I’m so taken by the romance of today’s wedding. Not only was it held in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but the family only affair put all of the focus is on the wedding itself and the importance of the event. What a beautiful way to start a marriage…..
Stephanie & Jason |September 24, 2009 |Florence, Italy
How he proposed
His proposal was perfect! He proposed in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, on a moonlit beach. He proposed with a Hello Kitty ring (it is a diamond ring and I LOVE Hello Kitty) because he knew I wanted an antique diamond ring, but he wanted me to be able to pick my own! He got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him, it was all very romantic.
The ceremony
Our ceremony was incredible! We had an Italian civil service performed in Florence, Italy. The building is called the Pallzzo Vecchio (Old Palace), which is the town hall of Florence. The building itself is grand, but the room we where married in is breathtaking. The Sala Rossa (The Red Room) is where the civil ceremonies take place, the room is filled with antiques, red silk walls, venetian chandeliers, guilt mirrors and an enormous tapestry. Our vows were all in Italian and translated to us through our wedding planner. The whole thing was surreal!
The moment Stephanie will never forget
Walking through the streets of Florence with my new husband while hundreds of Italian strangers and tourist yelled congratulations and clapped as we walked by, it was awesome ( a lot of them are in my photos!!)
The reception
We chose to only invite our parents and have a nice lunch at a nearby restaurant after our ceremony. We chose a great intimate Florentine steakhouse known for their wines. The lunch turned out perfect and we were very happy with our decision to have a small affair.
What made her wedding dress “The One”
I tried on two dresses. I knew mine was the one before I even tried it on. I had seen it hanging in the salon before I got the proposal, and loved it then! The dress itself is a light pink gown with a high-low skirt. It was unique but very classic, it reminded me of a dress Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn would have worn. I loved the antique style brooch, too. It was so simple, but made a huge statement and I had never seen anything like it.
Her advice for other brides
The best advice I could give to a bride would be to make a budget and stick to it. Know what you want to spend upfront, do not go into a bridal store and try on all the dresses. You will end up very disappointed if you can only spend $2000 and fall in love with a $6000 dress. You can make your wedding very sheek and classic without spending a fortune, I would concentrate on what you will have for the rest of your life-the pictures. Get a great photographer and put the money into what you will really see in your pictures-the dress, flowers etc. Food and a bar will go fast, be forgotten and cost a fortune!
