Nurah and Vito’s garden wedding in Virginia paid homage to the couple’s love of Italy, with details inspired by the groom’s Italian roots. The couple named their tables after Italian cities and guests were gifted ceramic olive oil jars by Patronelli Oranzo, which had been brought from Italy by Vito’s mother. Guests flew in from Italy, Spain and Southern California to witness the couple exchange vows in boho style, beneath a floral wrapped arch at Airlie Hotel’s gorgeous gardens in rural Virginia.
Pops of pink and gold tones stood out against the greenery and natural beauty of the setting. The couple’s decor was either handcrafted or hand-curated by the couple and their loved ones. The day was sunny and quite warm for May, not a rain drop for miles! Photographer Krysta Norma Photography brings us these beautiful images from their Virginia wedding day.
Italy-themed Garden Wedding in Virginia
“You can see Italian influences in the table names (popular Italian cities like Florence, Rome, Milan and even Vito’s hometown, Villa Castelli); Our signature Rossini Cocktail – a play on the classic Belli mixed with our new last name; And our first dance song was by a famous Italian singer named Jovanotti,” explains Nurah. “There was so much love in the air on our wedding day.”
Our love story: We met at a Turkish wine bar in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. I was immediately struck by how handsome Vito was, and by his endearing sense of honesty. It was so refreshing in a big city full of go-getters. Since day one, he has treated me like his queen, putting me and our relationship first. He’s the type of man I dreamed of and always knew I deserved. We got engaged on Christmas Eve on a Brooklyn rooftop overlooking Manhattan.
Intimate Garden Wedding, Virginia
I wore my hair down with big wavy curls, a look I modeled after Jessica Alba in recent photo I saw of hers. I kept my makeup soft and beautiful, highlighting my cheekbones. My husband told me he wanted me to look like myself, and so did I.
I came across a bridal gown brand on Instagram called Made With Love Bridal – an Australian based boutique with a modern-bohemian vibe. I loved that their dresses were elegant, beautiful, but not over-the-top. The gown I chose was slim throughout with a French crepe skirt and a gorgeous beaded bodice. Since there was no stockist carrying the dress near me in NYC, I made the bold decision to order the dress online. Definitely considered a risky choice when it comes to wedding decisions but I trusted in the process and the positive reviews I read from former Made With Love brides. Well…it worked out. Better than I had imagined actually. It fit like a glove. Zero alternations needed.
I chose to call my closest friends and day of dream team, “Ladies of Honor.” I was honored to have them help me and be a part of our big day. I gave them a loose color of soft pink and peach. I kept the direction limited as I wanted each woman to feel comfortable and I wanted to see the diversity in their dresses choices, to compliment their personalities. My husband was supported by his best friends, cousins, and brother from Italy. We had a non-traditional bridal party, focused more on love and less on conformity.
Vito wore a slim-fitted black tuxedo with a white shirt and black bow tie. The look was very European, if I do say so myself, and he pulled it off, effortlessly.
Our wedding ceremony floral decor was all handmade. We used several types of eucalyptus, fern, and baby’s breath as filler. Then we incorporated vibrate pink rose, ranunculus and large daisies throughout the arrangements. Hanging amarynth from the ceremony arbor brought a whimsical, boho feel to the elegant outdoor ceremony. The biggest challenge was preserving the flowers for our gorgeous arbor. The roses were so fickle, traveling in bins from a floral wholesaler in Maryland in the back of my best friend’s car to the venue location. We pulled it off.
Our wedding ceremony was held under a beautiful floral arch atop a Persian rug, with sounds from talented guitarist, and friend, Steven Boone.
All the decor was handcrafted or curated. Everything from the floral arrangements to the macrame seating assignment chart to the DIY spray painted vases were made with love by my ladies of honor. The Welcome sign was a combination of an Etsy design and Michael’s materials, assembled by yours truly.
The seating chart was one of the coolest pieces of decor at our wedding. I purchased an inexpensive macrame wall hanging which we embellished with handwritten table and name assignments. Each table was the name of Italian city; Florence, Rome, Milan and even Vito’s hometown, Villa Castelli. Our guests were gifted ceramic olive oil jars by Patronelli Oranzo, which had been brought from Italy by Vito’s mother.
Wedding Planning advice:
- Start using Pinterest boards and Instagram early on.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. People actually want to help when it comes to your wedding. I truly believe our wedding was so beautiful because it was the culmination of such a talented group of people’s efforts. I was very clear on assigning friends and family roles early on, limiting the drama and highlighting the strengths in the women. They really amazed me, but then again, I always knew they would.
Wedding Service Providers: Photographer Krysta Norma Photography // Venue Airlie Hotel & Conference Center // Dress Sienna – Made With Love Bridal // Brides Hair Balsam Morcos at Blossom Your Hair // Brides Make-up KNicole Makeup // Cake Sweets by E // Music Steven Boone // Favors Patronelli Oranzo – Made in Italy // Wedding Planner Pepper Weeks // Shoes Badgely Mischka // Suits Top Man // Veil – Mi Bridal via Etsy
DIY Supplies: Chalkboard Welcome sign – Michael’s // Welcome Sign Decal – Ashland Street via Etsy // Candle Votives and Gold Accessories – Amazon // Wooden Arbor – Bride & Joy Flowers// Potomac Floral Wholesaler // Macrame Seating Chart – Amazon