Maggie and Ben are two designer aficionados from California USA. Architect Maggie has a background in designing high end luxury homes, while as an entrepreneur, Ben has one of his companies, Bulletproof Automotive, focused on making cars look better and run faster.

This couple share a fast-paced life and a furious love of travel and food. So, not surprisingly cyber cupid, Match.com, found them to be the perfect match.

Keeping true to their travelling spirit, Ben proposed to Maggie in balmy Bali where they celebrated their engagement exploring the tropical island for two whole weeks – ow, so, dreamy.

So for their interfaith Jewish wedding a destination wedding was an easy choice. Only question was where? Where could they treat their family and friends not only to one of their favorite places in the world, but also enjoy truly amazing cuisine?

Cue, the Cinque Terre, Italy.

From the moment this excited couple contacted us at Cinque Terre Wedding their vision was clear: they loved the natural spirit of the Cinque Terre and at the top of their wish list were peonies for Maggie and scampi crudo (raw langoustine) for Ben. This warm-hearted couple also had their guests interests at front of mind throughout. And all these elements were in abundance for this beautiful couple who celebrated their day with special interfaith Jewish wedding traditions and features, like having their fathers as the celebrants, the Chuppah (pronounced hoopah – took us a while to get that one right :)) and the Challah bread, made right here in Italy.

So we’ve asked Maggie and Ben to share their top 5 tips and 5 and bit favourite pics on their interfaith Jewish wedding in the Cinque Terre. Prepare to do some “O” mouth movements over the coral and gold colour palette and watch out for those stunning peonies – yes, they really were that big and beautiful.

Hats off to photographer Facibene Fotografia.

Why destination & why Cinque Terre?

During my 2003 study abroad in Florence, I discovered and fell in love with Cinque Terre. The beauty of the Cinque Terre’s colorful coastal villages held a special place in my heart, and I always knew that I would someday return. Years later, as Ben and I fell in love, I knew I wanted to share this special place of mine.

Ben and I share a deep passion for travel; over the 10 years we dated, we have shared incredible journeys all over the world. Our love of travel and adventure made it clear that an exotic destination wedding best suited us and told our story. Over years of our travels, we considered everything from cherry blossom season in Kyoto, to taking over a cruise ship in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, for our wedding. We wanted to create a special experience that was truly “us”. In the end, it was the same beauty that I originally found in Cinque Terre that captured our focus and became our special wedding destination.

With family from all over the US, we knew we were asking a lot of them to travel so far for the wedding. We also made them wait out 10 years of our relationship for this moment in marriage. We couldn’t let them down; we wanted an epic wedding adventure, and that is what we set out to create. Since we live in Venice Beach, California we couldn’t possibly manage an exceptional destination wedding without an exceptional wedding planner. Thankfully, we found Melina Nicholson of Cinque Terre Wedding. From our first introduction emails to the final dance at our wedding, Melina worked tirelessly to be sure every detail of our vision was brought to life.

We considered a number of locations in Cinque Terre, but it was the raw natural beauty of Buranco Vineyard in Monterosso that made our venue decision ultimately an easy choice. Between dancing alongside 1,000 year-old original city walls, walking through the beautiful olive trees, looking out to ocean views, and enjoying the wine from the vines running up and down the picturesque elevations of the estate, we knew that it would not only check off every wish list item we had for our family and friends to enjoy, but that it would also provide some amazing photos to look back on.

How was the planning process?

I am a self-admitted control freak, so planning a wedding 6,000 miles away mostly via email, with a few Skype calls (without ever seeing the venue in person!), was challenging for me. At the same time, I knew I had no choice but to let go a little and just trust that Melina would pull it all together. When our wedding weekend arrived, I knew we were in good hands as soon as we arrived at our Thursday evening welcome drinks/aperitivo, and things just got better from there! Melina and her team have a keen eye for design, and the ability to, with a few Pinterest photos, pull together a stunning vision. I was most concerned about the flowers, as someone who loves flowers and has dabbled in floral design as a hobby over the years. Melina did not disappoint; the flowers for our rehearsal dinner were stunning and just what I had envisioned, and the wedding flowers were over the top. In my wildest dreams, my bouquet was never as big and stunning as it ended up being! Everything, from start to finish, was an absolute dream.

Best part of your day?

It’s hard to pick my favorite part of the best day of my life! From the moment I woke up, it all felt like a dream! But if I had to pick one moment, it would probably be our First Look. After hours of getting ready, I finally slipped into my dress and shoes and walked (I may have floated?) over to the Olive Grove at Buranco, where my love was waiting. Having those first moments together to take it all in before all the excitement started was really special.

Top Tips for future CT Brides & Grooms?

During wedding planning, my best advice is to just communicate with Melina as much as you need to. If you are unsure about something, just ask, and she will put you at ease! Also, make lists early. As the wedding day got closer and everything started to come together, I was very glad I had made lists early so I already knew what needed to be done and packed. It helped make those last few weeks much smoother, as the stress level was definitely high while we finished last-minute wedding things, but also wrapped up work in preparation of being away for three weeks.

Once in Cinque Terre, everything went so fast, but it was all so beautifully orchestrated. By the time you get to Cinque Terre, most everything has already been set in motion, so my best advice is to try to relax and enjoy your time with your family and friends. It will be over in the blink of an eye, so try to take a few minutes throughout the day/weekend to pause and just take it all in!

For more information on how to celebrate a full or interfaith Jewish wedding in the Cinque Terre contact us here. 

Written by Melina Nicholson.

The post Maggie and Ben’s Interfaith Jewish Wedding in Cinque Terre appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

Smashing the Glass has been rated one of the UK’s top 50 wedding bloggers and its owner, Karen Cinnamon, was recently voted one of the top forty most influential people under 40 by Jewish News, so needless to say the team at Smashing the Glass know a knock out destination wedding in Italy when they see it.

Maggie and Ben first contacted us to be their wedding planners in Italy back in the beginning of 2016 and their vision was clear: they loved the natural spirit of the Cinque Terre in Italy for their Jewish destination wedding and at the top of their wish list was peonies for Maggie and scampi crudo (raw langoustine) for Ben. And all three were in abundance for this beautiful warm-hearted couple who also celebrated their day with special Jewish interfaith traditions and features, like the Chuppah (pronounced hoopah – took us a while to get that one right :)) and the Challah bread, made right here in Italy.

You can enjoy Maggie and Ben’s Jewish destination wedding in Smashing the Glass here, which features their trending coral and gold colour palette and stunning peonies that we’d quite like to surround ourselves with forever.

And look our for our signature Cinque Terre rustic-chic wedding design features of lemons and olive branches featuring throughout.

Hats off to photographer Facibene Fotografia and videographer SBros. And thanks again to the Smash the Glass team for featuring Maggie and Ben’s Jewish destination wedding in the Cinque Terre – jaw-dropping… absolutely!

For more information on a Jewish wedding in the Cinque Terre in Italy contact us here.

And watch out for our Real Wedding feature: 5 lands, 5 tips and 5 and a bit tips, on Maggie and Ben’s Jewish destination wedding coming soon.

Written by Melina Nicholson

The post How to get your Jewish destination wedding in Smashing the Glass appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.

We know that from the 1300s to the start of the 1900s there was 500 years of trend setting fabulousness influencing flower design around the globe.

The Baroque period is the second era we explore as part of our five part series on the Five European Influences on Modern Day Flora Design. And in part 1 here we explored the first major historical era of this period: the Renaissance and also revealed our modern day take on this magnificant bygone age.

So now let’s dive back into the Baroque period, and be equally blown away by all the inspiration we can use today to create a Baroque wedding in the Cinque Terre, Italy.

Blending into the end of the Renaissance, the period of Baroque ran from around 1600 to 1750. It built onto the Renaissance period, exagerating it with more ornamental decorations. So for flower design, think about adding details like shells, birds nests and lots of swirling leaf details. Flower design was big, tall and deep and bold in colour with oval and symetrical arrangements ruling the time. Greenery was more plentiful too as was metallics for vases. Think dark, moody opulence and drama, lots of drama.

So for a step back into the past think of the Dutch, Flemish and Belgian greats that dominated this period: the Dutch, Ast and his Flowers in a Vase with Shells and Insect, Rebrandt’s Saskia van Uylenburgh as Flora, goddess of spring and flowers, and Mignon for his Vase of Flowers, along with the Veerendael and his Flowers in a Glass Vase, Butterfly and Beetle on a Stone Ledge.

For the who’s who of the Baroque world think English Queen Anne and Belgian Anthony van Dyck.

So if you are thinking of having a destination wedding in Europe, and in particular Italy, here are 7 inspirational images from that time to inspire a Baroque wedding:

Photo credits (clockwise):Balthasar /  Veerendael   / Luca Giordano / Queen Anne / Mignon / Rembrant / Antony Van Dyck

For our modern twist on the Baroque period we take the deep reds, our big buds and all that drama for a destination wedding here in the Cinque Terre. So here are 8 more reasons to  love a Baroque wedding:

Photo credits (clockwise): Tulle and Chantilly Centerpiece / Strictly Weddings Bouquet, Pinterest Centerpiece / Tulle and Chantilly Centerpiece / Style Me Pretty Floral Crown / Style Me Pretty Bouquet   / House of Felliot Centerpiece /Magnolia Rouge Bouquet /  Elegant Wedding Invites Bouquet

To explore the next European Influence on Mondern Day Flora Design enjoy part 3: the pretty Rococo era here. 

To celebrate your Baroque Wedding here on the Cinque Terre of Italy contact us here.

Written by Melina Nicholson

The post 15 reasons to love a baroque wedding: flower design to inspire appeared first on Cinque Terre Wedding.