The city of Florence, Italy—or Firenze—is the capital of Tuscany. It’s a medieval marvel, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and home to masterpieces like gothic cathedral “The Duomo” and Michelangelo’s David statue.
Oh, and it’s also one of the most romantic cities in the whole world.
Bride Laura fell in love with Florence ten years ago when she spent time there studying abroad. Then she and groom Justin traveled there for their first romantic trip together. Now they’ve filled the city with even more special memories by choosing it as the perfect spot for their elopement!
Laura + Justin, both in advertising and based in LA, said that the location was the first thing that came to them when crafting their plan to elope. From there they teamed up with planner Italian Weddings by Natalia and, in only two months, planned a wedding day with perfect, personal details and all the impulsive European romance you can handle.
Photographers Patrizia and Josema from Blancorazon captured the chic and dreamy day, from a private ceremony with breathtaking views at venue AdAstra to unplanned adventures together through the streets of Florence to an absolutely stunning wedding feast for two.
Take a look!
Planner Natalia is the multitalented hand behind these charming bespoke paper goods.
Laura + Justin brought pieces of home with them abroad for their big day. Justin wore these Custom Pet Cufflinks engraved with the faces of the couple’s beloved furry friends!
These gorgeous florals by Giorgia Carolini look like something out of Botticelli’s Primavera.
First Look Feelings
Super-romantic first look kiss (with a casual castle in the background).
Private Ceremony Views
Ceremony florals in whites, pinks, and reds adding magic to this already-magical spot.
Elopement perks? When it’s just the two of you, you can walk down the aisle together!
Finding an officiant is always a crucial part of any elopement to-do list. Laura + Justin went with TuscanPledges to help them tie the knot in Florence.
Terracotta rooftops as far as the eye can see.
Catch the daisy details on Laura’s antique veil? It’s her mom’s from the 70’s!
Laura only had two months before she and Justin left for Florence to find the perfect dress, and close friends and family don’t live nearby. So she ordered a bunch of her favorites, set up a full length mirror in her guest room, poured herself some bubbly, and shared the try-on process with loved ones via Zoom! This beautiful long sleeved gown from Reformation was the winner—then she returned the rest!
Justin’s classic look came from Suit Supply, and he added a personal touch with a pocket square made from a piece of his mom’s wedding dress.
Exploring Florence
The shades! The dress! The view! So timeless and chic!
Laura + Justin say: “For our elopement day, we wanted planned, intimate moments such as our first look, ceremony, and dinner while also leaving time for spontaneous moments where we could explore and truly feel the energy of the city in Florence. We wanted to turn the corner to iconic architecture and city views. We wanted to stumble upon unexpected beautiful archways, bridges, and cobblestone paths. We wanted to randomly pop into a small cafe for a spritz or aperitivo.”
Our Advice To Those Planning Now Build a team with shared mindsets:
Our planner and photographer were vital to making our vision a reality, especially halfway across the world. We are fortunate to have had their input in the planning phase and they truly made the day itself stress-free by letting us focus on ourselves. Both stood out because of their experience with non-traditional elopements and their open mindset. Not just anyone would run around a city without plans with us.Invest in preserving the moment:
For us the day was amazing and we get to relive it whenever we want through the stunning photography and videographyMake it yours:
The little details made our day feel like us. A neutral and slightly moody color palette to match our closets. Our two pets with us through custom cufflinks and a custom cake topper. Our music taste incorporated by having ‘our song’ played by a string trio in a garden and a Frank Ocean verse as a reading in our ceremony. Enjoying our two favorite drinks, prosecco and spritzes, as we explored the city. A foodie experience through a five course meal with sommelier pairings.
We love a footwear change!
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding In the evening, we walked around the outside of the beautifully lit Duomo. We could feel the liveliness of the city with full restaurants surrounding the Duomo. As we passed each restaurant, all the diners started clapping and cheering "Auguri!" ("Congratulations!"). This continued as we walked around the Duomo from one restaurant to another. It felt like a movie. It was an energy we didn’t expect to get from the city and a feeling we’ll never forget.
A Feast For Two
The opulence of this private wedding dinner! Surrounded by glowy taper candles and rich florals Laura + Justin read through letters written by friends and family especially for their special day.
Auguri, Laura + Justin!! Here’s to many more adventures!!
photography: Blancorazon Wedding // venue name: AdAstra, Florence, Tuscany, Italy // planning: Italian Weddings by Natalia // florals: Giorgia Carolini // wedding dress: Reformation and Reformation // hairpiece: Vintage 1970s // bride's shoes: nike // bride's ring: Jennie Kwon Designs // hair stylist: Yana // makeup artist: Yana // groom attire: The Suit Supply // groom's ring: Jennie Kwon Designs // videography: Emotional Movie Wedding Film // paper goods: Italian Weddings by Natalia // cake: Wedding Cakes in Tuscany // music: Daria&co // officiant: Sofia from Tuscan Pledges // rings: Jennie Kwon Designs // Photographer Assistant: Stefania from Elope To Europe
