Location: Florence, Italy
Setting: Villa
The number of guests: 20
How long did the couple plan the event: 8 months
Wedding theme/style: Classic and elevated Italian Villa garden dinner.
John and Sofia Shevchenko are a couple with a beautiful story that began in a gym in California. It took John months of contemplation before gathering the courage to ask Sofia out, and their journey together officially started in March 2018. And just before the pandemic hit, they took the next big step in their relationship by getting engaged during Christmas 2019. Working from home has brought this couple even closer, as John, a talented YouTuber, and Sofia, skillfully managing his channel and social media, create a harmonious team. They spend every moment together, sharing laughter and support, and even when they are apart for a few hours, they never cease to exchange heartfelt messages.
After almost three years of engagement, it was no surprise that their dream wedding would take place in the enchanting lands of Italy—an intimate destination celebration that perfectly reflects their deep bond and a shared vision for a lifetime of love and happiness.
Toby from Handcraft Pictures is a talented videographer who had the privilege of capturing every magical moment of John and Sofia’s breathtaking wedding in the enchanting city of Florence. From the intimate exchange of vows to the lively celebrations with friends and family, the videographer masterfully told their love story through cinematic shots, subtle details, and perfect timing. With his keen eye for capturing authentic moments and impeccable editing skills, he has created a masterpiece that will immortalize the beauty and joy of John and Sofia’s special day.
The morning of Sofia was enveloped in the serene beauty of the moment as the sun gently caressed her face, illuminating the joy and anticipation in her heart. The bride entrusted her beauty preparations to the skilled hands of Marina Mardari. With a vision of elegance in mind, the bride expressed her desire for a makeup style that exuded a delicate yet glamorous allure, capturing the essence of her natural beauty. As for Sofia’s hair, the bride longed for an updo that embodied timeless grace.
Impeccable attention was lavished upon every single detail, ensuring that the wedding day was a perfection.
The bride exuded elegance with two stunning looks on her special day. For the ceremony, she wore a breathtaking Pronovias Privè dress, while her second dress from House of CB added a touch of glamour. Completing her ensemble was a pair of exquisite Jimmy Choo shoes, and she graced her head with a custom-made crown and veil, adding a regal and personalized touch to her wedding attire.
Sofia about her first dress: “My ceremony dress was a princess silhouette with a 4-meter train. I wanted all the regal drama feel, with a detailed and embroidered bodice and a full skirt with some detail in the back. I spent years looking for my perfect dress. I tried on nearly 90 dresses, yet I had never tried on the dress I picked before purchasing it. After trying dozens of dresses and feeling undecided, I saw a dress in the Pronovias catalog. But there was no sample available in any boutique in the US for me to try on. The only sample in the world was in a boutique in Paris. Even though I had never tried on the dress, I knew it was mine and ordered it without ever trying it on. When it finally arrived months later, I was relieved to put it down and confirm that it was everything I had ever dreamed of. The dress was over 20 lbs, had a 4 meters long train, and gave us a lot of work flying from the US to Italy, but I wouldn’t change a thing. The drama of the dress went perfectly with the beautiful backdrop of Florence.”
The groom also had two different looks for this special day. The first was a custom-made Ceremony Tuxedo by Suit Cut Bespoke Tailor, tailored to perfection. The second look featured a stylish suit from Burberry. As he prepared to catch his first glimpse of his beautiful bride, excitement filled the air while he donned his attire.
During their first look, they felt an overwhelming rush of happiness. The eager anticipation and excitement had been building up, and in that particular instant, it felt as if time had frozen as they stood together, simply looking at one another. Their hearts swelled with profound joy, a testament to their deep love.
The wedding ceremony of Sofia and John was held in a remarkable venue – one of the oldest churches in Florence, with a history dating back to the 11th century. Situated conveniently next to the famous Ponte Vecchio, the church provided a picturesque backdrop for the couple’s special day, adding charm to their heartfelt vows and celebration of love.
The joy and happiness radiated from everyone present as they showered the couple with warm wishes and congratulations after the ceremony. It was a truly special celebration filled with love and beautiful wishes for the newlyweds.
After the ceremony, some breathtaking photos of John and Sofia were captured by the photographer Tanya Bondarenko overlooking the picturesque city of Florence.
John and Sofia embraced the magic of the golden hour as they changed into their second wedding looks. The couple radiated elegance and grace as they joyfully ventured out to capture stunning photos amidst the enchanting glow of the setting sun. Their love illuminated the surroundings, creating unforgettable memories in the golden embrace of this special moment.
Sofia says about their wedding’s style: “We worked on our wedding vision with the help of the amazing wedding planner team of Savvy Events Studio. They brought our vision to life, sparing no small detail, from the location, the decor, to the music, and the food.
We wanted the wedding to feel like a natural and organic, yet luxurious garden party. We wanted the florals to look like they were part of the environment rather than sculpted floral arrangements. We tried to incorporate an Italian feel, a classic outdoor Italian villa setting. We made sure to integrate a lot of color with our florals and decor, making sure everything was classic, elegant, and timeless. The mostly soft pink color palette created a romantic atmosphere.”
Sofia and John celebrated an intimate and small wedding, at the same time, they wanted every aspect of it to feel over the top. The reception was lovely, with the couple receiving many warm wishes from their loved ones.
The highlight of the night was when the guests witnessed the careful craftsmanship of a traditional Italian wedding cake being created right before their eyes, adding an element of sophistication to the event. To top off the evening in the sweetest way possible, a charming gelato cart was set up, tempting everyone to indulge in a delectable and satisfying dessert after a delightful dinner.
As a delightful surprise, a lively mariachi band took the stage towards the end, infusing the evening with an extra burst of energy.
The guests enjoyed live music playing throughout the night, which created a joyful atmosphere at the celebration.
Every precious memory was preserved with cinematic brilliance by Handcraft Pictures, creating a visually captivating masterpiece that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Advice from the couple:
• It is your day, so what you both want and what makes you happy. Enjoy the planning process because you might miss it afterwards. Take it every second of the day because it goes by fast.
VIDEOGRAPHER Handcraft Pictures | PHOTOGRAPHER Tanya Bondarenko | PLANNER Savvy Event Studio | FLORALS Lilla Florals | CATERING Galateo Ricevimenti | MUAH Marina Mardari | BRIDAL DRESSES Pronovias, House of CB | GROOM’S ATTIRES Suitcut Bespoke Tailor, Burberry | VENUE Villa Le Fontanelle
