At once modern and rugged, elegant and understated, this intimate Amangiri elopement is proof that creating beautiful designs in the most remote places is always well worth it.
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Villa Corsini, Tuscany, Italy
Luxury wedding design
As luxury international wedding designers, we’ve been curating intimate weddings and events in Italy for the better part of a decade – but we know that every job stands apart. For every celebration, we look for a place that is unique, that plays in YOUR story, that reminds you of your journey, that invokes emotion and feels like it was made for you. Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about, right?
Last fall, our team traveled to Tuscany to create at a dream venue, a place with 700-plus years of culture in the making. Located in the rolling hills of Chianti on the outskirts of Florence, Villa Corsini is a mecca for Italian history and art. Surrounded by the unparalleled Florentine countryside, Villa Corsini lives in two worlds: its exterior is an invitation to bask in some of Italy’s oldest vineyards and olive groves. Its interior brings you into a place once inhabited by the Medici and Corsini families; the halls are adorned with Baroque frescos that have been witness to lavish banquets and dinner parties for centuries.
When designing for this venue, we knew we wanted to curate a sleek, sophisticated and modern feel while honoring the traditional elements of the space. Throughout both the ceremony and reception designs, we leaned into garden and Tuscan-inspired moments mixed with sleek lines and modern touches.
For our ceremony design at Villa Corsini, we pulled inspiration from the garden of Meridione, highlighting the soft daisy white colors of the garden and incorporating the ancient terra cotta statues and craftsmanship. Wrought iron chairs formed simple rows in the southern Italian garden, creating an intimate and understated aisle that perfectly framed the rolling hills of Tuscany. At the altar, blush, chartreuse and neutral floral clusters cascaded from the stone steps to the garden floor, evoking modern romance in this historic Italian setting.
For the reception, we chose to design a dinner party in the Galleria del Pandolta Sacchi – one of the most impressive, and one-of-a-kind rooms in all of Tuscany. Surrounded by arched windows and baroque frescos, we set our table to offer a picturesque view of the Chianti countryside.
Every detail – from the texture of our linens to the tablescape draping to the fine tablescape glassware – was inspired by the fine art in the space. Inspired by the layered textures of the surrounding oil paintings, we brought in a thick, artfully folded fern velvet tablecloth. For the place settings, we created a five-layer setting reminiscent of the classic Tuscan style place settings paired with vintage silver flatware and crystal glassware. Tuscan-inspired moments permeated the tablescape design, with vintage compotes filled with fresh fruit often depicted in Italian renaissance oil paintings. Yet we balanced the traditional elements with luxe, modern floral arrangements that layered hydrangeas, lisianthus and garden blooms. And back in the garden, we hosted an aperol spritz bar to bring in modern delights – just one unique and interactive experience to delight guests for a reception in Italy.
We felt every texture, detail and nuance of this day to create a design worked in harmony with the rich history of Villa Corsini. And that’s why you hire Mae&Co - because you deserve an experience where no detail goes overlooked.
Photo: Kristin piteoDesign, styling and planning: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Noble Floral CoVENUE: Villa CorsiniRentals: Preludio Divisione Noleggiodessert: SugarcupsPaper goods and signage: Evergreen InkDRESS: Eva Lendel
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Masseria Moroseta, Puglia, Italy
Intimate weddinig design
Finding the perfect venue and location is the first step in designing a stunning and timeless wedding weekend. We do things differently; we don’t just pick the venue we have seen 100 times or whatever is easiest. We don’t put a time limit on this part of our process, we search high and low to provide our clients with options that are one-of-a-kind and perfectly suited for the experience they want to share with their favorite people. And we’ll go to the most remote and undiscovered parts of any country to find something that feels perfect.
Last fall, we had the privilege of working at Masseria Moroseta – a minimal and elegant farmhouse tucked away in the rural countryside of Puglia, Italy. This modern masseria, a reimagined Italian farmhouse, is the perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful respite from the hustle of high-profile engagements and busy corporate culture. This luxury Italian venue strikes the perfect balance of nature, good food, design and beauty and we couldn’t have been more inspired by the tranquil, peaceful atmosphere of this Ostuni estate.
When designing the color palette for this venue, we wanted it to feel calm and lush while also having a subtle pop that simultaneously elevated and complemented the space. So we opted for shades of blue and lavender to create contrast and visual interest – it’s one of the many ways we made this design unique while staying cohesive to the space throughout the ceremony and reception.
For our ceremony design at Masseria Moroseta, we pulled inspiration from the space’s natural surroundings, like the soft olive grove greens and the smooth texture of white stone. We loved the rural simplicity of this Italian wedding venue, so we opted for an understated ceremony aisle with clusters of soft white orchids and blue delphiniums, leading to lush floral arrangements of ivory roses and blue hydrangeas spilling from clay pots to frame our couple. The earthly stoneware mirrored the natural setting of the venue, while creating a soft, organic cascade from the pool backdrop to the ceremony site.
In the reception space, we brought in freestanding chandeliers to create a moody, ethereal vibe with modern and high-end undertones. Our earthy-inspired Italian wedding vision came to life with natural linen textures, vintage Italian garden chairs, dynamic periwinkle florals and soft candlelight. The elevated chandeliers added dramatic flair to the tablescape arrangements of fennel fronds, stone and monobloom floral clusters. Every detail from the crystal glassware to the soft textured detailing on the linen napkins elevated a sense of refined luxury at this modern Italian masseria.
Designing a space to not only compliment but also contrast the surrounding venue is one of our specialties. And as the sun dipped below the Mediterranean Sea and our chandeliers illuminated the intimate alfresco dining setup, we knew this experience designing at Masseria Moroseta was one we would never forget.
Photo: Kristin piteoDesign, styling and planning: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Noble Floral CoVENUE: Masseria MorosetaRentals: Che Scena and Itinera Eventsdessert: Pasticceria ChocolatePaper goods and signage: Evergreen InkMUAH: Elena Gentile
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The Bowery Hotel, New York
Sea and Billy’s Wedding
Sea and Billy’s romantic wedding at the Bowery Hotel in New York is master class in creating a design with modern elegance that complements old world glamour. When you’re working with an abundance of textures, it takes a certain finesse to strike a perfect balance between modern touches and vintage detail. And the final design is a clear example of how creating the right design for our clients can be so important when executing a wedding our clients will remember for a lifetime.
We spent weeks working to find the perfect venue for Sea and Billy to create the feel that we all wanted for the weekend. The more I dove into the iconic, Bowery Hotel, the more I knew there wasn’t a better fit. Upon setting up a walkthrough, from the moment Sea and Billy stepped foot in New York’s Bowery Hotel, they knew this venue was the perfect fit. This classic New York hotel is a cultural icon – a mirror to the old-world elegance of 1930’s and ‘40’s glamour. Deeply inspired by high fashion, big band jazz and vintage warmth, Sea trusted our team to bring her and Billy’s vision of timeless, New York ambiance to life for their wedding day at the Bowery Hotel.
After kicking off the wedding weekend with an intimate rehearsal dinner at the well known, River Cafe in Brooklyn, we poured all our energy into creating a timeless and elevated experience for our couple and their guests. On the morning of their wedding, Sea and Billy slipped into high fashion pieces whose textures and details permeated the design for the entire wedding day. Sea wore Manolo Blahnik slingbacks and a Vivienne Westwood Long Cocette dress, layered with a silk skirt and bolero to match. And Billy dressed in head-to-toe designer fashion, with a Laurent black tuxedo, a Prada bowtie and Gucci lace-up oxfords.
The New York wedding ceremony took place at the St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, a centuries-old landmark in Nolita that carried both historical and spiritual significance for our couple. To amplify the emotional gravity of the space, we worked with Winsome Floral to create a large-scale, cascading floral installment that framed the entrance and cascaded gracefully along the basilica. The luxe, modern floral design not only juxtaposed the historic frame of the cathedral, but it also created a runway-inspired frame that welcomed guests to step into a space that felt at once both modern and historic, in a word, it felt otherworldly.
For Sea and Billy’s wedding reception at The Bowery Hotel in New York, we pulled inspiration from the space’s fixed, distinctive elements like the vintage floor tile, the velvet curtains and the brick walls that evoked old world glamour. In a busy, vintage space, we knew our work was cut out for us: we wanted to create a clean, simple, modern design while adding vintage touches that complemented the space instead of competing with it.
As guests made their way to the cocktail hour, they gathered around the Bowery’s bar that opened onto a picturesque patio overlooking the city. Prohibition-inspired tunes from the jazz ensemble Baby Soda brought a lively, NYC café feel to the setting. Amidst spritzes and hors d'oeuvres, we created an electric atmosphere with bistro seating, powder-blue linens and rich, dramatic florals.
In the reception space, our vintage-inspired vision came to life with a warm glow of candelabras, chandeliers draped in modern florals and a perfect mix of new old magic. Inspired by muted but rich color tones, artful fashion and timeless elements – every detail from the shape of the flatware to the rims of glasses to the floral colors had meaning and intention behind it. For the colors, we knew we wanted to bring in sea green linens – a perfect complement to the Bowery’s blush tiles and deep green velvet curtains. The florals, too, brought in lavender hues to pop against the greens while creating a sense of romantic nostalgia.
For the tablescape, to bring in 1930’s vibe, we layered a vintage lace runner and sienna velvet napkins atop a raw linen tablecloth to balance an old-world luxe feel with modern elegance. The delicate balance between new and old extended to every design choice, including an artful layer of vintage mis-matched salad plates atop modern stoneware dinner plates resting on textured chargers. All of these details worked in tandem to bring in a lot of textures in a cohesive and modern way.
For the florals, minimal arrangements and natural fruit balanced with the dramatic height of the candelabra. The softness of florals and fruit created a seamless cohesion with the tablescape design while mirroring the fruit-filled tablescapes of vintage New York dinner parties. Every detail, from the champagne tower, sprinkled with edible petals to dessert table filled with sweets from Lucie Franc de Ferriere, added to the understated elegance of this vintage, old-world inspired New York wedding at the Bowery.
As the evening unfolded and Sea changed into a short Magda Butrym dress, complemented by Jimmy Choo heels, Billy and Sea’s classic New York wedding at the Bowery Hotel reminded us that it’s not about following trends and doing what everyone else is doing. It's about making your own trends. It’s about taking on the challenge. It’s about thinking outside the box and creating something that’s unique to our couples and what they are passionate about.
It's not easy, but that usually makes it much more worthwhile. And that’s what made this iconic luxury New York wedding one of our favorite events to date.
Photo: Anni GrahamDesign, styling and planning: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Winsome Floral VENUE: Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral and The Bowery HotelRentals: Luxe Event Rentals, Borrowed Blu, Patina, Nuagedresses: Vivienna Westwood and Magda Butrymdessert: From LuciePaper goods and signage: Carta Plenamusic: Baby Soda JazzMUAH: Stacie Ford Beauty and White Rose
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Casa Adela, San Miguel De Allende Mexico
An intimate wedding
Sometimes the most luxurious details look the simplest, and this intimate, luxury wedding day at Casa Adela is no exception. Set just outside San Miguel de Allende, Casa Adela offers couples a private slice of serenity away from all the city hustle. It’s one of the most unique wedding venues in Mexico, with a dynamic range of styles, textures and landscapes filling every corner of the property. Casa Adela bridges vintage Spanish influence with modern Italian flair, making the venue – and the couples it attracts and the designs it inspires – wholly unique.
On a wedding weekend, every little detail matters. From the flowers to the napkins to the place cards, taking time to capture each element helps to create timeless memories that reflect the feeling of a place, and the story of the couple. As luxury wedding designers, we create everything with intention. And for this Mexico destination wedding at Casa Adela, every texture, color and design element we chose had to be a perfect complement for the foliage, landscape and architecture of this luxury wedding venue.
Our tablescape was the crescendo of this intimate dinner – set intentionally in the courtyard surrounded by pops of green foliage and peachy, stucco walls. As a nod to the venue’s juxtaposition of old-world Spanish elegance and modern Italian minimalism, we leaned into creating moments that paired contrasting elements to elevate the two defining personalities of Casa Adela.
At the heart of it all, we wanted to let the dimension of the space for itself. We designed a simple set up that would complement Casa Adela’s colors and textures, focusing on a muted and neutral color palette of whites, ivories and soft pops of green. We leveraged negative space between tablescape elements and monobloom floral clusters to create a simple design that wouldn’t compete with the surroundings. But as a nod to the venue’s juxtaposition of Italian and Spanish detail, we chose place setting elements that both heightened luxurious details and showcased countryside comfort to create an overall elevated and classic vibe.
We paired intricate vintage plates with simple glassware, marrying that old Spanish opulence with modern minimalism. And in the vintage, patterned plates, we opted for pieces with green filigree to play off the surrounding greens in the courtyard. Grapes and limes on the tabletop heighten the color continuity throughout the space, creating an organic contrast to the clear glassware and soft whites of the linens, flowers and candlelight.
Every detail of this wedding tablescape, from the color to the textures down to the location of the dinner, works in tandem to tell a story. A story about a space defined by two identities, a perfect reflection of a marriage represented by two individuals, coming together as one for an evening under the stars in the heart of San Miguel’s desert oasis.
Photo: Anni GrahamDesign, styling and planning: Mae&Co Creative Venue: Casa AdelaVideo: Emma K FilmsRentals: Warehouse GuanajuatoDress: BHLDN Let us plan your dream day
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Calamigos Ranch, Malibu
Katy and Cam’s Wedding
When clients trust us with their dreams and allow us to think outside the box, that’s when the magic happens – and Katy and Cam’s Calamigos Ranch wedding was no exception. We are seeing more and more clients invest in a full wedding weekend experience for their guests, and Katy and Cam’s Malibu destination wedding was the perfect mix of classy, elevated, elegant and fun.
From the very beginning, Katy and Cam wanted their wedding weekend to feel like a big party for all their friends and family traveling from outside the country and across state lines. So on night one, we kicked off the festivities with a luxury fair experience, leaving everyone's jaw on the floor with an epic welcome party to start their weekend.
Creating a full carnival for Katy and Cam’s rehearsal dinner was no easy feat. Everything from navigating space to designing a tablescape that wouldn’t compete with a busy backdrop to hand selecting and coordinating the build out of fair rides – we made sure no detail was left untouched. Guests spent the evening enjoying popcorn and cotton candy on iconic carnival rides, including the Sizzler, a Carousel, a Super Slide and a Mechanical Bull, while Katy and Cam stole kisses on the Ferris Wheel, watching the sun set over Calamigos Ranch.
As one of our most unique luxury reception dinners to date, we loved creating a minimal, garden-inspired tablescape with simple, scalloped plates, clusters of fresh fruit and florals and an understated, striped tablecloth – the perfect nod to nostalgic carnival booth fabrics with an upscale feel. Floating candles and crystal glassware offered a subtle nod to the bright bulbs of carnival lights after dark but with a modern and luxurious twist, our specialty.
For Katy and Cam’s wedding day at Calamigos, we pulled inspiration from Malibu’s rolling hills – a place that feels like a slice of Italian countryside on the west coast. We elevated the ceremony site with bistro chairs and a lush flowing aisle, leading up to a lush and wild floral installation. Dressed in luxury, couture silk by Ines Di Santo, Katy looked like a vision as she exchanged vows with Cam under a centuries-old oak tree.
As guests made their way to the cocktail hour and the reception set up, they found their names on a unique installation with garden-like floral installations weaving throughout the pillars.
The Italian-inspired magic continued at the reception dinner hosted at Calamigos Birchwood Room – an intimate outdoor space where crystal chandeliers swing gently from the trees overhead, casting a soft romantic glow over the evening. We styled the tables with oversized, stone pottery and unique touches like full artichokes and scalloped glassware. And our team filled the space with unique, garden-inspired arrangements with pops of blush, coral and ivory, elevating the soft and playful luxury in this Malibu garden setting. We added thoughtful details throughout, including bar menus printed on organic linen for an elegant but natural feel. And with a champagne coupe tower and a bespoke lambeth cake from The Butter End, the luxury details from this Calamigos Ranch wedding speak for themselves.
Katy and Cam’s Malibu wedding weekend had it all – from an extravagant carnival welcome dinner to an after dark pool party to an intimate reception dinner, we loved every part of this celebration at Calamigos and we’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
Photo: Lilly RedDesign, styling and planning: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Noble Floral Co. VENUE: calamigos RanchRentals: Party PLeasersdresses: Ines Di Santo and Alena LeenaCake: Butter End CakeryPaper goods and signage: Wildhouse INkVideography: Emma K