A bright green and white color palette, asymmetrical floral arrangements, and understated decor gave Camilla and Giuseppe’s Villa Selvatico wedding a modern look. Located in Italy’s Euganean Hills, the historic villa offered gardens, classic architecture, and panoramic views. The couple chose flowers, candles, and touches of green fruit for the tables, keeping the arrangements simple to showcase the setting.

The couple planned the entire wedding themselves, from selecting vendors to designing the stationery and preparing homemade favors with their families. Their plans for an outdoor celebration took an unexpected turn when rain arrived shortly after the ceremony. Fortunately, they had just enough time to exchange vows in the gardens before moving the festivities indoors.

What We Love About This Villa Selvatico Wedding

• A bright green and white color palette with modern, asymmetrical floral arrangements
• Custom green bridesmaid dresses and beige groomsmen suits with coordinating ties
• Homemade olive oil and walnut liqueur favors, plus a ceramic ring dish made by Camilla
• An outdoor ceremony that finished just before the rain started
• A surprise choir performance by friends who had rehearsed for months

Featured Vendor:
Moon Stories

Modern Florals and Bright Green Accents at a Historic Italian Villa

Located in the Euganean Hills, Villa Selvatico had the romantic, pastoral character Camilla and Giuseppe were looking for. They loved the historic architecture and surrounding greenery but preferred a more contemporary approach to the decorations. White and a bright shade of green became their main colors, appearing in the flowers, table settings, and wedding party attire.

The flowers were a particular priority. After researching vendors on social media, requesting quotes, and reviewing recommendations from the venue, they hired florists who specialized in the style they liked. The arrangements featured asymmetrical designs, while candles and green fruit decorated the reception tables.

Their wedding attire followed a similarly simple, elegant approach. Camilla chose a voluminous satin gown with a structured, strapless bodice and a full skirt, paired with minimal hair and makeup. Giuseppe wore a dark green suit, while the bridesmaids wore custom-made dresses in a coordinating shade of green. The groomsmen wore beige suits with matching green ties.

The couple purchased their outfits from the same atelier. Although they kept their choices a secret from each other until the ceremony, the staff knew what both had selected and helped coordinate their looks.

The Rain Held Off Just Long Enough for Their Outdoor Ceremony

Camilla and Giuseppe had planned to spend their wedding day outdoors, taking advantage of the villa’s gardens and panoramic terrace. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. They were particularly concerned about the rain, but they managed to hold their religious ceremony outside as originally planned. A friend delivered a speech about marriage and love, drawing from passages in the Bible.

The couple also decided against a first look, preferring to see each other for the first time at the altar. Looking back, they were especially happy with that decision. The rain started almost immediately after the ceremony. They managed to squeeze in a few photographs with family and friends, along with some portraits together, before heading inside.

Although the weather forced last-minute changes to nearly every part of the day, the venue staff handled the adjustments. The reception continued indoors, beginning with a buffet and a musical welcome.

A Hands-On Approach to Wedding Planning, Down to the Smallest Details

Camilla had dreamed of her wedding since childhood and has long been interested in the wedding industry. She even hopes to work in it someday. So when it came time to plan her own wedding, she and Giuseppe decided to organize everything without a wedding planner.

They researched and selected their vendors, coordinated the decorations, and handled the stationery. Drawing on her educational background, Camilla designed the invitations, menus, seating chart, and other printed materials.

They also prepared several items by hand. Camilla made a ceramic ring dish, while the couple and their families produced olive oil and walnut liqueur, which they packaged in small jars as wedding favors.

Having saved money during their relationship, they were able to set a comfortable budget for the wedding. They were willing to spend on the things they cared about while keeping the overall costs reasonable.

A Wedding-Eve Tradition Followed by a Last-Minute Change of Plans

Camilla and Giuseppe first met in November 2021 at a pizza dinner organized by a mutual friend. Giuseppe’s family had recently moved from Southern to Northern Italy, and the gathering was an opportunity for him and his sisters to meet new people after months of COVID restrictions.

Although they barely spoke that evening, Camilla noticed him immediately. She even remembers dreaming about their wedding that very night. They continued seeing each other through mutual friends and began dating soon afterward.

The night before their wedding, Giuseppe surprised Camilla with a serenade, following a Southern Italian custom in which the groom sings to his bride. The tradition isn’t common in Northern Italy, where they live, so the gathering brought plenty of laughter along with the music. Their closest friends and family joined them for the evening.

Friends and Family Had a Few Surprises Planned for the Reception

The reception at Villa Selvatico included several performances organized by the couple’s family and friends. Camilla’s father and one of her friends arranged live music for the evening. Another surprise came from a choir made up of their friends, who had secretly spent months rehearsing a song for the newlyweds.

Their videographer also edited a short trailer using footage captured earlier that day. Guests watched it at the beginning of the evening reception, before the party continued with a DJ set.

The couple had a difficult time choosing their favorite moment from the wedding. Despite the weather and the changes to their original plans, they particularly appreciated the effort their friends and family had put into the celebration.

What They Learned From Planning Their Wedding Without a Planner

After organizing their Villa Selvatico wedding themselves, they encourage other couples to enjoy the planning process and work together as much as possible. “Have fun, not just on your wedding day, but throughout the entire planning process,” they advise. “Work together with your partner; it will bring you even closer.”

They also recommend concentrating on what matters to you as a couple instead of worrying about everyone else’s opinions. The months spent researching vendors, preparing decorations, and making decisions together are memories they’ll carry into married life.