A springtime Italian wedding under a canopy of lights at Villa Astor

Italian villa destination wedding

In September of 2020, as bride Morgan and her friend Krystina arrived at the warm ambiance of The Montauk in Scottsdale, Morgan noticed a charming, blue-eyed gentleman stealing glances at her. Fate intervened when the hostess seated them right beside him. In moments, Pat turned to introduce himself, and their conversation flowed effortlessly from there. As they planned their wedding in Italy for May of 2024, they aimed to honor their blended family and Morgan’s Japanese American heritage. Hosting over 75 guests from the U.S., they chose Villa Astor, a historic venue needing no embellishments. The elegance added by the florist and vendors only enhanced its charm, creating a must-see wedding experience, photographed by Katerina Kutas Photography.

invitation suite with custom watercolor venue insert

Villa Astor wedding

Italian coast wedding

Elegant Italian Venue

As Morgan and Pat’s wedding planner, Westgate Events was tasked with the unique challenge of creating a luxury wedding that was both simple and elegant, reflecting the couple’s distinctive style. The journey began with a search across Italy for the perfect venue that captured their desired essence of love and luxury, ultimately leading them to the breathtaking Villa Astor. Nestled on the Amalfi Coast, Villa Astor offered a historic charm that resonated with their vision.

feather-trimmed robe

Hollywood glam bridal hairstyle elegant spring bouquet

tulle and lace applique wedding dress train

Chic Italian bridal style

The bride began the day in a sheer bodice slip with floral applique details, complemented by a feather-trimmed robe. After hair and makeup, she slipped into a fitted, illusion neckline dress from Galia Lahav with sheer lace sleeves and a train that alternated between sheer tulle and lace applique design.

velvet skull-accented shoes blue suit jacket

Groom's accessories: Skull-accented shoes

The groom donned a vibrant blue suit jacket with a black lapel, complemented by a black bow tie and stylish skull-accented velvet dress shoes for a fashion-forward, statement-making look. He stood out against his sea of groomsmen that were dressed in quintessential black-tie options.

nude bridesmaid dresses

Perfectly neutral bridesmaids

The bridesmaids wore effortlessly chic silk slip dresses in a perfect shade of nude with matching nude sandals. Hair and makeup matched the effortless glam of the fashion.

cliffside wedding ceremony

spring ceremony floral arrangements this way to the ceremony sign

Opting to use unique venue spaces

Westgate Events utilized areas of the villa not typically used for events, creating intimate spaces that highlighted the venue’s natural beauty and offered guests a sense of discovery. This was evident in the private cliffside location of the ceremony overlooking the Mediterranean.

parasol wedding favors wedding ceremony with parasols

Parasols: The perfect favor

The bride and groom provided white parasols to help protect their guests from the Mediterranean sun.

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off-white wedding dress

Springtime-inspired floral design

Each detail of the floral arrangements by Sartoria Florale was meticulously planned to ensure the uniqueness of the wedding that complemented the elegance of the villa's grandeur. The florals included a springtime-inspired color palette that featured plenty of roses and greenery, as well as luxurious and colorful wildflower complements in yellows, blue, and peachy-pinks.

watercolor handwritten seating chart

Custom signage with handwritten style

To help achieve the couple's vision, Westgate Events designed custom signage that welcomed guests with plenty of elegant watercolor designs and a personal, handwritten touch.

custom pet bar sign aperol spritz cocktail hour

Hand-painted bar signage

Custom cocktails were advertised with precious, clear bar signage that featured miniature paintings of the couple's dogs.

end of table floral arrangement

aperol spritz seating cards springtime wildflower centerpieces

Intimate reception under a canopy of lights

The reception was held at an intimate location on property underneath an elegant canopy of string lights that became the perfect day-to-night lighting. Details included imported napkins from the U.S. and a seamless integration of Morgan's Japanese American heritage.

canopy of string lights

Custom neon bar signs

A custom neon sign lit the way for the party to get started, featuring the couple's newlywed last name against a white background accented with greenery and pastel floral design.

wedding cake with a bow

Wedding cake with a bow

The bride and groom cut into a timeless, two-tier all-white wedding cake from Sorrento Wedding Catering with a delicate off-white silk bow wrapped around the bottom tier, while large white roses created an asymmetrical accent.

champagne tower with fireworks wedding fireworks

An epic fireworks display

The party really started when the bride changed into a sparkly, feather-trimmed mini dress and the couple poured a champagne tower as fireworks lit up the night sky.

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