Europe Weddings

Do you dream of a destination wedding but feel completely intimidated by the planning process and fear you won’t be able to truly personalize your day? Today’s Bride, Viktoriya is here to deem all you worries unnecessary. As a creative artist herself and the owner of Simple Things Ceramics, custom and curated was naturally the name of her wedding game—from the gifts to styling goods to a table dressed up by Weddings by Susan Dunne. Viktoriya is sharing her very own tips on how to master your own far away fete, alongside stunning imagery by Anya Kernes Photography.

From bride, Viktoriya, and owner of Simple Things Ceramics… Having a destination wedding was a dream and we didn’t realize how much work it was until we began putting together the vision for our special occasion. My (now) husband and I knew that we wanted to have an intimate ceremony and reception in Italy. The idea of incredible food, wine, and gorgeous views was simply impossible to pass up. We invited our closest people and since there were only 13 guests at the wedding we got a chance to bond and spend time with everyone, which made the experience relaxing and memorable.

These 5 handcrafted details helped us add personal touch to the trip and made it truly unforgettable.

1. I put together personalized proposal boxes for my girlfriends who took part in the wedding. I enjoyed designing the custom paper inserts, handmade tags, picking chocolates and Italian wine to help celebrate the occasion with everyone in my “I do crew”. They were fun to open and made for a fun memory box for my friends after the treats were gone.

2. When it was time to pick our wedding attire, I had to be strategic, since we were flying for over 16 hours to our destination and had to hand carry everything in case it got lost during the flight (I wasn’t taking any chances checking in my dress J). So, I looked for a simple gown that was not going to wrinkle during the flight and was easy to fold. I just added earrings and my flat Bella Belle shoes, which were weightless and so comfortable on the grass and after a few glasses of wine! My husband also picked a summer suite, which was lighter and more appropriate for our June wedding.

3. Since my hubby and I are huge foodies we wanted to share our love for local ingredients with our guests. We prepared personalized goodie bags with locally sourced treats like cheese, honey, cookies and wine for guests when they arrived. I wrote a thank you note for every guest who made a long trip to be there for our big day. To bring everyone together and kick off the celebrations we hosted a pizza party as our welcome dinner, which allowed everyone to mingle and get to spend quality time with each other.

4. After the wedding, all you have is a husband, paper details and photos. So we are creating family heirlooms while designing our personalized paper details for the wedding. I wanted to frame these details and display them in our home with our wedding photos afterwards. We had love notes, funny signage, words of wisdom for the couple activity for guests and special ceremony programs. We had our vows calligraphed on one side and printed on the other, which meant we didn’t have to pick and got to have both looks. Bonus, the print also made it easy to read during the vow exchange.

5. The key to having a dream destination wedding is hiring a great planner and photographer. Once the planning starts trust them in the process. It makes all the difference for the destination wedding. Our planner helped us put together an incredible team of local vendors and made sure everything went smoothly. The photographer was there to beautifully capture the occasion as we remember it today and for generations to come. Wedding albums also make great holiday gifts for parents and grandparents.

Photography: Anya Kernes | Shoes: Bella Belle | Ring: Liza Shtromberg | Hair & Makeup: Tatiana Make Up & Hair | Bridal Accessories: BHLDN | Calligraphy for Gift Box: Plume + Pulp | Chocolate for Gift Box: Hersheys | Custom Kippah: Shalom House Fine Judaica | Dresses: Cathy Telle | Ella Mah: Ellamah | Gift Box Wine: LaMarca Prosecco | Invitations, Menu & Escort Cards: Olive Saint Lily | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Marcipan Eggs for Gift Box: Sugarfina | Ring Box: Voeu Du Coeur | Styling Ceramics: Simple Things Ceramics | Table Design: Weddings by Susan Dunne | Wedding Day Signage: Victoria Krav | Wooden Gift Box: Michaels

If you’re ever lucky enough to visit the beautiful grounds of Villa Cimbrone tucked away high in the hills of Ravello, you will be consumed by mesmerizing views, enchanting gardens and awe-inspiring sculptures. If you ask us – it’s one of the most romantic places in the world to exchange vows. Allow this gorgeous shoot planned by Lily of the Valley with floral design from Armando Malafronte to inspire and charm its way into your heart. Oh, and don’t miss out on the full gallery captured by Anna Roussos and Thanos Asfis – every image is AMAZING.

From Anna Roussos… Tying the knot in the spectacular crypt of Villa Cimbrone, an 11th century residence in the medieval town of Ravello? Having an intimate dinner at the Terraza Dell’Infinito or Terrace of Infinity overlooking the breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast? Stealing kisses from the love of your life while getting lost in ancient lush gardens? We say YES! Inspired by the beauty and rich history of southern Italy, our creative team dreamt up this romantic editorial shoot as an homage to Italian splendor and old world charm.

Villa Cimbrone provided the perfect backdrop, a dream wedding location for the ones who seek to be surrounded by high aesthetics blended with tranquility and romance. Perched high atop a cliff with a dramatic sight of the Mediterranean and the coastline, the beautiful estate is the crown laurel of Ravello. The intimate ceremony took place under the vaulted arches of the crypt overflowing with lush foliage and floral blooms that evoked the feeling of a magical garden. Styled with a hanging crystal chandelier and scattered vintage gold candelabras, the ceremony was an incredible sight to see. The dinner table set on the Terrace on Infinity was draped in green velvet and adorned with candelabras creating an opulent setting for the couple.

Lavish tableware with gold cutlery and forged glasses highlighted by blush Florentine charger plates were reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance prosperity era. Hues of dusty rose, blush and cream punctuated the floral centerpiece completing the ethereal feel and timeless elegance of the intimate reception. Velvet accents were abundant throughout the editorial complementing the vintage-inspired styling. This sumptuous material was featured in the groom’s costume, ribbons, tablecloths, vow booklets, ring boxes and served as a backdrop for the flat lays. Antique styling goods: a mirror, brush, frames, vintage stamps and other heirloom accessories were used to showcase the stationery and bridal details. The invitation suite was created from handmade cotton paper with deckled edges infused with dried flowers.

The flowing calligraphy on the envelope and the wax seal further added to the romantic and classic touch of the paper goods. The heavenly floating cake appeared as if it was suspended in time and space with intricate golden leaves swirling around the different tiers. It was displayed on deep pink velvet embellished by a loose organic floral arrangement. A whimsical vision crafted in layers of pastel green and pink tulle, the bride’s gown captured the fairytale essence with floral appliqués details and exquisite beading across its delicate silhouette which was accented by a velvet rose ribbon belt. 

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Photographer : Thanos Asfis Photography | Photographer : Anna Roussos | Videography : dimH | Cake: Pavlov's Lab | Stationery: Love Me Do | Jewelry : Mindy Lam | Art de la table: White Lilac | Bridal dress : Madebride by Antonea | Bridal shoes: Bella Belle | Cuff links: Giannetos | Female model : Korlan Madi | Flower design : Armando Malafronte | Groom’s costume: Kourlas Fashion House | Groom’s watch: Alex. G. Andreadis & Co. | Hair and MUA: Alessandro Mancino & Marco Carpentieri | Lingerie: The Lace Atelier | Male model : Paul Ferrari | Planning and Styling : Lily of the Valley | Rentals: Andrea Riccio Weddings Solutions | Villa Cimbrone : Villa Cimbronne

“The people are passionate; the love is wild; and the scenery leaves you breathless.” Lisa Fantino’s words about the Amalfi Coast couldn’t be more true – and this gorgeous affair at Belmond Hotel Caruso planned by Amorology proves just that. Although the ceremony views are incredible, it’s hard not to stare at the innovative design by Siloh Floral… blooming lily pad-like seating and an arbor covered in vibrant blooms. We are forever indebted to Rebecca Yale Photography for capturing these gorgeous photos of the day that allow us to live vicariously!

From Rebecca Yale Photography… Jessica and Baptiste opted for an intimate wedding on the Amalfi Coast, celebrating just with their parents. Since the wedding celebration was so intimate with just their families, Amorology was able to create a very unique invitation and Save the Date with the help of Lovely Paper Things. The Save the Date was a bottle of Olive Oil wrapped in a linen cloth patterned with oranges and lemons which are known to being prominent to the region and the Belmond’s property. The groom’s father is a rancher so she incorporated a special nod to him in the invitations and menus having them printed and debossed, like a cattle brand, on suede. A wicker like liner was created to match the wicker used at the dining table chairs for the wedding dinner. The bride and groom had custom matching passport holders made up for the trip with their new married initials and decided to have a pre-honeymoon and travel for a week through Italy before the wedding.

They found their wedding bands in a little town on the Amalfi Coast, which made them even more special to the trip. Siloh Floral built a large lush arch on the lawn of the Belmond, with the gorgeous cliffs and bright blue Amalfi Ocean behind them. Instead of traditional chair seating, Amorology designed 3 pods for each couple to sit on, which were covered in an abundance of florals to make them appear as if they were growing out of the ground. The bride added a gold veil as a special touch for the ceremony.

Traditional Italian musicians serenaded the couple during the family portraits before the ceremony and then sung Valore as she came down the aisle. Both Jessica’s mother and step-mother played the maid of honor role straightening her veil and dress and her father played the best man role, handing off the rings to Baptiste during the ceremony.

After the bride and groom recessed all of the parents took turns hugging each other as the bride and groom made their way to a lemon orchard and then up to the famous Belmond infinity pool for a few portraits. Amorology created a beautiful lounge space for cocktail hour with accents of pink, orange, yellow and teal. Everyone’s favorite detail by far was the vintage gelato cart, which they all enjoyed as a pre-dinner snack served either in a cone or vintage espresso cup. The bride and groom shared their first dance during cocktail hour before making their way to their seats in the a stunning table for 8 Amorology created under the olive grove with hanging lanterns and oranges and lemons foraged from the property on the table mixed in with the lush floral arrangements. Little glass cloches personalized with their names served as their place cards and were filled with lemons. Leather menus again debossed sat upon each place setting.

They dined on a gourmet meal with wine pairings in the grove while a black cat kept making appearances, which made the bride very happy as she wasn’t able to bring her cat or dog with her to the wedding. There are hundreds of stray cats in Ravello and she made sure to say hi to every one of them and loved having one under her chair for most of dinner. The bride and groom were excited by the large cake for just the 8 of them, but then couldn’t stop laughing when they tried to cut into it and realized the hotel had made a cake that was primarily for show made of styrofoam and they could only cut into the top tier. The bride and groom ended the evening by making their way to the hotel bar for a glass of whisky and a dance by the piano singer in the hotel bar.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Planner: Amorology | Florist: Siloh Floral | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Venue: Belmond Hotel Caruso | Bride's Hair and Makeup: Ashley Fierro | Event Planning Assistant: Nomad Republic International | Paper Goods: Lovely Paper Things | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Tabletop : Tableset

To say I had to pick my jaw up off the ground when reading the details of today’s insanely, beautiful wedding was not an exaggeration! Meg and Jason’s three day Italy getaway was nothing short of amazing! Starting with the stunning invitation suite by Kara Anne Paper, which included original watercolor artwork and intricate gold details to the GORGEOUS gowns, designed by the bride herself through her own fashion line, Deià. I have to say, I wish I was a fly on the wall during this Italian affair, so keep that mouse a moving, and become enchanted by the ever-so-amazing Greg Finck Photography! Read about all of the personal, intimate details the bride and groom put together check out the full gallery for even more!

From the Bride…

Please tell us about your love story! How and where did you meet one another?

We met the old-fashioned way, literally bumping into each other at a private film screening five years ago in New York City. It was the day after Meg had moved to the city upon graduating from Princeton’s engineering program, and the day before Jason was about to leave for Asia on business for a month!

Jason was so intrigued that he postponed his travel plans just so he could spend more time with Meg. After the most magical 10-hour first date the next day, the rest was history. We bonded over everything from our love for global travel (Jason’s at 40 countries and counting; Meg has lived in Kenya, Peru, and India) to our shared passion for building mission-driven businesses that have a positive social impact. We’ve been inseparable ever since, as true partners in both life and love! Ever since that first date, we’ve been partners in starting and growing multiple companies together across finance, consumer, and technology. We are so excited for a lifetime of building and dreaming together.

Please describe your wedding gown and jewelry.

Meg’s wedding gowns, veil, and jewelry were so special, as they were designed and made by her, via her sustainable fashion line Deià! Meg’s main wedding gown took nearly 2,000 hours to create. Meg designed the gown with a nod to her East-meets-West heritage: sculptural origami-inspired folds blended seamlessly into a ballgown silhouette with a six-foot-long train. The gown incorporated 38 meters of white silk satin handwoven by master artisans in Varanasi, India, and constructed using traditional couture techniques. We also sewed in a portion of Meg’s mother’s wedding gown as an inner layer for an extra personal touch! Finally, her veil featured custom hand embroidery inspired by the Renaissance fresco artwork in Villa Cimbrone’s Camellia Suite, where we stayed the night of our wedding.

For Meg’s welcome cocktail dress (also her own design), we used pale green eco-friendly silk. This gown also took over 1,000 hours to create given the complexity of the drape. Meg paired the gowns with Deià fine jewelry from her ‘Eos’ collection – made of sterling silver by female Balinese artisans, and using Deià’s signature technique of hand sculpting waxes which give pieces a three dimensional and free-flowing effect.

Meg’s mother, Lily, wore a lilac silk chiffon couture gown designed by Meg for Deià, hand-embroidered with 3-D butterflies and lily of the valley flowers in keeping with the wedding’s enchanted garden theme. She also wore hand-sculpted fine jewelry, from the ‘Gaia’ collection by Deià!

How many guests attended your destination wedding? We were fortunate to be joined by 60 of our closest family and friends, who came as far as Hong Kong and California to join us in Ravello for three days. It was the perfect size for us, as we got to spend quality time with everyone over the course of the festivities!

How and why did you choose your wedding venue and location? Ravello is one of our favorite places in the world. It’s the type of place that makes your heart skip a beat – an ancient coastal village perched on a hilltop more than 1200 feet above the Mediterranean Sea, with the most breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast. When it was time to choose a destination for our wedding, Ravello was our top pick!

Please describe your invitation suite and other paper goods. How did it set the tone for your wedding events?

Our invitation suite was an incredibly important part of our wedding as it set the tone for the experience in store! We worked with talented calligrapher and artist, Kara Anne (of Kara Anne Paper), to design a gold laser-cut cover for our invitation suite that had the effect of opening a gate to an enchanted realm. Our invitations incorporated original floral watercolor artwork by Kara Anne in our pastel lilac and pink color scheme, as well as delicate details like gold beveled edges and gold,  engraved butterflies evocative of our ceremony’s enchanted garden theme. A custom illustrated map of Ravello’s iconic landmarks (including our event locations) and Italian language phrases sprinkled throughout hinted at the local flavor of our celebrations. A pale lilac envelope with watercolor artwork on the inner flap addressed with hand calligraphy, and custom stamps completed the package to make an impactful first impression.

We also worked with Kara Anne to design a special gold M&J wedding crest with a nod to the iconic Villa Cimbrone fountains. We used it throughout both our invitation suite and during the event itself – embossed on custom cocktail napkins, embroidered on custom dinner napkins and, placed on top of menus. Hand calligraphy on personalized dinner menus, as well as a hand-illustrated welcome booklet included in our gift bags, imbued a bespoke sensibility throughout our wedding. Finally, our experience working with Kara Anne set the tone for just how much fun planning our wedding would be! Collaborating with her on our stationery designs was a delightful experience and really started our wedding planning off on a joyful note.

Tell us about your wedding week and the timeline of events.

Our wedding was a magical three-day event (July 24-27, 2018) based in Ravello, Italy. We started with an intimate Welcome Dinner for 25 people (our immediate families, wedding party, and their partners) at the Belmond Hotel Caruso on Tuesday, July 24th.

This was followed by a “Canapés & Cocktails” welcome event on July 25th for all of our guests at the Belmond Caruso’s iconic infinity pool. We set the mood with soft jazz music, white lights in the gardens, and lanterns surrounding the pool’s edge, and brought out freshly made pizza for our guests to enjoy as the evening progressed. For the occasion, Meg wore a green Deià couture gown and sterling silver jewelry – all of her own design.

Thursday, July 26th, was the day of our wedding ceremony. The weather was an absolute dream! Our guests gathered in the gardens of Villa Cimbrone sipping on lemonade and champagne while we had our First Look and took wedding photos. We began our Wedding Ceremony at the Garden of Two O’s at 6 pm, timing things so that we could enjoy Sunset Cocktails immediately after with our guests at Villa Cimbrone’s beautiful terrazza dell’infinito while the sun descended over the coastline. Meg wore a Deià wedding gown and veil of her own creation with Ralph & Russo shoes; Jason wore a midnight blue tux by Pal Zileri and velvet Salvatore Ferragamo shoes.

Our Reception (dinner and dancing) took place at Villa Cimbrone’s Garden of Two Fountains, where we set up multiple seating areas, a separate dance floor, a fully stocked open bar, and two long tables where our guests could enjoy a four-course meal artfully prepared by the talented team at Il Flauto di Pan.

On the menu: octopus salad with roasted potatoes, mussels, and clams; risotto carnaroli with lemon cream, pumpkin, and roasted squid; bread-crusted veal stuffed with endive pine nuts and raisings; and two types of cake – a white sponge cake with strawberry and chantilly cream, and a dark chocolate fudge cake.

We entered the Reception dancing to “We’ve Got Love” by Babyface. After dinner, we performed the cake cutting and enjoyed several toasts before a series of special dances including our first dance (to “Exceptional” by Babyface), Meg’s father-daughter dance, and a surprise performance of Meg’s original song “Our Story.” We kicked off the party with “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader, and danced the night away!

The next day, we hosted a Farewell Sendoff at the Garden of the Soul in Villa Rufolo, the stunning cliffside garden that inspired Wagner’s Parsifal.

What was your overall design concept and style for your wedding weekend? Did you plan the look of your wedding around a specific theme or color scheme? If so, please explain how this idea was carried out.

When we decided to get married in Ravello, we had a vision for an enchanted, otherworldly experience that would reflect the joy and purity of our love, as well as our shared taste for elegant simplicity. Our starting point was a 60-page inspiration book that Meg put together with mood boards, color palettes, musical soundtracks, and design inspirations for each of the events during our wedding week. From the beginning, we set out to design a cohesive narrative arch across events that would transport guests to an “Enchanted Realm” amidst Ravello’s naturally romantic scenery, medieval architecture, and iconic cliffside gardens.

To create this ethereal mood, we focused on the details. Lighting played an important role. During our reception at Villa Cimbrone’s Garden of Two Fountains, white Moroccan-style lanterns illuminated the paths and fairy lights were hung in the trees, suspended like stardust. We used tall white lanterns of varying heights to frame the Belmond Caruso’s infinity pool during our welcome cocktails the night before, creating the illusion of floating above the clouds with dramatic views of the coastline below. White lights were strategically placed around each event area at night to envelop guests in a soft, romantic glow.

Similarly, we knew we wanted loose florals and vines draped organically over the reception tables, lining the ceremony aisle, and winding around the cocktail tables to evoke a lush, overgrown, “Enchanted Garden” feel without seeming overdone. Throughout, our main color scheme consisted of romantic watercolor pastels: shades of pale lilac, blush pink, white, and green that seamlessly tied into the natural environment.

In keeping with the concept of elegant simplicity, we chose décor that felt both polished and relaxed. For instance, limewash Chiavari chairs at the reception tables were elegant without being overly formal. Glamorous crystal vases, custom embroidered napkins with our wedding crest, and personalized dinner menus with gold calligraphy were counterbalanced by non-fussy place settings and glassware with simple, classic curvature. We set up multiple clusters of cozy, antique furniture around the reception area so guests could rest their feet while engaging in intimate, candle-lit conversation. Villa Cimbrone is such a naturally stunning location, that we never wanted to compete with it – only enhance.

Live music also played a crucial role in setting the tone. A string quartet during the ceremony was buoyant and cinematically romantic; a bossa nova band at sunset on the infinity terrace provided the perfect relaxed yet sophisticated backdrop against cocktail hour chatter; a Michael Bublé-style live jazz band with a grand piano set a timeless and celebratory mood during dinner.

Finally, in addition to the aesthetic and atmospheric elements, we cared very much about showing our welcoming hospitality amidst it all. To that end, we invested in custom gift bags for each guest to help them feel at home in Ravello upon arrival: straw beach bags handwoven by local Italian artisans containing a hand-painted ceramic bottle of Ravello’s famous limoncello, boxes of assorted candies and snacks from local purveyors, chilled bottles of Pellegrino, pre-paid gelato vouchers, tubes of sunscreen, and a welcome card with a map of the town and schedule of events. We also decided to forego a traditional seating chart in exchange for a personable escort bringing each guest to his / her seat with a fresh glass of prosecco, as if at an intimate dinner party.

What was your overall vision for the floral and table arrangements? Please describe them.

Villa Cimbrone is known for its sprawling cliffside gardens and unparalleled views of the Amalfi Coast, so our concept was to enhance the setting’s botanical allure. We were inspired by the concept of an enchanted garden, with organic florals that blended in with the naturally stunning landscaping of Villa Cimbrone’s world-renowned gardens. Meg’s romantic bridal bouquet came perfectly unstructured and organic in natural shades of blush pink and pale lilac, incorporating café–au-lait dahlias, light white and pink astilbe, light green hydrangea, clematis, and delicate greens, while the bridesmaids carried beautiful pink astilbe bouquets. For our ceremony, we framed the aisle with flowers and designed a floral arch to look as if they were growing naturally out of the ground, filling out the already lush garden with an added romantic touch. This theme carried through to the reception, where we incorporated loose florals and draped vines organically over the reception tables. We used real flowers on our cake as well, to round out the enchanted garden theme.

How does your wedding day reflect your personal style and personality?

For us, the theme of equal partnership has been so core to our relationship and the way we live and work together. We chose to highlight this throughout our wedding in several ways, most notably in our ceremony itself where we performed a reading of the poem “I carry your heart with me” by E. E. Cummings together prior to our vows, alternating lines of the poem to symbolize our interwoven partnership.

What was your favorite part about the wedding day? What was Jason’s?

Meg:
Just seeing everything come together so beautifully was such a dream. The journey of making my own wedding gowns, and my mother’s gown as well, was so incredibly special. Every piece has a story woven into it. The silk satin we used in my wedding gown was handwoven by master artisans in Varanasi, India – friends, and partners who taught me so much over the years about how artistry can be a means for fostering peace, spreading hope, and promoting economic development. I also designed the sterling silver jewelry for myself and my mom, which was hand-sculpted by our Deià artisan partners in Bali. The gown construction and hand-embroidery (for my veil) were done in New York with my dear friend and Deià collaborator Geri Gerard, who was formally trained in the Dior couture ateliers and is just so talented at her craft. Showing my mom how we incorporated a piece of her wedding gown into mine moved us all to tears!

Jason:
Meg’s mom planned a surprise performance of “Our Story” – a song that Meg wrote and recorded when she was in 7th grade that miraculously predicted our love story and to me has always represented how kind and pure her love is. I started bawling uncontrollably, I was so touched!

Was there anything unique or personal (or a tradition) to you and Jason that was incorporated into your wedding festivities? So many things! Some of the highlights:

Original Music by the Bride and her Brother:
Meg and her brother, Brenton, had grown up writing music together, and they collaborated on several original compositions that were performed by a live string quartet during our ceremony in the gardens of Villa Cimbrone. The songs were: “(Floating In) On Silken Butterfly Wings” (Seating of the Families), “The Enchanted Garden” (Processional), “Her Heart, Full of Song” (Entrance of the Bride), “And The Light: It’s Eternal” (Recessional). We are in the process of professionally recording of the songs for posterity!

Special Personal Touches during the Ceremony:
During the ceremony, writing our own vows was another personal and deeply meaningful touch, as was our “Love Letter Unity Ceremony” in which we wrote letters to each other about our hopes and dreams for our future, and had our parents write letters as well, to be opened and read for the first time on our 1 year anniversary.

Custom Cocktails:
At our cocktail reception following the ceremony, we each worked with a mixologist to create custom cocktails. Meg’s “Tigerlily” cocktail with St Germain elderflower liqueur, champagne brut, rose water, and edible flowers was named after her Princeton a cappella group (several members of whom were in attendance). Jason’s “Hemingway” cocktail made with Knob Creek bourbon whiskey, Amaro, and lemon was inspired by a drink we share on our weekly date nights at a local watering hole in New York City.

Overall, the planning process was a joy and brought us even closer together. We had so much fun dreaming about the little details together and coming up with event themes that we hoped would make our guests’ trip worthwhile while embodying the spirit of our love!

What is the best advice you can give other brides as they plan for their big day?

Enjoy the journey! The wedding planning process is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with your loved ones to create a beautiful and personal experience. When you view it as a way to deepen bonds of love and friendship while creating wonderful memories together, your wedding becomes that much more special!

Photography: Greg Finck Photography | Cinematography: Matteo Castelluccia Videomaker | Event Planning: Exclusive Italy Weddings | Floral Design: Armando Malafronte | Ceremony Venue: Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Hair & Makeup: Alessandro Mancino & Marco Carpentieri | Bride’s Wedding Gown, Veil & Jewelry: Deià | Bride’s Wedding Shoes: Ralph & Russo | Flat Lay Photography : Kara Anne Paper | Food / Catering: Il Flauto Di Pan | Groom's Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Groom’s Tux: Pal Zileri | Invitations + Wedding Logo: Kara Anne Paper | Mother-of-the-Bride Gown & Jewelry: Deià | Welcome Reception Venue: Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond

Say “ciao” to the most magical, intimate Amalfi Coast wedding at one of our favorite venues, Villa Cimbrone, captured beautifully by Facibeni Fotografia. The beautiful bride took inspiration from her bold bridesmaids’ dresses designed by Johanna Ortiz for her bright pink color scheme. The week-long festivities went off without a hitch all thanks to Sarah Fay Egan! The bride donned a Monique Lhuillier gown that we’ll be seeing in our dreams for many days to come – a true princess dress! Oh, and the flowers, ohhh the flowers… let’s just say if you’re a pink peonies girl, then this one’s for you.

From The Bride… I envisioned an intimate wedding in Italy, which is my favorite country in the world. I wanted the whole week of festivities to be very personal so that my husband and I’s friends and family could connect and become friends at the end of it. I wanted lots of candles and flowers – I think these two elements are key in a beautiful wedding. But at the end of the day I just wanted everyone to have fun and enjoy this magical place! My color palette was pink, green and white. I am usually not a colorful person but I found a bright pink Johanna Ortiz bridesmaid dress that had the most beautiful colors on it and took inspiration from there.

I am a chef so I love finding pottery for my kitchen when I travel. While in Positano prepping for the wedding, I found some handmade coffee mugs that had lemons painted on them. I thought they would be perfect for our gift baskets so I had 120 of them made with our names and wedding date on them. They were such a great take away and I love that our guests still use them to this day and it reminds them of our wedding weekend.

My favorite moment was probably saying my vows to my husband. I am from Texas so we are very used to a couple hundred person wedding, even some that have over 1,000 guests. I stood there saying my vows to my husband and looked into the crowd of 98 people and it was every single person I love in my life sitting in my most favorite town in the whole world. It was a pinch-me moment that I never wanted to end.

My flowers were an assortment of different kinds – everything from peonies to roses in all different hues of pink with some leafy greens in the mix. My gown was a large Monique Lhuillier gown that I had found while traveling in LA. I had originally wanted something tight/ almost a mermaid fit but my mom made me try on this large, strapless lace gown and I fell in love. I did want to be completely covered durning the ceremony so I had them make a long sleeve lace top that fit perfectly over my dress. I removed it after our dinner.

Our cake was a large white cake with real pink flowers all down it. It was a lemon cake of course because lemons were a big theme with our wedding! Our gift bags were a fun straw beach bag that I found on Etsy. I wanted everything from the bag to be used again so I created things that I had received from past weddings and still loved. I had the mugs made, baseball caps made with our monogram and lemons on them, a bag of lemon candies that I had found in Ravello and loved along with waters and some treats! My best advise for all the brides-to-be? Don’t stress and find a good wedding planner! Our wedding planners really helped make this week so perfect and took anyway any worries I had so I was able to enjoy every moment. I trusted them and put the weekend in their hands and everything turned out magical.

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Photography: Facibeni Fotografia | Videography: Matteo Castelluccia Videomaker | Event Planning: Sara Fay Egan Events | Floral Design: Sebastian Flowers | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Villa Cimbronne | Invitations: Paradise Design Co | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Johanna Ortiz | Makeup: Danni Miniz Lovelydanni Artistry | Makeup : Mason Griffin Masondelaneymakeup | Calligraphy: Tara Jones Calligraphy | Entertainment: Nuart Nuart Events | Wedding Venue: Villa Cimbronne | Accomodations: Palazzo Avino

No matter how many times we come across a beautiful wedding in Lake Como, we seem to fall in love with this fairytale place all over again. The sparkling water, the abundant olive trees, the soaring mountains… I mean, can you blame us?! This gorgeous wedding day planned and designed by Ksenia Ridolfi Weddings embodies all the airy and romantic feels of this dreamy locale. Lush arrangements from In Bloom Floral Design teeming with white blooms, elaborate terraced gardens at Villa Balbianello, a scenic post-ceremony boat ride and a candlelit al fresco reception. See all the magical details below with images from Julia Kaptelova Photography!

From the Bride… Sometimes it happens that a person whom you have never known or seen before, in a matter of days, becomes your dearest and closest friend … We have met quite accidentally at the company where I worked; it was located near the Alex’s home place. I have posted a photo in the social network, which he has accidentally saw and messaged to me, we have exchanged a couple of messages. Afterwards, he decided not to wait long to see me, but to surprise me. He called to my office and said that he had a delivery for my name. Later I was handed a huge bouquet.

After I took the flowers a nice young man said: “I’m Sasha, a guy who attacks you on Facebook, don’t forget to answer me, please”. Half a year later we went for a holiday to the Maldives. One day in the evening after the sunset in a very romantic place under a starry sky he knelt down and said that he loved me, that he wanted us to be always together and our children to run in our house someday and drawed out the ring box. When I was a child I loved fairy tales about princesses and always imagined my wedding day as one of those fabulous moments. It would seem that now all the birds from the forest flock to help me and sing the morning song, the fairies help me with the dress and treats, “Once upon a dream” song plays, the bells ring, everyone gets together, your prince takes your hand, and the long-awaited words “And they lived happily ever after” happily sound.

And of course like a real princess from a fairy tale, I imagined a white as snow, shining dress with a fluffy skirt, and lace on the sleeves and a neckline, exactly this image I wanted to create at the wedding. As for decor we wanted to see tenderness, light and a bit of heavenly air tones. I’ve visited Como lake for the first time in 2012 and fell in love with it. This is truly a wonderful, heavenly place! I wanted to spend a wedding day in this beautiful, fabulous location. There are no competitors for Como lake and Villa Balbianello as festive splendor, beauty, space and fabulousness!

Music has a very significant place in our life. We have carefully selected each composition for the wedding dance and for the official ceremony. Classical, neoclassical and compositions of our favorite composer Hans Zimmer were included into the program. We even brought an orchestra from Moscow especially for a chamber evening concert during the dinner.

The most memorable moments were many! Such as sunny morning, tears of joy in the eyes of parents, the groom’s hands shaking, people on the street shouting “Bella Sposa, bella!”, our wedding dance. The moment when I handed my bridal bouquet to my best friend, who has been waiting for an offer long time. If there was an opportunity to repeat this day, then I would do everything to be relaxed as much as possible, to sleep well, to be less nervous and to enjoy every minute of this important day and memorable event. I remember that my heart was pounding like drumroll and there was a round dance of thoughts and worries about every detail in my head. Finally, we were very lucky with the weather, people who were nearby, relatives and friends, and with the team of professionals, who really appreciated this important day and were very sensitive to every little detail.

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Photography: Julia Kaptelova Photography | Videography: Studio Moments | Florist: In Bloom Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav | Ceremony Venue: Villa Balbianello | Reception Venue: Villa Giuseppina | Bride's shoes: Gianvito Rossi | Groom's Attire: Tom Ford | Catering and wedding cake: Class Catering | Make up and Hair artist: Olga Vetrova | Master of ceremonies: Konstantin Khaldin | Planning and Event Design: Ksenia Ridolfi Weddings | Ring box: Voeu Du Coeur

I’m betting that the Amalfi Coast sits atop many a honeymoon wish list out there—maybe even yours. But why not create a once in a lifetime wedding experience that rolls straight into your honeymoon? An Italy adventure full of love and old-world charm (and maybe some gelato!). Today Blush Wedding Photography, Tanja Kibogo, NKT Events and the entire vendor team below are painting that exact picture for you. It may just be the convincing you need.

From Blush Wedding Photography… Let’s take you on a visual and sensory journey along the coast of one of our favorite areas in southern Italy. Imagine driving along the Mediterranean, the wind flowing through your hair carrying with it the scents of the Amalfi Coast. The sweet yet salty aroma of the turquoise expanse coupled with the lingering hint of citrus from the local lemon tree farms.

You decide to make a stop at the top of the hill to admire and explore the quaint village of Ravello. As you stroll through the town, local musicians serenade a crowd as you take in the lush greenery alongside the local delicacies to be tasted and tried from lemon gelato and lattes to limoncello.

You continue on and take in the local scenery when you come upon a hidden entrance at the end of your walk to a hilltop villa overlooking the Mediterranean. The moment you enter, you feel as if you have been transported into a secret garden. As you walk through the ancient pathways and archways of Villa Cimbrone, you admire a sensuous Arcadia and appreciate the uniqueness of each flowering foliage. The delicate details immured in the architecture remind you of a time that once was. In the distance you see a statue of a man, welcoming you in some manner as you make your way over to find yourself on the edge of heaven. As far as the eye can see, you are taken aback by the beauty of the vast expanse before you as the colors of sunset dance along the horizon.

Inspired by the magical moments experienced at Villa Cimbrone, we wanted to create a visual inspiration for our future brides of their destination wedding event on the Amalfi Coast. Instead of having just your honeymoon on the southern coast of Italy, why not create a once in a lifetime experience for your closest friends and family. With so many hidden treasures along its shores, the Amalfi Coast always makes you feel like you are experiencing it for the first time.

When looking to create the perfect wedding inspiration on the Amalfi Coast, we knew we had to shoot in the hilltop village of Ravello, where Villa Cimbrone offers far-reaching views from its infamous Belvedere Terrace, surrounded by it’s century aged gardens. Together with Blush Wedding Photography and Tanja Kibogo Photography, we came together to bring to life a vision of vintage elegance and modern femininity that weaves the story of our international couple. With a soft color palette of white, peach and blush, we collaborated with Liz from Siloh Florals to bring to life the modern romantic femininity our clients emanate. The ceremony took place in the Villa’s “Tea Garden,” a perfect complement to our muted palette. All focus was on the beautiful detailing of our bride’s cape from Gibson Bespoke, which complimented the subtle elegance of our groom’s velvet suit.

We deepened the palette to vibrant peaches and amber tones for the reception, where Myrtle and Olive created a beautiful table setting & arrangements that embraced the romantic vibe to the setting. Paired perfectly with natural and organic feeling of Tara Spencer’s reception stationary. Keeping in line with the modern femininity theme of the shoot, The Cake and the Giraffe, designed the perfect one tier cake, topped with gorgeous floral from Myrtle and Olive.

A month before the wedding, guests are sent out welcome gifts of hand-made Italian leather password wallet and luggage tags by Hello London Designs, stamped with the couple’s initials. Plus Lark & Ives travel set of pins to adorn their bags. Setting the tone and getting the guests excited for the truly wonderful wedding and holiday they are about to experience.

Photography: Blush Wedding Photography | Photography: Tanja Kibogo | Wedding Dress: Katie May | Cake: Cake And Giraffe | Ceremony Venue: Villa Cimbrone | Shoes: Bella Belle | Bridal Cape: Gibson Bespoke | Ceremony Floral : Siloh Floral | Hair & Make-up: Ava Belle | Models: 4 Upper Models | Planning: NKT Events | Reception Floral & Styling: Myrtle et Olive | Reception Stationery: Tara Spencer | Ribbon: Seidenband | Save the date invite: Atelier Preszburger | Travel Pins Welcome gift: Lark & Ives | Vow Books: elmo Paperstories ltd. | passport wallet & luggage tags: Hello London Designs

Five words: week long Amalfi Coast celebration. A dream wedding for many, but one that came true for Elya and Emilio. As a blogger, the Bride—Elya D’Angelo is a creative herself and inspires and empowers women through her fashion, travel and wellness tips. It only seems fitting that her wedding is brimming with beauty. She called on Sposiamovi Italian Wedding Planners to craft their special day. Soak it all in by pressing play on Zen Film Works video below and Claire Morris‘ imagery.

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This enchanting wedding was inspired by the beauty and charm of the Amalfi Coast. The warmth in the air, the cool summer breeze and the beauty of the sea inspired a wedding that was altogether inviting, intimate and fresh. As the sun set, elements of the wedding came together to create a dreamy and romantic setting for the couple and their guests.

Elya and Emilio set out to the Amalfi Coast of Italy with a day that would change their lives forever ahead of them. They gathered the most special individuals to take on this journey with them as they wed and took their vows. The night was absolutely breathtaking; filled with happiness, love, and laughter. Their wedding took place at a beautiful venue overlooking the Amalfi Coast. Elya wore a gown that was classic, modern and sophisticated to bring to life the drama and the beauty of the sea. The wedding pre-shoot took place on a boat heading to Positano where the allure of their fairytale wedding truly radiated. Before the reception, Elya slipped into a lace and silk number to evoke a feeling of old-world charm and Italian romance. The bride and groom hopped into a vintage car and soon after sat down with their guests to enjoy an intimate dining experience overlooking the entire Amalfi Coast, toasting the night away.

The entire wedding is filled with endless creative inspiration, placed so perfectly together. The floral designs and greenery were beautifully presented and brought the wedding to life in the most magical way. When planning the wedding, Elya wanted to incorporate touches of Italy, which included olive branches, keeping both the decor fresh and beautiful. The day of the wedding turned out to be much warmer than anticipated. Elya’s wonderful wedding planner managed to quickly come up with the idea to give each guest a beautiful white parasol, which added an even more charming touch. Sophistication, simplicity, and romance were elements Elya wanted to touch on as she brought her vision to life. Feelings of authentic Italian charm and warmth tied in beautifully to create an unforgettable fairytale wedding.

From the Bride… Our wedding was such a dream come true. My husband Emilio and I planned every detail and were inspired by the beauty, charm, and warmth of Italy. Last year Emilio proposed on a boat looking out to all of Positano – it was insanely beautiful! We choose the Amalfi Coast to continue our wedding love story. Emilio is Australian-Italian and I myself am Armenian. The warmth of the Italian people is exactly what we are used to and what we wanted to be surrounded by. We knew the charm of the towns and the warmth of the people would fit in perfectly with what we wanted our family and friends to experience.

We rented a villa and housed all of our guests for a full week. We wanted everyone to enjoy themselves and really get to spend time with us and one another. It was the best decision we made. Every morning we took trips to the nearby cliffside villages and went for long swims, lunches and beautiful intimate dinners. Since coming back, everyone reminisces about their time there, which is the best feeling knowing your guests had such an unforgettable time. We really wanted our wedding week to be rooted in what mattered to us most – family and love! We wanted it to be about togetherness, good food, great laughs and making unforgettable memories to last a lifetime.

Our official wedding day was set towards the end of the week which really gave us those first few days to iron out any last-minute details with our wedding planner. Planning a destination wedding takes a lot of effort and having someone that you really trust is crucial. Our wedding planner, Valentina, was so instrumental in helping us plan every detail with incredible passion and care. She listened to what we wanted and went out of her way to bring our vision to life. All of the vendors that we worked with were brilliant and so hard working. I will never forget waking up and watching the flower team set up from my balcony, bright and early. It just sent my emotions soaring and filled my morning with so much love as they waved to me, congratulated me and worked hard to make the entire venue a flower-filled dream.

Some of the small moments from our wedding that really filled me with unforgettable memories included the sweetest Italian granny. I was in desperate need of finding someone to steam my gown and reception dress. Our venue manager suggested the tiny laundromat in the next town over with grandma Maria who had been steaming wedding dresses for decades. She was just so sweet and overcome with love for Emilio and I. My short time with her filled me warmth and so much joy. We came to Italy for a few reasons and the love and excitement of the people was one of them. What a precious moment that will stick with us for years to come.

The morning of our wedding day Emilio and I spent some time alone, just him and I. We had written love letters to one another and wanted to share this time together, reading them aloud and soaking in these final moments. As we looked out onto the Amalfi Coast, everything felt just right and we were overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude. Having exchanged our vows in front of our nearest and dearest was the most special feeling. Our wedding came to life exactly how we had envisioned it – it was intimate, beautiful and filled with so much love and care.

After we exchanged our vows and before we sat down for dinner, I slipped into my reception dress. I had a vision of silk and lace for my second dress. I took a page out of the old Italian, classic films and wanted to bring my vision to life in Italy for our wedding! We rented a vintage bridal car and shot the most beautiful photos. I still can’t believe how this all came to life. It was all so dreamy. While our guests enjoyed cocktail hour by the pool, Emilio and I were able to capture this once in a lifetime moment that we will treasure forever. We soon returned to our guests and sat down for an intimate dinner. We had one long dining table with the most gorgeous tablescape. Everything was set to perfection. The authentic Italian food, the smell in the air and the cool ocean breeze set the mood for the most unforgettable time. We toasted, danced the night away, cut our cake and ended the night with beautiful sparklers.

We had one final day at the villa after our wedding and so we decided to jet off to Capri with all of our guests! It was the most gorgeous day. We rented two beautiful boats and took off to Capri to celebrate. It seemed like the most perfect way to end our wedding week and the best way to say goodbye to all our guests. What a dream come true.

Photography: Claire Morris | Videography : Zen Film Works | Flowers: Antonia Sangiorgio | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Lighting: Antares | DJ: Scarlett Entertainment | Groom: Emilio D'Angelo | Celebrant: Sposiamovi Italian Wedding Planners | Bride: Elya D'Angelo | Ceremony Dress: Anne Barge | Event Planning, Design & Production: Sposiamovi Italian Wedding Planners | Groom's Shoes: Prada | Hair & Make-Up: Lidija Malinovskaja | Location & Catering: Relais Vittoria Nerano | Reception Dress: Kinsley James Couture Bridal | Rentals: Allestimenti le Rose | Ring Boxes: The Mrs Box | Tux, Shirt, Bow Tie: The Black Tux | Veil: Daphne Newman Design | Vintage Bridal Car: Maggiolino Wedding

All at once, this wedding feels like it took place 100 years ago and 100 years from now. It truly is the loveliest blueprint for what a timeless celebration looks like. Oliver Fly‘s imagery seems to float off the screen with beauty, and contained in each moment are charming details planned by The Wedding Boutique Italy. I don’t doubt that you’ll get lost while perusing the full gallery.

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

From the beginning, we wanted a romantic and timeless wedding, and we used dusty blue as our main wedding colour, which was inspired by the colour of the view from Terrazza dell’Infinito at Villa Cimbrone.

Why did you choose to do a Destination Wedding and why did you decide to choose Italy and Villa Cimbrone as your final choice?

Usually weddings in Jakarta are very grand, around 1000-3000 guests. Aston and I were always fond of a small intimate wedding, where we can spend more time with our closest family and friends. We could only have had a small wedding by doing a destination wedding. We visited Villa Cimbrone last year for a summer vacation and it was indeed the most beautiful place we had ever seen on our travels. Villa Cimbrone came right into our minds when we were thinking about the place to hold our small and intimate wedding. 

The Villa was grand and beautiful, it has so many different sections of garden, so many areas to be explored, as well as being based in the a wonderful Ravello on the Amalfi Coast. Because our family and friends were going to travel so far for us, we wanted to make sure our guests had an amazing and unforgettable experience. We therefore planned the best events we could offer for them, starting by welcoming our guests with sunset cocktails at Belmond Hotel Caruso, then choosing to hold our holy matrimony at The Cathedral of St. Andrew in Amalfi because it is magnificent. The church is dedicated to the Apostle Saint Andrew whose relics are kept there. Then we had our wedding reception in Villa Cimbrone, and the next day we held a farewell boat party with the guests to show the beautiful Amalfi Coast from the sea, with stopover in Positano.

What was your color palette and your style vision?

Dusty blue, blush pink, vintage gold, white ivory, with modern classic style.

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

The things that we decided to DIY were paper cones for petal confetti, ribbons for menu decoration, seating plan poster, table runner and holy matrimony book. We were very hands on planning the wedding, so that our guests could also feel that the whole wedding was unique in Aston & Stella’s way.

What was your favorite moment?

Our favourite moment of the wedding was the first time we looked at each other for the in the Cathedral for our Holy Matrimony. Aston had never seen me in my wedding gown until then, because he wanted to experience that feeling and ‘first look moment’ when he first saw me in the Cathedral.

What were your favorite details of the day?

1. For our wedding cake, the wedding designer Made In Cake was from Provence. But we specifically asked her to use Amalfi Lemons for the flavour, to express the essence of our wedding venue.
2. At last minute, the colour of handmade dyed ribbons for bouquets came out to be very different than what we ordered, so together with my Bridesmaids, we found a solution by making our own silk ribbon for the bouquet.
3. My husband gave a personalized pin to each groomsman that says the character of that groomsman, the meaning of that was each of the groomsman represents that character of the groom.
4. For my wedding gown, my bridal store was Truly Enamoured in Singapore. They curate international designer gowns for rent and purchase. When I was looking for the perfect gown, I didn’t seem to find the one that I was looking for. And then I saw this new gown from Berta’s newest collection online, and fell in love with it. A gown that I have never seen in real life, just from some pictures, but I suddenly felt that it was the one. My mom and dad also thought the same. So I, without doubt, ordered it, waited for almost 4 months to get it made and shipped from the U.S to Singapore. And my gut feeling didn’t lie, when I first tried it on, it was magical.
5. The earrings that I was wearing on my wedding day were really special because they were an engagement present from my parents.
6. We did luggage tags as wedding favors, because it’s a destination wedding, so we wanted a personalized luggage tags as wedding favours for our family and friends who had to travel across the globe to our celebration. We got ours made with Saffiano Faux leather in our wedding’s colour palette for each guest, very detailed laser-cut with our wedding hashtag’s calligraphy on- it was a perfect choice.

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

Choose your wedding organiser wisely and take care of your health, as you will need extra stamina because planning a wedding can be tiring, yet it’ll be worth it.

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From the Wedding Planner Catherine Bradfield, Founder of The Wedding Boutique Italy… Stella and Aston’s wedding was, without doubt, a combination of some of the most beautiful locations that the Amalfi Coast has to offer, so that guests had a truly wonderful experience over the three day celebration.

A Welcome Party in the stunning gardens of Belmond Hotel Caruso lined with olive trees, and the infamous Ravello vista, the cocktails flowed complemented by Caruso’s sumptuous canapés. On a previous trip to Ravello, Aston and Stella had loved the amazing gelato by Baffone, so they both wanted this to feature at the Welcome party, complete with Stella’s favourite flavour- Baffoncello! You will just have to come to Ravello to try it…

So we organised a really cute gelato cart with six different, delicious flavours and everyone loved it! Decor wise we opted for a more casual styling, just a few pretty touches to evoke a vibe of Amalfi Coast chic.

For the wedding day itself, although Ravello has really pretty Churches, the Amalfi Cathedral is in a league of it’s own- beautifully ornate within, set high up above the Amalfi Square with many steps to reach it. Stella was very brave in her heels and dress, as climbing the stairs was the only way to reach the doors ready for her grand entrance.

After the Catholic ceremony, we arranged for the guests to line the stairs with pretty petal cones for a fantastic exit as newlyweds- a fascinated crowd had gathered in the square and there was lots of cheers. It was a lovely moment!

Stella and Aston were swept away in their gorgeous classic wedding car, leaving guests to enjoy a spot of lunch in Amalfi, before heading back to Ravello for the evening celebrations.

Anyone who has visited the Amalfi Coast will have heard of Villa Cimbrone, arguably the most beautiful place on the whole of the Amalfi Coast (or maybe even in Italy) and by far one of our most popular venues. We are so lucky that our Senior Planner, Roberta, is local to Ravello and knows the venue inside out.

What better place to hold the wedding reception itself, in a historic castle with the most incredible fairytale gardens and infamous Belvedere Terrace (also know as the Terrace of Infinity)- somewhere that Gore Vidal himself said was the most beautiful place he had seen in all his travels, where the sky and the sea were each so vividly blue it was impossible to tell one from the other.

Oliver Fly (Photographer) and Giorgio Guerrieri (Videographer) were so happy with the location and there are so many amazing photo opportunities within the venue that they didn’t know where to start!

Guests were welcomed with a wonderful Aperitif in the gardens, and were able to wander round the rest of the property to explore and take photos on the Belvedere Terrace.

As the light fell, we put the finishing touches to the dinner tables in the crypt with the wonderful vaulted stone ceiling that Villa Cimbrone is so well know for. The colour palette was delicate and romantic, with gorgeous open blooms complemented by taper candles and wonderful calligraphy and stationary design by Veronica Halim.

As soon as the candles were lit, we invited guests to be seated- it’s always the most magical moment to watch the guests come down the stairs and see the dinner setting for the first time, the look on their faces means we know our work has been worthwhile.

Then we prepared the Bride & Groom’s grand entrance into dinner and a magical evening ensued, surrounded by flickering candlelight, and the incredible voice of Enrico singing and playing the grand piano, the room filled with laughter and delicious dining.

Catherine from Made in Cake designed a gorgeous and delicate cake for Stella and Aston, which was followed by their lovely first dance. After the reception, we had organised a fantastic after party at a great bar down in the square of Ravello so that guests could dance the night away until the early hours of the morning.

The next day, as a farewell, we organised a relaxing cruise along the Coast to Positano for Aston, Stella and their guests and the weather was just lovely. The Amalfi Coast is stunning whilst you are on land, but even more impressive seen from the water so we always highly recommend a boat trip during your stay.

Overall it was a wonderful few days, showcasing the very best that the Amalfi Coast has to offer. There is no doubt that it is the most magical place for a destination wedding of any size, and we love bringing our clients’ visions to life to create memorable and stylish celebrations.

Photography: Oliver Fly Photography | Videographer: Giorgio Guerrieri | Wedding Planning: The Wedding Boutique Italy | Floral Design: Nina e i Fiori | Wedding Dress: Berta | Ceremony Venue: Amalfi Cathedral | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Vezzo Studio | Make up: Catarina Pelosi | Hair: Orazio Spisto | Wedding Venue: Villa Cimbrone | Bridesmaids' Bracelet: Aeroculata | Stationery Production: The Distillery Asia | Brid's Veil: CINOBI BY TRULY ENAMOURED | Bridal Hair Accessories: ayyara | Bride's Bathrobe: Trulace Artistry | Bridesmaids' Bathrobes: Ginger Olive | Cake Designer: Made In Cake | Engagement Bouquet: Rosalinda Flowers | Flowergirls' Dresses: Sanny Halim Atelier | Flowergirls' Shoes: Sachlirene | Groom's Shoes: Lanvin | Groom's Tuxedo: Brillington Brothers | Groomsmen’s Pin: Aeroculata | Luggage Tags: Artluz | Ring Box: Bark and Berry | Stationery Design & Calligraphy: Veronica Halim Calligraphy | Wedding Rings & Band: Cartier | Welcome Bags: le ciel design by yuling | Welcome Event Venue: Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond

Since the bride is from California and the groom from England, they knew they wanted an intimate destination wedding where all their closest friends and family could experience a fun, relaxing, once-in-a-lifetime weekend together. Tuscany was the winning locale (for obvious reasons…!) From the bride’s fairytale Hayley Paige gown to the adorable donkey adorned with flowers by Viola Malva – there’s so much to love about this stunning Tuscan affair! See all the details planned by Original Tuscan Wedding in these gorgeous photos captured by Rossini Photography.

From Rossini Photography… Tuscany is being every year more and more requested from couples who want to have their destination wedding in Italy. And it’s easy to understand why… A rich culture, rustic and romantic scenery perfectly mixed with the marvelous Renaissance art, and the taste of its world-renowned food and wine… All this things are basically the reasons why Tuscany checks all the boxes when planning a wedding! The whole day took place at Villa Le Fontanelle, originally a simple peasant farm, became in the XV century one of the properties of the Medici family. During the centuries the villa was home to several families, who changed its aspect many times. Every day since then has been dedicated to the planning and maniacal research of every single color, furniture and fabric in order to create a unique location, where nothing is left to chance.

Every day since then has been dedicated to the planning and maniacal research of every single color, furniture and fabric in order to create a unique location, where nothing is left to chance. A dreamy environment where beauty is manifested everywhere, a feast for the eyes and a shelter for the soul. Aware of the bride’s love for all things pink, her husband proposed with a pink sapphire engagement ring. It was the ring’s peachy pink color that set the colours of the wedding. The Hayley Paige dress was a beautiful amethyst shade, covered in intricate beading and floral designs throughout. With its cathedral length train and veil, it was fit for a princess! With light hues of pink and purple in mind, the bride together with the wedding planners, added peach, gray, white and silver to the wedding color story. These colors are reflected in the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, flower arrangements and tablescape. The end result was romantic and elegant with a Tuscan flair.

From the bride… With Alec being from England and I from California, we always knew we would have a destination wedding; the question became, “Where?” We envisioned a beautiful and relaxing location, one that would offer new experiences and allow us to spend quality time with our closest family and friends. Wedding days can go by fast, so a place where time moves slower was ideal. Tuscany, with its rich culture and rustic scenery checked all the boxes. A wedding here would provide the romantic backdrop we sought, an opportunity to marvel at its Renaissance art, and a taste of its world-renowned food and wine. When deciding on a photographer, we were seeking someone who used light as a method of producing romantic style photos. Aware of my love for all things pink, Alec proposed with a pink sapphire engagement ring. It was the ring’s peachy pink color that set the colors of the wedding.

My Hayley Paige dress was a beautiful amethyst shade, covered in intricate beading and floral designs throughout. With its cathedral length train and veil, it was fit for a princess! We purchased the dress during one of her trunk shows at JLM Couture’s flagship store located in West Hollywood. Having Hayley Paige herself ask if I was saying yes to the dress while my mom, brother and others cheered is a memory I will cherish always! With light hues of pink and purple in mind, we added peach, gray, white and silver to our color story. These colors are reflected in the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, flower arrangements and tablescape. The end result was romantic and elegant with a Tuscan flair. A cute local donkey adorned with flowers greeted guests and made for a fun photo opportunity. Mini olive oil bottles served as favors and traditional Italian food and beverages were served at dinner and made available throughout the evening.

Luca and Claudia from Rossini Photography are a wonderful married couple, which I think helps as they worked seamlessly together. They were always smiling, very friendly, and quite funny. With such an intimate wedding, we worried they would be noticeable. On the contrary, they were very discreet and natural, but also approachable (my dad still shares how much he loved speaking with Luca!). Prior to the wedding, we had shared a list of places we wanted to take couple photos at. At the top of our list, and where we ended up going, was San Miniato Church. The view this location offers is what dreams are made of! Seeing the end result, we can honestly say Rossini far exceeded our expectations. Looking back, our wedding does feel like a dream! When planning a wedding from abroad, it is easy to stress and worry about the end result. In our case, everything was based strictly on photos, ideas and conversations we had exchanged with our wedding planners. Come the wedding day, everything was as much a surprise for us as it was for our wedding guests. Our advice for couples planning a destination wedding would be to stay organized, do your research, and hire an experienced wedding planner with whom you mesh. Communication is key with successfully planning a wedding long-distance. Stay calm and remember to enjoy the process! The to-do lists may seem never-ending, but the end result is so worth it!

Photography: Rossini Photography | Flowers: Violamalva | Wedding Dress: Hayley Paige | Engagement Ring: JuliaBJewelry | Hair Stylist: Pamela Leti | Groom's Suit: Calvin Klein | Bride's Shoes : Jimmy Choo | Bride's earrings: JCPenney | Bridesmaids Dresses : Adrianna Papell | Bride’s wedding band: JuliaBJewelry | Groom's Shoes : Steve Madden | Groom’s wedding band: JCPenney | Make Up Artist: Pamela Leti | Villa le Fontanelle: Villa Le Fontanelle | Wedding Planners: Original Tuscan Wedding | Wedding Favors: FavorZilla

When admiring this stunning wedding inspiration at Villa Balbiano from Trynh Photography, it was difficult to describe it as anything other than this: an absolute dream. From the bride’s ethereal Musat Bridal gown, to the romantic boat ride, to the soft and classic tablescape décor…. there is truly no other way to define this perfect day. Take in all the incomparable Lake Como views and dreamy moments below…

From Trynh Photography… This editorial took place in the Italian paradise of Lake Como at the elegant Villa Balbiano. The villa made for the most picture-perfect setting for this romantic day. 

Our real couple, Bianca and Francesca are deeply in love, adore Italy, traveling, and classic fashion. 

The extravagant natural setting offered a perfect mix of scenery without needing to bring much else in. 

The clear blue water, the sloping hills of the mountains, and the blooming flowers and plants were pure perfection. The scene was straight out of a fairytale. 

We kept the styling and directions classic and elegant to go along with the grand villa. Then all we had to do was capture the chemistry of the couple. It was a truly magical day!

Photography: Trynh Photography | Floral Design: Madness Flowers Italy | Wedding Dress: Musat Bridal | Cake: Qualcosa di Dolce | Stationary: Victoria Krav | Jewelry: Di Gregorio Gioielli | Tux: Briane & Barry | Wedding Venue: Villa Balbiano | Boat: Revi | Bridal Accessories: Nea Bridal | Design & Creative Direction: Trynh Photography | HMUA: Ava Belle | Planning: NKT Events | Ribbon: Seidenband | Tabletop: Tableset Luxury Rentals

Intimate destination weddings will always be a good idea. Let this poolside celebration captured by Peter & Veronika in Rome’s countryside at Casale del Gallo be your proof! There’s just nothing more romantic than exchanging vows in front of a small group of your absolute closest friends and family – especially when you’re tying the knot in a place as romantic and special as Italy. Keep on reading to see the magic of this day unfold…

From Bride and Groom… We met at the University of Alabama nearly 6.5 years ago, the connection was immediate. After school, we landed in New York City pursuing our dreams. When deciding to settle down, we then moved back to Erin’s hometown of Nashville, TN. 

After the engagement, we toured all of the usual venues in and around Nashville but nothing felt quite right. At the time, Erin was sourcing leather for her handbag line, ELT Collective, and an idea started brewing – We threw out a curveball: a destination wedding in the countryside outside of Rome.

We wanted a memorable experience to remember for us and our guests. Nestled along the Apian Way, we contacted Guilio at Casale Del Gallo—a fourth-generation Roman countryside estate as our destination wedding venue. After carefully weighing the pros and cons, our decision was made and we were off to the races!

Joined by our closest friends and family, the Christie-Thompson wedding party of merely 31 guests made the trek to Rome for four nights of traditional Italian culture. We spent time exploring the natural beauty of the richly historical family property – complete with olive tree groves, swimming pools, pizza ovens, local vineyards and a public golf course. Other days were spent in the heart of this historic city, navigating the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Vatican City.

The wedding day was spent cooking and enjoying an Italian brunch and lounging by the pool with friends. In the golden hour, we moved to the front of the house for the ceremony. Under a gorgeous floral and greenery arch, we said “I do” with one of my closest childhood friends as Officiant. I wore a custom-made, hand-tailored Italian Wool suit by Hickey Freeman. Erin combined two dresses from Lela Rose; she wore the “Desert Gown” for the cocktail hour and added the cape from her “Cape Gown” for the ceremony. 

As the sun set on the country hills, we gathered in the gardens for an antipasti cocktail hour featuring an array of local meats, cheeses and wines. The music began to play as we moved to the gardens for dinner. The harvest moon rose high as we shared our first dance to Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” with the band’s Italian twist. We enjoyed a traditional Italian five-course meal, all cooked in the kitchens on site, including two homemade pastas. The table was dressed with whimsical olive branches, candles and white and pink garden roses. As the night wore on, we floated between the dance floor and the table, enjoying great company and great wine… all we could ask for!

Photography: Peter & Veronika | Floral Design: Noosheen | Wedding Dress: Desert Gown | Invitations: Grace Niu | Makeup and Hair: Janita Helova | Band: Alma Project | Wedding Venue: Casale del Gallo | Cape Gown: Lela Rose | Groom suit: Hickey Freeman

These dreamy nuptials from The Tuscan Wedding are giving Kimye’s wedding day a run for its money. Mary & Maurizio – Quattro Studio captured every heart-stopping moment of the gorgeous bride and groom complete with an awe-worthy backdrop of the city of Florence. The regal reception inside Villa Cora was dripping in elegant floral arrangements created by Il Giardino delle Fate. See all the must-see details at the full gallery!

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We’ve watched this breathtaking video by Waterfall Visuals about a hundred times today… click play to see why!

From Mary & Maurizio – Quattro Studio… A wedding in Tuscany at the lovely Villa Cora in Florence was a must for these travel enthusiasts, Brooke and Damien. Their dream wedding destination was an intimate destination in a city with an abundance of romantic energy, beautiful art history and lots of delicious food and wine! The couple met on LinkedIn back in 2013 and dated for four years before Damien finally popped that question – the question every girl waits her whole life to be asked!

The couple teamed with The Tuscan Wedding to create the romantic wedding of their dreams. The photographers, Mary & Maurizio – Quattro Studio, and videographer, Waterfalls Visual, had an amazing landscape to capture the most precious moments of this beautiful wedding. The couple wanted their guests to experience Tuscany and enjoy the famous Italian wine as much as they do, so with the help of The Tuscan Wedding, a luxurious wine tasting was the perfect preview to the beautiful ceremony to begin later that evening.

Brooke was stunning in a strapless white mermaid dress with fabulous crystal embellishments by Lori Allen. This look was topped off with drop diamond earrings and a diamond necklace that could not go unnoticed! Her exquisite makeup look was done by the lovely Cherie Spisso which complemented her beachy wave hair style so perfectly. We cannot forget about the groom who looked so dashing in his jet black Ermenegildo Zegna suit. An extra sentimental touch was the cufflinks Damien wore – they belonged to Brooke’s grandfather who could not be in attendance. The timeless and ever so elegant wedding décor designed by The Tuscan Wedding was filled with beautiful ivory and blush florals everywhere.

Il Giardino delle Fate truly worked their flower magic on this romantic day. The floral centerpiece was the most mesmerizing wedding arch… an over-abundance of lovely ivory and blush flowers topped with soft ivory drapery. White roses cascaded down both sides of the aisle to set the stage perfectly for Brooke’s unforgettable entrance. Brooke and Damien’s lavish intimate wedding ceremony, included 40 guests and was nothing short of an extravaganza with a combination of many traditional and unconventional experiences. The first tradition was the lighting of a unity candle which both the bride and groom’s mothers joined in for to symbolize the union of the couple as one. This was followed by hand fasting where the love birds hold hands and promise to love each other today, tomorrow and for all of eternity! Wait…did someone say [love] birds? After the two shared their first kiss as a married couple, magical white doves appeared.

The couple truly celebrated an old tradition as they jumped over the broom to signify their entrance into a new life (or the sweeping away of their past single life), what a memorable finish! After the ceremony came to an end, this lovely couple has had a walk together with the photographers, Mary & Maurizio – Quattro Studio, and the videographer, Waterfalls Visual, among the beautiful hills and monuments of Florence to catch some amazing shoots. Then The Tuscan Wedding guided all guests to join the newlyweds outside for a cocktails and aperitif. A selection of delectable catering was provided by Villa Cora. There were three courses – Italian style! Tomato and bread crochet with burrata cheese, ravioli filled with ricotta cheese and spinach topped with tomato and lastly beef fillet with potatoes, zucchini and tomatoes. 

We cannot forget about dessert – an ice cream truck arrived to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth and then the final masterpiece, wedding cake. This four-tier classic beauty created by Sugar Cups, was finished with ravishing light blush and ivory flowers. As the reception came to an end, Brooke and Damien wanted to leave their guests with one last bit of entertainment… And what better way to do this than a dazzling fireworks show?! What an electric way to end the perfect evening. Brooke and Damien are truly soulmates and made for each other, this day really represented the intimate bond they share. Our team was so appreciative to have met this lovely couple and we wish them a life full of happiness and love together.

Photographer: Quattro Studio Destination Wedding Photographers | Videographer: Waterfall Visuals | Wedding planner: The Tuscan Wedding | Cake: Sugarcups | Stationery: /lauramazzetti the wedding letters | Hair and make up: Cherie Spisso | Bridal dress: Bridals By Lori | Bridal shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids'dresses: JLM Couture | Ceremony and Reception Venue: Villa Cora | Clebrant: Julia Wright | Flowers decoration: Il Giardino Delle Fate | Groom suite: Ermenegildo Zegna | Lights designer: Wedding Music And Lights | Wedding car: Noleggio Limousine Toscana

What’s more romantic than a wedding under the Tuscan sun? I mean, it’s pretty hard to beat if you ask us! This gorgeous shoot with planning and design by Fête Event Planning and photos by Molly Carr Photography is all the inspiration you’ll ever need for the romantic renaissance wedding of your dreams. Don’t miss all the enchanting details at the full gallery, from bold and bright fleurs by Isibeal Studio to a Tuscan castle fit for a royal.

From Fête Event Planning… When we stumbled upon the Villa di Geggiano it was like stepping back in time to 18th century Italy. Set atop a hill in Chianti, the estate has breathtaking views of vineyards and olive groves in every direction. The villa’s remarkable interior decoration – done in the most avant-garde style of the 1700s – has been lovingly preserved by the Bianchi Bandinelli family and was an incredible source of inspiration for our collaboration.

As we often like to do, we took our cues from the spaces. With the fabulous creative partnering of Isibeal Studio and Fête Event Planning, we set out to imbue our stylings with a sense of modern Renaissance romanticism underpinned with a touch of mysticism, all artistically captured by Molly Carr Photography.

As you turn every corner there are beautifully aged treasures. Were they placed there by the gods? The images create a narrative evoking a sense of magic and romance through painterly images, the patina of the villa and the creative backdrops of florals and tablescapes we created using some beautiful pieces from Duchess & Butler. Our model is a true Italian redhead in the mood of Boticelli.

Sanni Sorma created her looks that ranged from soft & demure, to Renaissance glam to delicate & ethereal. The bridal gowns were furnished by Pandore in Paris and feature creations by Sadoni and by Inmaculada Garcia. The paper designed by Studio French Blue tied in the romantic and mystical elements, with a wedding announcement laid out in the traditional Italian format, and a custom star chart for the date. The paper suite was styled using paper pressed with a relief of fresco from the famous Fabriano Paper Mill.

Photography: Molly Carr Photography | Hair & Makeup: Sanni Sorma Makeup & Hair | Wedding Venue: Villa di Geggiano | Florals & Design: Autumn Keller | Gowns: Showroom Pandore Love | Model: Benedetta Milani | Paper: Fabriano | Paper goods: Studio French Blue calligraphy + design | Planning & Design: Fete in France | Tableware: Duchess Butler

A wedding day so beautiful it will have you dreaming of your next Italian getaway! Grab your passports and take flight toward these unforgettable Florence nuptials captured perfectly by Katie Grant Photography. From the rooftop ceremony and reception awash with lush florals from Janna Brown Design Co. to the soaring views of the romantic city of Firenze – every moment of this day is like something out of a fairytale. Arrivederci!

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Don’t miss this magical video of the day captured by Aberrazioni Cromatiche Studio!

From Janna Brown Design Co.… While the city of Florence bustled in the distance, Villa la Vedetta was abuzz with excitement for Alisha and Michael’s wedding day. Guests watched the two exchange vows on the terrace, seated in chairs adorned with billowing linen, next to an aisle blooming with wild foliage and florals. The bride wanted her day to feel relaxed, yet enchanting, an unforgettable experience for herself, her future husband, and guests. 

Alisha’s bridesmaids donned blush silk gowns, pairing perfectly with the floral palette. Alisha’s gown, by Australian designer, Loui Col.

An intimate tablescape was designed for the reception, with layers upon layers of linen, topped with untamed floral arrangements composed of wild clematis and blooms of cream, blush and mauve.

With sweeping views of Florence, Alisha and Michael’s guests dined against a backdrop of a seemingly painted sunset. Lush florals danced in the breeze, lit by candlelight, as guests sipped on some of Italy’s finest wines.  Michael and Alisha danced under a blanket of stars in an unforgettable moment of magic.

Photographer: Katie Grant Photography | Videography: Aberrazioni Cromatiche Studio | Hair and Makeup: The Pretty Parlour | Calligraphy: Jianery | Celebrant: Blessings from Italy | Hotel: Villa La Vedetta | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Florist + Stylist: Janna Brown Design Co. | Gown Designer: Loui Col Design | Rentals: Preludio Noleggi | Silk Ribbon: Silk and Willow

Three things: Italy, Oscar de la Renta and this perfect light. This day is filled with jaw-dropping moments, details and a kind of love that is sure to get the butterflies going for your very own Big Day. At the planning and design help, The White Rose set a scene for Nicole & Mitchell that was classic, timeless and sophisticated, yet completely unfussy. Let Anya Kernes‘ stunning imagery carry you away.

What was your color palette and your style vision?

Our color palette was pure white and hints of Bordeaux. The style vision was classic, timeless and elegant — just like Italy. Bordeaux was always my favorite color and since it was a fall wedding we thought it was a beautiful color to add little hints of throughout the decor to contrast the white.

 

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

We had a couple details that we made unique but my most memorable were the custom drink they made for us out of freshly muddled berries, a little bit of lemon juice and vodka — the drink was made to match our tones of “Bordeaux” as the drink was this color. Vittorio e Big Band, an Italian orchestra of about 10 people with a lead singer, because my dad is a lifelong fan of Frank Sinatra who the band emulates and The Godfather movies, and a big band at his daughters wedding also emulated this. Another was at our after party on the pier at around 1 am the chef was taking pasta requests of all kind and cooking it in front of the guests in the outdoor kitchen to satisfy late night cravings and ensure the party carries on.

 

What was your favorite moment? Your favorite detail?

My favorite moments were the Russian singer at the welcome dinner on Friday and the Israeli cover band at the reception on Saturday. Both managed to create an atmosphere of total unity, excitement and fun. We had people from India, Brazil, Russia, Armenia, America, Serbia and France so to have one performer(s) bring all these nations together on one dance floor at the same time was extremely rewarding to see and be a part of. My favorite detail was the combination of the floating candles in glass vases and flowers on each table at the reception – it was absolutely magical and felt like a fairytale. Also the cake cutting was done at the end of the pier right on the lake, surrounded by candles and flowers in the floor to illuminate us as it was dark already, but the favorite part was the surprise 20 minute fireworks my dad arranged for us. It was incredibly beautiful, romantic and memorable, and I think it was a moment everyone at the wedding will forever remember and cherish.

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

My flowers were all white to keep in theme with “classic, timeless and elegant” — so naturally all the flowers were classics too; roses, peonies, ranunculus and hydrangeas with a touch of baby’s breath. This combination created fullness and elegance, it really made the flowers stand out throughout the ceremony. We also put a lot of emphasis on the flowers – we head then cascading off the gazebo in which we go married under, in huge (bigger than the people) vases positioned throughout the apéritive, reception and after party. My gown was Oscar de la Renta from the runway but I customized it a little — I added off the shoulder sleeves and added three layers under the skirt to make the dress a lot more pouffy because I had a fairytale ball gown vision for my wedding. My favors reflected on Italy as it was our neutral ground for our ‘UN wedding’ as we jokingly refer to it. It was olive oil from the region of Garda and a small pouch of Bon Bons, which are candied almonds and are a beloved Italian wedding tradition. Our cake was 3 tier, all white with little white frosting flowers to keep with the theme. The cake itself was a sponge cake with real fruit throughout it. It was light and sweet, we didn’t want anything heavy so people could keep dancing and it reminded me of the cake I had for every birthday growing up till I was 18. It was nice nostalgia.

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

My first advice is that no detail is too small, from the shape of the tables to the font used for the menus but some things are ok to let go of like flower positioning and silverware (even though it seems impossible). My dad helped with a lot of the planning and I have no regrets in loosening my grip a little. Also, pick the best wedding planner (if you’re using one) that can really meet your needs and understands your vision completely. The White Rose Weddings really brought our 3 day wedding extravaganza together and made it everything we could have dreamed of and more.

From Anya Kernes Photography… Nicole and Mitchell’s wedding was a beautiful multi-cultural celebration. Sweetest couple, gorgeous gowns, delicious food, amazing music and surprise fireworks during the cake cutting – this was a true wedding fairytale! It’s easy to understand why Nicole and Mitchell decided to settle on this location for their Italian destination wedding. Villa Cortine Palace Hotel is tucked away in the beautiful town of Sirmione, in Lake Garda in Northern Italy. Dating from the 19th century, the grounds of this neoclassical luxury hotel are truly breathtaking and the hospitality here is one of a kind. Nicole wore a dress from Oscar de la Renta, which was quite a showstopper, and Mitchell looked absolutely dashing in his black tux. The couple and their families created an unforgettable experience for the guests. The ceremony took place in a beautiful gardens lined up with cypress trees surrounded with fountains and statues and overlooking the incredible views of Lake Garda. The elegant reception designed by The White Rose was a perfect fit for its surroundings with elements of marble and touches of burgundy. For entertainment, there was non stop live music, including four amazing bands – Vittorio e Big Band, Ricchi e Poveri, Eiffel 65, and the Legend Band. After the formal reception, the guests were invited to come down to the lake for the cake cutting with surprise fireworks followed by an amazing after party. A night to remember? You bet.

Photography: Anya Kernes | Videography: Partyvision Wedding | Event Design: The White Rose Wedding | Florals: The White Rose Wedding | Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Hair & Makeup: Aldo Coppola | Band: Ricchi e Poveri | Band: Eiffel 65 | Ceremony & Reception: Villa Cortine Palace Hotel | Styling plates: Simple Things Ceramics

This stunning elopement inspiration is inspired by the soft blue hues and gilded details of Saint Marks Basilica in San Marco Piazza. Since Venice is known for its deep jewel tones of reds, emeralds and blues – Ema Giangreco Weddings wanted to present a softer take on the famous floating city. Hunter Ryan Photo was there to capture every perfect moment. Keep on reading to find out more about this romantic Italian affair.

From Hunter Ryan Photo… Venice. Known for it’s regal grandeur & in rich jewel tones – Italian-American planner Ema Giangreco wanted to showcase a softer side of Venice. Living and planning weddings in Venice for years -she’s seen many deep reds, golds, emeralds and blues in Venetian wedding design – so we opted for a completely different vibe for our couple.

The color palette was derived from the famous Saint Marks Basilica in San Marco Piazza. The domes of soft blue hues with gold gilding, the building walls – soft greys and creams. The florals were clean and simple whites and greenery – with an unexpected modern touch of white orchids.

Custom gown designer Silvia Valli created a one of a kind gown for the bride with hints of dove grey and muted blue tones in a soft ethereal vibe.

A perfect juxtaposition of the grand church where the heavily candle-laden ceremony took place. Just a short distance from the church the couple walked the back canals of Venice to their reception location – an intimate space set for two at the Palazzo Morosini – canal front.

The soft design carried through to the table – again boasting soft greys & blues – punctuated with simple white florals and greenery. The couple departed their reception in a quintessential Venetian gondola for two.

Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Wedding Dress: Silvia Valli | Stationery: Script Me Pretty | Ceremony Venue: Scuola Grande Dei Carmini | Reception Venue: Palazzo Morosini Degli Spezieri | Shoes: Charles David | Headpiece & Jewelry: DellaBellaGioielli | Planning: Ema Giangreco Weddings

A fairytale villa in Lake Como, a romantic post-ceremony boat ride and a stunning Galia Lahav dress… um can you say yes, yes, YES?! Oliver Fly Photography captured this magical day teeming with lush blooms by Figli Dei Fiori and intimate details planned to perfection by Le Mariage Made in Italy. Trust us folks, this is one for the storybooks.

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning? Why did you choose Lake Como?

From the bride… Prior to planning, my fiancé and I discussed what we both envisioned our wedding to be. I wanted flowers with lots of natural light; George wanted great food and a live band to amp up our guests, and we both expressed that we wanted a body of water, whether it was a sea or a lake, to be in the background as we got married. That helped us narrow down some choices as we were inquiring various venues. We wanted a location that would be easy for our guests to fly into and to enjoy the weekend as they celebrated with us. It was an easy choice for us to finalize our decision and choose Lake Como!

What was your color palette and your style vision?

The flowers in the Villa’s garden and the decorative golden gates inspired me to incorporate blush, ivory, and gold into my color palette. I envisioned a timeless and elegant wedding where I incorporated much of the natural splendor of the Villa and Lake Como. I was going for a classy and sophisticated, using as many local vendors as possible so that our guests who flew literally half way around the world from New York to Korea could have a taste of the local food and ambience. We used a local flower vendor, Figli dei Fiori, and incorporated many of the local flowers from the Como region and added classic touches like metallic candles on the tables and on the stairs to create a warm, glowing effect. Additionally, the main parlor is ornately decorated with Italian frescos, beautiful antiques and furniture, so I felt like I did not have to add much to the décor.

Why did you choose this wedding venue?

We decided to get married at Villa Sola Cabiati in Lake Como, Italy because it was exactly what we were looking for – timeless, elegant, and classy. The Villa is like a walking museum: it was Charles II’s and the Duke of Serbelloni’s summerhouse and even houses Napoleon’s and Josephine’s beds and their personal items including Napoleon’s hat! Through a recent partnership with Grand Hotel Tremezzo, it has been recently open to the public for private events, and we knew it would be perfect for our wedding venue since we would have exclusive use of the property and it would be an incredibly special weekend for our guests as they celebrated our wedding with us. We had a three day wedding celebration: the first night was at Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s T-Beach, right on Lake Como, and the other two days were at the Villa. Since we had the Villa to ourselves for the whole weekend, it was amazing to be immersed in history and also to create our own history in the Villa!

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

One thing my fiancé and I wanted was to have our guests enjoy their weekend at Lake Como. We decided to go with a live band, which was the best choice we made regarding music. The wedding singer was incredible and she knew exactly when to liven up the mood and was so heartfelt during the emotional times like our first dance. We still get comments from our friends about where we hired such an amazing wedding singer, so thank you Blunotte Events! Additionally, my mother, who is the Creative Director of Nora Noh – our family business, made unique dresses for everyone in the wedding. She designed and made my second dress, all 7 bridesmaid dresses, her dress, my mother-in-law’s dress, and my aunt’s dress. It was so special for me that she gifted me this timeless and precious dress, especially all while designing for her collection. I am forever grateful for this unique gift she gave me for my wedding day!

What was your favorite moment? Your favorite detail?

My favorite part was after the ceremony, where we walked down the aisle as husband and wife and realizing that all our family and friends were in beautiful Lake Como to help celebrate our marriage. We have a candid picture of us hugging at the end of the aisle because we were just so elated that all the time and effort we put into planning our wedding was unfolding beautifully. One of my favorite details is including our dog in our wedding invitations. Since we had a destination wedding, it did not seem feasible to bring our dog all the way to Italy. Momental Designs really captured Lily in our wedding invitation, and I am so glad she was there with us in spirit. George’s brother also lent him cufflinks that looked like our dog, so that was really special and meaningful to us, as well. Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors for your guests, your cake, etc…

Since we were having a destination wedding and we love the Italian culture and food, we incorporated as many local vendors as possible. We got a recommendation from Grand Hotel Tremezzo for our caterer, a second-generation family run business. We incorporated many Italian dishes and included many of the wines from our caterer’s own vineyard! We also incorporated local and seasonal flowers like lisianthus and peonies. We had a flower arch and incorporated more greenery on our imperial tables. We also wanted our cake to be filled with Italian wild berries and cream, which is our favorite dessert. The cake was also adorned with the local flowers that we used in my wedding bouquet. My wedding planner, Oana from Le Mariage Made In Italy, helped me source the olive oil favors from Tuscany directly from the olive oil. The flowers from the beautifully curated gardens of the Villa inspired my first dress. I wanted a dress that would make me feel elegant and classy yet showed a fitted bodice. As for my second dress, my mother designed and created my dress to have a more slim-fitting silhouette. I changed my dress before my father-daughter dance since it meant a lot to me to wear my mother’s creation with my dad.

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

Some advice I received and would give to future brides will be to breathe and enjoy your wedding. This is one of the greatest times in your life and there will be times when it does not go as planned (We had many logistical issues leading up to the wedding since there was a huge Dolce & Gabanna event all over Lake Como during the same weekend, which lead to a lot of chaos for us!), but take a breath and remember that in the end, all of your family and loved ones are there to celebrate YOU. You are surrounded by those who have traveled so far to be with you on your special day. So, even if it does not go as planned, take a breath and enjoy your wedding! Also, make sure you eat throughout the day/weekend. I was so nervous and anxious that I physically couldn’t keep my food down a day before my wedding festivities. I had pieces of bread and also had electrolyte chews that help replenish me !

From the planner, Le Mariage Made in Italy… Jean and George’s wedding was created to represent them in every detail. They chose Villa Sola Cabiati, one of the most romantic wedding venues on Lake Como and the mission was not to overdo it. Elegant table setting and organic flower arrangements with hues of pink and peach decorated the magnificent imperial table positioned at the Villa’s doorstep, overlooking the breathtaking lake and timeless garden. The entire planning process with them was a delight and D day felt like a dream – poetic, flawless and unforgettable.

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Photographer: Oliver Fly Photography | Videographer: Studio 80 | Wedding Planning: Le Mariage Made in Italy | Floral Design: Figli Dei Fiori | Cake: Pasticceria Ramperti | Stationery: Momental Designs | Catering: Visini | Venue: Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Bride's Dress 1: Galia Lahav | Bride's Dress 2: Nora Noh | Bride's Rings: David S. Diamonds | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom's Band: Cartier | Groom's Tuxedo: Ermeneglildo Zegna | Hair & Make Up: Samantha Pretto | Lighting & Entertainment: Blunotte Events | Photography Assistant: Arnaud Mallez | Riva Boat : Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Villa: Grand Hotel Tremezzo

There’s nothing like a Positano wedding to warm the soul. The scenery commands attention and makes way for minimal decor and a completely charming atmosphere. The view for today’s fete is perched from Marincanto Hotel and you guys, it is out. of. this. world. Emma Events wove in the necessary elements while letting the backdrop speak for itself and 2 Brides Photography made sure to do the Amalfi Coast justice with their beautiful imagery—have a look here.

From 2 Brides Photography… Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and Megan & Charles took their first steps as husband & wife at the romantic Marincanto hotel in Positano. Megan, a fabulous boss lady who runs the successful Lola Saratoga, a luxury fashion accessories boutique in Saratoga Springs, got in touch with me about her destination wedding in Italy I was so thrilled. Megan & Charles had a beautiful and intimate celebration and ceremony at the terrace and with the ocean and the mountains as a backdrop. The couple also went for a boat ride before the nuptials, and the scenery from the sea was breathtaking. The calligraphy invites, and puppy featured napkins alongside exquisite view over Positano made the reception seriously stunning. Hoping you’re going to love this intimate destination wedding in Italy!

Photography: 2 Brides Photography | Cinematography: Moon & Back | Event Planning: Emma Events | Floral Design: Rosalinda Flowers | Wedding Dress: Berta | Invitations: Ink Revival | Ceremony Venue: Hote Marincanto | Bride's Jewelery: Lola Saratoga | MUA: Beauty Livery

Today we’re sharing a breathtaking wedding in Italy, captured by Peter & Veronika, that combines Italian and Jewish cultures and elegant style with a bit of fun. Their venue, Villa Arconati is the definition of a fairytale. Guests dined al fresco under a canopy of string lights at round tables decorated with elegant centerpieces from Valerio Grassi. The bride looked flawless in her beaded Atelier Pronovias gown. It’s safe to say White Emotion thought of absolutely everything when planning this dream of a wedding day!

From The Bride… When we began to plan our wedding, we set out to create something fun and inclusive for everyone – my American family, his (Northern and Southern) Italian family and friends, as well as our many international friends from Milan and around the world. We considered this important moment an opportunity not just to celebrate our love, but also introduce the most important people in our lives to our cultures.

Living in Milan for the past five years (and Alex since birth!), we wanted to share an authentic, yet magical, Milanese experience. The style we hoped to reflect was elegant and refined with a bit of fun thrown in. Our venue had all of this and so much more. Villa Arconati is a foundation and museum still under restoration. Part of its appeal is that it is not perfect, shiny, and new, but rather takes you back to a different era and is filled with history. Its gardens are immense, and there are countless indoor and outdoor spaces. During our first site visit, I found myself taking photos non-stop of all the details and painted interiors. These photos (taken with my phone!) I later integrated into the printed materials that I designed, with Alex’s consulting and help, along with dictionary-style translations of titles for each piece.

The museum provided English and Italian guided tours so our guests could discover the history behind this enchanting estate. Our dear friend Davide was our officiant, along with help from the wonderful Cantor Evan Kent. Our friend’s participation in the wedding began as a joke over beers. Soon after Alex and I got engaged, one night I told Davide he spoke English better than any other Italian I know, and he replied suggesting that he should marry us because he could speak to all our guests. At the time we laughed it off, but later on we decided it was a wonderful way to have a multilingual ceremony.

We used the details of the day to integrate our cultures, as well as remind us of our loved ones. The chuppah was my grandfather’s tallit. We read our vows in each other’s native language. During the dinner Alex’s groomsmen took part in the old Italian custom of cutting up his tie as souvenirs. We then danced the Hora, or, as our Italian friends called it “il ballo con le sedie” (the chair dance). I borrowed my earrings from Pérola, the jewelry line of a close friend unable to travel to Italy. I got my dream shoes via a friend working on the shoe design team at Prada. A week or so before the wedding I still hadn’t figured out my hair accessories, and a bridesmaid came to the rescue – the beautiful hair comb was custom made by Vera Wang for her wedding on the same day 6 years earlier. She actually never wore it, but it matched my look perfectly! After visiting an embarrassing number of bridal salons in which I said I didn’t want tons of lace, clouds of tulle or beading, I finally went to the Milan flagship store of Pronovias and ended up with exactly that. The saleswoman insisted she had “my dress” and that it was not any of the dresses I showed to her at the beginning of the appointment. I never thought I would “just know” when I had “the dress,” but she knew it! I fell in love with an unusual style from Atelier Pronovias that seemed to have a little bit of everything I had on my no list–a mermaid lace silhouette and a tulle, beaded overskirt and long tulle “wings” that provided just enough drama for our outdoor ceremony.

Our planner Alessia Santa from White Emotion is nothing less of a force of nature. She pulled together a dream event in just 2 months after we unfortunately had to let go our initial planner. Alessia knew so much about how to make every minute of the event flow smoothly, as well as how to mix our multi-cultural backgrounds.

Photography: Peter & Veronika | Event Planning: White Emotion | Floral Design: Valerio Grassi | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: T'a Milano | Shoes: Prada | Makeup & Hair: Paola Bianchera | Wedding Venue: Villa Arconati | Earrings: Pérola | Hair Accessories: Vera Wang | Scans: Richard Photo Lab