Sicily Destination Wedding Dream in Taormina

A bride and groom stand facing each other at an outdoor wedding ceremony in front of colorful floral arrangements, with the ocean in the background.

Sicily Destination Wedding Dream in Taormina

May 21, 2025
Words by Jessie Allen
Photos courtesy of Anna Vlasiuk

Stephanie and Jeffrey’s road to marriage began with a long-distance spark and ended in their magical Sicily destination wedding.

The couple first met through mutual friends—Jeffrey was in graduate school in Pittsburgh, and Stephanie had just launched her career as a flight attendant in Chicago. “I am filled with imaginative ideas on how I would like to live my life,” Stephanie shares. “I think when I learned that Jeff would be a part of these optimistic ideals, we knew our relationship was serious and special.”

A collage showing wedding invitations, an elegant building, and a bride in a white gown holding a bouquet on a balcony. A bride and groom pose by a pool, ride in a vintage car, and overlook a coastal landscape with historic buildings and the sea.

Why Sicily?

Stephanie’s destination search was about finding a location that stood out among the rest—something that would feel deeply personal and unforgettable. “I knew I needed my wedding to be uniquely special, an entertaining spectacle,” she says. With roots in Sicily herself and Jeff’s family hailing from Luca, the idea of an Italian celebration felt not only romantic but deeply meaningful.

Shortly after, the bride discovered a tiny cliffside town she had never come across before: Taormina. “I stumbled upon a wedding hosted in Taormina and I was immediately obsessed,” Stephanie recalls. “I knew I found my dream location… It was a magical, quaint place I had never known about and I suspected my guests would be just as infatuated as I.”

A bride and groom pose together outdoors with a vibrant bouquet of flowers; a close-up of the bouquet and a floral table arrangement are also shown.

A Villa with a View

Villa Mon Repos, a historic mansion surrounded by lush gardens and panoramic views of the Ionian Sea, offered the ideal setting. “My venue was exactly what I wanted: a villa setting, greenery, stunning views. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better location. The space allowed for endless creativity,” the bride says.

With help from Sicilian Wedding Lab—led by planner Ksenia—the couple built their vision from afar. They did manage a visit one year before the big day to tour the site and experience a full menu tasting with other couples. “Villa Mon Repos invited all the couples of the upcoming season to taste the whole menu and do a wine degustation,” Stephanie explains. “We picked Saint Peter fish fillet in herb rind served with vanilla flavored potatoes and pickled ginger.”

A wedding collage with a couple in a car, a poolside ceremony setup with floral decorations, and a close-up of a table with flowers and wedding stationery.

An Artistic and Lush Aesthetic

The couple’s wedding offered an adventure of the senses, drawing on the vibrant textures and hues of Sicily. “The wedding design was inspired by the place itself—both chic and glamorous, and bright Sicilian colors of blooming lush gardens, deep blue sea and clear azure sky,” Stephanie says.

Their invitations, designed by Kristy Rice of Momental Designs, included a hand-painted map highlighting key wedding locations. As for florals, Alfio Flowers created dramatic arrangements using spring peonies, red poppies, pink hydrangeas, and bright roses. Dinner tables were adorned with suspended greenery and golden-accented tableware, reflecting the couple’s love for a luxurious yet natural look.

A bride and groom stand at an outdoor wedding ceremony with vibrant floral decorations and guests, overlooking a scenic waterfront landscape. Collage of an outdoor garden event with a long banquet table set with flowers, a chef serving food, detailed place settings, and a decorated building in the background.

A Ceremony Overlooking the Sea

The ceremony, conducted by a close friend, took place on a terrace by the villa’s pool with sweeping views over Isola Bella. It was emotional, intimate, and utterly picturesque. “This is what falling in love feels like,” echoed as their recessional song, capturing the joy of the moment perfectly.

The celebration continued with live music from Omni Events, delectable cuisine from Villa Mon Repos, and the magical touch of vendors like videographer Avenir Studio, hair and makeup artists Paolo Costarelli and Anna Shabeka, and fashion by Rita Vinieris and Vitale Barberis Canonico.

Collage of an outdoor wedding setup featuring a long, flower-adorned table, decorative lights, a seating chart, a bride signing a document, and a flower arrangement on grass. A collage shows an outdoor wedding reception under string lights, elegant table settings, a bride and groom walking, and a statue of an acrobat at night.

An Entire Week of Memories

Unlike a typical one-day affair, Stephanie and Jeffrey’s wedding unfolded over an entire week. Guests arrived early, enjoyed boat rides, shared pizza under the stars, and wandered the charming streets of Taormina together. “It wouldn’t have been so special!” Stephanie says when asked what the wedding would’ve been like closer to home. “The tiny town felt like it belonged to just us and our guests. Especially close family of mine who never travel abroad. They were so charmed by Taormina it may be their favorite place in the world.”

From a long-distance romance to a panoramic celebration on the Sicilian coast, Stephanie and Jeffrey’s wedding was a bold and beautiful expression of their love—a story best told in sea breezes, watercolor maps, and golden memories.

A bride and groom in formal attire raise glasses for a toast beside a decorated wedding cake, surrounded by colorful floral arrangements and outdoor evening lighting.