A Romantic Outdoor Destination Wedding in Rome, Italy

July 27, 2011

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Maria and Jordan

Jordan Jacobs, in a Prada suit, plants a smooch on Maria Duenas, in a Reem Acra gown. "I felt like a goddess in that dress," she says.

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The Ceremony

A unity candle—beneath a huppa hung with ruscus leaves, ivy, hydrangeas, peonies, and roses—joins two religions (his Jewish, hers Catholic).

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Aisle Decorations

Aisle chairs are adorned with hydrangeas and ruscus branches.

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The Bride's Bouquet

Maria holds a bouquet of white peonies and lily of the valley.

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Boutonniere

Jordan's boutonniere of roses and baby's breath, wrapped in satin ribbon, pops against his crisp navy suit.

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Ring Pillow

A white ring pillow holds the couple's wedding bands.

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Flower Girl Baskets

Two flower girl baskets decorated with white trim and filled with white rose petals to match the color palette of the wedding.

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Ceremony Location

After choosing Rome as the wedding's location, and where Maria has family and the couple spends holidays, they scouted five different locations. Finally, they discovered "the perfect little Romeo and Juliet castle": Villa dei Lecci, a 1917 turreted home with frescoed ceilings, set on three emerald-colored acres in the Monteverde district. The neo-Gothic-style family-owned villa was once a private home.

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Ceremony Toss

Paper cones with yellow bows hold rose petals for guests to toss.

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Bridal Party and Family

The bride and groom with their families; forgoing a traditional bridal party, the couple had only a maid of honor and a best man; Maria's sister, Bianca (in pale pink, fourth from right), and Jordan's friend James (wearing a yellow tie, second from left) were the lucky two.

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The Reception Location

Moments after tying the knot, the couple poses outside the entrance of Villa dei Lecci, where dinner and dancing took place. "We wanted it to feel romantic, so we lit the stairs with candles. It was beautiful," says Maria.

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Escort Cards

A silver urn on the escort-card table holds an arrangement of white peonies, roses, and hydrangeas.

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Getaway Car

Credit: Francesco Lagneses

The couple, in a rented Fiat, brakes for photos in front of a fountain on Rome's Gianicolo hill.

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Guests

A pair of fashionable friends.

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Cocktail Hour

Here, the guests enjoy an al fresco cocktail hour.

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Menu

Hors d'oeuvres were served al fresco. "The Italian way is to always have too much food. There was a little of everything -- cheese, meat, pasta, fish -- and it was all so delicious," says Maria.

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Waiter

A waiter carries a tray of Champagne cocktails.

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Menu Cards

Satin ribbons on menu cards tie in the color palette.

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Glittering Masks

Glittering Venetian masks turn the party into a masquerade.

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Centerpieces

Mounds of white peonies, lisianthus, and feverfew dot the dining room tables.

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Candy Bar

Guests went home with Italian sweets from a candy bar.

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Limoncello Favors

Bottles of limoncello, personalized with the wedding date, were also given as favors.

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The Wedding Cake

The four-tier vanilla cake.

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Sparklers

Guests send the happy couple off with festive sparklers.

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Sources

Location: Villa dei Lecci
Event Planning: Manuela Tranquilli of Clueventi
Catering and Cake: Natalizi
Flowers: Stefano Latini of I Tulipani
Stationery: Regas New York
Music: Siddharta of 7 Oz. Records
Rentals: Natalizi; I Tulipani
Wedding Photography: Francesco Lagnese and Domenico Costantini
Gown: Reem Acra
Accessories: Reem Acra (veil); Fred Leighton (earrings); Christian Louboutin (shoes)
Menswear: Prada (groom's suit); Hugo Boss (tie)
Hair and Makeup: The Sisters Salone
Fiat: HR Incentives

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