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Bianca & Francesco
Lake Garda, Italy
A sea of purple in Sirmione
The inspiration here was a monochromatic celebration of soft purple shades, with a whimsical, romantic, and ethereal vibe to match the elegance and fairytale nature of the space.
With a venue as spectacular and opulent as Villa Cortine, we wanted to create a feeling of quiet luxury. We leaned into a lavender haze, which helped unite the different spaces throughout the property without distracting from the natural beauty of the setting and surroundings.
About Villa Cortine Palace Hotel
Villa Cortine Palace Hotel is uniquely situated on a tiny historical peninsula, Sirmione, in Lake Garda. With sweeping views in all directions, the hotel gardens enjoy sunrises over Lake Garda to the east, and glowy, golden sunsets to the west over the water. Tropical trees, hidden garden spaces, ancient Roman ruins, and luxury give this venue an opulent oasis feeling.
Photographer: MaMa Photo, FelicyDaze Weddings
Molly & Steve
Brooklyn, NY
A cozy, intimate, and joyous party for 140
For M&S, we had the opportunity to turn a completely blank, industrial canvas into a cozy, glowy, personalized space.
This wonderful couple wanted their wedding to feel warm and welcoming, with an intimate dinner party vibe (but for nearly 140 guests). So, we prioritized outstanding food (served family style) and with a little creative arranging, even managed to get every single guest at the same table using an E-shaped configuration.
We also brought in warm, natural elements (like wooden tables and chairs), lots of fall florals and greenery to make the space feel more organic and soften the hard surfaces, and Indian block print napkins for added color and personality.
Molly and Steve have such a gift of bringing people together and making all feel welcome and loved – and their wedding completely reflected that.
In a raw industrial space with hard, cold surfaces, a little candlelight alone wasn’t going to do the trick. So, we got to work to make the space feel super personal and warm. Here are some of the elements used to warm it all up:
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Uplighting to show off the space and add a cozy glow, and bistro lighting to capture those Brooklyn restaurant vibes
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Whimsy vine installation along the industrial beams and crawling down the brick walls, to make the space feel more intimate and organic
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A wall of family photos helped personalize the space and created visual interest for guests and honor loved ones
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Indian block print napkins, a staple on the couple's own table, added color and personality, and an opportunity to package sets of the napkins post event to gift to family.
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Warm, natural elements like wood and eclectic vintage frames, plus gold touches for extra glow
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Re-use of ceremony florals to fill in the ultra-tall bookshelves added color and gave florals a second life
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A more intimate, narrow dance floor (which ALWAYS felt packed), complete with mirror ball
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Lots of jungle plants to add greenery and depth to the space
Photographer: Isabelle Selby Photography
Paola & Samuel
Florence, Italy
A feathered fête for early fall
High/low, old/new, vintage/modern, this design is a playful juxtaposition of contrasts, mixing ultra luxurious, ornate touches with clean, slim-line modern stationery and touches of feathers throughout.
For the reception decor, I loved pairing the modern-art style chairs and minimalist, sleek menus with the more classic silk napkins and brass candlesticks, playing off the old-meets-new contrast. The etched glassware featured twisting vines that added that organic element, contrasting the crisp, clean lines of the place cards. These series of little push/pull contrasts created their own design element! We also took advantage of the beautiful, raw concrete table up in the hidden loggia at Villa Agape. Paired with the ultra-traditional gilded Florentine under plates, we created yet another high/low, elegant/organic contrast that let both elements shine.
Feathered touches included:
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Feathered cuffs on Paola's getting ready outfit
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Delicate white feathers on the bodice of her Ida Torez gown
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Feathery grasses incorporated into the ceremony aisle decor
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The playful skirt on the second-look party dress
Photographer: MaMa Photo
Jane & Dan
Florence, Italy
A magical affair with Florentine flair
The vision for this wedding was to deliver a seamless and outstanding guest experience. As many guests were visiting Florence (and even Italy) for the first time, welcome kits included local treats and a custom-printed guide to the city, replete with favorite spots to eat, things to do, and hidden gems, as well as tips for common connection cities Rome and Milan.
The focus for the wedding was on bringing the families and friends together, doing away with many traditions and embracing others, for a magical, fairytale experience.
With an emphasis on outstanding food and on hand-made, bespoke design elements, this wedding was one of a kind, and full of thoughtful touches and beautiful details.
The wedding week included five events:
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A welcome pizza party Monday night to give villa guests stunning sunset views, a chance to mingle, and delicious pizzas (served hot from a vintage truck-turned-pizza oven).
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Guided walking tours of the heart of Florence Tuesday morning, which gave guests a chance to connect in small groups of 10-12.
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Dinner for all guests Tuesday evening at a charming local restaurant in the artsy San Niccolò neighborhood, on an intimate private terrace.
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Ceremony and Reception on Wednesday. Included an aperitivo to linger over with custom-made lawn games, a multi-course feast, surprise dance performance and live cake assembly, pyrotechnics, and more. An evening to remember.
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A full brunch Thursday morning, complete with an artisanal gelato cart.
Photographer: Voyteck Photography
