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.