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I got married in my home town, Florence where I lived until I was 16 before moving to the UK. It was never a question that I would go back to celebrate my wedding there, but there were times when I thought it can be really tricky to plan a wedding at distance. I couldn't have done it without a whole lot of organisation and help from the "people of the business". So if anyone of you is planning a Florentine wedding, here are some of my trusted suggestions.
Catering
Galateo is one the most respected catering companies in Italy with branches in Florence, Milan and Rome. I don't know what I would have done without Simone and Tobia on the phone every other day ready to reassure me that: "everything is going to be OK". Galateo is not your usual catering company and will go out of their way to make sure that the food, atmosphere and settings are of the highest standars. I couldn't recommend them any higher.
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| A plate of Florentine delicatessen at the wedding |
Flowers
La Rosa Canina
www.larosacaninafioristi.it
Living in England has made me a real lover of English gardens, wild flowers and the beauty of "non-arranged" bouquets. I didn't think I could find a florist like Tommaso Torrini, who's unique vision melted with mine instantly. He is a real artist, a beautiful person and one of the hardest working persons I have ever met. You can count on giving Tommaso a brief and he will transform it into an even better idea.
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| My "favours" table with sugared almonds |
Location
Giardino Corsini
www.familyestatesintuscany.com
I absolutely loved the location of my wedding. It is a stunning and romantic garden of an old Villa in the middle or Florence and has two huge "limonaie" (orangeries but for lemons) where I had my reception during the day and then dinner and dancing in the evening. For me it was the perfect location because it combined outdoors and indoors options: a blooming June garden with a quintessentially italian backdrop.
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| The garden and villa in the background |
Shoes
Christian Louboutin
www.christianlouboutin.com
I only wanted typically Tuscan green plants and trees in the church and no flowers as I wanted myself, the bridesmaids and flower girls to be the flowers! So my shoes couldn't be more perfect as they were white sandals with two big peones at the front that matched the flowers in my hair. I loved them so much and had my dress cut a little shorter at the front so you could see them as I walked around.
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| My CL shoes are called Tsarouchi |
Flower Girl dresses
Monsoon
www.monsoon.co.uk
I first saw my flower girl dresses at the Monsoon press day and instantly knew they were the ones, I wanted something cream and vaguely resembling my own dress. The best thing about Monsoon is their range of sizes: I had 8 flower girls from as little as 4 months to 12 yers old and Monsoon had matching dresses in all those sizes. Most other stores have toddlers, children and girl sizes in different collections but Monsoon was my one stop shop, also their website is brilliant and has a specific bridal section.
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| The Estelle dresses on Emma and Alexia |
Illustrartor
Vic Riches
www.vicriches.blogspot.com
I met Vic at a press day and was instantly amazed by her phenomenal talent, so I asked her if she would consider coming to the wedding to sketch the guests outfits during the day. It was the best decision I ever made and I am so grateful to her for accepting. I will treasure her beautiful illustrations for the rest of my life and can't wait to hang her framed art work in my flat. She is a star about to be launched and a wonderful, gentle person and new friend.
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| Hanging flower decorations at the wedding |
Team UK
Polly, Dani and Heath
A huge thank you goes to my gorgeous friends that took time off their busy schedule to fly to Florence to help me: Polly, for making my dream garden come to life and handwriting over 300 name cards, Dani for doing my flawless make up and keeping me sane in the run up to the church with her gracious chat (
www.thesessionschool.com) and Heath (
www.eramanagement.com ) for creating what I can only describe as a dreamy, flowery piece of art in my hair that not one person on the day didn't commented on! Grazie.
Photo Booth
Nora Foto
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| The best man and bridesmaids.... |
Because it's quite simply a genious idea and it generates hours of endless fun for your guests!!
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| You get a copy to keep and one the guest book |
Photographer
Ed Peers
www.edpeers.com
Last but most certainly not least comes Ed, my amazing photographer. Ed is a true professional, quiet and discreet, meticulous and hard working - his eye and vision are that of a real artist. But Ed is not just a fantastic photographer he is also a warm, gorgeous person to have around and I count myslef lucky to have had him capture my wedding day and now have him as a friend. As a fashion stylist I thought I would find it very hard not to direct my own "wedding shoot", but Ed is completely trustworthy and delivered photos that have exceeded all my expectations. I could not recommend him more highly.
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| One of my favorite shots |
Go team Florence!
x
love, Laura
