REAL WEDDING

  • Photography By:

    Blumenthal Photography

    MEGAN & DAVID

    June 12, 2014 in Florence, Italy

    Megan and David met in Cape Town while on a double date with very close friends. While Megan was living in Cape Town at the time, David was on his annual December holiday and had flown in from Switzerland.


    Their friends had been trying to set them up for months. By the time they met at dinner, they were both incredibly nervous like school kids experiencing their first major crush. The attraction and energy was palpable.

    After their first dinner together in Cape Town they were inseparable for days. David flew back to Zurich and Meagan followed two weeks later and continued back and forth from Cape Town for 6 months until moving there permanently. 

    “IT WAS MAGICAL, AND FOR DAYS I WAS WALKING ON AIR.” MEGAN

    The proposal came three years later while they were on a long weekend trip on the island of Capri in the Amalfi Coast. “Just before heading out to dinner,” remembers Megan, “Dave suggested we have a drink on the balcony of the hotel. It was incredibly romantic and a perfect scene. He did catch me off-guard when he grabbed me telling me how much he loved me. He got down on one knee and asked if I’d marry him. I could not stop crying until he asked me again as I had not replied! It was magical, and for days I was walking on air.”

    Megan and David had a special affinity for Italy. They had spent many holidays together there and it became very special to them. The date was set for early summer. They chose Villa Le Rose in Florence to host their 180 guests that flew in from all over the world, many, from as far as Australia. Their objective was for the ceremony, the reception, the cocktail party and the after-party to all take place in the same location. Villa Le Rose was perfect because they were able to create and recreate the stages of the evening in various parts of the Villa.

    After six months of preparation and with the help of wedding planner Sara from Infinity Weddings who had overlooked every detail, the day of the wedding had arrived. 

    “The moment came” says Megan “when I put my dress on and felt like the most special girl in the world. Walking down the aisle with both my parents is a memory I will cherish in my heart forever. Then, joining David, was a very emotional experience for me. The sun was blazing down along with thunder in the distance, but it never rained. It was utterly romantic.” 

    Meagan and David wanted their guests to feel as though they had been invited into their home for a lavish, yet intimate feast. There was no ‘theme’ for the wedding but “…to us, it was all about family, friends, love and laughter” says Megan. “Nothing was to be an over-done spectacle or show, just natural, fun and full of life. I feel we really expressed this in the flowers which were big loose bunches, no one was the same, bursting with colour and energy.”

    The lights were dimmed very low with abundant candles and lanterns lit everywhere for added ambience. Magnificent green garlands framed the balcony and dance floor. Above, hung clusters of antique chandeliers twinkling against the crystal tent. A full moon illuminated the summer night sky creating a dream-like mood. After a memorable dinner, which Megan describes as authentic and true to Florentine summer cuisine with a modern flare, the party started in the ballroom with a DJ and a well stocked bar. Guests were then treated to Grappa, Vin Santo, and Coffee in a lounge area that was recreated in the courtyard with a chef making the most delicious crepes. 

    “The day after we were absolutely shattered but still filled with excitement!” remembers Megan. “Still feeling so emotional after such an intensely overwhelmingly beautiful experience, nothing could get me down. We hosted a late lunch and BBQ at Villa Mangiacane. It was super relaxed and so much fun. The lunch continued into the cellar, where we danced till the early hours of the morning. It was awesome for Dave and I to let our hair down, chill out and spend time with our friends.

    A week-long honeymoon in Capri was the culmination of what both Megan and David describe as “the most amazing time.”

    WEDDING TALENT

    Location: Villa Le Rose, Florence, Italy; Caterer, Cake, Linen and Rentals: Federico Salza Catering, Pisa, Italy

    Event Design and Planner: Infinity Weddings and Events, Italy; Floral Design: Tuscany Flowers, Florence, Italy; Lighting: Alma Project, Florence, Italy; Wedding Dress and Veil: Steven Khalil

    Groom's Tuxedo: Tom Ford; Photography: Blumenthal Photography, Sydney, Australia

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