Clare + Ross’ floral wonderland wedding in Tuscany
Photo: Gianluca & Mary Adovasio
With the couple’s one regret being the wedding finishing at 1am and not 2am - we can confidently say this was a bloody good wedding! Under the Tuscan sun the couple welcomed family and friends to their wedding day at Villa Le Fontanelle. Clare and Ross had a service which intertwined typical symbolic elements with Jewish traditions, honouring the groom’s family. Their wedding planner, Marta from Bianco Bouquet, explains how the couple had a clear vision of marrying at a typical Florentine Renaissance Villa and this atmospheric oasis on the hills above Florence was an idyllic place to celebrate in.
With a strong style focus on refined colours and elegant details, which were used to create a seamless flow from the outdoor symbolic ceremony to the reception meal. “We recreated a modern garden party full of flowers and lush greenery. Our goal was to immerse the bride, groom, and guests in an organic floral wonderland. We then added a modern, contemporary touch by choosing chairs, decorations, and neon signs” Marta recalls. We love how the flowers cascading over the reception table made such a strong statement, bringing colour in a confident yet tasteful way to the styling. And who doesn’t love a fun, retro party space to dance the night away in!
Recognising the importance of having a wedding planner from very early on, the couple enjoyed being wrapped up in wedding plans for 14 months before their June wedding. The planning should be nearly as fun as the day itself -right? Having good planners by your side will give you a clear schedule to work to when it comes to booking venue and suppliers - early booking is crucial for popular Italian weddings.
We love these final words from Clare, “Ultimately, focus on what makes you happy. Don't worry too much about what your friends or family think! The day is about your love and celebrating together.”
SUPPLIER TEAM
Wedding Planner: Bianco Bouquet | Venue: Villa Le Fontanelle | Caterer: Rolands | Music & Lights: Wedding Music & Lights | Florist: Riccardo Ciceri | Photographer: Gianluca & Mary Adovasio | Videographer: Merak Studio | Tuxedo: Klein Epstein Parker | Dress: Netta BenShabu | HMUA: Giulia Cresci
“Ross' plan was to propose in Lake Como in May 2020, but our trip was cancelled due to the pandemic.“
“Throughout the process be sure to support each other and be extremely communicative with everyone involved.”
How did you both meet?
“We first met in college at the University of Southern California (USC). We were in a Business Communications class together. The class was interactive and we met in a group project! We've been together for 9 years now.” Clare
Stand out moment on the day
“My highlights were the ceremony flowers, when I walked down the aisle that was the first time I saw them and it took my breath away. Also, making our Italian wedding cake was fun and a great tradition to take part of.” Clare
“Having our Italian wedding cake assembled in front of us was awesome! We were able to help make it too and it's a great memory. There was also a surprise speech from a family friend where they read a letter I had written 14+ years ago!” Ross
“Be sure to schedule time for just the two of you on the day to soak it all up!
We shared a first look together. This helped calm our nerves and share an intimate moment together.”
Any issues or regrets?
“The weather was out of our control, but it was incredibly hot since there was a heat wave all across Europe during our wedding weekend.
We regretted not extending our end time from 1AM to 2AM. We were unable to do so because we decided at the last minute. Another pro tip is for the Best Man and/or Maid of Honor to always carry a room key - you never know what you'll need at the last minute!
But overall, honestly, our wedding process and day went incredibly smoothly. We couldn't have done it without the amazing team at Bianco Bouquet! Marta was so thorough and helped guide us from start to finish.” Clare
Biggest win when planning your wedding?
“We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Florence and meet with our wedding planner and vendors prior to our wedding (but after we had secured them all).
Planning a wedding halfway across the world required us to place a lot of trust in Bianco Bouquet. So, when we saw everything in person - we were overjoyed. Our awesome experience is thanks to Marta's constant communication and collaboration throughout the process. Seeing everything made the wedding anticipation even more exciting!” Clare
Favourite styling feature
“My favorite styling feature were the ceremony flowers. I really wanted our wedding to be organic and floral. The flowers looked so natural and seamless in our outdoor ceremony - I loved how it turned out!” Clare
“The venue itself was my favorite style feature. The grounds are incredible and the villa was built by the Medici family.” Ross
“All of our suppliers were fantastic and we would work with all of them again!”
“We went somewhat over budget, but weren't surprised because we accounted for additional 15-20% padding”
Stand out supplier
“All of our suppliers were fantastic and we would work with all of them again!
Specifically, Rolands - our caterer was impeccable. Their service level was top-notch and their ability to execute delicious food while serving 50 guests at the same time was impressive. Their selection of chairs, linens, dinnerware, and food menu was extensive and allowed us to execute our wedding vision.
Wedding Music & Lights converted a large indoor space into an insane, disco room in just one day! The DJ was also great at mixing and setting the vibe. The setup was awesome and it really set the mood for our guests to dance and party all night.”
Did you go over your initial budget?
“While the cost of an international wedding may exceed the cost of a domestic wedding, the value we got from our budget was more than worth it! We went somewhat over budget, but weren't surprised because we accounted for additional 15-20% padding.
Prioritize your budget on what's most important to the both of you! By having a wedding abroad, be sure to account for travel and buffer days. Also anticipate factoring in VAT costs and conversions to Euro.” Clare
SUPPLIER TEAM
Wedding Planner: Bianco Bouquet | Venue: Villa Le Fontanelle | Caterer: Rolands | Music & Lights: Wedding Music & Lights | Florist: Riccardo Ciceri | Photographer: Gianluca & Mary Adovasio | Videographer: Merak Studio | Tuxedo: Klein Epstein Parker | Dress: Netta BenShabu
If this Tuscan venue has got you dreaming of those sun-kissed aperitifs gazing out over warm olive groves, then you need to have a read of our ‘Best Tuscan Venues’, which is part of our 2023 Venue Series. Let us inspire you!
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