With a venue as pretty as the Paolo Bonomelli Boutique Olive Farm in Verona, it’s no surprise that Italy still tops the list of most romantic wedding destinations in the world! Naturally, Zane and Valdis were inspired by the olive gardens, so they chose pastel colors, olive branch greenery, and olive oil favors to fit in seamlessly with the feel of the venue. The couple DIY’d nearly every piece of decor, including the triangle gold ceremony backdrop, the reception table decor, and the glass and concrete candle holders. The bride’s layered tulle gown from Katya Katya London was the perfect mix of whimsical, elegant, and effortless, especially paired with her silver, pearl, and diamond Crown Me headpiece. Linda Lauva Photography beautifully captured the romantic vibes of Zane and Valdis’ cliffside ceremony and al fresco villa reception, and the couple’s adventurous sunset portraits overlooking Lake Garda took our breath away!

The Couple:

Zane and Valdis

The Wedding:

Paolo Bonomelli Boutique Olive Farm, Verona, Italy

We wanted it to be about the two of us. Everything that make us who we are as a couple – the things we love doing together, with the food we love to enjoy, and the wine that tastes best to us, the songs we dance to when we’re alone, and the people we love most. Our guests are a part of our story; they’ve played an important role in our lives so having them there in Italy with us and enjoying the things we love together was what was important to us.

We rented a villa for our friends and family to stay in so they would all be together in one place. They arrived a day before the wedding and settled into their rooms. They had two large common kitchens and they loved making breakfast together as well as relaxing in the yard. When the time came to get ready for the ceremony, everyone helped one another with anything they needed – tying the bow tie, buttoning up a dress, etc. After the wedding everyone said that they had felt like one big family and that living together had brought them closer.

The venue was an olive farm with beautiful olive trees. The patience invested in forming the olive gardens felt special to us and we decided that the beautiful olive garden overlooking Lake Garda was where we wanted to exchange our vows.

For me, the most memorable part of the day was that one brief moment just before saying our vows by the wedding arch. I was holding on to my Dad’s arm while we were walking towards Valdis and I looked at my Mom. She was smiling and a teardrop rolled down her cheek. I guess I was so moved that once I looked into Valdis‘s eyes, he was surprised to see tears, but he wiped them away and gently kissed my forehead.
Valdis: It was the moment when we exchanged our vows. I cannot find the words to describe how it felt to be there with the woman you love most; all you can think about is the love and happiness you see in her eyes when she looks at you, and it’s that special feeling when you give love, and you receive love in return.

We were inspired by our wedding venue, so our style was designed around the theme of olives. We used olive branches for our invitations and decorations, and our guests came dressed in soft pastel tones to complement the the green colour theme.

Processional – “Veltījums” by Mārtiņš Brauns
First Dance – “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones

Our biggest congratulations to Valdis and Zane, and an extra special thanks to Junebug member Linda Lauva Photography for sharing this gorgeous Italian farm wedding with us! Want to see more pretty olive-inspired wedding decor? This understated Jerusalem wedding at Nafoura Restaurant took cues from the symbolic olive branch!