Europe Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

This Feminine Wedding Inspiration in Provence Was Inspired by the Iconic Red Poppy Flower

The minute we laid eyes on those romantic, bright red blooms against the feminine lavender fields of Provence – we were head over heels for today’s wedding inspiration from Love & Provence. The talented team behind this shoot was inspired by a fragrance, Flower by Kenzo, to create this stunning floral celebration. Lettre A Elise blew us away with their lush red and pink color arrangements that looked incredible next to the bride’s pure white gown. To see more from this dreamy day, head on over to the full gallery – all captured by Remi Dupac!

From Love & Provence… Floral, sensual, and feminine…The inspiration for the shoot came from a fragrance: Flower, by Kenzo. Love & Provence and Lettre a Elise worked together to create a modern and effortlessly sophisticated design from the iconic red flower, captured by Rémi Dupac. We wanted the design to feel clean and sophisticated at the same time. We played around with a red and pink colour palette combined with a pure white to create a contrast and complement the beauty and strength of the red flower. The venue we picked is everything you dream of when staying in the South of France.

Imagine yourselves sleeping in an authentic and luxurious Provencal Mas, then dining at the next-door restaurant which vegetables and fruits are directly hand-picked from their organic garden. Add some olive trees and a lavender field and you will have the most memorable stay in Provence! We had a crush for their lush, organic garden and thought it was the perfect place for an intimate ceremony.

Lettre à Elise ornated the fountain with lots of flowers and created a natural arch over the gazebo. We set up the dinner table in front the lavender field, the Alpilles magical landscape as background. It looked really stunning at the sunset! We balanced the lush, colourful and unstructured floral arrangements with a clean yet elegant tableware and furniture in neutral tones. Bonjour Paper created all the paper goods including handmade paper menus and blazing red place cards to remind the flowers.

“A simple and beautiful, fragile, and strong red flower, like the woman who holds it”. Our Bride would be independent, strong, but also gentle and feminine. Camille Bonardi created a glamourous makeup associated with a modern ponytail. The Bride looked absolutely gorgeous! Additionally, we wanted the dress to look airy, romantic, and feminine. French designer Louise Valentine Bridal’s Clementine dress was everything we were looking for! We loved the way it flied when the Bride walked through the lavender fields.

Spiritual Escapism Meets Future-Forward Bridal Inspiration in Greece

Big floppy hats, a dreamy desert landscape and a white horse – I mean, what more could a gal ask for are we right? Anna Athanasiou Event Design, Jim Labraco and Thanos Asfis came together to “create something laden with meaning, beauty, and gorgeous fashion, but also time-relevant, a spark the modern bride connects to” – and that they did. Don’t miss out on the full gallery for some major future-forward wedding inspo.

From Thanos Asfis… Living in the moment is easier said than done, or at least was before the world experienced an entirely new reality dawning. This year, destination wedding plans widely took an intermission, and traveling vicariously became not only an option but a necessity. And yet, despite of what anyone might expect, more and more brides across the globe showed incredible resilience and hushed the buzzing of the mind in the most meaningful of ways.

When our creative team came to brainstorm on this bridal inspiration, our joined wish was to create something laden with meaning, beauty, and gorgeous fashion, but also time-relevant, a spark the modern bride connects to. We pondered upon one of humanity’s greatest evolutionary mechanisms “chronosthesia”, the capacity to mentally reconstruct personal events and bring forth future thinking which enables us all to prepare, plan, and shape the future. We wished to evoke the relationship between nature and our plans to get away, and thus employed olfactory, gustatory, visual, frontal, and motor notions into the styled shoot.

Traveling in her wardrobe

Balancing realism and the cat’s meow, our bride’s style is characterized by minimalist drama and sensuality. From the oversized straw hat, and the favorite of expert milliners raffia toquilla chapeau, that embody the love for proportion (it would be impossible to slip into the statement-making raffia hat whose wide-brim is more than a little reminiscent of Brigitte Bardot frolicking in 1960s Saint-Tropez) to slinky wedding dress silhouettes that reinvent cliché shapes, and from wardrobe-staple jewelry to the fashion bang of shell and geode rock creations, our muse has a strong sense of confidence, and imagination.

Away in the world in Greece

When talking about mental journeying this means “anywhere in the world” travel is possible too. Our bride takes spiritual escapism of her favorite destinations and brings them together in a landscape that could be practically anywhere on planet earth. Moroccan dunes, Arizona Rockies, Nicaraguan desserts, Montana creeks, and Umbrian-Tuscan equestrian acres meld perfectly in the Greek wilderness that became our scene.

Accents of Mindfulness

Mindfulness is at the root of Buddhism, Taoism, and many Native-American traditions, not to mention yoga. It’s why Thoreau went to Walden Pond; it’s what Emerson and Whitman wrote about in their essays and poems. Our goal was to embrace it in super-elevated finishes and play out on a palette of ease. Yellow is the summer season’s standout color, seen as much on the streets as the catwalk, and with a surprisingly wide-ranging palette, a bride can make it mellow or choose to shine bright. Ranging from supple golds to creamy peaches, hay, butterscotch, and cornsilk, to Golden Marguerite for our cake, we employed dry foliage and plume-quality grasses, lemons for their visual optimism dotting the minimalist tablescape and invitation suites with shades of pumice.

Back to Nature

As we continued to build on our living in the moment concept we thought of how the animal world has a habit of interrupting our streams of thought and helps us unstick from any mental chatter. Their minds are free to wander and when with them we become able to fully surrender to and enjoy each moment. Like them, we become curious and notice the small details and sights, sounds, and smells, like the sound of sand crunching underfoot, the feeling of light caressing our skin. Our muse is one that connects to the world, and through her benign relationship to nature cares less about destinations throbbing with blissed-out revelers. Instead, she reaches in, grounds herself to her big day, and indulges in her Greek days of heaven.

We couldn’t be more grateful for the outcome, and wish to thank the wonderful artisans, creators, and future-forward thinking team for making this happen. Our special thank you to Thanos Asfis our photographer whose delicate images became integral to our vision.

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What Better Place To Have A Shoot Than The Most Romantic Villa in Lake Como?!

Today we take you to one of the most romantic villas in Lake Como, the Villa Balbiano for a jaw dropping styled shoot, planned and designed by Ana Toniolo Weddings. With the natural backdrop as the perfect color palette, a touch of blush and lavender made for a whimsical tables-cape with stunning centerpieces by Sartoria Floreale. The couple danced and twirled on the lawn while Diane Sotero Photography the most beautiful photos. Take a peek below and be sure to check out the amazing video by Wedding Histories.

From Ana Toniolo Weddings…This inspiring editorial was held at the unique Villa Balbiano, a beautiful villa built in the 1500s and recognized as one of the most classical and romantic Villas in Lake Como. It boasts a spectacular and grand Italian garden entrance as well as magnificent views of the lake.

The area surrounding the Villa is filled with lush greenery and blue shades from the lake. Ana Toniolo explored the existing color palette, bringing to her design project the only cold color missing in this beautiful scenery: purple – providing for a fresh perspective for the entire project.

A romantic atmosphere was created with the magical floral touch of Sartoria Floreale, creating a 2 meter high, organic floral piece for the ceremony altar and a classic asymmetrical set up for the dinner table, facing the breathtaking lake and landscape.

Diane Sotero Photography with her unique talent, made all our creations even more dreamy using film to capture the entire day. Her artistic ability to compose and capture beautiful moments and details gave us the most exquisite and irresistible images.

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Let Cobblestone Paths Guide Your Way to This Enchanting Chateau Just Outside of Paris

Looking for a destination wedding venue that’s better than the fairytales? Look no further. If Belle got married in real life, it would most definitely be at Chateau de Villette. Complete with charming cobblestone paths, serene ponds and enchanting gardens at every turn – today’s styled shoot from White Eden Weddings celebrates the beauty of this incredible venue. Dying to see more? Check out the full gallery of images captured by the always wonderful, Oliver Fly!

From White Eden Weddings…When looking for a venue that offers elegance, intimacy, and beauty combined with vast scenery and ambiance, you would be remiss to not consider Chateau de Villette. This stunning private estate, built in the 17th century, is now a protected monument which somehow balances staying on the cutting edge while still paying homage to tradition. Despite its close proximity to Paris, Chateau de Villette transports guests to a romantic sanctuary. The cobblestone paths, reflective ponds, and gorgeous gardens crowned by the grandiose estate, are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Once again having the opportunity to partner with the brilliant photographer, Oliver Fly, we set out to honor the grandeur of the Chateau while simultaneously creating pockets of intimate spaces. The result was nothing short of breathtaking. To make our vision a reality, we created a canvas of romantic shades of blush, graduating to a muted champagne, which we then accented with greens and shimmering golds. This soft palette seemed to effortlessly include the natural beauty of our surroundings, subtly drawing the attention of wedding guests to these cozy vignettes, thereby creating an ambiance of privacy amid the open space. An integral part of creating this illusion came from the floral designs by Floraison Paris.

Keeping true to the muted blush tones, Floraison Paris incorporated garden roses, peonies and lisianthus with fragrant eucalyptus. The resulting arrangements blended in with their surroundings, adding romantic kisses of blush throughout to form an idyllic setting. For the invitations, Silent Word Studio layered elegant shapes with ethereal calligraphy for a bespoke, original take on the traditional suite. The crowning jewel of the pretty paper goods, however, was certainly the exceptional watercolor homage to the chateau! The Bride’s hair and make-up, done by Onorina Jomir, was just as romantic as the setting, with waves that skimmed her collarbone. Mirroring the blush of the flowers in her bouquet, the Bride’s cheeks left onlookers wondering if the entire wedding was themed around her natural beauty. Her gown, provided by TopBridal Paris, featured a modern illusion neckline paired with a semi sheer, embroidered skirt that pulled on the ground, again marrying a traditional and modern look. The Groom, echoed the styling sentiment of old and new in a tuxedo by Rives Paris. The traditional white and black tuxedo received an upgrade with a slim cut bottom and modern boot. Black being the only harsh color in the whole scheme made him stand out amongst the soft tones, giving him his own share of attention.

Seating for the ceremony reflected the refreshing, spring-inspired color palette, with putty-colored French cane chairs, which provided a canvas to ground the joyful florals and seamlessly fit in with the ambiance of the venue. Following the ceremony, the expansive lawn was dotted with beautiful seating areas featuring elegant couches and chairs from Joli Bazaar that perfectly matched the ceremony and later, the dinner. These vignettes offered guests an intimate way to relax and converse with family and friends amongst the beautiful surroundings. We carried this feeling of intimacy and romance through to the tablescape. Inspired by the reflection of the sun off the large pond and its rays peeking through the trees in the early evening, we designed laser-cut golden chargers to ground the place settings. Leaving no gap in thought to each detail, we opted for less traditional, textured linens provided by Nüage Designs, which popped against the surrounding greenery. Made in Cake provided a sweet end to the festivities with a three-tiered masterpiece, which broke tradition with its square silhouette. The dessert stood as straight and proud as the chateau. Robed in blush and adorned with a few elegant flowers of the same color, it served as the bow to tie the whole event together.

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Whimsical Wedding Inspiration at One of the Most Breathtaking Châteaus in Provence

For those of you who love a good color pop – this one’s for you! Designed by Florésie, the floral arrangements in today’s stunning editorial planned by Jennifer Fox Weddings are overflowing with shapes, textures, and sherbet hues. Think vibrant colors can’t be elegant? Think again. Château Martinay provided the most jaw-dropping background that will transport you to a warm Summers day in Provence. Dying to see how it all turned out? Head on over to the full gallery for major destination inspiration – all taken by Oliver Fly!

From Jennifer Fox Weddings… Gorgeous, mature trees standing like soldiers flank either side of the pathway leading up to a private gateway. When the gate swings open, it reveals the grandeur that is Château Martinay. Leaving the regular world behind and being transported into a fairy tale is the only fitting way to describe the build up revealing such beauty – so it’s no wonder this particular château holds the bragging rights to hosting the nuptials of Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas. Now, having recently undergone a renovation, I was excited to team up with the incomparable photographer, Oliver Fly, and renowned videographer, MG Image, to celebrate Château Martinay’s fresh look with this fun, joyful soirée.

Upon arrival, guests received a welcome basket containing a bottle of rosé, a Diptyque candle, a custom match box, a jar of honey, custom cookies by Kat Makes Cookies, and little donuts tucked inside a paper cone designed by Silent Word Studios which featured the same flowers that appeared on the cookies and would continue to be present in details throughout the day. A sugary, sweet start to the festivities! When we were planning the dinner, we stumbled upon the most gorgeous plates with an interesting shape which ended up inspiring so many significant moments throughout the day. From the bride’s round halo engagement ring and the custom cookies, to the note tucked into the welcome basket and the dinner menus, we brought in the interesting shape again and again. The Bride, Adilyn, emerged looking like a vision. A high chignon styled by Alejandra Nerizagal broke from tradition with flirty, face-framing waves which allowed beautiful, diamond earrings to take center stage as the Bride’s sole accessory. Makeup by Ylva Langenskiold drew inspiration from the peaches and pinks of the bouquet for a playful kiss of color on the Bride’s lips and cheeks, and complemented the look with a bold, smokey eye.

The gown provided by Top Bridal Paris featured a deep v-neckline in front and back, plus dainty chiffon straps tied at the shoulder. Her polka-dot ivory pumps, again pulling in the shape of the day, from Bella Belle featured a whimsical, tulle bow in the back that reflected the cascading bows on her shoulders. Adilyn’s bouquet, designed by Florésie, was brimming with shapes, textures, and sherbet hues – made up of De Tuinen van Appeltern, Foxtail and Martagon Lilies, David Austin and Cappuccino Roses, as well as Wizard of Oz Dahlias. The fun, ice cream colored flowers laced throughout her bouquet mirrored the playful innocence of the Bride, and the entire arrangement was held together with an antique, blue ribbon. The Groom, Thomas, stood dapper in a black suit with slim cut pants and black bow tie offset by a crisp white shirt by Rives. Florésie created a playful boutonniere, which with the frayed edges of its ribbon, tied in the ribbon from the bouquet and deckle edged invitations.

The Château itself provided the perfect backdrop for the ceremony – it’s beauty was complemented with floral arrangements in traditional, French anduze vases that resembled the exterior of the château itself! We tucked cozy cocktail seating provided by Velvet Rendez-vous on terraces and balconies. The golden, round side glistened against the blue velvet sofa. The set up was completed with stunning white armchairs and sherbert colored ottomans, inviting guests to converse comfortably while taking in the grandeur of the grounds. The reception furniture provided by Belounge served as a canvas to incorporate styling aspects previously woven throughout the day. The floral centerpieces, which were as whimsical as the Bride’s bouquet, stood proudly in the French anduze vases, and a fresh, fun alternative table runner was fashioned with blueberries, yellow tomatoes, fresh almonds, and dried pineapple collected that morning from the local market. The table was robed in a natural linen provided by Joli Bazaar, and topped with ornate, golden chargers and cutlery.

The palace setting made way for the star of the show – the handmade plates that served as inspiration for so much of the day. We continued with the pops of antique blue in the linen napkins from Madame de la Maison and blue glass water goblets. Gold-trimmed champagne flutes with pink ribbon scrolls gave the table a playful elegance. The menu consisted of vibrant confections by Frédéric Bernard Traiteur, which held their own in their beauty and paired wonderfully with lavender-infused champagne – a classic nod to Provence. The decadent, tapas-style menu featured scallops, salmon, and shrimp, an egg parfait, veal, sea bass, and an array of locally sourced, in-season vegetables. Made in Cake finished the decadent evening with a cake featuring handmade wafer paper flowers and playful tiers consisting of varied heights and widths. All this deliciousness was served on handmade ceramic plates by Carron Paris. The couple drove away in a black 1960 MGA Roadster with the top down provided by Provence Classics – an elegant, carefree end to a joyous day, full of the hope and promise of a sunny tomorrow.

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Hear Why Small, More Intimate Weddings May Just Be The Way To Go!

Small, intimate weddings have secretly been one of our favorites, here at SMP (even before COVID-19!) They allow you to splurge just a bit, whether it be your dream destination, dream dress, or adding in a few more meaningful details you might not have been able to do, with those closest to you in attendance! It allows you to enjoy each of your guests company all while having your picture perfect wedding day and Clary Pfeiffer Photography, reminds us all how special these smaller weddings can be with her stunning photography!

From Clary Pfeiffer Photography…Smaller weddings in intimate settings create the space to have your dream wedding complete.

After planning a small, intimate destination wedding, my advice would be: DO IT! You will have the opportunity to enjoy time with each guest; You will only be surrounded by those closest to both of you. There will be room in your budget to splurge on things most important to both of you (e.g., decadent wedding meal or beautiful flowers); Stress, anxiety, and pressure caused by an ever-expanding guest list and an overblown budget are greatly reduced; and This day is about you and your fiancé – it should be enjoyable, relaxing, and deeply personal. -Natalie and Kevon

There is time to enjoy each guest and make them feel special.
 
In keeping with our vision for a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, we had all our guests seated at a single candlelit table for the reception. This allowed everyone to engage closely with one another. Being surrounded by the most important people in our lives, celebrating, laughing and crying tears of joy with them is something we will never forget.

You’ll have room in your budget to splurge on things important to both you.
 
We highly recommend investing in photographers and videographers who share the bride and groom’s vision for their wedding day. It was the best investment we made and we will cherish the memories that were captured so beautifully for us that day for years to come.
 
We were able to arrange for a tour of Paris in a luxury vehicle with an English-speaking tour guide and champagne while my groom and I took wedding photographs around Paris. This type of meaningful experience is much easier to accomplish with a smaller celebration.
 
An intimate wedding atmosphere makes the day enjoyable, relaxing, and deeply personal with details, food, and moments for the two of you.
 
We chose to focus on adding meaningful details throughout our big day and therefore relied on talented vendors to organize the big elements of the celebration. The gorgeous flower arrangements, the breathtaking venue and the incredible menu were all wonderful but at the end of the day, what was truly memorable to us were all the little but special details that we personally incorporated into the wedding. For example, we designed our wedding stationery and monogram, and to honor our loved ones, we displayed their wedding photos at our reception. The latter not only served as a great conversation starter for our guests, but was also a great reminder that our wedding was only possible thanks to their love and support. – Jenny and Bevon

Location – You’re able to have your celebration where you first met, your favorite vacation spot, by the ocean.
 
As people who love spacial design we wanted awe-inspiring venues for the wedding, San Fransisco City Hall and Big Sur, did not disappoint. City Hall has such a wonderful combination of intricate details while still maintaining clean lines. The historic architecture and sense of permanence seemed perfect for our ceremony. Big Sur holds such a special place in our hearts so we couldn’t think of a better spot to escape for the reception. – there were whales, dolphins and sea lions off the coast. Toasts were accentuated by the magical glow of sunset and gorgeous Northern California foliage. Even the 3 hour drive from City Hall to Big Sur was an important part of our day – taking a few hours to ourselves to enjoy the scenery change, and reflect on our day together was a lot of fun. – Sarah and Dan

Intimate Destination Wedding in Paris:

Destination Wedding in Paris:

Small, Intimate Wedding in California:

Photography: Clary Pfeiffer Photography

3 Wedding Gowns and One Epic Courtyard Reception in Ostuni, Puglia

Today’s gorgeous couple (no, seriously… these two are a dream) tied the knot in a timeless Puglia wedding surrounded by olive trees and trulli at Masseria Grieco. The bride absolutely took our breath away in her three stunning gowns, one for the ceremony, one for dinner and one to dance the night away. Guests dined in the courtyard under a canopy of string lights at a banquet table designed and decorated to perfection by Impression Villas Weddings with floral from Rollo Fiori. Head on over to the full gallery for the all details, captured by Nastia Vesna & Maksim Gladky!

From Impression Villas Weddings… There is so much charm to be found in the changing of seasons in Puglia, southern Italy, when the weather is not as hot as in mid-summer and all the greenery is still lush and flamboyant. When Amaline and Adrian began dreaming up their special day, they knew they wished to showcase what the beautiful region of Puglia had to offer: natural pastel colors, greenery, delicious food and wine.

The sophistication of the day was exuded through the three wedding dresses that Amaline, a couture wedding dress designer from Australia, created on her own and showcased throughout the day: at the intimate wedding ceremony, at dinner and at the afterparty. The main wedding day palette was olive green and pastel tones, and Amaline chose a minimalist bridal bouquet made of only olive tree branches and tied with a rustic ribbon.

The reception table was decorated with a greenery garland with rare pastel colored blooms for a romantic look, as well as the DIY stationery and limoncello give-aways to create a romantic combination between the two looks. The bride and groom’s chairs were decorated with the wreaths made of the olive tree branches.

A few words about the three wedding dresses:
– The ceremony gown had to be timeless with a point of difference. Handmade, layered flowers adorned the gown from top to train.
– Something softer and lighter was worn for dinner with textured beading and embroidery on a silk satin chiffon. A thigh-high split and another epic train.
– The final “party” gown was a hand-knotted French lace with a plunging neckline, pearl clusters and beaded tassels.

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A Disney Princess Inspired Wedding at Castello Di Celsa in Siena, Italy

Judging by the title, you know this is going to be good. All you romantic brides, prepare to fall head over heels in love with today’s storybook princess wedding in Siena. Wedding Italy brought the couple’s modern day fairytale vision to life, complete with old world elements around a palette of blush tones, hints of grey and neutrals, with gold accents and lots of greenery. To see all the magic this day has to offer, including Tuscany Flowers’ enchanting floral arrangements, head on over to the full gallery – all taken by Lace and Luce!

From Lace and Luce… Sometimes fate truly brings two couples together, as is the case with Monica and Warren who met almost ten years ago and then didn’t re-connect for 6 years. From the bride “I’m Canadian and Warren is based in Southern California, but we met serendipitously in London, England in 2012. There was an immediate and undeniable spark between the two of us, but the timing wasn’t right. After almost 6 years, we reconnected as if by fate. Warren flew to Canada to finally take me on our first date, and the rest was history. After Warren proposed, he took us on a trip to Greece & Italy to celebrate, which he lovingly referred to as our “engagement-moon”. After falling in love with Italy’s history, culture, food and wine on our “engagement-moon”, we knew it would be the perfect place to start our happily ever after! Our love story has truly been a fairytale, so I wanted to capture that in the wedding design. I found Castello di Celsa (which is a picturesque castle outside of Siena) online and knew immediately that it would be the perfect venue! With the help of our wedding planner, Sonia Gallina with WeddingsItaly, we were able to curate the wedding of our dreams. We wanted to create an ethereal, storybook-princess style for the wedding.

The overall vision was modern day fairytale, with old world elements. My favorite movie growing up was ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and our venue and garden rose-dominant florals really paid homage to that. To compliment our stunning venue, the wedding was designed around a palette of blush tones, hints of grey and neutrals, with gold accents and lots of greenery. These colors were reflected in all the wedding decor including the flower arrangements, day of stationary, and tablescapes. We wanted the florals to have an organic feel, as if they could have been growing naturally on the castle grounds. Our florist, Tuscany Flowers, blew us away with the floral design. The end result was a romantic and elegant fairytale vibe, with a true Tuscan flair. We wanted to curate a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our guests, so we decided on hosting three days of wedding festivities. In addition, wedding days fly by in the blink of an eye, so we intentionally extended the celebration in order to build more memories with our loved ones.

Obsessed with this adorable “Together is a beautiful place to be” sign? Us, too ;) Shop it here!

The wedding weekend began with a Welcome Dinner at Pizzeria La Miniera on Friday, the Wedding Day at Castello di Celsa on Saturday and finished with a private winery tour, wine tasting and lunch at Castello di Fonterutoli on Sunday. Our wedding date, October 5, holds special significance to us because it is my beloved grandmother’s birthday and also the day that she married my grandfather. My grandparents were my biggest inspiration in life, and since I was a little girl, it has been my dream to get married on this date. We paid homage to my grandparents in multiple ways throughout the day. My mother walked me down the aisle to ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ a song that my grandfather still sings to me to this day. Our guestbook table featured a photo of them from their wedding day. I also incorporated them in my ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’. For my something old I wore my grandmother’s wedding ring on my right hand, and used her hand-beaded purse, which was given to her by my grandfather.

For my something borrowed I had my grandfather’s wedding band tucked in to the purse, and my mother tied a blue ribbon around it as my something blue. It was so special to have both of their wedding rings with us as we got married on the same date, 68 years later. I’m a huge fan of the wedding dress designer, Hayley Paige and I always knew that I would wear one of her stunning designs down the aisle. I booked an appointment for a trunk show at her flagship store, JLM Couture in West Hollywood, with my lovely sister-in-law, Trudi. Prior to the appointment, I saw a new design on Hayley Paige’s instagram page that I absolutely fell in love with. I decided to send her a DM to inquire about the style number of the dress, and if it would be available at my upcoming appointment. To my suprise, Hayley herself responded and informed me that the dress was called ‘Warren’ – the exact same name as my fiance! I knew right then and there (prior to even trying it on) that this was my dress, I feel like it chose me! Much to my surprise, when I went for my appointment I got to meet Hayley Paige in person! It was a dream come true to meet her and have her there for my ‘say yes to the dress’ moment. She ended up drawing me a sketch of me in my gown, and it is something I will cherish forever.”

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Find Out Why This Villa Is Forever Our Favorite Amalfi Coast Wedding Venue

When it comes to Italian wedding destinations, I think we can all agree it’s pretty tough to compete with Villa Cimbrone. The venue’s timeless, old world romance enchants us every. single. time. That being said, we couldn’t be more excited to share today’s destination wedding at Villa Cimbrone from Events by Paulina. To see all the dreamy details, including an epic hanging floral installation from Malafronte Fiori, head on over to the full gallery – all taken by Bottega53!

How and when did you meet?

From the Bride… We met at a mutual friend’s house in Taipei, where Jimmy was invited to cook for a group of friends. Luckily, Jimmy brought his best and prepared his signature bourbon bbq ribs and sea urchin risotto, because it caught Rachel’s attention. After a few weeks of dating, Rachel told Jimmy that she was moving to Los Angeles to continue her education for the next two years. Jimmy said he was all for it and they started their two year long distance relationship from Los Angeles to Shanghai defying the cliche that long distance doesn’t last. (12/2013)

How and when did you get engaged?

During one of Jimmy and Rachel’s summer vacations to Europe, Jimmy had planned a little surprise along the way. Jimmy cunningly planned his proposal and rented a yacht for the day to take them from Capri to Positano where he would propose during sunset with Positano’s mystic cliffside architecture as a backdrop. However, what he didn’t plan for was a luggage that never arrived at Naples and a high tide on the way from Naples to Capri. The dramamine was in that luggage, and Rachel was so seasick that she told Jimmy she never wanted to get on a boat again. Luckily, the luggage arrived to our resort in Capri, albeit missing a wheel, but with the seasick meds, she was ready to give it another shot. We cruised around Capri, dined at one Michelin-starred Il Riccio and even had Michael Jordon dine behind us. Finally, we boarded our private yacht, headed towards Positano, and paused about 500 yards from the beach for a photo session at the bow. With John Mayer’s “Gravity” playing in the background, Jimmy dropped to one knee and proposed. (07/2018)

Why did you pick this venue? What did you most love about it?

We had considered a number of cities in Italy and researched a number of venues, but we wanted to bring all of our family and friends to the place that we felt was most special, the Amalfi Coast. During our search, we saw surreal, beautiful pictures of Villa Cimbrone online, and Paulina had just so suggested the same venue as one of her top choices. We knew Villa Cimbrone would be the place. Ravello was relatively close to Positano, while being a bit more quaint and dreamy. The number of rooms was perfect for our big family so we booked the entire villa for our family to stay in during our wedding. Villa Cimbrone also had such a wide selection of picturesque spaces across its property that could be used for the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception and after-party. It only made sense, even if we never had the chance to visit the venue or taste the food before our wedding. Our choice was perfect, as the venue was more beautiful than we thought, and all of the hotel staff were top-notch, including the spectacular Villa Cimbrone events coordinator, Donnatella. Looking back, we would make the same decision, hands down.

What was your vision for your wedding?

Our vision of our wedding was to create a journey shared with family and friends, which included traveling from Rome to Positano and hosting a Capri boat excursion with a welcome lunch party in Capri followed by evening drinks in Positano and in Ravello. Literally, we would explore, wine and dine together all the way till the big event. For the wedding itself, we wanted different experiences from the welcome drinks to the ceremony, cocktails, reception and finally the after-party, and Villa Cimbrone offered it all with such an expansive, diverse and beautiful property. We started our welcome drinks with a rooftop lemonade stand at Villa Cimbrone’s terrace where the guests had amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea. The guests were then ushered through the famous Cimbrone gardens passing by a pomegranate tree to eventually reach a cliff-side ceremony filled with white rustic florals where a quintet was playing classical love songs. Once the ceremony was finished, our guests would be ushered into one of many gardens filled with gelato stands, an escort card table with limoncello shots for each guest, and a gift table where we had custom bags and cashmere scarves with hand-ironed logos. The gelato, finger foods, Prosecco and an Italian guitar duo made for a fun way to kick off the evening.

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A Luxury Persian Wedding Weekend in Europe Fit for the Royals

William and Kate who? This gorgeous couple’s weekend in Vienna is rivaling the royal wedding. A grand palace venue, three long banquet tables that will make your jaw drop, and steal-worthy centerpieces from Zweigstelle. The entire weekend was planned to perfection by A Very Beloved Wedding and captured by Sotiris Tsakanikas. For all the can’t miss details from their day, head on over to the full gallery and get inspired!

From A Very Beloved Wedding… Sophia and Ehsan are a couple to remember. They met at Yoga class and their life has been that Zen ever since. Both are lovers of good food, travels, water, Rumi and life memories. Their relationship has many aspects in common with the city they got married in: Vienna. It is strong, dreamy, refined, mystical, magical, unpredictable, filled with romance and meant to be. All these elements where incorporated in the Design of the welcome event, the ceremony, and the reception, creating first a vivid, fun, elegant and romantic experience and then a second a chic, sophisticated, floaty, and clear experience.

The ceremony took place in the mirror salon on a mirrored table with crystal clear décor, a Persian traditional Sofreh with symbolic elements, dispersed flowers and candle lights. The Welcome Event and Ceremony venue, Palais Coburg, is a former bastion built in the 16th century and renovated in neoclassicist style in the 19th century. The historic rooms are of diverse interior design filled with gold leaves and stucco marble pillars. Colorful, vivid, fun, young, contrasting the imperiality of the historic palace. We made use of burgundy, emerald green, yellow, grapefruit pink and blush. It was a fun evening for gathering old friends and family all together to witness the traditional ceremony and to toast on the couple’s behalf. A colorful, fun, and young night, full of contrasts and interesting moments. The floral design gave a reminiscence of festivity, grandness, timeless beauty, leaving a great impact in the memories of the couple and their guests. Guests enjoyed the historic rooms, the terrace and the garden. Crème baroque furniture was displayed on the terrace with flowers and candles.

The garden was magical, with candle lights everywhere to generate a romantic feeling. As guests entered through the garden we displayed the wedding weekend program with greens. After the ceremony and cocktail guests were guided to the original wine cellar of the Palace where the party took place. The Reception venue on the next day was the Garden Palace Liechtenstein. Over 300 years, as part of the princely family of Liechtenstein, the Palace is deeply rooted in Vienna’s history. It is a perfect symbiosis of history, art, and nature. Baroque interiors, artful frescos, and a dreamy garden make this place memorable and honest. The private art collection shows masterpieces of Rubens, Raphael, and Rembrandt. Among others, amazingly artful furniture is also displayed. Among the antique furniture of the collection, the most expensive piece of furniture in the world can be found there. It is an armoire decorated with the most precious gems.

The dinner took place outdoors in the princely gardens of Liechtenstein, among diverse greens, roses, trees, and a beautiful lake. The color palette of the reception was greyish blue, crème and all in all soft, elegant and chic. We used clear and light elements, giving a reminiscence to water. After arrival at the Garden Palace Liechtenstein, the guests were guided to the cocktail in the Hercules room. Lounge furniture and flower décor were displayed. While guests were enjoying finger food and drinks, they were able to visit the Museum’s pieces of art. The groom together with the guests welcomed the bride and her family at the entrance area. Afterwards, the dinner took place in the beautiful rose gardens of Liechtenstein Garden Palace, surrounded by architectural sophisticated greens and flowers. A lake shadowed by an old, big tree that has been part of the palace for many centuries will be the backdrop of this dinner. The tables were long creating a royal outdoor feeling, the linen greyish blue and the flowers romantic. The cutlery was of old silver, the crystal-clear charger plates, and the glasses with clear lines, created a sense of lightness. The candles were of diverse heights and of glass. The party started after the cutting of the cake surrounding and historic horse carriage.

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Photography

Sotiris Tsakanikas

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This Underrated Destination Wedding Locale in Europe Is a Music Lover’s Dream

If you ask us, Vienna is one of the most underrated wedding destinations in the world – it’s teeming with old world charm, inspiring art and most of all… the sound of music. It is coined the “City of Music” after all, with big names such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Straub who have filled the city with beauty at every turn. Not to mention our personal favorite – Julie Andrews ;) Today’s wedding is centered around the timeless tale of music and love in the city of Vienna. And lucky for us, we get to live vicariously through their unforgettable wedding weekend at the full gallery – all captured by Stefanie Kapra Photography and planned by A Very Beloved Wedding.

From A Very Beloved Wedding… Lea and Avo complement each other in every way. He`s a vivid spirit with a wonderful aura and energy, a talented violinist and warm soul. She is a big hearted and incredibly unique lady, with a talent for understanding and living the world’s reality. Both are lovers of art, of history and especially music. That is how they decided to get married in the City of Music: Vienna. Big names, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Strauß and many more extraordinary musicians have filled this city with joy, love and change. Being in Vienna makes you experience art and music in each and every corner. Getting married in Vienna, like Lea and Avo did, makes you experience the timeless and forever lasting notes of the biggest musicians transform in this timeless love.

Lea’s and Avo’s wedding theme was all about music and art. It was an elegant yet young wedding, refined and warm, traditional yet simply original, memorable, sharing, surprising, entertaining, and graceful. A unique experience full of love and beauty. A romantic fusion between art, traditional elegance, and entertaining originality. Lea and Avo’s wedding had colors of white, grey, soft and blush purple/blue. White stands for the pureness, honesty and meaningful relationship of the couple and the blue/purple/grey stands for their happiness, solidity, fusion, and strength. The flowers were soft and romantic in different shades of whites, greys, purples and greens, depending on where they were displayed. Their design was timeless and grand. We used diverse types of roses and orchids. The stationery was timeless and elegant. It was of fine art Letterpress and 100% cotton paper. The design of the font was classic, such as the Save the dates and the website. The paper color was white and the font color grey with gold ornaments. The design of the ornaments was classic and romantic. The envelopes and additional are calligraphed in gold. The Welcome Event venue was the Natural History Museum is home to world-famous and unique objects, such as the 29,500-year-old Venus of Willendorf, the Steller’s sea cow that became extinct over 200 years ago, and enormous dinosaur skeletons. The museum building opened in 1889 at the same time as the Museum of Art History. The two museums have identical exteriors and face each other across Maria-Theresien-Platz. The Museum was built to house the huge collection of the Habsburgs. Thus the Welcome Event took place at one of Vienna’s most prestigious, original and beautiful History Museums. The stunning façade welcomed the guests and the couple, leading into a round black and white entrance with a gold painted violin performance on a black podium. Lights and sound (violin) transformed the ambience into a festive performance, making reference to the golden Statue of Johann Strauß that is found in one of the most famous parks of Europe “Stadtpark”. The violin player will perform each time guests pass by him. Black and White lounge and bar furniture was displayed on the second floor for guests to enjoy the flying buffet and the Jazz band. Guests were guided to the second floor of the museum. Columns were light, a jazz band was playing on stage, high tables and lounge furniture were displayed. A flying dinner and drinks were served. As per the ceremony venue: for over 300 years, the Garden Palace of the princely family of Liechtenstein is deeply rooted in Vienna’s history. It is a perfect symbiosis of history, art, and nature. Baroque interiors, artful frescos, and a dreamy garden make this place memorable and honest. The private art collection shows masterpieces of Rubens, Raphael, and Rembrandt. Among others, amazingly artful furniture is also displayed. Among the antique furniture of the collection, the most expensive piece of furniture in the world can be found there. It is an armoire decorated with the most precious gems. The ceremony is going to take place outdoors in the princely gardens of Liechtenstein, among diverse greens, roses, trees, and a beautiful lake.

Guests arrived at the Garden Palace Liechtenstein and were welcomed by a string quartet on the front terrace. A carpet lead to the main entrance. Guests went through the main entrance enjoying one of the 3 Marie Antoinette horse carriages that are left in the world, surrounded by flowers, until arriving to the second terrace and ceremony area. The string quartet turned into an octet in the garden. The ceremony took place in the beautiful rose gardens of Garden Palace Liechtenstein, surrounded by architectural sophisticated greens and flowers. The groom welcomed the guests and was standing together with the 3 priests under the ceremony arch. The bride arrived with her father on a horse carriage. Afterwards she entered with Pachelbel’s Canon in C Dur. After the ceremony, the cocktail took place on the terrace. White baroque furniture was displayed with one bar surrounded by flowers. The Reception Venue was the Royal Palace of the Habsburgs. From the 13th Century up to 1918 the extensive palatial complex at the heart of Vienna was the political center of the Habsburg Monarchy.

The rooms where house of several Emperors of the monarchy. The beautiful ceiling painting of the main ballroom shows the reign of the Habsburgs, Maximilian I., Karl V., Ferdinand I., Rudolf II. And Ferdinand II. Of Tyrol, Leopold I., Karl VI., Prinz Eugen and King Jan III, Sobieski, and the slogan of the emperor Franz Joseph I “Viribus Unitis”. Guests arrived at the Hofburg enjoying the light façade. After entering they were welcomed in the stairs hallway decorated with a carpet and several flower arrangements. Playing violinists were positioned on the stairway leading the way up to the second floor. Guests received drinks on the hallway in front of the closed ballroom. Background music was playing. The lighting was festive and generated a mood of grandness. The flowers were according to the color palette. As soon as all guests have arrived at the hallway in front of the ballroom on the second floor, the doors of the ballroom opened simultaneously, and guests enjoyed a grand violin concert while getting to their seats. Each table name is a name of an important musician, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Strauß, Bach, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn etc. The couple entered dancing with a light show on stage. The dinner was alternated with dancing. The table setting was elegant, traditional and perfect for the venue and grandness of the day. The cutlery was gold displayed on the sides of a glass charger plates with gold. On the charger plates the napkins with the fine letterpress menus were placed. Tall flowers in glass vases were displayed in the middle of the table, surrounded by low flower arrangements and candles. The table clothes were white as well as the napkin. The menu card was part of the letterpress stationery suite. After the last course, the cake was brought into the center of the dance floor to be cut by the couple with a special knife. The cake was a big white cake with natural flowers and music notes on it. Two bars were part of the big party. The brunch venue was the Schönburg Palace, a baroque Palace from the 15th century built by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt and belonged to the noble family Starhemberg. The brunch was the perfect closing of this marvelous Vienna Wedding Weekend. In one of Vienna’s most famous private palaces with a private garden we displayed a Monet picnic with diverse food stations, picnic areas, lounge areas and seating tables. Not only the garden was open for the guests, but also the historic rooms at the beletage with antique lounge furniture to match the historic heritage of the rooms. Standing umbrellas, hand umbrellas (for ladies) and fans were also part of the set up in the garden and hand out to the guests. Cool background music was played. An ice cream card and cotton candy cart was in the garden, too.

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This Stunning 15th Century Tuscan Venue Was Rumored to Have Been Designed by Michelangelo Himself

Classic elegance at a Tuscan villa with a hint of Hollywood glamour – I mean… need we say more? This gorgeous day is what destination wedding dreams are made of. With the help of Style A Wedding, the bride left no detail unturned when it came to decor. She even created her own handmade invitations, hand painted welcome signs and table numbers (and y’all know we love a good DIY) Check out the full gallery of dreamy Italian wedding inspiration – all captured by Kir & Ira Photography!

From the Bride… Being expats residing in Dubai, Myles and I where in search of a destination Wedding venue that was easy distance for not only ourselves and friends in the middle east but also our UK based family and friends back home. We fell in love with the Tuscan landscape and with our favourite food being all things Italian is wasn’t a hard sell once we found the beautiful, Villa Mangiacane. Once the residence of ‘The prince’ author Niccolo Machiavelli and rumoured to have been designed by Michelangelo himself, Villa Mangiacane was teaming with history and romance and we knew it had to play host to our wedding festivities.

In addition to the wedding day we hosted a pizza and Prosecco welcome dinner for our guests and a poolside BBQ to cure the hangover post wedding day. When planning the wedding we wanted to create something that was timeless, classic and elegant. Our main goal was to give our guests a real chance to escape the mayhem, let their hair down and fall in love with the rolling hills like we did. With the breath taking views and giant pink structure taking centre stage of the scene we decided to use simplistic decor with a muted palette of grey, green and white which really complimented the surrounded olive groves.

We wanted to add a touch of old Hollywood glamour with our attire, Myles choosing a White Tux and I, a custom made made mermaid dress by Riki Dalal. Myles struggled to find a wedding band he liked so he took some old gold cufflinks he had inherited from his deceased grandfather and had them transformed into a wedding band that he adored. Villa Mangiacane is full of beautiful antiques, unique sculptures and works of art. I made sure to feature these as part of the decor where I could. I also utilised items found in the estate such as wine barrels, corks and Persian rugs in the decor design. I love a bit of crafts and DIY so I threw myself into the the task of creating handmade invitations, hand painted welcome signs and table numbers. A truly tuscan feast, all sourced from the estate was served in the courtyard of the villa. A beautiful space surrounded by vines which once the sun went down was truly magical under the twinkling string lights . Favours consisted of lemon-cello bottles and personalized chocolate coffee beans to keep guests Dancing all Night, which they certainly did! After a surprise Italian opera singer performed our first dance, guests witnessed a huge fireworks display from the loggia in the villa (signaled by the cut of the cake!) before commencing an all night cellar party complete with International DJ. It really was an absolute dream come true!

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Allow This Gorgeous Santorini Day to Make Eloping the Easiest Decision Ever

During this crazy COVID time, more and more couples are celebrating their special day with only their closest circle – or even just them two! The amount of stunning intimate affairs we’ve seen over the past few months has been a silver lining for us here at SMP. Secretly, we’re kind of excited for elopement style celebrations to continue when this is all over! I mean, how can you blame us when the results look like THIS?! We’re swooning over today’s cliffside ceremony in Santorini planned by Jennifer Fox Weddings. If you’re on the fence about eloping, please allow this gorgeous day to convince you – all captured by Molly Carr Photography!

From Molly Carr Photography… Nicole & Chris are a US-based couple whose love of travel paired with their adventurous spirit brought them all the way to the sun-drenched, idyllic island of Santorini, Greece to celebrate their elopement wedding. The mood of their elopement was gentle, intentional, gracious and romantic… Elegant and sophisticated… A coming together of two people whose love and appreciation of nature just accented the majestic beauty of the Cycladic island. This was a major inspiration behind the design and feel of their wedding. They specifically chose Oia because of its picturesque beaches, its tranquil feeling of romance and its breathtaking sunsets.

The overall design inspiration was taken from the multicolored hues of the ethereal sunset. The sunset in Oia is full of so many pastel hues that it’s reminiscent of rainbow-colored sorbet! Their ceremony took place on a private balcony at Oia Canaves Suites that looked out over the Aegean Sea. Instead of having a classic arch which would have obstructed the view, they chose to have a grounded horseshoe arch to stand in the middle of while exchanging their vows.

With beauty by Harold James Hair & Makeup Artist, Nicole looked like a Greek-goddess in her Elizabeth Fillmore gown, draped in the finest silk that perfectly reflected the majestic Santorini light. The custom calligraphy and stationery pieces were oh so dreamy. Shasta Bell Calligraphy lovingly created everything from the Greek island illustration down to the custom-made box which beautifully presented each of the handmade paper goods. Early on in the planning, Chris secretly reached out to their wedding planner, Jennifer Fox of Avec Weddings and Events, and asked advice as to how to surprise Nicole.

They came up with the idea of a handwritten love note that she would discover when they sat down for their wedding dinner. Needless to say, it was a slam dunk, and there was not a dry eye in the house! Once at their dinner venue, Mystique Hotel Santorini, the balcony was all dressed up for their private dinner for two. Glass urn lanterns were used to give the space a more organic ambiance and lemon yellow colored candles adorned the table. Each place setting was designated by a shell with the couple’s first name as well as the love note on each plate. Seafoam colored linen napkins were gently tied to accent the marble dinner plate and contemporary flatware. The finishing touch was a stunning floral arrangement that perfectly complemented the pastel-hued sunset, designed by Betty Flowers Santorini.

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Canaves Oia Suites

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Exclusive Château De La Gaude Wedding Inspiration, a Provence Venue Never Seen Before!

Ever dream about tying the knot in the South of France but have no idea where to start looking for a venue? Well, you’re in luck. Because we just found Provencal heaven and its called Château de la Gaude; a newly renovated 17th century chateau. It’s truly the perfect mix of french luxury and countryside charm fit for a destination wedding of any style. For more inspiration, head on over to the full gallery to see all the details from this gorgeous day planned by White Eden Weddings – captured perfectly by Oliver Fly!

From White Eden Weddings… If you have ever been in Provence, you know how many gems can host your destination wedding in the South of France. What you probably don’t know is the Château de la Gaude; this Provencal heaven was built in the 17th century near Aix-en-Provence and has just been renovated. The wonderful team of the Château opened its doors to our creative team in order to design and host an event set-up, and tell for the very first time the story of a destination wedding at the Château de la Gaude.

The wedding venue defines the frame of a destination wedding, and can be – when as beautiful as this French Château – the central focus and source of inspiration. Never seen before on a wedding set-up, the Château de la Gaude has been a major piece of a consistent puzzle, designed to embrace the very French authenticity of the Château and its gardens twisted with the fashion, timeless and bold touches brought all together for this perfect summer day in Provence.

Magnificently captured by the talented Oliver Fly & MG Image, our refined interlude in Provence shows how from a romantic love story can result a tailor-made luxury french wedding experience, filled with details, infused by the South of France and providing lifetime yet different memories.

Speaking of memories, we truly believe that a bespoke welcome bag is the perfect attention to warmly welcome your close ones. This one was made of local treats, a bottle of Rosé wine from the Château, fresh florals. You said « details »? Wait for the best, these provencal bags were hosting hand made edible paper flowers created by Made in Cake and packed in individual boxes made to measure by Crème de Papier and stamped with the graphics of the Chateau’s french gardens.

As destination wedding planners & designers, we anticipate the styling as the answer to several questions. How to embrace the couple’s style? What does it take here to create a refined & consistent experience? How to make sure that every part of the celebration will be remembered for the best? Most of these elements are very personal on weddings, and this editorial was the best occasion to bring creative answers.

Now that the guests were infused with Provence and especially this little heaven that Chateau de la Gaude is, we wanted to design an organic, simple and classic ceremony set-up. We chose to go with a lush start of the aisle, with compositions of diverse white flowers to pop-up from the grass of the gardens and match the amplitude of the three meters high arch, beautifully designed by the very talented Miss Rose by Perrine.

The color palette and soft tones have been chosen in order to give a timeless & extremely refined base to the design. While being consistent with the environment of the Château, the colors were contrasting with the green of the french gardens but matching the softness of the château’s facade providing the necessary consistency on a wedding design.

The bold part of the styling surely was the black details (mostly brought thought the table setting & candle holders) enhanced by delicate black berries & fruits displayed on the head table. In order to balance these black tones and provide some softness to the overall, Perrine has incorporated little touches of cream and soft pink, in her gorgeous florals, themselves perfectly matching the bespoke menus and the floral napkins.

We went on a little bit more classic style for the guests’ tables, with two distinct scenarios, playing with textures and patterns but keeping the same colors and consistency with the florals and table setting.

The beautiful wedding cake, designed by Made in Cake, was incredibly delicate and matching the softness of the overall styling. Displayed on a velvet linen, the scene truly gave the impression that this piece of art was preciously floating above the gardens.

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Dreaming of a Wedding Destination That Feels Like a Real-Life Fairytale? Look No Further.

Italy and France are completely amazing, we all know that… but if you ask us, Portugal is one of the most underrated wedding destinations out there. For today’s editorial, StudioVictorias and Malvina Frolova were inspired by the beauty and diversity of Portuguese landscapes – stunning beaches, broad vineyards and ancient castles. Speaking of castles… we can’t get over how gorgeous this venue is. StudioVictorias said it best, it’s like “a fairytale palace in the middle of an enchanted forest.” Head on over to the full gallery to fall in love with the refined elegance and beauty of Portugal.

From Malvina Frolova… Dreaming of a wedding destination that feels like a real-life fairytale? Look no further. Portugal is a country of endless inspiration. The beauty and diversity of Portuguese landscapes are impressive: 800 km of stunning beaches, broad vineyards of the Douro Valley, amber cork fields of Alentejo, lonely lighthouses, ancient castles, and royal palaces. And the idea of this editorial shoot was to create an inspiration capturing the refined simplicity of the country itself combining it with an old-world European aesthetic and modern elegance. A former royal palace in central Portugal sets the scene for this editorial shoot, created by Portuguese wedding agency StudioVictorias and beautifully captured by fine art photographer Malvina Frolova.

This magnificent palace of the Portuguese monarchs was built in the unique Neo-Manueline style and now is now turned into one of the most beautiful historic hotels in the world. From StudioVictorias: “A fairytale palace in the middle of an enchanted forest” would be the best definition of this venue. The palace is a genuine ode to romanticism, enclosed in the uniqueness and beauty of its interiors, the exceptional framing of the landscape and the grandeur of its eclectic facade. This is a real architectural fantasy with an atmosphere of mystery, surrounded by gardens with exotic trees from far corners of the Portuguese Empire. We brought together a talented team of international vendors to inspire the couples from all over the world to celebrate the wedding in the real royal palace, where the atmosphere of the luxury of the past days is intertwined with the romance of the present.

We wanted to maximally show all the possibilities of this unique historical venue in the heart of Old Europe. Despite the grandeur of the palace located in a dark mysterious forest, we wanted to create a very light and charming project that could convey the sensuality and tenderness of our couple in love. And as it seems, everything worked out perfectly. In Bussaco Palace any girl instantly turns into a princess. The feminine style of boudoir sets for the morning of the bride, the minimum of accessories, natural makeup and loose updo make her a true embodiment of sensuality and tenderness. The bride’s embroidered lace wedding dress from Vanila Studio and minimalist earrings from OlgaDelice added aristocratic elegance, while a delicate bouquet in an airy garden style complemented her sophisticated look.

A classic sharp-looking suit from Penhalta fashion house and accessories from the Portuguese designer Maison Nuno Gama were selected for the groom. We intentionally supplemented the magnificence of the old palace and the wild nature of the region with elegant details of the decor and delicate looks of the couple, harmoniously combining the eternal and the modern. In the concept, we used soft pastel shades, from cold grey to warm beige and pale pink and complementing them with dusty yellow. For the ceremony area, floral designer Yana Metlinskaya created an asymmetric arch that harmoniously blends with the surrounding garden space and complements the intricate architecture of the palace. On the balcony of the palace, decorated with luxurious stucco work, a table for eight people was served. Modern gold cutlery and plates were remarkably combined with a heavy silk tablecloth, vintage wooden chairs and a floral arrangement in an airy organic style. The stationery designed by To Be Dream creates an exquisite modern look with handcrafted paper and a typical Portuguese pattern for the envelope. Elegance is added by hand-illustrated details like the drawing of the architectural elements of the palace. Gorgeous four-tier cake by Julie Deffence was created taking into account the general concept and decorated with sugar flowers matching a project’s color palette and handcrafted wafer paper with the same typical Portuguese tiles pattern. At the end of a romantic day, a vintage car was waiting for a couple to take them on their first family trip.

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Petit Bouquet

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Vibrant Pinks in Provence – This Editorial Is Destination Wedding Heaven!

If you’re a Francophile like myself, then prepare to fall in loveee with today’s editorial at Château d’Estoublon in the heart of Provence, planned by Jennifer Fox Weddings. From the vibrant pink cascading blooms by Miss Rose by Perrine to jaw-dropping gowns, to the 1958 MGA Roadster getaway car – every detail from this day was très chic. Head on over the full gallery, captured to perfection by Oliver Fly of course, to get inspired for your French fête!

From Jennifer Fox Weddings… A few months before the COVID-19 pandemic, I happened upon Château d’Estoublon in the heart of Provence. With over 500 acres of sprawling, manicured grounds that include an orchard, vineyards, a pond, and a rose garden plus the regal castle, in which each room is as grand as its spectacular facade, my imagination ran wild. I dreamed of the day I could design an event here. A few months later, the opportunity to create an editorial that honored the venue and its surroundings in partnership with the amazing destination film photographer, Oliver Fly, presented itself, turning my dreams into reality. Oliver is deeply passionate about Provence, he knows perfectly the light and turned it to his advantage for to create the best set of images ever.

Guests were greeted with a curated welcome box featuring olives, rosé wine, olive oil, and other signature products from the chåteau as well as cookies to match the cake, a locally made bar of soap, and a towel as a nod to the luxuriant pool on the property. Grey & Cake created a stationery suite featuring an illustration of Château d’Estoublon, a custom envelope liner featuring white anemones (the signature flower of the day), a lavender wreath on the menus, and a beautiful wax seal. Soft, handmade paper, inky calligraphy, and delicate silk ribbons resulted in a textural, layered suite that truly paid homage to both Provence and the venue. Vibrant pinks served as an unexpected color palette, with purple accents as a subtle nod to Provence’s most famous export. The color selection was serendipitous, as upon arrival at the Chåteau, I discovered a lawn full of bright pink rose bushes in full bloom in front of the staircase, which is where our ceremony took place.

Miss Rose by Perrine created a cascading, floral masterpiece to adorn the staircase railings, which popped against the creamy hues of the elegant chåteau and looked as if the florals had been foraged from the grounds. A simple arrangement featuring traditional, round-back Louis XVI chairs provided by Belounge, completed the ceremony set up. The groom arrived in a 1958 MGA Roadster by Provence Classics, wearing an elegant suit by Rives featuring a shawl collar and a beautifully belted jacket. Alejandra Nerizagal pulled the bride’s hair back in a romantic chignon, showcasing her dewey, natural beauty, highlighted with peachy makeup by Ylva Langenskiold. Top Bridal Paris provided an immaculately detailed gown, which showcased exquisite beadwork on the bodice, a plunging neckline and back, a flowing, light overskirt and coordinating cape, and a bold, beaded underskirt. A pair of Bella Belle pumps completed the look, with a sheer panel that complemented the skirt of the gown.

The bride and groom changed attire for bridal portraits by the pool. The bride wore a semi-sheer gown, featuring a bold feather bodice and illusion neckline, and we chose a long, birdcage-inspired veil to allow the golden hour light to shine through. Her look was topped off with a statement, wafer paper flower, designed by Made in Cake, while the groom donned an ivory dinner jacket. Guests enjoyed the chåteau’s rosé and white wines among the olive trees along with the signature cocktail – a Provençal Kiss Martini. Gin, Saint Germain, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, and lavender combined to create a vibrant, refreshing drink that truly captured the beauty and feeling of the area. A long, rectangular table dressed in crisp, pure linens by Madame de la Maison was set with regal gold and white porcelain and crystal by Joli Bazaar for the intimate reception dinner on the chåteau lawn. Lavender taper candles, vibrant floral arrangements, and an abundance of local wine and olive oil completed the tablescape. At the finish of the perfect evening, guests enjoyed a slice of the pink olive oil cake – made using the chåteau’s production, of course – with poached apricots and rosemary cream.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Photography

Sotiris Tsakanikas

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This Is the Italian Countryside Wedding Venue You’ve Seen All Over Instagram

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

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

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

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

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Jacqueline Hallgarth Events

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Petit Bouquet

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This Stunning Destination Wedding in Ravello Was Planned in Just 45 Days!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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