Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Forever in Florence

Words by Taylor Wilson
Photos courtesy of Rochelle Cheever

Florence is a magical city filled with romance. From heart-shaped pizzas to cappuccinos with the word “love” written in foam, it’s no wonder Julia and Daryl ventured off to this amorous city for their destination wedding. A small, intimate event, free from the spotlight and production associated with most weddings, was just the kind of celebration this couple wanted, so off to Europe they went.

Julia and Daryl both have small weddings so there were no complaints when the couple shared their decision to have a destination wedding abroad. Even before the couple’s engagement, they had talked about a beach wedding but this idea slowly transformed into an Italian affair.

On one particular walk to Michelangelo’s Square while vacationing in Florence, the couple feel in love with this Tuscan city and knew they would be married there. “When we got to the top of the square, the sun was setting, at which point Daryl got down on his knee and asked for my hand. If we had any doubt before, we knew then for sure, we were coming back to get married in Florence,” describes the bride, vividly. Florence was now a huge part of Julia and Daryl’s life and they wanted to share this magical place with their family and friends.

Unable to speak Italian, planning a wedding overseas was stressful. With the recommendation of a friend, the couple found a fabulous wedding planner, which was their biggest lifesaver. “It was the best decision I have ever made,” exclaims Julia.

Because Julia is a professional designer, she stressed about every aspect of her big day. She created a custom website and screen-printed gift bags with personalized Italian gifts. She wanted to make sure everything was extra special. She even wore her grandmother’s antique jewelry to add a sentimental element to her wedding day.

Overall, the couple was thankful they hosted a destination wedding in Italy. Had they kept it in the US, it would have been much more stressful, more expensive and not nearly as fun. One tidbit of advice Julia would like to leave other brides with is, “Be ready to let go, trust your wedding planner and just have fun.”

Vendors: Photographer: Rochelle Cheever, Wedding Planner: Raffaella Alflatt, Ceremony/Reception Site: Palazzo Magnani Feroni/Villa le Piazzole, Gown Designer: Anjolique, Groom’s Clothing Designer: My.Suit