A Cuban couple from Miami held a classic wedding in Italy
Melanie and Carlos were born and raised in Cuba, but now live in Miami. They met one night dancing salsa at a very popular club in Miami called “Ball and Chain.” Their first date was in November of 2015 at McDonald’s over two Oreo Mcflurries, and they've been together ever since.
Keep scrolling to see all of the incredible photography by Andreas K. Georgiou of this $60,000 destination wedding in Italy at Villa Le Fontanelle, featuring flowers by Flowers Living, planning by Glam Events in Tuscany, and catering by Galateo Ricevimenti. Want more? Click here to see all of the photos in the full gallery!
A classic black tie dress code will never go out of style
One of the things Melanie and Carlos truly enjoy as a couple is to travel and engage in local experiences. Last year in May they were in Costa Rica for a four-day trip. One morning Carlos had planned a hike in Las Catalinas, a beautiful beach town in the Guanacaste province.
When they got to the beautiful beach, Melanie asked Carlos to take a picture of her, and when she turned, he was on his knees (on a very rocky beach!) with the biggest smile on his face asking her to marry him.
Silk bridesmaid dresses in apricot are perfect for spring, summer, and fall
Because of their love of travel, the couple always knew they wanted a destination wedding; however, they never imagined that they would be getting married in Florence, Italy! They had visited Italy once before and fell in love with the country and its culture.
The first venue they fell in love with when they started planning was 15 minutes outside of Florence, but initially Melanie thought it was out of their budget range. By chance, as they were about to sign another contract with a venue in the heart of Tuscany, their wedding planner called to tell them that Villa Le Fontanelle (their original choice!) was able to meet them at their price point.
Surrounding yourself with family and friends can make the day that much more special
One of the things that made the day extremely special was having all their family and friends there. It was a three-day affair that included a wine tasting and a welcome dinner at a gorgeous restaurant in Florence (La Menagere). The bride's mom had never been out of the United States, so for Melanie, having her mom there was a dream come true.
You are absolutely allowed to - and should! - be picky about your dress
When the bride started wedding dress shopping, she had no idea what she wanted, so she visited a small boutique in Miami called Lovely Bride that had dresses that matched the style she was looking for. "The one" was the Camila dress from modern minimalist designer Alyssa Kristin.
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Using locally-available flowers can help create an authentic seasonal look
Melanie and Carlos had one of the best flower vendors in Florence: Flowers Living. Martha captured their vision from day one and she delivered. She worked with the couple's budget, never suggesting anything that was over the top or unnecessary.
Melanie wanted to include fall colors and have a messy, yet organized style. Flower Living used garden roses, miscanthus, carnations, scabiosas, sweet peas, and dahlias to achieve this look. They played into the boho-color inspired, modern minimalist vibe the bride was going for.
Personalizing your food and beverage adds an elevated touch to the day
To personalize the food and beverage experience, the couple had two signature cocktails: an Aperol Spritz and an Old Fashion.
For their cake, they had a classic Italian wedding cake called millefoglie made of layers of Chantilly cream, puff pastry, and fresh strawberries topped with powdered sugar. What really made the cake unique was that it was assembled right in front of their guests!
- Wedding Planner: Glam Events in Tuscany
- Flowers: Flowers Living
- Venue: Villa Le Fontanelle
- Photographer: Andreas K. Georgiou
- Caterer: Galateo Ricevimenti
- Makeup: Lara Navarrini
- Videographer: Dennis Rodriguez
- Earrings: Maria Elena Headpieces
- Paper Goods & Calligraphy: La Precisina