Kristy and Cliff are a beautiful couple from Virginia: Kristy wrote us about a year before their wedding day, enquiring about the possibility to organize this event either in Florence or in Ravello on the Amalfi Coast. These are among the most requested destinations for a wedding in Italy, both with many beautiful venues, so our wedding planners helped the couple to choose the best venue and to pick the right vendors to make their big day truly magical.
For them we organized a fantastic ceremony in the gardens of Vincigliata castle, facing the gentle hills of Fiesole. This medieval castle is just 10 minutes’ drive from the city of Florence, in the Tuscan countryside. Our trusted florists arranged for Kristy and Cliff an elegant chuppah consisting of four stone columns and a flower canopy covered with jasmine entwined with Austin roses. What a stunning setting to say “I do”!
Update: this venue is not available for the wedding seasons 2022 and 2023.
The cocktail followed in the Italian garden of the castle, with canapes and fried delicacies served by gloved waiters circulating among guests.
Cocktail Menu
Canapes
- Tartlet with ricotta cheese, thyme, and candied ginger zest
- Small skewer with tomatoes and mozzarella
- Spicy white meat lollipops
- Small blinis with smoked salmon and dill
- Shrimp tails wrapped with Lardo di Colonnata (double amount)
Fried food
- Cinnamon Parmigiano cheese cubes
- Rice balls with ewe’s cheese and truffle
- Sage leaves
- Zucchini Flowers
Then the couple and guests moved to the medieval courtyard, where we created a very refined and delicate design, using a lot of greenery with plants such as olive, eucalyptus, ivy, asparagus. The compositions on the tables were full of refined particulars: on each table, a wooden base, inlaid with gold details and covered with moss, supported a huge golden candlestick, with a cascade of greenery at the top in different shades of green, and contrasting white flowers in between.
At the base of these decorations were many little secret items, all waiting to be revealed, like glass and gold boxes with small golden butterflies inside, and other similar items. At the top of the court table hung the masterpiece of the entire decoration, a giant chandelier with a structure of 3-meter diameter, covered in different shades of greenery, and a marvelous crystal chandelier in the center.
Dinner Menu
- First course: Eggplant Ravioli dressed with aromatic herbs pesto sauce, sweet tomatoes, bufala mozzarella DOP and basil leaves
- Second course I: Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms and Pecorino cheese
- Second course II: Beef fillet with Brunello di Montalcino wine sauce, crunchy potatoes flavored with sage, green beans bouquet with sweet bacon
At the end of the dinner, they went down again to the courtyard for the dances and the cutting of the cake. Here the chuppah became the central part of the dancefloor, where the couple had their romantic first dance.
The cake cutting was also arranged under the chuppah, the wedding cake was a Millefeuille with chantilly cream, almond brittle and wild berries on top. Then the after-party started, and dances couldn’t be stopped until after midnight!
What an unforgettable day! This fantastic wedding in Florence has been wonderfully captured by talented photographer Cristiano Ostinelli, and the photo gallery is incredible!
If you are thinking of a destination wedding in one of the many beautiful castles of Italy, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Image Credits: Cristiano Ostinelli ©.
