Every Tuscan destination wedding needs this adorable gelato cart

You know we all have a penchant for all things Tuscan weddings.

And while the Italian wedding industry (and the wedding industry worldwide) are unnerved by the uncertainty of canceled weddings, travel disruptions & general health & safety in the 2020 wedding season, the best thing we feel we can do at home is to celebrate & support our many beloved & talented wedding vendors in such hard-hit areas like Italy.

Whether that means sharing our favorite Italian wedding venues, browsing through all the gorgeous & artful Italian bridal editorials or taking inspiration from all the gorgeous real weddings in Italy we frequently feature on Bridal Musings – like this gorgeous ethereal Tuscan wedding, featured today.

Photographed by Die Hochzeitsfotografen and designed so creatively by Italian wedding planners Weddinglam, this Italian destination wedding represents everything we love about Italy: case in point, the gelato cart ;)

Our Love Story

Annika: After cautiously carrying the ring with him for 10 days on a dive trip in West Papua, Johannes proposed to me during our last vacation days in Bali. He had it all planned in advance with a private tour guide, but last minute I decided to change our itinerary for the day, so they had to improvise on the way.

He took the chance to ask me to marry him in the pouring rain under a small pavilion with a beautiful view over the rice paddies of Jatiluwih. It was perfect! Afterward, the guide brought flowers and champagne and when the clouds cleared up, we got to stroll through the rice terraces.

The Planning

“When I met Annika and Johannes, I saw a brilliant couple with a young and sparkling spirit, so I thought for them a creative project that could emphasize the classic beauty of Tuscany but would meet their sophisticated taste.

I wanted to add a contemporary element that didn’t suffocate or weigh down but in fact, enhanced the naturalness and classicism of an already important landscape in itself, so I thought about acrylic. I, therefore, wanted to create a contrast between ancient and contemporary, between softness and rigidity, between richness and transparency, ‘Tuscany Framed in Glass'”

– Greta, of Weddinglam

The Ceremony Venue

“It all started with a “Ciao!”, those cute bags welcomed guests who would attend a ceremony in German in the Buggiano Castle Church. The celebrant with the historic 1500s dress and the original baroque furnishings were kept and they made room for a precious nave with a spontaneous nature and tall chandeliers. Fluttering silk ribbons framed the exit of the newlyweds who from a picturesque golf cart held a procession with violin music to the location of the reception.”

– Greta of Weddinglam

The Photography

It was a complete coincidence: We were on a road trip through Italy to scout wedding locations (which was so much fun, by the way!) and Villa Sermolli was the first location we visited. We found a photobook of our photographers Angelika & Artur in the hotel lobby. The two got married in the same location a few years earlier. The photos were so beautiful that we were immediately intrigued. After checking their website and blog, we had a call with them and it was clear to us that they were the perfect match for our wedding.

Angelika and Artur capture a wedding in a very natural and intimate way. They have an astute eye for detail and capture all of the positive emotions of the day. In the end, we could not have made a better choice. The value they provided went way beyond their work as photographers. We couldn’t be happier.

Favorite Moments & Details

Favorite Moment: Riding down the 300m from the church to the Villa Sermolli in a festively decorated golf cart with a violinist playing right behind us and our guests following us and the music down the hill. The music was touching and it gave us as a couple a few minutes to ourselves right after the ceremony.

Favorite Details: Details really make a difference! We loved all the details of Greta’s decoration: unpretentious but beautiful flower decoration in an already rich garden combined with golden elements, elegant modern details of plexiglass and laser cuts and romantic lights in the dark.

The Reception Venue

“The enchanting Villa Sermolli, a historical residence dating back to the 1500s, fully represents the Italian past: the stone sculptures, the lemon garden and the panoramic terrace. It was the perfect setting that inspired my project. The terrace hosted a tasty welcome drink, with a delicious ice cream corner and then downstairs to the reception in the Italian garden, set up with imperial and round tables arranged around the central fountain. The palette played on neutral tones such as light gray, sage green and white and romantic hints of gold.”

– Greta of Weddinglam

The Florals & Decor

“For flowers, we chose olive green and eucalyptus with white and ivory flowers: peonies, English roses, dahlias, a timeless classic. Under them, meters and meters of light gray silk as table runners, tall candelabras with pointed candles and pretty glass frames for table numbers.

But here are the main details entirely handmade:

Plexiglass signs like the tableau mariage, “Our Favorite People” hanging on a green wall to emphasize its white writing. The menus, in plexiglass too, rested on a light gray handmade paper embellished with gold leaf details. (I love to create these details in freehand!) The placeholders in laser-cut gold wood, which the guests kept jealously with them.”

– Greta of Weddinglam

Photo by Die Hochzeitsfotografen via Bridal Musings

Advice to Other Couples

For me, it was very important to feel comfortable and in tune with the core team I was surrounded by on the wedding day such as the wedding planner, photographers, stylist etc. We were always looking forward to meeting with them and I, as the bride, was happy to have those lovely people around me on our big day. This really helped to let go and trust that everything will work out.

Plus: Music really makes the difference – our band got people dancing through the night.

The Honeymoon

Right after the wedding, we stayed a couple more days in Italy for our “Minimoon” – in Tuscany, Positano and on Capri. Beautiful weather, amazing food, the best wines and friendly people – what more can you ask for?! We really enjoyed spending a few days on a private boat tour on the Amalfi coast and if you ever go to Capri, you need to check out the hotel Caesar Augustus for a drink on their terrace – its sunset views are magical.