Every wedding we produce is shaped by its setting, its constraints, and—above all—its people. C+V’s wedding weekend in Florence brought all of that into focus. Spanning multiple venues and atmospheres, the weekend became a study in coordination: aligning design, guest flow, vendor timing, and production logistics so that everything felt as natural as it looked.

In many ways, this weekend echoed what we love most about destination work—the opportunity to build a cohesive experience across days, while adapting to the realities of each space. Florence, with its historic structures and layered rhythms, added both beauty and complexity. What follows is a closer look at how the weekend took shape behind the scenes.

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Starting the Weekend at Hotel Calimala — The Welcome Party

We began at Hotel Calimala’s Angel Rooftop Bar, a space that immediately dictated how we would work. Rooftops in Florence come with narrow elevators and time-limited access points, so setup required clarity and speed. The rooftop’s layout defined where florals, furniture, and signage could realistically go.

For the design, we wanted the atmosphere to feel joyful and lighthearted—like an Italian summer afternoon frozen in time. We leaned into orange and lemon hues, sun-washed terracottas, and playful citrus accents everywhere you looked.

Biancospino Flowers designed arrangements that were colorful but compact enough to withstand wind exposure. Ofelia Botella’s stationery complemented each of the stations, adding to a fun, colorful and playful aesthetic, perfect for this kick-off event!

By the time guests arrived, the space felt lively and open, just as intended, even though the final details came together moments before.

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The Wedding Day — Classic Elegance in the Heart of Florence

The next day, we moved from vibrant to timeless. The ceremony took place at the breathtaking Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti, one of Florence’s most iconic churches.

The ceremony at Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti required a different mindset—one grounded in respect for a functioning, historical church. Installations must be minimal, fast, and reversible. We coordinated with the church staff on timing, movement, and photography boundaries.

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Cocktail Hour — Aperitivo in the South Italian Garden

After the ceremony, the weekend shifted into countryside mode. Villa Corsini became our anchor for the remaining events, beginning with cocktail hour in the South Italian Garden.

Bistro tables and high tops were placed across gravel and grass with careful attention to stability. Biancospino Flowers added low arrangements suited for outdoor conditions, and Alma Project handled sound setup and entertainment talent.

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Reception — Dinner Under the Tuscan Sky

For dinner, guests were welcomed onto the Grand Lawn of Villa Corsini. The transition from central Florence to the villa involved orchestrated vendor choreography: rental trucks, floral deliveries, catering prep, and sound, lighting and floral equipment all needed to arrive through a single access road within tight windows.

The reception setup was the most complex build of the weekend. While guests enjoyed cocktail hour, the Grand Lawn came alive with coordinated layers: lighting, tables, staging, florals, table top details, and catering flow.

Alma Project installed string lights, the stage, the dance floor, and all sound and technical wiring across the space. Immediately after, Preludio positioned tables and chairs while navigating around lighting structures—a true team puzzle.

Biancospino followed with monochromatic floral groupings, and Ofelia Botella’s menus and stationery went down once the tables were finalized. At the same time, Olivia Catering organized their kitchen station and service plan to align with our timeline for dinner, toasts, cake, and the later entertainment.

The result:
A pure Italian minimalistic dream

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The After Party — La Dolce Vita, All Night Long

Of course, no Italian wedding ends after dessert. Inside Villa Corsini’s Sala della Guardia and Galleria, we transformed the space into a late-night lounge for the after party.

We repurposed flowers from the cocktail hour for a touch of continuity and sustainability, and filled the entrance hallway with pillar candles that guided guests toward the dance floor. The setup included a blue draped wall, a DJ booth, mirror balls, and colorful lighting that completely transformed the historic room into a modern celebration space, entertained by DJ Joao Ribeiro, who flew from Spain to fill the dancefloor non-stop!

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Ti amiamo, Firenze…

Designing and producing this wedding was a true labor of love. Every texture, color, and floral stem was chosen to honor the city’s artistry while reflecting C+V’s modern sensibility.

Florence gave us the palette—the light, the architecture, the romance—and we simply followed its lead.

If you loved this peek behind the scenes, explore more of our recent weddings and design stories on the Claire Duran Weddings & Events Blog — and stay tuned for more beauty, romance, and magic across Europe and beyond!

Credits:

GENERAL
Planning / Design: Claire Durán Weddings & Events
Flowers: Biancospino
Photography: Valentina Opranti
Videography: Tim & Louise Weddings
Stationery: Ofelia Botella
Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Anna Vereta

WELCOME PARTY
Venue: Hotel Calimala’s Angel Rooftop Bar

CEREMONY
Church: Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti
Priest: Father Cameron Kramer
Sound & Musicians: ALMA (string trio, organ, soprano)
Transportation: Alterini (for all guests)
Specialty Car: Classic Drives

COCKTAIL HOUR, RECEPTION & AFTER PARTY
Venue: Villa Corsini
Sound, Lighting, Staging and Guitar Players: ALMA
Band: Slipstream
DJ: Joao Ribeiro
Rentals: Preludio
Catering: Olivia
Photobooth: Over The Box