With black-tie refinement, impeccably layered details, and a setting reminiscent of the Italian countryside at golden hour, Kevin and Michael’s wedding at Bella Collina was an exercise in quiet luxury, where a restrained black and white palette, bespoke elements, and artful composition created an atmosphere of effortless sophistication.
Planned with the help of The Event Society with photography by Joy & Everett, each moment unfolded with intention and grace, from the ceremony to the candlelit reception, affirming that true elegance is not only timeless but transcendent. Inspired by the romance of an Italian villa, the celebration focused on elevated guest experiences, meaningful personal touches, and a design aesthetic rooted in understated luxury.
Refined luxury wedding inspiration
The inspiration behind the wedding’s black-tie theme was simple yet intentional: to reflect the venue’s Italian villa ambiance while creating an atmosphere that encouraged guests to fully embrace the experience. Rather than relying on trends, the couple focused on elegant restraint, allowing thoughtful details, refined styling, and the beauty of the setting to take center stage.
Black-tie fashion staple: Christian Louboutin
Fashion played an important role in establishing the tone of the celebration. Both grooms wore tuxedos from Suit Supply paired with Christian Louboutin shoes, creating looks that felt polished, modern, and perfectly suited to the black-tie dress code. The result was a wedding day aesthetic that felt both timeless and fashion-forward.
A perfectly curated ceremony setlist
The ceremony embraced elegance from the very beginning, with a live string quartet creating an elevated musical experience for guests as they arrived. Classern performed a carefully curated mix of contemporary and classic songs during both the pre-ceremony and ceremony, helping establish an atmosphere that felt romantic, sophisticated, and engaging.
Pre-ceremony selections included favorites such as If I Ain’t Got You, Can’t Help Falling in Love, Golden Hour, Young and Beautiful, Beautiful Things, and Ordinary, among others. The couple’s best friend, who also served as officiant, walked in to Wildest Dreams. Michael entered with his parents, while Kevin entered with his own, both to Until I Found You, creating a meaningful and emotional beginning to the ceremony.
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Detail we love: a bespoke fragrance bar
One of the most memorable guest experiences of the wedding was the custom fragrance bar by Saroma featured during cocktail hour. Because the couple shares a love of scent, they wanted to create an interactive experience that felt personal and distinctive. Each fragrance was thoughtfully selected from scents they love, allowing guests to explore and enjoy them throughout the evening.
The fragrance station also doubled as the wedding favor, providing guests with a keepsake that would continue to evoke memories of the celebration long after the wedding day had ended. As one guest shared: “Never left a wedding smelling better than when I arrived before!”
On trend: elegant picture lights
Guests found their seats after pausing to capture a photo at the mirrored seating display, illuminated by one of our favorite design trends: elegant picture lights that added warmth, dimension, and a refined finishing touch
Romantic European villa-inspired reception design
As the evening unfolded, the reception embraced the same quiet luxury that defined the ceremony. Layered candlelight, thoughtful design elements, and the sophisticated black and white palette with lush florals from Flowers by Lesley created an intimate atmosphere that felt refined without ever feeling overly formal. Every detail worked together to create a reception experience that was elegant, welcoming, and immersive.
An equally perfect cocktail hour & reception setlist
Music remained a central part of the guest experience throughout the day. During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed a curated playlist featuring nostalgic favorites and contemporary hits including Material Girl, Running Up That Hill, Toxic, Dog Days Are Over, Dancing on My Own, Diamonds, Good 4 U, Good Luck, Babe, and many others. For their mother dances, both grooms shared meaningful moments with their mothers to What a Wonderful World by Joshua Golden.
Their first dance was set to A Million Dreams by Matt Bloyd and Colton Haynes, creating a heartfelt moment before the celebration transitioned into a high-energy evening.
Dancefloor inspiration: an epic gay night club
When it came time to open the dance floor, the couple had a very specific vision. They wanted the energy to feel like a gay club—joyful, inclusive, celebratory, and impossible to leave. To create that atmosphere, they curated a playlist that spanned multiple genres and generations while requesting EDM remixes of many favorite songs to keep the energy elevated throughout the night. with the help of Fyer Fly Productions. The result was a packed dance floor and an unforgettable party atmosphere that carried the celebration late into the evening.
How Wedding Chicks played a role in the planning process
Throughout the planning process, Kevin and Michael found inspiration through Wedding Chicks, particularly by reading articles that helped them stay aligned with current trends while continually focusing on the guest experience. That commitment to thoughtful hospitality was evident throughout every aspect of the wedding day, from the fragrance bar to the music selections and the carefully curated atmosphere.
Kevin and Michael’s wedding was proof that luxury does not need to be loud to make an impact. Through a sophisticated black-tie aesthetic, thoughtful guest experiences, meaningful music, and timeless design, they created a celebration that felt elegant, personal, and unforgettable. Inspired by the romance of an Italian villa and elevated by intentional details, the day perfectly reflected their vision of modern luxury.
