Florence Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

A Quintessentially Italian Wedding Weekend in Florence at Villa Gamberaia

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Ivory, ecru, whits, sage, olive, silver[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Skillful floral design, romantic, refined, and rustic with a touch of old-world European style[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]In 2020, Daniel popped the question to Michelle at the enchanting Pearl Morisette vineyard and restaurant in Jordan, Ontario – a cherished spot for the couple.
Both avid wine collectors and connoisseurs, they are proud members of the vineyard’s exclusive wine club. Against the backdrop of a stunning vineyard bathed in the warm hues of sunset, Daniel knelt down, capturing the perfect moment with a discreet photographer on hand and a bottle of champagne chilling on ice.
Following this romantic proposal, they indulged in a lavish 6-course tasting menu with perfectly paired wines. The celebration continued at Daniel’s family home, where they shared the joyous occasion with their immediate family.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Michelle’s gown is a poetic ode to romance, sprinkled with a touch of fashion flair. It’s a graceful mermaid-style dress adorned with elevated floral embellishments. A cascade of feathers graces the lower part of the dress, adding a contemporary and slightly rebellious touch. During the ceremony, a lengthy veil bestowed upon the bride a more traditional and sumptuous appearance, perfectly befitting the occasion.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Every bridesmaid chose her dress from different fashion brands. The bride specifically asked that the bridesmaids’ dresses capture the botanical ambiance of the wedding and adhere to a color palette featuring tones of green, like sage green or olive green.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]With the assistance of the skilled team at King & Bay, Daniel was able to create a stunning and refined custom-made suit.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]For their welcome pizza party, Michelle and Daniel curated an authentic rendezvous with the heart of traditional Italian gastronomy. From the live wood-fired pizza, boasting an array of toppings, to the Mozzarella Bar offering this delicacy in various shapes and sizes, and a dedicated station featuring delectable Italian cured meats—freshly sliced raw ham taking the spotlight. The buffet was also rich in seasonal fruits and vegetables, a feast for the eyes.
Transitioning from aperitifs dominated by the popular Spritz cocktail, the dinner was elegantly complemented by a robust and intense Chianti Classico.

The Wedding Day:
During the aperitif, guests savored prosecco and champagne while indulging in sophisticated canapés in the villa’s beautiful garden, which overlooks Florence.

For the formal dinner, the couple decided on two pasta courses: Tortelli with cacio e pepe featuring crunchy Roman bacon and Paccheri fresh pasta with saffron cream, confit Pachino tomatoes, and asparagus tips. As the third course, the skilled chefs at Galateo offered guests a choice between Sea Bass with champagne and lemon, served alongside seasonal vegetables drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, and Beef Fillet with a Chianti Classico wine sauce, sage-infused roasted potatoes, and a crisp vegetable ratatouille.
An evening showcasing the premium offerings of traditional Italian products paired with white and red wines from the prestigious Antinori Winery.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The floral arrangements exhibited an effortlessly spontaneous arrangement of lush greenery and solely white flowers. Unconventional and lavish compositions adorned the mirrored platform during the ceremony, allowing nature to take center stage and reflect itself.

For the dinner setup, on the two grand tables, alongside the flowers, silver candelabras with white candles and fruits like grapes and figs were incorporated. This was a nod to the essence of the “old world,” where celebrations were marked by opulent tables laden with abundance.

The bridesmaids’ “bouquets” were uniquely charming: romantic wicker bags from which blossoms emerged organically, creating the impression of an exceptionally elegant countryside picnic.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Traditional Italian millefeuille wedding cake with show cooking by Galateo Ricevimenti

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Ceremony Music: I can’t help falling in love – Elvis Presley

First dance: My First, My last, My everything – Barry White[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The entire event was marked by live music, from the ceremony to the evening celebration. The performers skillfully captivated the guests, ensuring they had a lively and exhilarating experience.

During the ceremony, violinists adorned in expansive blue tulle dresses enchanted the attendees. Classical dancers graced the aperitif, followed by an engaging dinner, a live band, and exceptional performers. The night party within the villa’s cloister featured a mirrored floor and unique multi-level ceiling draperies, creating an extraordinary atmosphere.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The Bride, Michelle, walked into the ceremony holding two white balloons in memory of her father. An empty chair reserved for him was placed in the front row next to her mother, to which the balloon was attached. As she walked down the aisle, Michelle was accompanied by her brother.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Daniel, with Italian heritage, holds a deep appreciation for Italian cuisine and has a passion for the culinary arts. Given their ownership of a restaurant in Canada, it’s worth noting that he took delight in personally crafting their wedding cake, showcasing his culinary skills in front of their guests.

In line with the couple’s remarkable hospitality, Michelle and Daniel graciously hosted their guests on the eve of their wedding at an Italian-themed welcome evening. Set against the picturesque sunset of Florence, two extended tables were adorned with an array of delectable Italian cuisine. The catering team thoughtfully curated various tasting stations, including a dynamic “pizzeria,” continuously crafting delightful offerings. A quartet of musicians seamlessly blended with the lighthearted attendees, who gleefully serenaded each other with some of the world’s most renowned Italian songs.[/field]
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A Romantic, Rainy Tuscan Wedding at Villa Medicea DI Lilliano With Breathtaking Views of the Duomo

As we go through this difficult time amid the spreading of COVID-19, our hearts and prayers are with everyone in Italy and around the world affected by this disease. Today, we’re celebrating the beauty and strength of Italy with this stunning Tuscan wedding at Villa Medicea DI Lilliano planned by Anne Laure Weddings. It’s the perfect recipe for a magical destination wedding in Tuscany – a pizza party rehearsal dinner in the garden, a first look among the olive groves, and cocktails on the terrace overlooking the Duomo. From start to finish, this day is nothing short of a dream. Head on over to the full gallery, captured by L&V Photography, to see all the destination wedding inspiration.

From Anne Laure Weddings… Sophie and Joey tied the knot last August in Tuscany, not far away fro Florence. This sweet couple from Seattle are Italy lovers and wanted a small intimate affair surrounded by their dearest friends and family members. They chose the Villa Medicea di Lilliano as their wedding venue and the rehearsal dinner took place in one of the other villas of the property. For the rehearsal dinner, they chose to have a real garden pizza party with a mix of aromatic plants and lemons as centerpieces, wooden tables and chairs, sage and white striped napkins and string lights crossing the lawn. And the gelato cart as dessert was a must!

Their wedding day was as elegant as the pizza night. The bride wore gold Miu Miu bridal shoes and a romantic V-neckline satin gown, the groom Gucci moccassins and a white tuxedo jacket with black lapels. Black accents were everywhere to see, from the bridesmaids dresses to the flowers and charger plates. After their first look in the olive grove of the villa, the couple couldn’t not go to Florence for their couple shots! They enjoyed the view over the Florence Cathedral on Piazza Michelangelo and strolled on the Santa Trinita bridge with the Ponte Vecchio as a beautiful backdrop before coming back for their wedding ceremony. Sophie and Joey chose to celebrate their union on the terrace overlooking the Duomo and whereas the rain started just when the guests arrived, it stopped the moment the bride set foot on the terrace! The dinner took place in the amazing garden of the villa surrounded by lemon trees. The long table was adorned by the stunning floral arrangements by Chiara Sperti Florals Events and covered by a ceiling of fairy lights.

From the bride & groom… Sophie studied abroad in Florence while she was in college. Ever since then, it was always her dream to be married in Italy. Both our families have Italian heritage, so Italy holds a special place in our hearts. We wanted our wedding to be memorable and special for every guest that attended. Our goal was to plan an intimate, classic, and romantic destination wedding. In order to achieve a classic/modern look, we decided on white, black, and gold as our color palette. We wanted the entire wedding party in black – bridesmaids, groomsmen, and our parents. We just love this look because it’s timeless. It’s a look that never goes out of style. One fun aspect of this style was having Joey wear a white tux jacket so that we would stand out from the rest of the wedding party. Sophie’s grandpa wore a white tux jacket at his wedding as well, so this style choice was a way for us to incorporate deeper connections between our history and our future. Most of our wedding attendees are from the Seattle area, so we were asking a lot of people to have them travel all the way to Florence. Some people had never been to Italy, let alone left North America.

We decided that instead of just having a one day affair, we wanted to make our rehearsal dinner more of a welcome dinner and invite everyone who was attending the wedding. We wanted this to be laid-back and fun, and thought it would be a great way for everyone to socialize ahead of the big day. We decided to do a floral dress theme because Joey loves his crazy floral shirts. The dinner consisted of casual, outdoor dining that included pizza, wine, and a gelato cart! At the welcome dinner we also made bags with our venue illustration on it, and filled it with wine and olive oil from the venue as a thank you gift. Our favorite moment aside from saying “we do” was our wedding dinner. We hosted this in the venue lawn just as the tuscan sun was beginning to set. Our table arrangement was one long table that fit all 44 of our guests, and we had fairy lighting spanning the entire length above us. We also had architectural uplights that lit up the venue throughout the evening. It was magical! Dinner was served over three delicious courses, and in between those courses we slotted in all the speeches nice and evenly. We topped it all off with a live and interactive traditional Italian wedding cake presentation. For flowers we wanted all white to contrast with everyone wearing black and we wanted an array of local flowers. For the dinner table setting we wanted the table lined with flowers and candles to keep it romantic.

For the bridal bouquet I knew that I wanted to have my Grandmother’s rosary intertwined, every woman in my family has used it in their bouquet since her. Joey carried his Aunt’s rosary in his pocket all day, this was special because she had recently passed away. Both of these aspects were extra important to us because it was another way to incorporate our families. Sophie found her gown at Nordstrom and it was by Jenny Yoo. It was not what she had originally envisioned for her wedding dress, but once she decided on it, she could not have been more pleased. She felt the A-line shape and simplicity of the dress would go perfectly with our Italian villa wedding. For favors, since we had already given the guests their welcome bags, we kept it simple and provided everyone with a bottle of limoncello at their wedding dinner seats. For the assigned seats, we had acrylic plaques made with everyone’s name on them and they were able to take these home as mementos from the wedding. For the cocktail hour we wanted to have an assortment of meats, cheeses, and Italian appetizers. Aperol Spritzes were served as the cocktail. We also decided to have a three piece Italian band playing to add to the ambience. For our wedding cake, we decided to do a traditional Italian cake instead of the traditional tiered American cake. We also decided to have our wedding cake made live in front of the guests. We thought this would be fun and entertaining. Little did we know that we would also be helping to make our own wedding cake! The caterer came up to us and asked if we wanted to help, and of course we said yes! They placed a chef cap on both of our heads and gave us each a piping bag with the cake filling in it.

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

I know everyone says this, but the day goes by in an absolute flash. Try your best to enjoy every minute of it. Spend as much time with your spouse as you can and try not to get separated too much. It is the one day that is just about the both of you and you should really cherish that. If you are planning a destination wedding, try not to worry about the little things. Just focus on getting the big things right. For example – we were not able to visit the venue before we got married, so the first time we saw it in-person was 4 days before our wedding. We had to trust our wedding planner, venue, and vendors to help us achieve our vision without us ever stepping foot onsite. Making the right decision in those three categories will save you so much stress later on. So don’t sweat the small stuff and try to focus on the bigger picture. And get a wedding planner! There is no way we could have planned our wedding without the help of Anne-Laure. We were not able to visit the venue beforehand, so the first time we saw it was 4 days before our wedding. Anne-Laure made sure that we knew every detail about the venue and did an onsite visit where she FaceTimed us so that we could see everything. She truly understood our vision down to every detail. She kept us on track and brought amazing vendors and ideas to the table.

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A Dreamy Intimate Wedding at Villa Le Fontanelle in Tuscany

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!

A Dreamy Wedding at Villa Cora with Breathtaking Views of Florence

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.

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Lush Rooftop Wedding at Villa La Vedetta in Florence

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.

Florence, Italy – Your Wedding Guests Will Love You Forever

From Vanessa, the Bride… Our wedding was in a town in Florence called Barberino Val D’elsa, the perfect setting for our intimate Tuscan wedding. We married on September 5th 2017, and celebrated our reception at Borgo Petrognano. What made our wedding special was not only the setting and the love we received from our friends and family; but also that our vision was brought to life. From the catering, music, flowers and lighting; everything was perfect and exactly how we pictured it when we began our planning 2 years prior. Our thanks to our wedding planner, Germana at Super Tuscan Wedding Planners for all their help!

More from the couple… We wanted a small romantic wedding with amazing food, wine, scenery and we got exactly that! As it was a September wedding we chose to be more on the neutral side of colorways using a lot of blush pinks, ivory and also complementing it with navy, marsala for a hint of bold color. My engagement ring is on a rose gold band, so we wanted small hints of rose gold throughout the decor as well. We wanted the style to express minimalist meets romantic.

Our photographer, Ann-Kathrin Koch, was a dream! She was the very first photographer we contacted (of the many we reached out to) and I knew she would be the one we hire after reading her views on wedding photography. On her website she mentions “You are planning a destination wedding…… You are out in the countryside with the sun setting over the green rolling hills and all you can think of is how amazing it would be to have all your friends there with you to celebrate.” This was something we remained true to during the entire wedding process and it was greatly appreciated that our photographer understood how important enjoying our wedding with our loved ones is. Her photos were flawless, we wouldn’t have chosen anyone else!

Inspiration behind the day: We searched for other Tuscan weddings or al fresco weddings to come up with our inspiration. We found that a lot of weddings made special use of lighting so we wanted to make sure our dinner setting was picturesque.

Floral Design: Our floral designer, Flowers Living, was recommended to us. She was able to guide us on the types of flowers to use. Marta completely understood our vision!

The Venue: We wanted a place where most of our family and friends would be able to stay that had a pool and breath-taking views of the town. We had a guest list of 50.

My Wedding Dress: I aimed to find a dress that fit in with the location of the wedding. Something romantic, with delicate detailing and that wasn’t overwhelming in size. Accessories were chosen on what complimented the dress.

The Wedding Party Fashion: Our bridesmaids wore a blush pink due to the color scheme, the dresses aimed to be more airy and lightweight. Since Florence is still warm in early September, it was important that the dresses weren’t too heavy.

DIY projects for the day: The welcome bags given to each guest who stayed at Borgo Petrognano included essential toiletries, slippers, mints and even water bottles!

Favorite memories of the day: Two memories that stand out are leaving the chapel as newlyweds and driving through the town and soaking in the hills, all of the grape vines along the route and feeling the tuscan breeze. The other memory is our first look of the set-up for dinner as a moment we will never forget, it completely blew us away!

Music choices: During dinner we played slower r&b songs from the 90’s and early 2000’s (artists like Monica, Alicia Keys, Maxwell) as well as some trendy hits from 2017 (artists like Ed Sherran, SZA, and Rihanna). We also played some Spanish ballads from artists like Chayanne and Luis Miguel. After dinner it was more upbeat salsa, and reggaeton as well as some party music from 2017.

Videographer: The team at EmotionalMovie were a joy to work with. The team was very professional throughout the entire day of the wedding but also made us feel very relaxed and even entertained us! Daniele was very accommodating and helped us customize a package that worked within our budget and must have features.

Advice for brides planning now: Be patient, organized and understand you can’t control the uncontrollable. If I learned anything during this wedding planning is to enjoy the process but also start planning with more than enough time that you are not consumed by it. It is important to remember what your main goal is: to marry the love of your life. All of the decor, lighting, music, food and stationery come second to this point. Try not to stress about the small stuff (easier said than done) and remember once the day comes it ends in a blink of an eye so take moments during the wedding to soak it all in!

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Sun Soaked Tuscan Wedding

Even though temps soared well over 100 degrees, Abby and Jeff’s guests were perfectly content celebrating the day. A wedding that dreams are made of. Seriously, who wouldn’t enjoy a yummy outdoor Tuscan dinner party, great Italian wine, surrounded by their close friends and family? Enjoy these sun-soaked images from Les Amis Photo and film by Marco Caputo Films. Wedding Planning by Exclusive Italy Weddings. See the full real wedding feature on Les Amis Photo’s blog [HERE].

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From the bride… Jeff and I wanted to have a civil ceremony in Florence. We envisioned a reception at a Villa that would basically be a big outdoor dinner party under the stars with great food and great wine and all of our closest family and friends that turns into a dance party to the “classics” afterwards! We both have more sophisticated and traditional tastes, but we didn’t want that to mean “stuffy.” Casual elegance probably best suits our style. There were so many good options and we loved all of the sites but our favorite was Villa Le Fontanelle. Even during a heat-wave and wedding day temperatures of 103 degrees Fahrenheit, we had guests commenting on how “this looked like a Vogue wedding. If your guests can forget the heat and appreciate the beauty of an event, you know that what you’ve got is special!

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This Husband Surprised His Wife With a Can’t-Miss Vow Renewal Location

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how to do a vow renewal. And all the points go to this husband, who surprised his wife by choosing the most romantic location with views overlooking Florence – Villa Le Fontanelle. The couple enlisted the help of Weddings in Tuscany to create the intimate celebration of their continual love, who played up the natural beauty of the venue. Obviously this is a day you won’t want to miss, so head on over to the gallery photographed by Thecablookfotolab and press play on the film by Emotionalmovie.

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Classic Weddings

From Thecablookfotolab… Sally and Tony decided to hold their wedding anniversary in Florence, an intimate vow renewal with family and their dearest friends. Tony wanted to surprise Sally, so he chose a beautiful villa close to Florence. The moving and romantic ceremony took place in the nice and cozy chapel of the villa with views overlooking Florence. The white flowers on the window threshold and on the pews made the atmosphere magical. The day was clear, the roses were in blooming, and the air was full of the scent of rosemary.

Dinner was served on the terrace under the pergola, which had been richly decorated with white hanging flowers. A white table was decorated with aromatic herbs and a lot of candles. Sally was radiant in her lace wedding gown; Tony was smart-looking and joyful. The cutting of the cake was done outdoors, under a crystal chandelier and a cascade of white flowers. After dinner, the small party danced in the main room of the villa. The party was lively and full of enthusiasm.

When You Search “Romance” You’ll Find This Wedding Shoot

Happy Friday, loves! We’re sending you into the weekend with a wedding inspiration session at Florence’s Castello di Bibbione that is 100% romance. Featuring a real-life, insanely gorgeous engaged couple, the love is so apparent in each and every one of Simply Sarah‘s photographs. Add to that the autumnal styling inspired by the Tuscan landscape by Weddings in Tuscany, and we can’t imagine anything better.

From Chiara of Weddings in Tuscany… The austerity of the Castello di Bibbione inspired and nourished my imagination for this session with our sweet couple, Sara and Andrea. The discreet colours of the landscape were the base from which I started to create the colour palette for the shoot. The silver green of the olive oils and the gentle hills where the vineyards were starting to fade into fall were my companions during the creation of the setting for this shoot.

From the Bride… From the first time Andrea and I met, we knew there was something special there. Andrea owns a restaurant on the beach in Italy, and we were first introduced when I started working at the restaurant. After working together for a few months, we couldn’t deny the chemistry we shared, and Andrea finally asked me on a date. After only three months of dating, he proposed, and we are so excited to spend forever together!

Your Cure for the Monday Blues: This Inviting Tuscan Wedding

Need a little help getting over the Monday blues? We prescribe a healthy does of this naturally and organically styled destination wedding that captures the warm and inviting spirit of Italy, held at the beautiful Castello di Oliveto and planned by Weddings in Tuscany by Imperial. Photo after dreamy photo by Peter and Veronika are sure to turn your day right around!

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From the bride… Quite soon after Andrew proposed, we decided to get married in Italy. The warmth of the people and the sun, the food, the wine, and the lifestyle of Italy evoked in us a feeling of relaxed happiness, which we wanted to be the spirit of our wedding. We soon realized with the language barrier that we needed a wedding planner; that was one decision I didn’t once question. Planning was fun and allowed me to be creative, with Gillian doing all the hard work! We then flew over to meet her and see venues in Tuscany. It was such an exciting day, helped along with some of Tuscany’s finest wine, and before it ended, we’d booked our villa and castle!

We went home and began searching for photographers, which was incredibly important to us as it is quite literally how you remember the day. We paid a deposit for one photographer before we found Peter and Veronica and fell in love with their flawless fine art photography. Unfortunately we couldn’t get our deposit back, but switching photographers is the best decision we made. You have to take your time and feel comfortable with your decisions, or they’ll keep you awake at night – every night!

The villa we booked for all our guests blew us away with its breathtaking views of the Tuscan vineyards. It features typical Italian country style and is actually a working wine estate, which came in handy! Our family arrived first and helped us string fairy lights and blow up pizza inflatables, we went for a truffle-filled dinner, and it was the perfect beginning seeing everyone laughing together. Our friends arrived the next day, and we had prosecco by the pool followed by a pizza party under the stars until the early hours. The day before our wedding, we had separate stag and hen days, filled with sunbathing, wine tasting, sight seeing, and of course, plenty of al fresco dining. The day after our wedding, we had a BBQ complete with an old-fashioned gelato cart, a donkey decorated in flowers while carrying beers and her two-week-old baby skipping around the lawn! Every day was special and memorable in its own way, and it was incredible to be able to spend so much time with our family and friends.

We love the soft, warm, natural tones of Tuscany’s landscape in September, so for our attire we wanted something striking to cut through and contrast those hues. Andrew, being the stylish gent he is, chose the groomsmen’s classic midnight blue dinner suits, and I chose complementary bridesmaids’ dresses. We wanted to look timeless and sophisticated, but we wanted the vibe of the day to be laid back and fun. The band was perfect for this and played great Italian swing and jazz during the prosecco/aperol hour in the gardens of the castle. Castello di Oliveto was built in 1424, it has beautiful detailing and even a bedroom for the pope! We dined in the courtyard, and being surrounded by the ruining walls in candlelight was magical.

For the “wedding breakfast,” we actually called it a feast and wanted it to feel like a big, family-style dinner, and it didn’t disappoint! The natural wooden tables were arranged in a U shape to give a communal feeling to the dinner. Each featured a dark grey runner, tons of candles, an olive leaf and eucalyptus garland, and pots of herbs to really create that castle feast ambience. For place cards, I had everyone’s names painted on marble coasters, which doubled up as favors. The pasta and wine were plentiful, and instead of champagne toasts we asked for bottles of limencello to be plonked down in front of people, which our guests really enjoyed! We then had a traditional Italian wedding cake – mille foglie, which got a bit messy! After that we danced to a DJ and saxophonist before a sparkler send off.

Dress shopping for me was the least fun part of the planning. I had no idea what I wanted, so instead of dragging my friends around mindlessly, I decided to try on as many as possible by myself. I must have gone to 10-15 different shops, and on the last shop, I was thankfully with my chief bridesmaid when I found this dress by Martina Liana in Angelica Bridal. It really was just a feeling of “ahhh finally!” I loved the ridiculously long train with the detailed trim, the classic cut, the pretty straps, and the low yet modest back.

My advice to couples is this: Try to do everything in your power to enjoy the process. Make that your number one priority, because a wedding does just last one day, but the engagement and planning is many, many days that can all be incredible if you let them be. Don’t rush decisions! Once you’ve found something then wait as long as you can before putting money in it – I probably would have changed many things just a few weeks after paying for them. Plan a few little surprises for each other, too. Make them secret missions; when they come to fruition, it’s so much fun seeing your partner’s face.

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Martina Liana

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An Exceptionally Beautiful Celebration of Love That Spans Continents

Bruna is from Brazil, and David, from the UK. As fate would have it, their paths crossed, and so began their beautiful, long-distance love. When they decided to say, “I do,” they chose Tuscany for its warm, inviting, and intimate vibe reflective of their own relationship. A Very Beloved Wedding created a gorgeous setting that felt as if it had always belonged with natural textures, a neutral palette, and ample organic arrangements and greenery by A Very Beloved Bloom. Stefanie Kapra was there to capture the coming together of these two families, and it’s all so beautiful, we cannot stop looking at the gallery.

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From A Very Beloved Wedding… Bruna from Brazil and David from the UK met two years ago and started a beautiful long-distance relationship after being brought together due to “the strong laws of attraction”. (Quoting the groom here!) Both share the same love, and they complement each other due to their cultural and character differences in a very unique way. They have each other and their whole life in common, that is why their relationship is unusual, unique, amusing, and cozy. (Words from the couple) Both are very down to earth and aimed for a not-too-traditional or stiff wedding, but a familiar, Tuscan, sharing wedding with a simple, natural atmosphere.

We only used earthy, natural colors paired with lots of wood, greenery, and natural fabrics. We incorporated a lot of greens and plants and let the floral design and décor reflect the inconsistencies found in nature, including a lot of love for details. We used natural ropes for the bouquet and the name tags on the napkins, and we placed a big leaf underneath each glass charger plate. Wherever you looked, there was green and wood.

The lines of the furniture and décor underlined the simplicity we wanted to keep in the event. We decided on a family style dinner and to skip the traditional wedding cake. We incorporated Brazilian accents in the green color, the Bossa Nova music, and also the sweets (that replaced the wedding cake). These sweets are a Brazilian wedding tradition called Bem Casados. We wrapped them in a natural, earthy-tone paper with a natural rope to keep the design consistent instead of in the traditional white and shiny paper.

The overall mood was earthy, simple, natural, fun, romantic, warm, rhythmic, intimate, diverse, and happy. Bruna and David’s wedding is all about two families coming from very different cultures and finding something in common during this once in a lifetime experience.

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Rue De Seine

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A Quaint Italian Town Makes for a Dream Destination

You can never go wrong with a destination wedding in Italy, so today’s sweet affair will undoubtedly pull you in with the charm of Borgo Petrognano, the beautiful lace and tulle gown, and the so-in-love couple captured by Rossini Photography while walking down the most quaint cobblestone streets. Head to the Vault to see the whole, lovely affair planned by Original Tuscan Wedding.

From the bride… We visited Italy in 2013 and fell in love with Tuscany, so when Mark proposed, we knew instantly that we wanted to get married there. Having a destination wedding also meant we could have the small wedding that we always wanted. We started out the planning by writing our five most important elements of the wedding down. These included – the photography, food and wine, reception and ceremony venues, my dress, and the styling. We found our wedding planners, Original Tuscan Wedding, on the internet., and after a couple of phone calls, we knew they were the ones to help us plan our dream wedding. We couldn’t have wished for better planners – they helped us with every element and had the best suppliers that understood our vision.

We picked our photographers, Luca and Claudia of Rossini Photography, with the help of our planners. The photography was one of the most important elements of our day to us, so we picked very carefully. Luca and Claudia captured the relaxed nature of our day perfectly and were such fun to work with. They put us immediately at ease even though we are not naturals in front of the camera. And we couldn’t be happier with the final result!

We visited Italy twice before the big day to meet our planners, visit venues, and choose our food. We knew that we wanted all our friends and family to stay in one venue and have one big weekend party, so Borgo Petrognano was the perfect choice. We had the most amazing weekend. The day after the wedding, we had a big BBQ and spent time with our nearest and dearest by the pool.

I couldn’t decide on one color for our scheme, so decided to have a palette of pale nudes with a stand out burgundy color that Mark picked up with his bow tie. My dress was not what I had originally planned as so often is the case. I had intended to buy a slim line destination dress, but when I tried on this dress, I knew it was the one. The dress however was not so practical for dancing, so I had a cute short dress so I could dance the evening away.

We wanted the day to have a relaxed, Italian feel, which the flowers really captured with a loose hand tied bouquet for me and loose greenery bridesmaid bouquets. The long wedding table had a sumptuous garland which draped over both ends.

On the wedding day, we got married in the medieval hilltop town of Certaldo, which was like a dream. I walked down the aisle to Canon in D performed by a string duet. After the ceremony, we went on a walk with the photographers, and we were greeted with cheers and applause from the locals – it ended up being one of the favorite parts of the day. Once we returned to the venue, we joined our guests for aperitif hour by the pool where we were serenaded by our string duet. Our wedding breakfast of 5 delicious courses was on the terrace where we looked out on the Tuscan hills. One of the surprises for our guests included a gelato cart outside on the terrace during the dancing – a great way to end an amazing day.

A Medieval Castle Draped in Handwritten Poetry

A medieval castle in Florence, Italy is really all the introduction this wedding needs to fulfill princess dreams. But then you add in the fact that every angle of the Bride’s lace dress is pure perfection or the fact that Castello di Vincigliata was draped in handwritten poetry and it becomes clear, this is a real life fairytale. With design by SposiamoVi, florals by La Rosa Canina and all captured by Taylor & Porter, pore through every last detail of this romantic Italian celebration.

Sweethearts Mike & Celine chose to marry in the sensational European city of Florence, Italy. Flying in from Jakarta, Indonesia they exchanged vows in the grounds of the stunning Castello di Vincigliata followed by a cocktail reception and dinner within the castle itself. There were so many thoughtful and stylish touches throughout their wedding weekend, like guide books to Florence, thoughtfully designed by the couple with their Stationer and presented to guests in beautiful leather purses, to welcome goodie bags containing some delicious Italian treats to eat and drink. The weekend’s celebrations started with dinner at B-Roof in Grand Hotel Baglioni in central Florence followed by a morning at The Westin Excelsior Florence before heading to the Castello for their ceremony. Oodles of beautiful florals and some extra special styling and design elements followed including a backdrop covered in handwritten poetry and a water colour artist on site to capture miniature pictures of guests. During dinner the surprises continued with a performance by an Italian Operatic Tenor in between courses. Truly a sensational moment as his incredible voice echoed around the ancient castle walls. A fun party followed with performances by another surprise guest, Indonesian Musician Sandy Sandhoro.

We’re Fans of This Bride’s Edgy yet Romantic Style

We’re always obsessed with Rime Arodaky‘s rockstar gowns, so whenever a Bride dons one for her wedding day, we’re all heart eyes. Amanda complemented her two-piece lace number with an edgy quartz crown by Crowns and Wreaths, sleek silver Aquazurra sandals, and a perfectly undone bouquet of white blooms by La Rosa Canina. Her Florence wedding looks as good as she does, so head to the Vault to see all of ARTIESE Fine Art Photographer‘s beautiful images.

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From ARTIESE Fine Art Photographer… There’s nothing more romantic than a garden ceremony in Florence and an al fresco reception dinner to follow. Amanda and Kevin’s wedding was simply a dream. After having been together for 10 years and starting a family (they have a one and a half-year-old daughter together), there was no better way to celebrate than this elegant affair.

The Bride and Groom chose Villa La Vedetta as their venue, a quiet hotel nestled in the hills of Florence. The Villa was absolutely breathtaking. The ceremony took place in the gardens, where La Rosa Canina Firenze showcased their beautiful work through two large flower urns that the Bride and Groom stood between. The aisle was covered with white and blush tone rose petals, which gave a very romantic vibe to the evening.

The guests anxiously awaited the Bride’s arrival as they held on to paper cones filled with rose petals to throw during the exit. A string quartet of all females from the renowned The Alma Project played beautiful music throughout the ceremony. The Groom walked in with his mom as the string quartet played “Your Song” by Elton John. The guests all rose as the Bride and her father entered while the string quartet played “Bittersweet Symphony” by the Verve, one of the Bride’s favorite songs. The officiant of this ceremony was the Bride’s uncle, somebody who is very near and dear to her heart. The ceremony script was designed and written by none other than the Bride and Groom themselves, making it extra special. After the hand written vows were spoken, the rings were exchanged, and the kiss was given, the Bride and Groom exited to “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers as rose petals filled the air and smiles and tears were had by all.

After a quick cocktail hour filled with music by the quartet, prosecco, and fantastic Italian hors d’oeuvres, it was time to move into the reception. The guests were seated on the terrace, which had an exceptional view of the city of Florence. One long table seated the 50 guests, with white flower arrangements and a lot of candles filling the centre of the table. The Bride and Groom sat in the middle of the table with lush green arrangements on the backs of their chairs. As the courses were served, speeches were said, tears were shed, and laughs were echoing. With a small intimate wedding such as this one, the speeches feel much more special, as everyone there has a close relationship with the Bride and Groom.

As the sun was setting, the Bride and Groom cut their traditional Italian wedding cake, called a Millefeuille cake, and popped a bottle of champagne. The dancing commenced with a mix of 90s R&B and soul music. To finish off the night’s festivities, an old fashioned gelato cart rolled in, serving the guests ice cream cones until the evening ended. What a beautiful night!

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Rime Arodaky

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Tuscan Villa Wedding Featuring a Dreamy Family-Style Reception

Where, oh where do I start with this pristine Tuscan fete from Vasia Photography? It’s effortless with that old world charm in every way, yet with hints of modern beauty—did you see the Bride’s two-piece dress? Layered with stationery and calligraphy from Maurelle Calligraphy, olive branches and ivory blooms, and a family-style dinner reception for the books… I highly suggest you spend some quality time in The Vault.

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From Vasia Photography… Kat & Moreno planned an intimate destination wedding to host their closest friends and family in Tuscany. The villa was incredible, tucked away on the outskirts of Firenze and surround by rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves. The couple held the ceremony and reception outdoors and then danced the night away in the Green House. For decor, they kept things simple and rustic, with lots of olive branches, white candles and a long exposed kings table where dinner was served family style with fresh bread and local wine.

Elegance Meets Al Fresco Fun for this Tuscan Wedding

You gotta give credit where credit is due and this gorgeous Bride knew what she was doing (she is a wedding photographer herself after all) when putting together her destination wedding. With the help of Weddings in Tuscany by Chiara Sernesi (found via SMP’s Little Black Book no less!), they created a romantic, ethereal and FUN fete that we can’t get enough of. Kylee Yee, with assistance by Tanja Kibogo, captured it all and Philip White filmed the action live – see more below and in our Vault right here!

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From the Bride… As a wedding photographer (www.juliemichaelsen.com) myself, I have attended over 100 weddings so when it came to our own wedding, my partner and I knew we wanted to go abroad and say our “I do’s” under the sleepy autumn sun and romantic olive groves of Tuscany.

We found our venue Ville Le Fontanelle after a rushed weekend of venue visits in October last year. We had originally wanted to be deep in the Tuscan hills but when we saw Villa Le Fontanelle we both had a very strong positive reaction to it! Conveniently 10 mins outside of Florence with the most picturesque 180 degree views of the city, including the majestic Duomo, it was so perfect. The owner Ilaria was welcoming and very accommodating.

Our vision for the day was an elegant but relaxed, fun day in the sun full of meaning and heart. We decided to have a humanist blessing (as neither of us are religious) and it meant we’d get to write the ceremony ourselves. My cousin Miriam was our Celebrant and she did such a magnificent job!

My late grandmother (who was an huge influence in my life) and my grandfather were a significant presence within the day. When my grandmother passed away she left their weddings bands to me to share with Ross, a huge honour and one we were so grateful for.

My talented sister-in-law Sadaf Mirzaei had helped us to create our ‘on the day stationery’ by taking my grandmothers watercolour paintings and designing menu cards, table plans and the place settings with my grandmother’s imagery.

Each guest found an envelope on their place setting with their names in gold calligraphy on it. Inside was a handwritten card from us telling them how grateful we were for their presence at our wedding but also in our lives. I feared that we wouldn’t get time to speak to every single person so as a precaution I wanted each people to know that they were loved and warmly welcomed at our wedding day. It took a long time to write these but I loved the idea of taking the opportunity to tell the people we love that we love them and what they mean to us.

The speeches were probably the highlight of the day, all of them were so funny, heartfelt and we were completely blown away when our family performed a surprise flashmob of Les Miserables! One more day! Even my dad stood up to do a solo! I went through a range of emotions including shock, pure joy, tears, and a very strong feeling to grab a microphone and join them! My Danish family had also written a song for us which they got everyone to sing, so much fun and probably a bit of a shock to the non-Danes as this is a tradition within our family!

Afterwards Ross also made the most wonderful surprise video for me which he showed after the speeches, not a dry eye in the house, it really was the most amazing day!

We found our planner through Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book, Chiara from Weddings in Tuscany, and what a hero she was. She made the whole experience very seamless, replying to flurries of WhatsApp messages and being a cool, calm and reliable presence throughout, she was a God send.

My partner Ross is a documentary maker so we both had very strong feelings about the videographer and photographer… after a bad experience with the first photographer we chose, we were lucky enough to find Kylee Yee who I knew through both being London based hybrid fine art wedding photographers. It was really important to me that our styles were aligned and that she ‘saw’ things how I saw them. I’m a stickler for detail, love symmetry and hate distracting elements in my photos, so I wanted to know that Kylee had this same eye… she made the whole experience very easy and enjoyable for us, being friendly, warm and relaxed whilst also being professional and inspiring trust within us. I so wanted to be on the receiving end of the experience I like to give my clients and thankfully Kylee very much gave us that as well as the most beautiful imagery which we cherish and cant wait to enjoy in years to come.

Our videographer was Philip White. Ross being a documentary maker obviously had high expectations for this portion of the day and Philip definitely exceeded him, he is a talented film maker and also a lovely presence who felt like a friend.

An Engagement in the Heart of Florence

Before we dive into Tony and Claire’s wedding day (coming up this afternoon!) it’s important to hear the love story where it all began. It’s the tale of two Americans who met in college, moved abroad and became engaged while living in Florence. Naturally, they asked KT Merry to photograph their e-session in the city that holds their hearts with their sweet pup, Louie along for the fun.

From KT… Two Americans who meet during their final year at Northwestern University followed their work to Italy and found themselves engaged and living abroad in one of the world’s most romantic cities – Florence. To document their love of travel and this adventurous time in their life we photographed Claire and Tony (and their darling lab, Louie!) in the their new home amisdt the history and busy culture that make Florence such a magical place. The birthplace of the Renaissance is the perfect place to begin a love story…

From the bride… Tony and I met in January 2012 during our senior year at Northwestern University. We were at one of the city’s trashiest college bars and I was inebriated beyond recollection and feeling bold. I introduced myself to Tony, who unbeknownst to me was the designated driver that evening, chatted his ear off and quizzed him on my name several times throughout our conversation. Later that night as Tony tried to end his night early as the designated driver, he asked if I wanted a ride back to Evanston, which I misinterpreted as him trying to make a pass and responded, “Um, no! But if you want, you can ask me for my number and maybe we can go out sometime…” Surprisingly, Tony took me up on the offer and asked me for my number. Tony texted two days later and asked to go to Peet’s Coffee on Sunday, where we had our first sober conversation and I decided he was “The One.” We had our first official date on Tuesday, our first kiss on Saturday, and the rest, as they say, is history! In December 2014 Tony and I were living in Florence, Italy and planning to visit my home in California over the holidays. Tony tried his hardest to keep the proposal a secret, but I spoiled the surprise when I “accidentally” stumbled across a text message about the engagement from his mother. However, Tony did surprise me when he popped the question on Christmas Eve in front of all of my family and planned a surprise engagement party with all of our friends and family. We knew we wanted to get married in Northern California, but we wanted our engagement photo session to document our time living abroad in Florence, Italy. Fortunately, our wedding photographer, KT Merry, was in Greece for a destination wedding and we were able to coordinate a destination engagement session several months prior to the big day.

We met with KT and her husband, Chad, bright and early at 6AM to avoid the crowds, catch the sunrise, and hit up some of our favorite spots in Florence. KT and Chad were both so professional, personable, and friendly and made our engagement session such a fun and relaxing experience.

We are so happy we decided to do an engagement session in Florence because it gave us an opportunity to document our time abroad with an amazing photographer in a city that has played a huge role in our relationship and will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Photography: KT Merry Photography

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A Study Partner Turned Lifetime Love

As fellow sunset admirers, the proposal Craig planned for his beloved is totally speaking our love language. Even more so? He asked his beautiful Bride if they would return to Florence one day to be married. Fast forward two years later and this duo returned to their favorite city to become husband and wife, inviting Facibeni Fotografia to capture it all. Witness their beautiful beginning in The Vault!

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From The Bride…Craig and I first met studying together in 2004. At only 19 I fell completely in love with his beautiful kind heart. Our relationship progressed as we slowly set up our future together, and after 8 years he proposed. It was the most incredibly surreal moment I have ever felt. We were on a holiday traveling through Europe, when one beautiful evening in Florence we stood on the Santa Trinita bridge, to the left a view of the Ponte Vecchio and to the right the sun setting over the Arno river. I have always told Craig, sunset is my favourite part of the day as I love watching the colours of the sky change. It was then he dropped to one knee, told me he loved me and asked me if I want to return to Florence one day as husband and wife. With tears streaming down my face I said yes, never thinking almost exactly two years later we would return to our favourite city to become husband and wife.

Our dream wedding was set in the beautiful Villa La Vedetta overlooking the city of Florence, Italy.

The original plan was to get married in our home town Melbourne, Australia with a guest list of 120 people. With the venue booked, and plans unfolding, my Grandmother sadly lost her battle to cancer 9 months prior to our wedding date. With heavy hearts we continued with the preparations, never anticipating losing my Grandfather 3 months later. With a giant void in my life, this great loss was enough for us to reassess what we truly believed our wedding should be. The decision was made to cut our losses and stay true to ourselves, to travel to a beautiful destination with our closest friends and family, and what place would be more meaningful than Florence.

Upon first sight of Villa La Vedetta, we knew we had made the right decision, it was the most beautiful property we had ever laid eyes on.

I woke up unusually calm, being a hairdresser I started on my bridesmaids hair, I completed the four girls as well as my own before the make up began. I chose a beautiful silk and lace Steven Khalil dress, Yves Saint Laurent Heels and Dior pearl earrings, whilst Craig wore a classic custom made tuxedo.

Once I was dressed my mother handed me a ring my grandfather had given her, it was a pearl and topaz ring. This was my something old, borrowed and blue, along with a lace and pearl horse-shoe she had made for me for my something new.

From the immaculate gardens we held the ceremony, to the reception on the terrace under the Tuscan sun, we watched the city light up as we ate under the stars. Our decorations were simple white flowers with touches of gold to reflect the history of this beautiful city, without detracting from the view.

There could not be a more beautiful day imagined, with 40 of our nearest and dearest traveling from Melbourne, Australia to share the most magical experience of our lives. It was simplicity meets grandeur combing our decoration with the villa and views. After 10 years Craig and I have shared together, with our love for family, friends, travel, and our engagement in Florence, this day encapsulated everything we ever wanted, needed or dreamed possible.

Our honeymoon was spent on the Amalfi Coast, Isle of Capri, South of France, and the Greek Islands. This entire experience will always be the most vivid memory of our lives.

Escape to Florence with this Sweet E-Shoot

My hubby and I have been creating a list of places we must visit and at the tippy top? Florence. I was there briefly in college and it was way too short – and without my special person. Florence is a city made for lovers and these two would agree. Gert Huygaerts captured their too-sweet-for-words engagement session and their Vault gallery is our wanderlust motivation destination for the time being.

From Gert Huygaerts… When Lynzie and Josh from Chicago contacted me a few months ago to see if I wanted to shoot their wedding next year, I didn’t really doubt for more than a second… as Lynzie knew exactly what she wanted being a wedding photographer herself.

Having a wedding in Tuscany and with Lynzie and Josh looking for a wedding venue for their big day, we decided to have their engagement shoot in the wonderful city of Florence… it was full spring and the temperature was nice, so the moods were good!

In the amazing old architecture of this Italian masterpiece, we had the most beautiful views and moments full of love… an Italian dream come true!

I’m already looking forward to next summer when they will be coming back to Europe to have their big day. It will sure be a day full of love in an amazing place… I can already feel that!

An Italian Wedding That’s Not Afraid of Color

You know how they say Paris is always a good idea? I feel that way about Florence. It’s a fairytale city rich in history, making the ultimate Italian wedding backdrop. Throw in pops of cheery colors, a must-see cake from Tuscan Wedding Cakes and photography by Sophie Epton, and we’re in businesses. More in The Vault!

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From Sophie Epton…Words cannot even begin to describe the magic of this incredible wedding day! Jennifer and Jesse’s fairy tale wedding took place on top of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Florence, Italy and the day was full of so much love and light (and all the champagne!) This celebration was such a joy to photograph, and a true feast for the eyes. The ceremony and reception both took place on the hotel landing that literally overlooked the entire city and created a breathtakingly beautiful focal point for the entire day.

Gorgeous colorful blooms and lanterns punctuated every landscape, and sweet details such as mini olive oil bottle favors and the most amazing Firenze inspired invite made a big impact on guests. After the sun started to set, the party was set ablaze with a sparkling champagne tower while everyone danced against the Italian starry night.

The next day, Jennifer and Jesse got dressed up once more for a “day after” session as we chased light all over Firenze..from the Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace to the quiet streets of the Oltrarno side of the city. Jennifer was the most radiant bride, and we laughed all day amongst the hustle and bustle of historic Florence. This truly was one for the books, and I hope it inspires many other couples to chase your wanderlust dreams and always get married where your heart desires!