This Is a Moody Wedding Palette Done Right at Villa Sola Cabiati

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]A moody, mauve pink was the main color for the wedding from which everything unfolded. The bride was drawn to the earthiness of this color and felt that it was perfect for the moody, romantic look she was going for.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]We wanted the design of the wedding day to feel very moody and serene. Lots of candlelight and imperfect, organic floral designs. We wanted the florals to feel earthy and grounded against the very refined and symmetrical venue.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Wanting her family and friends surrounding her at the time of the proposal yet also wanting to say “yes” in what was, at the time, our future home of Charleston, South Carolina, set out to be a daunting task. To make the task even more intricate, the pandemic of our lifetimes was in full effect. However, nothing was going to prevent the proposal she desired from happening.

The date was May 24th, 2020, the bride-to-be walks into the middle of White Point Garden where the groom-to-be is looming in the background trying to stay out of sight.

As she walks into the middle of gazebo, he whispers in her ear the statement that epitomizes their entire relationship: “I will love you more than I did yesterday, but not as much as I will tomorrow.”

With his nerves at bay and eagerness growing, he got down on one knee and asked her to do forever with him. As he slipped the ring on her finger, all their family and friends, who traveled from all up and down the east coast, appeared from their hiding spots though out the park to bring the surprise to a breathtaking end.[/field]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The wedding gown story started back in Feb 2021, NYC. Amidst the pandemic, the bride and her mother flew to NYC for the Australian designer’s, Pallas Couture, trunk show. There the bride chose her ceremony dress, which took 5-fittings (all through zoom since the dress was being made in Australia and the country was shut down) and 1 year later, the hand-made dress was at her front door. She also had a reception dress that was just a white slip dress from Show Me Your Mumu and a silk gown with a cape from the Spanish designer, Cortana, for the welcome dinner. Her wedding shoes were Jimmy Choo, reception shoes were Cult Gia, and her welcome dinner shoes were Hermes. All jewelry was from the brides mother and late-grandmother. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”][/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groom aspired to exemplify a high-end fashion establishment, local to their hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, called Dumas & Sons. [/field]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]The wedding menu of course featured traditional Italian food. Dinner began with sea scallops, followed by ravioli, and finally beef filet with porcini mushrooms and parmesan cheese. For dessert, guests were served a passion fruit sorbet and later a traditional Italian wedding cake. Can’t forget the cannolis at the welcome dinner![/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The florals were very organic in structure with a dusty pink rose as the focal point amongst other neutral blooms. The ceremony was framed by cascading florals, greenery, and pillar candles down the steps of the villa. The cascading floral design carried over to the long running table set on the villa grounds overlooking Lake Como.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The couple had a Millefoglie, a traditional Italian wedding cake made of creme and berries![/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]There were two readings; a poem “Vows” by the groom’s grandmother read by his best man and the “Love is not to Possess” by James Cavanaugh read by the bride’s man-of-honor, her brother. The officiant was the couple’s best friend from college and both the bride and groom wrote their own vows.
The seating of the mothers song was “Mama Said” by The Shirelle, the procession of the bride song was “First Date” by Taylor Acorn, and the recessional song was “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder, all of which was played by a harp soloist.
The first dance song was “Everything” by Michael Buble, which the couple had their dance professionally choreographed and they had practiced for 5 months! The father/daughter dance was to “Stay with Me” by Daniel Jang and the mother/son dance was to “You’ve got a Friend in Me” by Carol King. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Seating Arrangements:
The couple chose to sit at opposite sides of the single, very long table for their welcome dinner; their thoughts, why have people fly across the Atlantic to possibly be seated at the lonesome ends. They wanted their guests to feel as special as they did and ultimately make the linear table full of 40 people feel as close knit as a dinner for 4.
Back story, the groom had to take an etiquette class for an entrepreneurial course where he learned the backstory of seat placement. The couple thought this would be a proper way to do the seating charts!

The couple loved the idea of each seat having a meaning and placing their friends and family in each unspoken one with a slight twist.

The bride and groom took their places at the host seats at the end of the table. To each of their right was their guest they wanted to honor the most with the guest’s partner seated directly to their right. This was our way of subtly showing our appreciation for all they have done for us through out of lives both individually and as a couple.

The first seat to the left of host seats, the bride and groom chose to place their closest allies, otherwise known as their closest friend. This pattern alternated on the right and left side of the table all the way down until the bride and grooms ends of the table met. This created an atmosphere far greater than any one could have expected. Their were constant laughs and joyful conversations through out the dinner with guests who never met before and with guests who have known each other for decades. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Stationary:
Each piece of stationary was meticulously thought out; each word changed over and over until the couple felt it sounded perfectly like them. Some of the most meaningful quotes were:
“Because you have believed in them, celebrated with them, loved and encouraged them…” – the first sentence on the invitations.
“Years, friends, and glasses of wine; these things must not be counted.” – at the end of the ceremony program
The couple also came up with a weekend pocket guide with local recommendations to do, see, and eat! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Thank You Speech:
By choosing a destination like Italy coming off the chaos of the pandemic, the couple understood many family and friends wouldn’t make it but it also meant the people who had journeyed over were the ones meant to share in their special weekend. So to end the reception, the couple was bathed in speeches of remembrance and love but what left the guests in tears was the bride’s thank you speech. Within that speech was a node to her late step mother, who tragically lost her battle with depression three years earlier. All guests could feel her grief but also her love for each of them knowing her and her now husband wouldn’t be where or who they are today without them.[/field]
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