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  7. This Olive-Inspired Celebration in Italy Was a Foodie's Dream
Martha Stewart Weddings

This Olive-Inspired Celebration in Italy Was a Foodie's Dream

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By Julie Vadnal October 10, 2019
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bride groom pose olive branch wedding arch
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

The German pair gathered their favorite people in Tuscany for a laid-back Italian feast—and epic views.

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bride groom pose olive branch wedding arch
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Malin Heyer and Thiago Gudelwein Silva had only gone on two dates over the span of a few days when she took a gamble: She invited him over WhatsApp to her birthday party, a small celebration at her parents' home. She thought, "What the hell," and pressed send. Within a minute, he wrote back saying he would definitely be there. When he arrived on her parents' doorstep, flowers in hand, he greeted her with a dramatic, deep kiss—and they've been together ever since.

After a teary-eyed proposal during a trip to Sylt, an island in northern Germany, the German pair (she's a yoga instructor and wedding planner, and he's a dental surgeon) started mapping out a day during which they'd be surrounded by epic views, amazing food, and 36 of their favorite people. Quickly, they realized their respective visions were very much the same. "We both wanted a relaxed summer wedding with a long table and a party outside," Malin says. "So, it was important that it was in a country where the sun was more reliable than in Germany." They immediately zeroed in on Italy, where the Villa Montanare ticked all their boxes. "It's a location with so much charm and character—plus it's unique and natural," Malin says. "Unmistakable—and that's how our wedding should be."

And indeed it was—partly in thanks to their next-level menu, which spotlighted some of the region's most famous dishes (pizza and ravioli, included).

Watch Malin and Thiago's wedding video by Angelo Kovatchev.

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Love Notes

olive branch themed wedding invitation suite
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

The duo planned an entire weekend of events for their guests, which were outlined in an olive- and eucalyptus-themed invitation template they found on Etsy. The suite also included a map, by Nicnillas Ink, that featured sketches of the Colosseum, Ponte Vecchio of Florence, and their venue, Villa Montanare.

  • 32 Destination Wedding Invitations That Celebrate Your Faraway Locale

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All Together Now

wooden tables outdoor welcome party white decore
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Malin and Thiago kicked off the weekend with a "Benvenuti in Tuscany" pizza party, where Preludio Catering made pies on site and guests indulged in fresh mozzarella and gelato.

  • 12 Expert-Approved Ideas for Your Wedding Welcome Party

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On the Tables

mixed herb lemon table centerpiece white table runner
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Guests mingled at tables decorated with Silk & Willow table runners, lemons, and mixed herbs including rosemary, thyme, mint, lavender, and sage.

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Pie Day

pizza stand welcome party outdoor display
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

The pizza selections—of which there were many—were arranged on wooden boards; pine cones, tomato vines, eggplants, and basil plants filled wooden crates that were repurposed as décor.

  • 26 Delicious Wedding Ideas for Couples Crazy About Pizza

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The Warmest Welcome

bride groom casual welcome party attire outdoor pose
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

"Everything was perfect," Malin says of the kick-off party. "We couldn't imagine a warmer welcome for all our guests who were traveling so far to join us on our best day ever."

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Day-Of Groom-ing

groom posing in white jacket tuxedo
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Thiago sported a tailor-made Rooks and Rocks smoking jacket on the big day. As a finishing touch, he added cuff links with the date and his and Malin's initials—a wedding-day gift from his bride.

On his suit collar, Thiago wore a boutonnière comprised of astrantia with olive branches, all tied up in the same blue silk ribbon as Malin's bouquet.

  • Should the Groom Splurge on a Custom Wedding Suit?

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Branching Out

bride white floral bouquet blue silk ribbon
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Malin held an arrangement by Fineartflowers Tuscany that was brimming with peonies, lisianthus, astrantia, blackberries, and olive branches.

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Great Expectations

bride poses in wedding dress outdoor mountain view
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Her dreamy Hochzeitsspeicher an der Elbe wedding dress wasn't what she expected to wear down the aisle—at all. "It's the complete opposite of what I've always imagined," she says. "But it was just love at first sight."

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Natural Beauty

wedding ceremony chairs white seat cushions and flowers
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Because of the property's stunning views, the couple decided to keep their ceremony décor simple. Peonies and olive branches decorated the simple wooden chairs topped with comfy cream pillows.

  • 40 Pretty Ways to Decorate Your Wedding Chairs

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Mother Dearest

bride mother wedding day outdoor walk
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Malin's mother walked her down the aisle to "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Kina Grannis.

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Sitting Pretty

bride groom sitting wedding reception outdoors
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

The couple sat in a grove of olive trees for their non-religious ceremony, during which they exchanged self-penned vows.

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Cool Idea

wedding guest fans wicker baskets
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Guests beat the heat with fans placed at the entrance of the ceremony space.

  • 17 Ways to Keep Guests Cool at Your Warm-Weather Wedding

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New Friends

bride groom wedding vow exchange friend officiant
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

The pair found an unlikely new friend while Malin was wedding-dress shopping. "My bridal fashion consultant and I got along so well that after Thiago and she got to know each other, she became our wedding [officiant]," Malin says.

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Juicy Fruits

tropical cocktail drinks pineapple stand
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

During the cocktail hour, drink stations offered up three kinds of fresh juices, Prosecco, and sparkling water. Just one of the trays that made the rounds during the food-packed interlude featured prunes with caprino cheese; cherry tomatoes with olive mousse; Belgium endive with nut mousse and tarragon; and skewers with cherry tomatoes and melon.

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Table Talk

outdoor wedding reception simple organic olive branches
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

The couple wanted "simple and organic" decorations for their reception, says the bride. Olive branches ran along the center of the tables, which were accented with antique brass candle holders, light gray linens, and glasses with gold accents.

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Olive You

olive oil bottle wedding favor plate of pasteries
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

As a gift to guests, the newlyweds prepared small olive oil bottles with a label that read: "Fatto con amore by Thiago & Malin," which translates to "Made with love by Thiago & Malin."

  • 50 Creative Wedding Favors That Will Delight Your Guests

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Let's Eat!

wedding reception outdoor diner party white olive branch table setting
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Nestled in the olive grove, guests settled into a hearty Italian meal that included ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach and roasted sliced beef and green beans.

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Dreamy Dessert

three tier white wedding cake olive branch layers
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Their simple white three-tier, adorned with olive branches, consisted of a mille feuille cake with strawberries and chantilly cream inside.

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Sources

bride groom walk up building stairs
Credit: Jenny Quicksall

Photography, Jenny Quicksall

Venue, Villa Montanare

Event planning and Design, Weddings by Silke

Catering and Cake, Preludio Catering

Flowers, Fineartflowers Tuscany

Videography, Angelo Kovatchev

Music, Hochzeits DJ Italien  

Rentals, Preludio Noleggio

Bride's gown, Hochzeitsspeicher An Der Elbe

Groom's suit, Rooks and Rocks

Invitation map, Nicnillas Ink

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    1 of 20
    2 of 20 Love Notes
    3 of 20 All Together Now
    4 of 20 On the Tables
    5 of 20 Pie Day
    6 of 20 The Warmest Welcome
    7 of 20 Day-Of Groom-ing
    8 of 20 Branching Out
    9 of 20 Great Expectations
    10 of 20 Natural Beauty
    11 of 20 Mother Dearest
    12 of 20 Sitting Pretty
    13 of 20 Cool Idea
    14 of 20 New Friends
    15 of 20 Juicy Fruits
    16 of 20 Table Talk
    17 of 20 Olive You
    18 of 20 Let's Eat!
    19 of 20 Dreamy Dessert
    20 of 20 Sources

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