A Vintage-Infused Verona Wedding Dripping With Roses, Silk & Italian Romance

Silk-draped tables, rose-laden details, and timeless Italian elegance in the heart of Verona

The timeless allure of vintage romance met the precision of meticulous design in Alexandra and Charles’ wedding at Villa Rizzardi, an historic estate set in the romantic city of Verona. Surrounded by manicured gardens and the villa’s tree-lined gallery, the celebration unfolded as a series of exquisitely styled chapters, each with its own mood, palette, and atmosphere. Guests arrived to silk-draped entrances and sculptural floral installations, each touchpoint thoughtfully curated to immerse them in the couple’s vision. Captured with an editorial eye by our members Sarbo Studio, every moment felt cinematic – from the rose-lined ceremony to the candlelit dinner at a single 40-metre table dressed in white florals, vintage silver, and silk. Alexandra, wearing custom creations by our member Aston Bridal, brought the romance to life with a timeless yet modern bridal aesthetic.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We were both persuaded by friends to join Raya—the first and only dating app either of us had tried. I was in Melbourne focused on my career; Charles was in Dubai building his business. From our first conversation, the connection was instant. A month later, he booked flights to Australia, but a last-minute work trip took me to the UK, so we switched our meeting point to London. We fell in love quickly, spending a year in long-distance before I packed up my life and moved to Dubai to be with him.

^{The Proposal}

From early on, we bonded over our love of Christmas, and I’d told Charles my dream of a white Christmas in Lapland. Just seven months in, he made it happen—starting with Santa’s Village in Finland, then Christmas in the UK.

After a day exploring, we changed into matching PJs and settled in with hot chocolate. Charles gave me a handmade book of our story so far, followed by a second book beginning with the words "To My Fiancée". When I looked up, he was on one knee. He’d even filmed the whole thing—carefully planning his camera angle while I was getting ready.

^{The Engagement Ring}

On one of my first trips to Dubai, we visited Cara Jewellers to look at tennis bracelets, but ended up trying on engagement rings "just for fun." That day I discovered I loved the simplicity of a solitaire brilliant cut. When Charles proposed, he surprised me with a three-carat natural diamond on a yellow gold band with platinum prongs. I paired it with a classic full eternity band—elegant, timeless, and perfect.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

With my background in marketing and events, I had a clear creative vision for the day and knew exactly how to bring it to life. I wanted our wedding to feel romantic, intimate, timeless, and elegant, with every detail carefully considered. I leaned into vintage romantic elements throughout—from my dress to stylistic choices—and drew inspiration from iconic weddings in history to help shape our design direction. Rich textures like silk and lace added depth, while every styling element, from tablescapes to signage, was curated to feel cohesive and intentional. Our florals and styling were designed to feel organic to the space, with understated elegance and sculptural elements that brought a sense of refinement without ever feeling overdone.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

When it came to choosing our vendors, I instinctively gravitated towards Australian talent—I’ve always believed they’re at the forefront of creativity and innovation. Each one brought not only exceptional skill but also genuine excitement about working at Villa Rizzardi for the first time. To complement this dream team, we partnered with a local planner who knew the venue intimately and seamlessly coordinated key elements.

To ensure everyone was aligned, I created a 40-page Canva deck mapping out every element of the day—how we wanted it to look, how we wanted it to feel, and the experience we wanted our guests to have. The emotive side of the day was extremely important to us; we wanted our guests to feel “wowed” at every stage, with thoughtful, meaningful touches woven throughout. Creatively, I connected instantly with each vendor and trusted them completely to bring that vision to life, resulting in a dream team who made the day truly unforgettable.

^{The Location}

Growing up on opposite sides of the world, choosing a wedding location was always going to be a challenge, knowing guests would need to travel. I explored venues in Australia, but nothing truly captured our hearts, and we were hesitant about the unpredictability of UK weather. During a trip to Italy for my birthday, we decided to visit a few venues, and the very first one we saw completely stole our hearts. Villa Rizzardi, set in the romantic city of Verona, is a renowned Italian garden with a breathtaking amphitheatre and striking architectural elements that immediately enchanted us.

A Vintage-Infused Verona Wedding Dripping With Roses, Silk & Italian Romance

^{The Ceremony}

On the wedding day, guests arrived at the venue in the late afternoon and gathered in the Limonaia area, enjoying welcome drinks and refreshing lemon sorbet. Charlie then led guests down a 90-metre path framed by towering cypress trees into the breathtaking amphitheatre. A string trio played softly, setting a romantic and timeless tone for the moment.

^{The Cocktail Hour}

After the ceremony, guests were guided through a charming secret garden, where waiters awaited with trays of chilled prosecco. They then made their way down to the villa, greeted by the soulful voice of our incredible live singer, Ellie, whom we had flown in from the UK especially for the day.

Guests mingled and soaked up the atmosphere, enjoying a decadent spread of Italian food and signature drinks, with the villa gardens providing the perfect backdrop for their own photos. We created beautiful, abundant table displays and set up a grand vintage mirror where guests captured moments in their black-tie attire. It felt glamorous, romantic, and intimate—a seamless continuation of the magic from the ceremony.

^{The Reception}

Our reception dinner was set at one long table beneath a tree-lined gallery—dreamlike and intimate. Guests found their seats via a four-metre silk seating chart draped from the trees, adding a touch of theatre. Evebud styled the table with white florals in vintage silver vases, grand candelabras, and a 40-metre silk cloth gathered into rose shapes at each end—a nod to our floral motif. I designed the menus myself, sealing each with a red wax rose to match our invitations.

Ellie’s live vocals gave dinner the warmth of a dinner party while keeping the atmosphere romantic. The evening flowed perfectly—ideal weather, heartfelt speeches, and unforgettable Italian food. After dinner, we changed outfits while the amphitheatre was transformed with a black-and-white chequered dance floor. We re-entered to fireworks for our cake-cutting, followed by our first dance under the night sky. Trays of fresh cannoli and gelato fuelled the party before guests moved inside to dance until 2 a.m., ending with late-night pasta.

A Vintage-Infused Verona Wedding Dripping With Roses, Silk & Italian Romance

^{The Special Touches}

From the scalloped draping at the villa entrance to lemon sorbet served in hollowed lemons, every detail was considered. Instead of a guest book, friends signed a coffee-table book on love, leaving notes alongside iconic imagery. In honour of Charles’ business, Humantra, we gifted “Love Potion” boxes of electrolytes with copy rewritten to reflect our story—perfect for post-party recovery. Roses, my favourite flower and a symbol of our relationship, appeared throughout the day, even on my second dress. Our cake, inspired by Jackie Kennedy’s and adorned with white roses, tied the celebration together in timeless elegance. Every touchpoint was designed to make guests feel special—from the first sip of prosecco to the final dance.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

Walking into the dinner and finally being able to relax—surrounded by our friends and family in such a breathtaking setting—was pure magic. In that moment, it felt as though all the months of planning and hard work had come together exactly as we had envisioned. We were able to soak it all in—the beauty of the space, the warmth of the atmosphere, and the joy on our guests’ faces. More than anything, we felt proud of the experience we were hosting, knowing that every detail had been considered to make it unforgettable for the people we love most.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

Dress shopping was harder than I expected, especially living away from my family and best friend. I quickly realised I wanted a voluminous, dramatic gown to suit our amphitheatre venue—something unique but not fully custom with our short timeline. Fate intervened when a Sen Studio taffeta gown appeared on my Instagram feed. Its cat-eye neckline, Basque corset, and full skirt felt timeless, dramatic, and perfectly in tune with my vintage vision—reminding me of Princess Diana’s gown, which my mum also loved. Days later, the very boutique I’d visited in Dubai received the dress. I tried it on, FaceTimed my mum and best friend, and we all knew it was “the one.” I even extended the train by 80cm for extra drama.

I paired it with a custom four-metre veil from Aston Bridal, edged in vintage lace, and wore the blusher for a traditional, emotional walk down the aisle. For the reception, Aston created a corset with exposed boning and oversized rosettes, paired with a Mikado column skirt and a French bustle—a Regency-inspired silhouette. Ivory opera gloves and pointed satin-and-lace heels completed the look. Jewellery was custom for each moment: diamond-and-pearl drop earrings for the ceremony, two-tier diamond drops for the reception, and a surprise graduated tennis necklace from Charles on the wedding morning. My hair was styled by my close friend Rhys Harrison—sculptural French twist for the ceremony, sleek half-up for the reception. Makeup artist Carla Dyson created a natural-yet-glam look in soft neutrals, refreshing my base in under ten minutes despite the 39-degree heat.

^{The Groom Looks}

Charles favours a classic black-tie style—timeless and free from trends. Working with Giuliano at Suited & Booted in Dubai, he wore a black shawl-lapel jacket with a white rose boutonnière for the ceremony, complementing my gown. After dinner, he changed into a white dinner jacket with a traditional lapel and a red rose boutonnière for cake-cutting and dancing. Both looks were pure old-school elegance, elevated with subtle details true to Charles and the timeless feel of the day.

^{Our Bridesmaids’ & Groomsmen’s Styles}

We decided to keep our bridal party intimate, with just our best friends as maid of honour and best man. With our black-tie dress code, I knew a classic black gown would be timeless and sophisticated for my best friend. I wanted her to feel completely comfortable and beautiful, so I gave her the freedom to choose any style she loved. We ultimately landed on a House of CB gown with a structured corset and elegant draping. She wore the pearl earrings I had worn to our intimate Melbourne civil ceremony earlier in the year and carried a petite bouquet of white roses that matched mine. For the best man, we wanted to keep things ultra-classic and understated, in keeping with the black-tie dress code. He wore a traditional tuxedo that looked effortlessly sharp and perfectly suited to the elegance of our setting.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Weddings can feel like an endless to-do list, so organisation is everything. I relied on clear spreadsheets, focused planning sessions, and breaking big tasks into smaller steps. Even so, the stress never fully disappears—it’s part of the journey. But on the day, every piece fell beautifully into place. The key was choosing vendors whose style aligned naturally with ours. That trust allowed them to shine, creating a celebration that felt sophisticated, considered, and just grand enough for the occasion.

^{For On the Day}

There will always be little things that don’t go exactly as planned, but the right team will handle them, and your guests will never know the difference. Prioritise capturing the moments you’ll treasure for a lifetime, and invest in the right creative team—photographer, videographer, and content creator if you can.

^{For Post-Wedding}

Don’t make plans for early the next morning—give yourselves the gift of a slow start. One of our favorite memories is waking up together, having coffee in bed, and eating our wedding cake for breakfast (which we’d barely touched the night before) while paging through our guest book. Reading the heartfelt messages from our friends and family was incredibly special.