A Wedding at an Ancient Villa in Verona, Italy

Photography by Daryna Huz.

Inside the imposing walls of an ancient Verona villa, Arianna and Zac were wed amongst multitudes of overflowing blooms and foliage which appeared to sprout out of the surrounding stone. Grand in scale yet intimate in mood, the poetic ceremony was held below the historic building’s time-worn facade, while the sultry hues of the Italian sky added to the dramatic ambiance.

Soft tones were elegantly paired for the romantic reception dinner, which wrapped around the inner-courtyard of Villa della Torre. Sleek crystal glasses and satin-smooth porcelain romantically adorned a tablescape echoing the soft floral tones of the luxurious linen tablecloths that enhanced the grandeur of the venue.

The serene Verona wedding was beautifully captured by photographer Daryna Huz.

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Our Story

Names / Arianna Simpson & Zack Kanter

Location / Verona, Italy

Wedding Date / July 1st, 2023

Guest Numbers / 100

How We Met

Arianna and Zack met through a mutual friend at a dinner party in 2021. They fell in love on the same friend’s birthday trip to Ibiza a few months thereafter and have been inseparable since. Arianna had mentioned that she liked the idea of a private proposal that would come as a surprise. With the help of friends and colleagues, Zack managed to really surprise Arianna when he proposed on a June afternoon in Central Park.

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The Setting

Wedding Location

Villa della Torre, one of the most refined jewels of the Italian Renaissance, was designed by Giulio Romano and Michele Sanmicheli between late 1440 and 1562, modelled on the ancient Roman domus. Today it houses a wine & art relais and is home to the Villa della Torre winery.

The originality of the building lies in its conception. It was not only a country house built for practical purposes and linked to the agricultural activities of the estate but also a place designed for peace of body and soul according to the canons established by the authors of the Latin period, so dear to the Italian humanistic tradition.

Aesthetic

The approach was not to overpower the architecture of the villa in any way but to complement it with an elegant and sophisticated layout that enhanced the beauty of the architecture and the garden.

Preparation

Arianna got ready at the Villa with her bridesmaids.

After breakfast in the Sala degli Specchi, the bride and bridesmaids went to get ready in the bridal suite, the Veronica Franco, the most prestigious room in Villa Della Torre dedicated to the Venetian courtesan and poet, who described in her poetry the wonderful features of the Villa where she was a frequent guest.

Arianna & Zac

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“Our approach was to enhance the villa’s architecture and garden through every element of the wedding.”

Photography

Daryna’s style includes both spontaneous and posed photographs. Arianna and Zack requested a mix of styles for the different moments of their wedding day. Some photos were taken in casual moments in outdoor natural settings, but the bride was keen to have more formal photos for special moments like her preparation, entrance, and photos with the groom and witnesses.

The photo shoot went quite smoothly in such an elegant setting full of detail. Time passed quickly between private shoots and day of photos.

The bride was beyond perfect as a model in her wonderful Le Spose di Giò gown.

Videography

Arianna & Zacks destination wedding perfectly matched Whitesfilm’s movie style.The classic elegance of the couple, the stunning Villa framed by vineyards, and the hills of Verona were captured by our 4K cameras and drone smoothly and slowly to reveal the mesmerizing atmosphere of this event.

The ceremony with a beautiful white and pale pink palette of the fantastic floral arrangement looked perfect for the video team.

The relaxed timing of the day, so nicely arranged by Caterina Lostia WP with the invaluable support of Daryna, our photographer, helped to immortalize every single detail and emotion. We could not have asked for a better outcome! Thank you to the team involved in making this event so beautiful and easy to capture for us.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

Romina and Caterina collaborated effortlessly in the design of the ceremony. The scene that the guests observed as they walked under the arch of the peristyle, heading towards the narrow bridge over the ornamental pools, was breathtaking. The cream and dusty pink colour palette created a powdery cloud that complemented the architecture and Renaissance stone of the villa.

Reception Décor

Refined, tasteful details and delicate colours: a powder pink accompanied by the ever-present white with a touch of gold.

An impeccable mise en place: tall, smooth crystal glasses and fine porcelain matching the colours of the flowers on precious linen tablecloths highlighted the splendid architecture of Villa della Torre surrounded by enchanting vineyards. The menus were elegant in their choice of card stock and letterpress printing with their names added by hand in gold calligraphy.

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Arianna & Zac

Wedding Planner & Stylist

Caterina surveyed every aspect of the wedding planning. After conversations with Arianna and Zack and understanding what they envisioned for their wedding day, Caterina suggested the venue. Then she created the design, recommending the professionals best suited to the project. Caterina researched, planned, and coordinated every phase of the event.

Flowers

Arianna’s small and compact Bouvardia bouquet, designed by Romina, was a “detail” for the dress and completed it without overpowering it. The bridesmaids’ bouquets matched the floral arrangements in the villa.

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Stationery

The couple chose 100% cotton Gmund hand-printed letterpress invitations in grey with gold calligraphy for their names and details.
The Save the Date was sent online with Paperless Post in the same style and layout characteristics as the invitations.

Cake

The couple chose a freshly prepared Chantilly cream and fresh fruit cake with a caramelised millefeuille (haute patisserie Italian style).

Food & Beverages

All food and wine choices showcased the best of Italy and the Veneto region. The reception had a buffet presented as a journey of traditional flavours throughout Italy, including cheeses, cured meats, and show cooking stations. The sit-down dinner under the colonnade in the villa’s peristyle consisted of:
First Course: Chitarrini pasta with light arugula pesto, 36-month Parmigiano Reggiano and toasted pistachios
Second Course: Braised Chianina Veal with aromatic cream of potatoes

The wines were all from the Allegrini estate Villa della Torre, the venue that hosted the event:
-Lugana Villa della Torre Allegrini 2021 -Valpolicella Superiore Villa della Torre Allegrini 2019
Champagne was served during the guest’s arrival to the Villa, as well as during the toast. The open bar was a Spritz corner for aperitifs and light cocktails. During the party, three signature cocktails named after Arianna and Zack’s cats, Mr. Floof and Merm and her horse, Aldor, were also served.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

Dress: By Le Spose di Giò. Arianna’s wedding gown was a custom-made gown inspired by her personality and her wedding. Her gown was created by Le Spose di Giò (luxury Italian wedding couture brand) and Arianna worked closely with the stylist on the dress design. Italian tailoring tradition and elegance were two key themes. She wanted her dress to combine tradition and modernity, as well as the beauty of Italian silks and the couture tailoring that characterizes the work of Le Spose di Giò. Her dress was made of changeable components that allowed for three different looks for the wedding ceremony, dinner, and dancing, creating a timeless couture look.

Shoes: White sandals from Salvatore Ferragamo.

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

Wedding rings: Thin diamond band in rose gold to match the engagement ring for the bride. Custom made in a classic, rounded shape for the groom.
Jewelry & accessories: Custom made diamond ring, rose gold.

Hair & Makeup

Thanks to the bride’s long and full hair, hair and makeup artist Monica created a very elegant style by twisting the different strands of hair giving the shape of two roses. The precious mood of the wedding inspired the bride’s make-up. Using Path McGrath primer and foundation, Monica let the bride’s skin glow natural and radiant. Huda’s sensual blush illuminated the cheekbones. Finally, Monica used a natural shade of eyeshadow that highlighted Arianna’s eyes, making them intense and precious, and Diego della Palma mascara enhanced her natural lashes.

Bridesmaids Dresses & Shoes

The 3 bridesmaids wore:
1.Galvan London satin sienna blush dress with Gianvito Rossi shoes
2. Tadashi Shoji floral-embroidered blush lace gown with Valentino shoes
3. Aidan Mattox gold beaded chevron halter neck gown with Sam Edelman shoes.

The Details

Honeymoon

Arianna and Zack plan to take a honeymoon trip to a few locations in Asia at a slightly later date.

Gift Registry

Their friends’ presence was the only gift Arianna and Zack wished for. Friends came from near and far: most of them from the US, in Europe from Norway and Spain. The guests who came from the farthest flew in from Australia, followed by the Best Man who came from Hong Kong.

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Wedding Songs

At Arianna’s entrance, her brother Lorenzo sang a lyrical aria, “Caro mio ben” by G.Giordani. Arianna knew her brother was going to sing, but the song was going to be a surprise for her. It was a very emotional moment for guests and staff alike.

First dance song was “At Last” by Etta James.

Entertainment

Ceremony: String quartet and keyboard and voice
Aperitif: Jazz ensemble for easy listening
Party: DJ with Arianna and Zack’s playlist.

Celebrant

A very close friend officiated.

Readings

Arianna and Zack shared their vows in private before the ceremony.

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Arianna & Zac

“The cream and dusty pink color palette created a powdery cloud complimenting the architecture and Renaissance stone of the villa.”

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

Arianna and Zack loved their friend’s speeches. Having gotten a glimpse behind the scenes, there were many months of edits and refinement on each of the speeches, and the results were wonderful, both funny and heartfelt.

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

While the wedding planner and bride and groom know about any day-of mishaps or last-minute changes, it’s likely that your guests won’t even notice. They didn’t know what the original plan was! Everyone is there to celebrate and enjoy, so don’t let any slight deviations from the original script ruin your day.

If I could give other couple’s one piece of advice…

If you have the ability to have a multi-day event, do it. The time flies by, and it’s such a rare and special thing to have so many people who love you gathered in a single place.

Arianna & Zac