Ashley and Leonid live in New York, but opted for a taste of la bella vita for their destination wedding in Sicily. From their ceremony overlooking the Mediterranean to their garden reception, it was a day filled with love and happiness. To reflect the colors of the island, the couple chose blue details, and complemented these with gorgeous summery florals and touches of gold. The couple’s wedding planner, Michelle Jacobs of Elegante by Michelle J, shared all the details of their magical day with us.
Leo is from Russia and Ashley is Afro-Caribbean, so wherever they chose to marry, they knew some guests would have to travel. They love Italy and wanted somewhere with both a historic perspective and views of the sea. The walled city of Taormina on the beautiful Italian island of Sicily fit this brief perfectly!
Friends and family joined them from all over the world for a three-day celebration of their marriage. We started with a welcome event at a typically Sicilian (and renowned) arancini bar, followed by a rehearsal dinner the following evening at a local hotspot. The culmination of all this was, of course the wedding itself. This took place at a Villa Mon Repos, which offered the most spectacular views of the Taormina coastline and nature reserve, Isola Bella.
Ash wanted a bold color palette, which incorporated pops of blue. These were taken from the save the dates, and then followed through into the invitations. Based on her initial brief I put together a mood board and then full design brief which was issued to the florist and all other suppliers.
The seating plan was presented in the form of a collage of vases of flowers into which we propped the details of the table seating. It was a real highlight of the design scheme. Elements of Ash and Leo’s cultures were also incorporated, including jumping the broom at the end of the marriage ceremony.
Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Destination Wedding Photographer: Anna & Alex
Wedding Vendors: Wedding Planner: Elegante by Michelle J, Videographer: Ivory Films, Venue: Villa Mon Repos, Florist: Michelangelo Finocchiaro Flower Designer, Bride’s Dress: Milla Nova from Viero Bridal, Veil: Monvieve, Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik, Groom’s Suit: Indochino, Hair: Nicole June, Makeup: Mahina Make Up, Stationery: Jen Che Designs, Ceremony: True Blue Ceremonies, Local Planning Assistance: NOB Eventi
