A Romantic Italian Wedding in the Forest of a Medieval Convent

Enveloped in greenery on the grounds of an ancient Italian convent dating back to 1455, Roberta and Carlo were wed in the woods. With over a thousand white roses appearing to sprout up from the raw earth below the fifty-meter-long aisle, an alluringly elegant scene was crafted by stylist and planner, Elisa Riccò, for the ceremony. Soaring leafy trees surrounded circular tables draped with white linen for the candle-lit garden reception and a dramatic canopy of glowing chandeliers hung from above.

Italy-based photographers Gilberti Ricca captured the romantic Medole wedding.

Our Story

Names / Roberta & Carlo

Location / Medole, Italy

Wedding Date / June 6th, 2022

Guest Numbers / 80

How We Met

A love story, the kind that has the flavor of pure romance, of yesteryear.

The Setting

Wedding Location

The ceremony and reception were held in the magical setting of Convento dell’Annunciata. A place rich in history in a garden of rare care and beauty. A ceremony nestled in the woods, among a thousand white roses, the location brings back timeless places. The tree-lined avenue is a picturesque place where Roberta was able to walk down its nearly 50-meter-long aisle. White roses framed the path. The flowers were planted one by one in the ground, in stark contrast to the forest vegetation – the harmony was spectacular.

Aesthetic

The style I wanted to propose to the bride and groom represented their essence: refined, elegant, classy, with modern and unusual character.

Total white dominated in the pristine greenery, all its warm shades characterized every set-up, from the ceremony area to the long aperitif areas to the dinner, where luxurious flowery chandeliers lit up the forest.

Inspiration dressed the personality of the bride, stunning in her mikado gown, charm and elegance.

Preparation

The bride and groom prepared in the ancient rooms of the convent overlooking the cloister garden, living intensely each preparation.

Photography

Photography was supervised by the Gilberti Ricca Photography team. The bride and groom chose them for their versatility, light and vision in reportage shots, and ability to capture emotions and feelings and turn them into authentic shots.

Videography

The bride and groom wanted to remember every smile and every word of this day. The Wedding Movie team followed the couple creating an emotional memory. The frames encapsulated every special moment, recounting the day from their preparation to the exchange of vows, giving special attention to every detail sewn for them that they would not have otherwise captured, completely enveloped in the emotion of that day.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

The location brings back timeless places. The tree-lined avenue is a picturesque place where Roberta was able to walk down its nearly 50-meter-long aisle. White roses framed the path, the flowers were planted one by one in the ground, in stark contrast to the forest vegetation, the harmony spectacular.

The furnishings were chosen in color palettes of white, cream and light gray, in linen and fine velvet. French-inspired chairs created the aisle between the aisle of white roses. On the seats, delicate fans with the three initials, the bride and groom and their child and a small bag of white petals for the auspicious moment

Reception Décor

For the reception, the ancient cloisters provided buffets with a fine selection of finger foods and showcooking, masterfully presented by Scotti Ricevimenti.

The lounge areas for guests consisted of velvet and linen sofas, carpets and capitone seating. Elegant and sophisticated to decorate the beautiful Rose David Austin garden, which this venue cares for with love and dedication.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

Elisa Riccò took care of the entire event organization and design project, defining every detail of the floral arrangements, furniture and mise en place, in perfect harmony with the context. She developed a unique design in collaboration with her great team.

Flowers

Roses took center stage in a minimal bouquet, white David Austin and fragrant garden roses. A deconstructed, decomposed bouquet with elegant asymmetry framed a magnificent Carolina Herrera gown. The floral selection was complemented by elegant flower essences: peonies, lathyrus odoratus, carat, sweet pea and 1000 white roses. Benedetta Ombroni of I Fiore di San Lorenzo was the flower designer and an important partner to make the wedding vision come to life.

The elegant and sophisticated compositional style, following a novel proposal, the idea of “sowing” roses, as if it were a surreal garden, found the astonishment of the guests, a beautiful suggestion.

The dinner was held in the center of infinity, a garden with an important symbol, where the protagonists were beautiful floral chandeliers, which illuminated and embellished the environment. Beauty for the eyes.

Stationery

Essential and minimal, very elegant, the graphic suite was made with raw papers in shades of white and gray. Some special details included the logo, created thinking of their initials joined by the initial of their little girl. For the guests, a book was designed, handmade, in which they could write a thought, an emotion related to this day, it will be kept in the library of memories. Silk chiffon ribbons and wax lacquer were the joining elements, a refined touch.

Favors/Bonbonniere

To thank the guests, the bride and groom chose a fine pomegranate fragrance. A scroll accompanied the cadeaux, telling a legend about the values and sensations this essence gives, as an emblem of family value.

Cake

The wedding cake, by the caterer, was 3 tiers finished with a fresh and ethereal floral decoration, summer fruits and chantilly cream.

A special feature on the timing of the wedding cake: the dinner was held in one of the two circles of grass, of which this part of the forest is composed, Infinity.

To the great surprise and amazement of the guests, for the moment of the cake, this second circle, until before shrouded in the darkness of the forest, was suddenly illuminated. Scenic lights and a large chandelier framed the toast of the bride and groom and the long-awaited cutting of the wedding cake, with the background of sax and the melodious voice of Jade, melodious voice of Good Vibes Live Music.

Food & Beverages

The cloisters of the convent welcomed guests, set up with French seating and minimal sofas in linen and velvet, all chosen strictly in elegant and refined style, all white. For dinner, round tables, Louis IV chairs, under a sky of crystal chandeliers and roses.

For the mise en place, the choice was to combine linen with velvet underplates, écru color, in the center the menu combined with a delicate flower decoration. The glasses essential and elegant.

The menu saw highly curated, aesthetically appealing and above all delicious presentations in a choice of meat and fish. Champagne and excellent Italian red wine

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

Created with the finest fabrics, exquisite embroidery and couture details, the Carolina Herrera Spring 2022 Bridal Collection is inspired by the luminous magic of reuniting with loved ones. The humeral neckline, the fine fabric and this unstructured bow on the bodice, an elegant and modern style, innate class.

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

The accessories Roberta chose were part of her family’s treasure chest of memories.

Hair & Makeup

Roberta relied on Serena Sampietro, who enhanced her natural style with a collected, refined and very natural makeup and hairstyle.

Wedding Songs

For both the ceremony and reception, the bride and groom chose live music and a female vocalist. Each stage of the event had a music selection designed on the personal tastes of the bride and groom.

The band Good Vibes Live music accommodated a particular request of ours. As the reception areas were different, and divided by paths through the woods, the saxophone led the way at each stage, accompanying the guests from the ceremony to the aperitif, then to dinner finally to the party in the cloisters of the Convent.

Entertainment

Songs chosen by the bride and groom included Enia for the bride’s entrance, Gino Paoli sung personally by the groom as a dedication for the bride. The music selection ran through the memories of the bride and groom, wonderful Italian and international music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

The groom delighted everyone with a beautiful surprise, two songs personally sung for the bride, on the notes of “Senza Fine” of Gino Paoli, authentic piece, and finally a DJ set that really involved everyone, among the thousands of candles in the “starry room”.

“A ceremony nestled in the woods, among a thousand white roses, the location brings back timeless places.”

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

Among the most heartfelt moments certainly the entrance of the groom and the bride. The former more exuberant, the latter truly emotional, walking down the long avenue through the woods.

The most beautiful, the dance of the bride and groom with their little girl, to the notes of “Senza Fine” sung by the groom. The groom delighted everyone with a beautiful surprise, two songs personally sung for the bride, on the notes of “Senza Fine” of Gino Paoli, authentic piece, and finally a DJ set that really involved everyone, among the thousands of candles in the “starry room”.

Sources of inspiration…

For Roberta and Carlo’s wedding, the inspiration came from searching for those elegant and refined elements that would best express the personality of the bride and groom. The whiteness and beauty of white roses is unparalleled with regard to flower selection. The decor and colors were intended to evoke charm and natural elegance, without ostentation and with special attention to the choice of materials. Linens and velvet.  The large floral chandeliers were a perfect balance of refined beauty. An enchanted forest, places from another time, furnished with sophisticated taste.

Our Contacts

Wedding Venue / Convento dell’Annunciata

Wedding Stylist & Planner / Elisa Ricco

Photography / Gilberti Ricca

Videography / Wedding Movie Team

Bride’s Dress / Carolina Herrera

Bride’s Shoes / Loriblu

Hair / Serena Sampietro

Makeup / Serena Sampietro

Stationery / BiancosuBianco

Florist / I Fiori Di San Lorenzo

Lighting / CroVal

Catering / Scotti Ricevimenti