I was fortunate to have amazing clients and work with fantastic teams for my weddings in Italy and Boston in 2022.
I feel thrilled that all these celebrations went well, without a hitch, to the delight of my couples and their guests.
As one of my brides put it in her review: “I cannot recommend Luba’s services HIGHLY enough!! While my fiancé (now husband!) and I were up to our ears in work in Ph.D. and MD programs, Luba somehow pulled off a truly MAGICAL wedding, beyond anything we could have ever dreamed.”
Indeed, my couples are very busy people with tons of important things on their plates, and one of my goals is to make their planning experience as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
My season started in April in Venice, where we planned an exquisite celebration in the famous Hotel Danieli, with a ceremony in a private palace, Palazzo Garzoni. Elegant dresses by Justin Alexander, suits by Cad & the Dandy, Venetian Masks, a quick Prosecco stop at Caffe Florian at Piazza San Marco, and the wedding gondola were the highlights of this unique day.
I then traveled to Tuscany for two charming weddings.
The first occurred at COMO Castello Del Nero, a recently renovated luxury castle in the heart of the Chianti region. From traditional Tuscan rolling hills landscape and cozy candlelit dinner by the fireplace to ultra-modern mirror hall shoot and swimming in the wedding dress with a Champagne toast the morning after the wedding – our couple had it all!
The next wedding’s location was the fantastic Belmond Villa San Michele near Florence. Our couple and their guests flew from the US to have an intimate and happy 2-days celebration. Everyone enjoyed a leisurely stroll in Florence with a Welcome dinner in a typical Tuscan restaurant Bocca Negra. The next day we had an elegant ceremony and reception at Villa San Michele, with a Champagne Tower and a live painting, surrounded by flowering wisteria and a stunning view of the city of Florence.
From there, I returned to Boston, where we had a joyful Jewish wedding for my couple, who had to reschedule their celebration four times due to the covid-19. They were already civilly married, but we all appreciated the heartwarming Jewish ceremony followed by an electrifying Hora dance. The wedding took place at the popular Exchange Conference Center at Boston Seaport, where everyone enjoyed a pleasant May evening by the sea, full of sailing ships and occasional seagulls.
Back to Tuscany for the late spring weddings!
The Boston-based couple got married in Florence at the charming Villa Tolomei Resort. The first night was a Pizza Party with an appetizing setup of fresh herbs and tomatoes. On their wedding day, the couple had the First Look at one of the iconic Florence spots – Piazzale Michelangelo. It was followed by a beautiful outside ceremony, dinner, and dancing until early morning.
The location for the following early- June wedding was an enchanted Borgo Stomennano in the Monteriggioni region. The San Francisco-based couple fell in love with this venue even before visiting it! We all enjoyed a delicious Welcome pizza party by Giotto on the Road the night before the wedding. The wedding day was busy and started with a morning yoga class and ended the next morning after the couple and their guests danced the whole night. The ceremony was conducted by a family friend, with warmth, humor, great speeches, and poetry. The local trio of musicians by Kaleydo Entertainment made everyone dance during the cocktail hour. The delicious dinner by Roland’s catering was staged in the curved backyard and ended with the typical Millefoglie Italian wedding cake. On the next day, the guests were offered a relaxing brunch, a wine tasting in a nearby winery, and a dinner under the stars in a local restaurant.
Then I moved back to Boston, where I had four very different weddings. It amazes me sometimes how unique weddings are!
July started with a glamorous luxury Black Tie Persian wedding at Boston Harbor Hotel. My couple also endured a few reschedulings due to the covid-19. But their wedding was truly spectacular. It featured the traditional Persian wedding ceremony, Sofreh Aghdt, an enormous cake, Persian dances, and flowers galore. The couple’s VIP was their bellowed dog. The groom was elegant and sharp, and the bride in her bespoke Monique Lhuillier dress was absolutely gorgeous. In the end, everyone enjoyed a fantastic fireworks display, a 360º photo booth, and a brilliant dance performance by the bride and her girlfriends.
Another July’s wedding was intimate and took place in a private home in Wellesley, Mass. The setup was a colorful country style, and everyone enjoyed a delicious Champagne lunch followed by the cake and freshly baked popcorn.
August was highlighted by a beautiful New England Garden wedding at Elm Bank, Wellesley, MA. The ceremony took place in a lush Italianate garden full of flowering hydrangeas and incorporated elements of Greek culture with Stefana crowns and Koufeta sweet almonds. The couple brought one of their three dogs to the wedding, an adopted blind Santos, who wore a charming collar covered with flowers.
My home-based weddings concluded with a fantastic Jewish wedding at Boston’s Museum of Science. The couple wanted to convey a summary colorful and festive atmosphere, and they did succeed! From a colorful floral chuppah and table centerpieces to bright tablecloths and the picturesque bridesmaids’ dresses, everything and everyone was full of happiness and joy. The First Look took place by the Charles river, and then a traditional, vibrant and energetic wedding took place by the Washburn pavilion of the Museum of Science.
Soon after, it was time for me to return to Italy and meet my clients in Florence.
My first fall wedding, for a Toronto-based Canadian couple, took place in the famous Florentine Synagogue and then in the incredible Villa Corsini, a property of princes Corsini for many centuries. The 3-day festivities began at Angel Roofbar in the center of Florence, offering an incredible view of the city. The traditional ceremony at the synagogue was accompanied by a Jewish string group Klezmerata Fiorentina and concluded with the kiddush service. The evening festivities at Villa Corsini featured multiple bands, opera singers, clowns, top-of-the-line cocktails, a millefoglie cake, and a firework. Guidi Lenci Ricevimenti prepared delicious food. The next day, everyone enjoyed a relaxing brunch at SeSto, a rooftop venue at Westin Excelsior hotel in Florence.
The following celebration was at a highly popular Villa Le Fontanelle located on a Florentine hill with an incredible view of Florence and its Duomo. My clients came from London, the bride’s family arrived from Poland, and the groom’s family arrived from another part of Italy. After meeting everyone for drinks the night before, the couple enjoyed getting ready in the villa. The weather wasn’t friendly; we had to rent a marquee for dinner and survived a few drops during the ceremony.
The white umbrellas added a truly unique romantic touch to the ceremony; at some point, the sun still came out to brighten it up. Sparkles galore, a traditional Polish wedding bread, oysters, and Aperol Spritz made the guests forget about occasional rain. Everyone enjoyed the First Dance, the cake-making by the bride and, of course, an impressive firework. The dancing continued until early in the morning, and the bright sun was inviting and warm when everyone woke up the next morning.
When Justin Warshaw, the creative director and CEO of Justin Alexander’s bridal gowns, chose me to plan his wedding in Italy, I was literally on cloud nine. Helping him and his bride, Kelsey, to plan their wedding was an exciting adventure. I helped them find their dream venue – the magnificent Castello di Celsa and then we planned and created a multi-day celebration full of surprises, beauty, great food and wine, breathtaking landscapes, and - of course! - gorgeous dresses! From the Welcome Party Tuscan dinner and wine tasting at Borgo San Luigi resort to the sumptuous Black Tie ceremony and delicious reception at the Castle, with music, lights, and fireworks – to chill out brunch the next day – all went without a hitch, and everyone was delighted.
My next celebration was for the Boston couple who rescheduled their wedding twice due to the covid-19 and ended up getting married in New England but celebrated a milestone birthday of the bride in Tuscany in an enchanting La Pescaia Resort, famous for its stunning trees and unspoiled beauty. Everyone enjoyed beautiful weather, great wine, live music, and a delicious dinner under the stars.
The last wedding of this busy 2022 season was in October in yet another beautiful Tuscan castle, Castello Vicchiomaggio. This wedding celebration was also postponed due to the covid-19 while the couple got married and was expecting a child. The delicate floral design, the beauty of the castle's ample grounds, a warm welcome by the groom's parents, and great speeches by the guests filled this 3-days celebration with happiness and laughter. The Millefoglie wedding cake and the fantastic firework beautifully concluded my work for my 2022 couples.
I feel proud and delighted to have successfully planned all these complex, beautiful and unique celebrations.
I was able to pull them all together thanks to my great helpers – my partner Diana Da Ros, my assistants Katrine and Acia Gankin, Elena Akulini, Olga Khodzhaeva and Yael Frare and to the most amazing vendors, both in Boston and in Italy, who were incredibly professional, talented, and brilliant, and allowed my beloved couples to celebrate to the fullest!
I am now working on the upcoming 2023 weddings and am accepting bookings for 2024. Don't miss your chance to plan and celebrate with me!
