Jessica and Dan chose a Livernano Estate wedding when they tied the knot last summer. Luckily for us, they asked us to come along and capture it.
“Nick and Aimie at Beziique felt like extra guests on the day. They seemed almost as excited as we were!” say Jessica and Dan. Here is the story of their stylish wedding in Tuscany.
When in Italy…
The ‘when in Rome’ spirit certainly made an impression on groom Dan, because when he and Jessica jetted off to Italy to celebrate her graduating, he decided to pop the question.
“We’d been dating for seven years and were in Tuscany for a fortnight of food and wine in the sun,” explains Jessica. The groom proposed over breakfast, accompanying those four magic words with stunning views over the vineyards, exquisite espresso and a diamond ring.
Inspired by their holiday, the couple set their hearts on a wedding in Tuscany.
A Secluded Setting
“We visited the estate for dinner and fell in love while on holiday. It’s hidden away miles from the town along a dirt track that winds among vines. At the end, the estate is a small restored Medieval hamlet on the crest of a hill.” Wedding venues in Tuscany – or anywhere, for that matter – don’t get much more romantic than that. A Livernano Estate wedding was the perfect location for this couple.
Aisle Attire
Every bit the contemporary bride, Jessica opted for a stylish ensemble of separates for her wedding outfit. “I chose pieces from Charlie Brear and Halfpenny London, which were styled by Victoria at Cicily Bridal.”
Applique blooms made the dress utterly dreamy and perfect for their wedding in Tuscany. Jimmy Choo heels and a bespoke Britten veil added the finishing touches to her look.
Not to be outdone, groom Dan looked dapper in a Bertoni suit, Charles Tyrwhitt shirt and Mr Bow Tie accessories. “Dan’s forest green trousers tied in with the colour scheme and landscape,” adds the bride.
Continuing the emerald scheme, the bridesmaids wore multi-way gowns by Victoria Lou Bridal.
A Bespoke Ceremony
Jessica and Dan jumped at the opportunity to make the moment they said ‘I do’ their own, and they nailed it!
“We loved creating a personalised ceremony,” they reveal. “We included a toast using local dessert wine and both our sisters gave readings. The extract from ‘Winnie the Pooh’ had us in tears – it was a lovely family occasion.”
Vineyard Romance
Inspired by the location for their Livernano Estate wedding, the couple created a stylish and stunning colour scheme that majored on accents of green, white and gold.
“We wanted to complement the surroundings and enhance the beauty of the buildings. The festoon lights certainly did that,” they smile. “Gifting each guest a tiny bottle of olive oil from the vineyard seemed the perfect choice.”
A true family affair, the couple sought-out wedding photos from family members dating back an incredible 100 years. “We displayed them in gold frames at our wedding. With the help of my bridesmaids, we also dried petals from our English gardens for a year ahead of the wedding.”
Vanessa Kirkam Designs created and painted the charming signs.
Peonies and Herbs
When asked to define the style of her wedding flowers, bride Jessica had just two things to say: “big and wild!”
“We wanted a simple palette of white and green using exclusively local and seasonal blooms.” Sprigs of rosemary and olive formed the foliage, enhanced by fairy-tale white peonies. Channelling the flowers throughout the celebration, the tall ceremony arrangements set the scene for the flowing foliage table runners to follow at the reception.
A Four-Course Feast
Choosing a Livernano Estate wedding also gave the couple access to the vineyard’s in-house wine and catering – and what a treat that was!
“We had canapes of cured meats, salad and a huge crumbling tower of pecorino cheese paired with Livernano prosecco after the ceremony.”
The main event was a four-course celebration of Italian flavours. “We started with pecorino soufflé, followed by pistachio and black cabbage gnocchi. Next, we chose roast cockerel and vegetables. The food was paired with wine from the vineyard.” Italian mille-feuille, topped with personalised cake toppers, created a moreish send-off. Once again, ingredients from the vineyard accented the dessert.
“The candid shots of everyone laughing at dinner are some of our favourite wedding photos,” the couple reveal.
Let’s Dance!
The gorgeous food and wine weren’t the only entertainment on offer at Jessica and Dan’s wedding. The Old Florence Dixie Band provided live music and a magical atmosphere during garden games and the early evening, before the power of the dance floor became too much to resist and dancing into the early hours ensued.
But the most unique entertainment at this Livernano Estate wedding had a different theme…
“We invited guests to smash a giant grape piñata that was filled with glow sticks and sweets to fuel the party!” the couple laugh.
Magical Memories
“We spent a long time looking for a photographer that would give us the images we dreamed of. We wanted romantic photos that reflected the fun of our day.”
“Nick and Aimie at Beziique made us laugh and they knew just what to do and when. We didn’t miss out on time celebrating because we were taking pictures. Instead, we have a beautiful collection of the best moments of our day, as well as some great posed photos. We love the sunset shots.”
