Divya and Vignesh, Italy
With their family priest flown in from London, this couple's wedding in Tuscany, Italy, was a picture-perfect traditional affair.
From being childhood friends to partners for life, Divya and Vignesh Kumaravel were brought together by fate, and their Tuscany destination wedding was as beautiful as their journey. Take a peek into some highlights of the celebrations below.
How They Met
Divya and Vignesh had been family friends for most of their life but lost touch over the years when they were growing up. It was a chance meeting that brought them together years later, and they never looked back.
The Proposal
Vignesh had booked a dream getaway to Reykjavik, Iceland, where he planned to propose under the enchanting Northern Lights. Unfortunately, being out at sea in the dark on a rocking boat isn’t as romantic as imagined, so he went with plan B. Amidst the snow and gorgeous scenery of Thingvellir National Park, he went down on his knee and popped the question, and Divya did not hesitate for one second before whipping off her glove to accept.
Wedding Planning
The couple had always envisioned a rustic, authentic Italian vibe for their wedding. The Tenuta Di Artimino and the 16th-century Villa Medicea La Ferdinanda with its rich history, amazing views, fantastic local cuisine and a “village” of cottages accommodating around 300 guests, proved to be the perfect rural Italian setting.
The couple’s beautiful moments were captured in candid frames by Chandan Sojitra, while HD Moments immortalized the various festivities in gorgeous wedding films. Mathew Oliver Weddings planned and executed the memorable celebrations.
Wedding Functions
Haldi
The celebrations kicked off with separate Haldi functions for both Divya and Vignesh. The intimate gathering was held for family and friends who had arrived by then, and incorporated minimal but traditional decor and customs. The groom wore a blue chevron print kurta from Kora, while the bride opted for a simple silk mustard kurta.
Sangeet
The sangeet was a charming outdoor event with warm ambient lighting and abundant greenery. The bride shares, “We wanted this to be a special introduction for our guests who had travelled from all over the world to celebrate with us, and to be a chance for old friends to catch up. So we ambitiously planned an outdoor event starting off near the outdoor pool and gardens with a local Italian band and rustic Italian finger food. We then moved to another outdoor area with the DJ, dance floor, bar and seating, where we served an open buffet with various food stations of local Italian and Indian food.” The evening saw heartwarming speeches, dance performances by the couple and their loved ones, and dazzling fireworks. DJ Kabir of Kudos had everyone on the dance floor for the whole evening.
Wedding
Hosted on the villa lawns against the stunning backdrop of the hills of Tuscany, the ceremony was a soulful blend of South Indian traditions and rustic Italian aesthetics. The decor was kept minimal to enhance the natural beauty of the lush backdrop. The mandap of multicolored roses and fresh pampas grass exuded breezy romantic vibes. The groom entered in a classic Italian red car accompanied by the pomp and splendor of the rocking baraat. The bride was a vision as she descended the steps of the heritage villa with her family. The rituals were conducted by their family priest who was flown in from London, and the ceremony was followed by a traditional vegetarian spread.
Reception
The festivities came to a close with a grand black-tie reception imbued with the charm and aura of the 16th-century villa. Drinks at the heritage wine cellar were followed by a sit-down dinner in the grand hall that saw classic, elegant decor elements such as drapes, flowers, crystal and vintage gold cutlery. The exceptional food was intertwined with speeches, followed by the cutting of a gorgeous three-tier white and gold wedding cake. Dressed in a shimmering white gown and a dapper tuxedo, the bride and groom opened the dance floor with their first dance, after which DJ Kabir had guests grooving till the wee hours of the morning.
Advice for couples
“Don’t get stressed! Have a clear plan of what you want to have sorted out by and by when, and it will get done.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Tenuta Di Artimino, Tuscany, Italy
Wedding Planner: Matthew Oliver Weddings
Floral Decor: Tuscany Flowers
Groom’s Outfits: Kora (Haldi, Sangeet), Gieves & Hawkes (Reception)
Groom’s Shoes: Louis Vuitton (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Fazals (Sangeet, Reception)
Shoes: Valentino (Reception)
Makeup & Hair: Alka Makeup Artist
Photography: Chandan Sojitra
Videography: HD Moments
