a truly one of a kind color palette. Bright pops of pink and sandy yellows danced from their lakeside ceremony to the tented reception, all captured flawlessly by Sotiris Tsakanikas! Don’t miss the full gallery for more Lake Como wedding magic.

From the wedding planner… The bride and groom already had spent many holidays in Como and so had a special connection with the place, there was no real sales effort needed, it was already a done deal, we just had to identify the right venue. That was a love at first sight scenario when they strolled the grounds of Villa Pizzo. This particular villa is in a stunning position on the edge of Cernobbio, next door to the iconic Villa D’este hotel.

The garden of Villa Pizzo is one of the longest gardens lakeside and has paths that meander for some 10kms, containing both and Italian garden and English garden, this aesthetic diversity makes it the perfect venue as it creates natural reveals for the guests. The bride and groom were ideal clients in so many ways, they had a clear vision as to how they wanted their wedding to flow and feel.

The bride loved colour and was very open to our design ideas and guidance. The colour palette Kiana (Tulipina) and I suggested was initially influenced by both the villa and the bride, the villa itself is a mix of wonderful chalky tones of peach, earthy pink and sandy yellows, the garden is full of the most beautiful roses in similar tones, we took these base colours to a slightly fuller level and the bride wanted to have a warm yellow accent as she had a sentimental connection with the colour.

Without wanting to be too directional the bride was clear that she didn’t want too much greenery as she liked the structure and shape that was feasible with compositions that were predominantly made up of flowers, this was Kianas idea of heaven, she created the most beautiful compositions. For the ceremony area the combination of the palette and the definition of the spaces created by the compositions enhanced rather than distracted from the spectacular view.

The cocktail area was held in the Italian garden, we furnished it with a mix of elegant rattan lounges with warm pastel velvet fabrics, flowers were minimal as the space is already intriguing. The main focus in this area was the seating plan which were beautifully designed name tags by Letterink, that hung from a large tree. The weather had been a little unpredictable and the original plan was to be totally al fresco we needed the insurance cover of the tent structure in the courtyard. The dinner tables we kept simple and elegant, crisp chalk white linens with a strong dark peach accents both in the compositions and on the Oscar De la Renta plates, with warm golds and brass elements from the cutlery and the vases and not forgetting the sentimental yellow.

Photography: Sotiris Tsakanikas | Cinematography: Marco Abbatangelo | Event Planning: The Lake Como Wedding Planner | Floral Design: Tulipina - Kiana Underwood | florist : Tea Rose Milano | Reception Venue: Villa Pizzo | Catering: AFM | make up & hair : Cherie Spisso | Escort Cards: LetterInk | Plates: Oscar De La Renta | getting ready venue: Villa D'Este | music & lights: Blunotte Events

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Intimate Destination Tuscany Wedding Bursting With Romance

This Tuscany wedding is our idea of destination wedding perfection! The outdoor affair filled with pops of green, white, and gold simply radiates beneath the Tuscan sun. The decor aesthetic of the day beautifully compliments the landscape of one of the world’s most beautiful locales. Les Anagnou exquisitely captured all the elegant details and touching romance of the day. See how it all came stunningly together in the full gallery.



From Les AnagnouTuscany is the ultimate destination for a romantic and refined wedding if you ask us! Priscila and Marcello’s wedding was a true Tuscan dream, with delicate florals and a wedding dress fit for a modern-day princess! The couple wanted a true fine art wedding. All the details were handpicked by the bride to fit the refined aesthetics!



The ceremony was held in a serene chapel in Tuscany. It was a heartfelt and romantic ceremony with close friends and family to congratulate the young couple and throw hundreds of rose petals and rice to celebrate their union!



After the ceremony an al fresco wedding dinner followed in the gardens of Villa Montanare amongst the olive groves. Merging the Tuscan landscape to the décor, the wedding table was set with elegant tableware and the most beautiful garland of vine leaves! Priscilla and Marcello’s wedding was a chic affair filled with love, laughter, and lots of dancing!



Photography: Les Anagnou photographers | Flowers: Flowers Living | Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Catering: Lincei Catering | Venue: Villa Montanare | Cordinator: Benedetta Gori

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This Inspiration Shoot Will Make You Love Italy Even More

Italian wedding inspiration at a majestic villa in Apulia?! Yes, please! Come for the white stone architecture, and stay for the color palette highlighted by the beauty of the region. This destination wedding inspiration has us feeling the amoré! The genius of Joy Proctor Design and the desire of The Wedding Boutique Italy to produce exceptional and memorable events has come together in a harmonious collaboration that’s not to be missed. Join us in the full gallery for a closer look.



From Joy Proctor DesignWe must feel inspired in order to inspire, and when a seasoned designer and wedding planner embark on a spontaneous adventure through the tiny stone-walled roadways of Italy’s best-kept secret, its Southern region of Apulia, magical things can happen.



Discovering the beautiful gem that is Masseria Pettolecchia is like stepping through the looking glass into an other-worldly dimension where the largest, lushest vegetables you have ever seen grow proudly beneath the ancient olive trees that date back over 2000 years, stretching right out to the shores of the azure Adriatic Sea. The ceremony was set in an archway of the Pettolecchia with golden candles. Cocktails were set up in an adjacent archway with a beautiful stone bar and hand-painted bar sign.



I chose a color palette accenting the beauty of the region; the taupe from Apulia stone, the blue of the azure seas, the green of the olive orchards and the gold of the sky. The reception structure was set in the olive orchard amongst the ancient trees. We built a custom structure to hang more than 50 meters of thick garland and three beautiful Italian chandeliers. This collaboration was a true meeting of minds that conceptualizes and brings to life authentic visions to create meaningful and unforgettable events, offering services throughout Italy and Europe.



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Event Design: Joy Proctor Design | Flowers: Bows and Arrows | Gown: Chana Marelus | Cake: MonAnnie Cakes | Shoes: Bella Belle | Hair & Makeup: Alessandro Mancino & Marco Carpentieri | Venue: Masseria Pettolecchia La Residenza | Custom Linens: Allegoria | Digital Photography: Matteo Coltro | Earrings: Twigs & Honey | Film Photography: Gianluca And Mary Adovasio | Paper Goods: Shhh My Darling | Planning & Production: The Wedding Boutique Italy | Rentals: Corso Gaetano | Video: Matteo Castelluccia Videomaker | Welcome Bag: Sea and Grass

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A Romantic Wedding at the Oldest Hotel in Italy Complete with Thousands of Mauve Roses

It doesn’t matter how many times we run into a wedding at Italy’s oldest hotel, La Badia di Orvieto, that regal tower and unforgettable stone archway never cease to take our breath away. It’s the most perfect setting for a timeless, elegant affair. Pair that with an abundance of mauve and blush blooms from Janna Brown Design Co. and there you have it – the Italian countryside wedding of our dreams! Check out the full gallery captured by Katie Grant Photography to see why we’re so obsessed with this day, planned to perfection by CheChic!Weddings.

From CheChic!WeddingsSarah and Tom chose to have their stunning wedding at La Badia di Orvieto. “we must say, this may be one of the most beautiful venue we have ever seen” she said. “We never saw it, we arrived there the day before the wedding: our planner Alessandra made everything possible with us just staying at home in Australia” the couple said. “Planning a destination wedding had never been so easy”. 

The ancient walls around the property are all about history and art. Located amongst endless vineyards and olive trees , it set the perfect romantic tone for this wedding. Not to mention the incredible golden hour light the Italian summer blessed them with. Just wait until you see their couple’s portraits. Stunning.

From a dramatic ceremony arch composed by thousands of pale pink and mauve roses (“this is one of the best arch I’ve ever created” Janna said), to emotional speeches, followed by an amazing dinner reception under the stars into a party to end things off, this wedding was a pleasure to take part in. 

Inspired by the amazing surroundings we designed a beautiful tabletop here facing the magical backdrop putting together modern and traditional elements for the romantic set in our mind The table design we kept simple with a focus on the pretty flowers and the natural texture of the soft silk: The table was dressed with a floor length silk runner, warm blush-toned floral to go along with this romantic theme, ivory candles, lots of fruits to complete the décor and a modern calligraphy stationery set completed the table top.

“It was the best day ever!” Sarah said.

Our favorite area of the location is the crumbling gothic stone archway over looking the city or Orvieto, where the dinner took place, If ever there were a place that will make you stop & stare, this is the view. The ceremony location was something unusual to see and a great pleasure to built. “The symmetry between the chairs was perfect, we spent hours on it” Alessandra from Chechic! Weddings said.

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Photography: Katie Grant Photography | Wedding Planner: CheChic!Weddings | DJ: Pink Panther DJ | Celebrant: TUSCANPLEDGES | Bridal Dress Instagram: Miss Hayley Paige | Bridal dress: Hayley Paige | Celebrant Instagram: Jo Bertolino | Ceremony and Reception: La Badia Orvieto | Florist Instagram: Janna Brown | Flower designer: Janna Brown Design Co. | Graphic 2: Bee In Love | Graphic 2 Instagram: Bee In Love | Graphic design : Laura Stanbury | Lights : Central House | Muah Instagram: Ginelle Dale | Photography Instragram: Katie Grant | Venue's Instagram: La Badia di Orvieto | Video: Dear Vincent | Video : Whitel Ane | Video Instagarm : White Lane | Video Instagram: Dear Vincent | Video Instgarm : White Lane | Wedding Planner Instagram: Chechic!Weddings | lights Instagram : central house | muah : Ginelle Dale

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The Tuscan Wedding Inspiration Every Fall Bride Needs

A magical farmhouse in Tuscany sets the stage for the ultimate fall wedding inspiration shoot. The enchanting Villa Montanare overlooks breathtaking panoramic views of the Val d’Esse and Val di Chiana Valley making for a sight to behold. Surrounded by a plethora of fruit trees, rosemary bushes, lavender, cacti, time-worn olive terraces and stone walls Weddings By Silke created a love story inspired by the natural beauty of the area. Lucy Munoz Photography captured each well thought out and exquisitely designed detail. Fall in love with the bursts of orange and yellow as you explore the Tuscan countryside in the full gallery.



From Lucy Munoz PhotographyWe were so excited to be shooting in a magical place like Tuscany. We decided we wanted color and a bit of dreaminess that only Italy could provide.



Our shoot had love at the forefront as well as a bit of glamour. For the wedding dress, we chose Carol Hannah because we wanted something feminine with a touch of sparkle. This gown had everything we were looking for and then some!



Weddings By Silke designed the most beautiful ceremony and reception site that took in the most perfect Tuscan views without being too overly complicated. This editorial left us feeling so inspired by the power of love!



Photography: Lucy Munoz | Floral Design: Copihue Floral Studio | Wedding Gown: Carol Hannah | Ceremony Venue: Villa Montanare | Shoes : Bella Belle | Hair and Makeup: Romina Pashollari | venue: Villa Montanare | Invitation suite: Plume Calligraphy | Olivewood bowls: Nika Arts | Silk Ribbon: CFleurs Design | Styling board: Locust Collection | Wedding Ring: Delbrenna | Wedding and event Planner: Weddings by Silke | head piece: Nea Milano | model : Colette Alexia | styling dishes: By Priscilla Lee

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This Old World Italian Hotel Is Transformed Into Wedding Magic

Visiting The Badia, whose origins make it qualify as the oldest hotel in Italy, is like taking a walk back in time. With just one look at the ancient abbey, spacious park, and hills covered in olive trees and rows of grapevines, Nik and Jen knew it was the perfect place for their special day. They decided to celebrate their mutual love of traveling with a destination wedding and invited 38 of their nearest and dearest to join them. Guests were delighted by the age-old ruins set against trend-forward wedding decor elements like a round wedding arch made of pampas grass! Anna Roussos was there to capture each breathtaking moment. Get transported to the Italian countryside in the full gallery.



From the bride… We chose Italy because of the beautiful landscapes and architecture, and of course, the amazing food. Once we visited the wedding venue, we knew that we picked the perfect spot for us and could not stop high-fiving each other!



By having the venue in Italy, we could cut our guest list down to a very intimate 38 guests and allowed us to spend quality time with every single guest. This gave us an extra opportunity to spend time with our guests who traveled halfway around the world to celebrate with us.



The beautiful scenery made it all the more special to soak up all the love from family and friends! We couldn’t have asked for a more magical experience or celebration of our love.



Photographer : Anna Roussos | Florist : SlowMarry | Wedding Dress : La Soie Bridal | Wedding Cake : Luciana Olimpieri | Venue: La Badia Orvieto | Bridal car & Gelato Fiat:: Christian for Slowhills | Bridal necklace : Tiffany & Co. | Catering and equipment rental : CRAMST | DJ services, Sound & lights: Wedding Music And Lights | Live harp performance: Maria Chiara Fiorucci | MUA: Silvia Gerzeli | Place Cards : Z Create Design | Wedding Rings : Kevins Gems | Wedding designer & planner : Tie The Knot In Santorini-Weddings & Events