Weddings on the Italian Riviera are a perfect mix of rustic beauty and glamorous elegance, where the dramatic coastal landscapes and little coloured fishing villages of the Cinque Terre alternate with charming locations like Portofino, Rapallo, Ventimiglia and San Remo. This region of Italy is called Liguria: a narrow land embraced by the sea and the mountains.
Santa Margherita Ligure is one of the jewels of the Italian Riviera. When Cari Ann and Matthew contacted us to plan their symbolic wedding in Italy, our wedding planner Elena recommended Santa Margherita and the charming Villa Durazzo, whose luxuriant park with palm trees and breathtaking sea views forms the perfect frame for an intimate outdoor ceremony.
The couple stayed at Lido Palace Hotel in a suite with rooftop terrace. This hotel is an elegant Art Nouveau building located by the sea. The vistas are incredible, so wedding photographer David Bastianoni met them at the hotel to take some pictures of the couple on their private terrace. The dazzling blue of the sky, the pure white clouds and the panorama of the Tigullio Gulf: what an amazing background for this loving couple!
Cari wore a strapless mermaid gown with plissé pleated corset and lace skirt, she chose a classic bridal bouquet with roses and peonies in white and pale pink tones, tied with an ivory satin ribbon.
When they arrived at Villa Durazzo, the elegance and charm of the building created the perfect atmosphere for an intimate event. The interiors are entirely decorated: elegant halls with oil paintings, marble floors and Venetian chandeliers that create a refined atmosphere.
Celebrant Fulvia Loretti was waiting for them on the Belvedere of the Italian Garden, decorated with marble statues whose white color contrasts with the blue of the sea and the green of palm trees. This venue is owned by the municipality of Santa Margherita Ligure, so here it is possible to have also a civil ceremony with legal validity.
Then the couple had a photo session in the heart of the old town of Santa Margherita, among ancient buildings and narrow lanes, and on the beach, with the blue sea dotted by white sails. The fascination of the Italian Riviera shines through these amazing shots with panoramas of rugged beauty that contrast with the refined atmosphere of the ceremony venue.
For couples planning a wedding on the Italian Riviera we recommend Villa Durazzo for its charming elegance, the verdant gardens with terraces overlooking the sea where to organize an unforgettable symbolic ceremony or a civil rite with legal validity.
For larger parties it also possible to organize your wedding reception at Villa Durazzo: just imagine your banquet in an elegant 17th century hall decorated with stuccos, marble floors and glass chandeliers, where you can open the windows and admire the stunning panorama of the harbor and the luxuriant park. Get in touch with us for more information, and enjoy the complete photo gallery by David Bastianoni!
Image Credits: David Bastianoni ©.