A Classical Wedding Inside an Ornate Villa in Rome

Beneath towering columns, ceiling frescoes, and 16th-17th century artworks, Laura and Andrea were married inside one of the most exquisite wedding venues in Rome – The Church of San Pietro in Montorio. The striking location required little styling to achieve the traditional and classical mood the couple envisioned.

The reception dinner was held inside the grounds of the Baroque masterpiece, Villa Aurelia. Dating back to the 1600s, the historic arts and cultural precinct underwent a 20m restoration just over 20 years ago, creating a magical wedding backdrop. A series of round tables were placed in the spectacular gardens of Villa Aurelia, and styled with soft, warm flowers and fruits complementing the ornate, pastel exterior.

Matteo Crescentini and MOE films poetically captured every moment.

Our Story

Names / Andrea Ciacco & Laura Andreussi

Wedding Date / May 21st, 2022

Guest Numbers / 110

Budget / $100,000

How We Met

We met in the beautiful city of Milan, where we currently reside.

Marriage To Us Means…

A milestone reached after many years of engagement and the beginning of our new family.

The Setting

Wedding Location

The reception was held at the historic 17th-century Villa Aurelia on Gianicolo hill, just a 15-minute drive from the world-famous Spanish Steps. The villa was commissioned by Cardinal Girolamo Farnese, former Governor of Rome, and is surrounded by 3.8 acres of lush gardens that embrace all of Rome.
Villa Aurelia means history, classicism and elegance, and these were the elements we wanted at our wedding. Villa Aurelia means Rome and we couldn’t have chosen any other place but this one.

Aesthetic

We wanted something classic, and traditional but at the same time sophisticated and unexpected. We combined very simple elements with original and unique details.

Preparation

On the morning of the wedding, I [Laura] got ready in the privacy of my parent’s apartment in central Rome, with my closest family members.
Andrea, a native of southern Italy, decided to rent a private villa on the Janiculum Hill where he got ready together with his witnesses and closest friends.

Photography

We chose wedding photographer Matteo Crescentini to capture our wedding. His images are authentic, romantic, sophisticated and elegant. He was able to capture all the moments that were meaningful to us with incredible artistry and an incredible connection was created immediately.

Videography

After choosing the photographer, we wanted a wedding filmmaker who had a similar style to Matteo’s to have a homogeneous narrative of our day. The girls from MOE immediately struck us with their sweet and romantic way of wedding storytelling. They paid close attention to the lighting and were able to capture our most intimate moments without ever being intrusive.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

Just a few minute’s drive from the world-famous Spanish Steps, we said our fateful “I do’s” in the Church of San Pietro in Montorio, with its extraordinary terrace from which to view the entire city.
The floral decorations were handled by the capable hands of Roberta, the owner of the brand ‘Nina E I Fiori’, who warmed the atmosphere using colors such as peach, ivory, and apricot mixed with a bit of green. Next to the greenery and flowers were fruits like apricots and small dates.
We had no doubt about Roberta. Her ability to create original mixes with different essences is her strong point.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

We met Giulia during the wedding of our friends in Puglia. We liked her attention to detail and how the timing was handled during that event, so we decided to involve her in our wedding. Her support was crucial from a design and logistical point of view. She supported us in every choice and made sure that everything proceeded in the best way possible. Choosing to have a wedding planner was the best gift we could have given ourselves.

Stationery

For stationery, we wanted a classic and timeless product. The invitation was on prestigious Amalfi paper, with a logo with our initials, and text written in cursive. We wanted the ultimate in elegance, so we made the motto “less is more” our own. The work was curated by Roma Arti Grafiche.

Favors

Because our passion is spending time with friends, we very often find ourselves in downtown Milan to have a chat, accompanied by a drink. We all love gin & tonic, so we decided to give our friends a bottle of gin made especially for us with essences and scents chosen by our spouses. The gin was produced and created by Cillario E Marazzi.

Cake

We opted for the classic of Italian excellence in terms of cakes – a millefeuille with cream and wild strawberries. It was prepared by our caterer and the pastry chef of Enoteca La Torre.

Food & Beverages

A perfect Italian-style aperitivo with spritz, bruschetta and maritozzi welcomed the guests immediately after the ceremony. After that, we moved on to dinner where we had two first courses and a second fish course. The dessert buffet was opened after the cake cutting. At midnight, during the party, we recharged our batteries with mini sandwiches. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Cacio E Pepe risotto with shrimp tartare and lemon zest. A mix of modernity and tradition. Being in Rome, we could not miss a reference to the famous Cacio E Pepe. Taking care of the food and beverages was the impeccable caterer Enoteca La Torre whose restaurant in the same company boasts two Michelin stars.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes 

The wedding dress was custom-designed by designer Gabriela Rio with fine fabrics and lace, the silhouette was very soft and flowing. The special feature of the dress was in the sleeves. From the religious ceremony to the dinner, I wore it with long sleeves. Before the party, by simply cutting an inner thread, the sleeves slipped out and it became an unraveled dress. The idea was to stay with the same dress but give it a new and modern look in the final part of the evening. The wedding shoes were classic Sergio Rossi pumps.

Hair & Makeup

The makeup was flawlessly done by Arianna Fares, who created very soft makeup in muted colors. The curly hair was gathered in a composed chignon until the dinner party, from the party onwards the I decided to loosen it by applying a bright and glamorous clip. Taking care of my hairstyle was a hairdresser experienced in dealing with curly hair, the owner of I Love Riccio.

The Details

Transport

We live in Milan but I’m from Rome, my family lives there. We reached Rome by car.

Honeymoon

Our dream was to visit Australia, on the other side of the world from Rome. We got married in May and left in November spending a month in the amazing land.

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

Definitely one of the most significant moments was when we saw each other for the first time in church. The religious ceremony had a very significant value for us and it was definitely the most touching moment. Followed by the first dance with our parents at the venue.

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

We were fully satisfied with our event, everything we wanted was there. It was beautiful and elegant but extremely fun. The only negative was that the day wasn’t long enough!

If I could give other brides to be one piece of advice…

To live this day without stress, to invest the budget in the right way, to rely on capable suppliers, and to use a wedding planner.

Sources of inspiration…

Instagram, Pinterest, …

Our Contacts

Wedding Venue / Villa Aurelia

Wedding Planner / Moments Lab

Photography / Matteo Crescentini

Videography / Moe Films

Bride’s Dress / Gabriella Rio

Bride’s Shoes / Sergio Rossi

Hair / I Love Riccio

Makeup /Arianna Fares

Stationery / Arti Grafiche Roma

Florist / Nina E I Fiori

Cake & Catering / Enoteca La Torre

Honeymoon Destination / Australia

Entertainment / DIJazz