On a summer day in the Valpolicella hills, a wedding planner stepped into the role of a bride to celebrate twenty years of marriage. The ceremony, held in a quiet hilltop church, blended sacred tradition with emotional depth — from a surprise performance to a floral concept built around calla lilies. The reception carried that same sense of elegance and meaning, with gospel music, fine Italian cuisine, and a team that made sure she could simply be present.
Location: Verona, Italy
Style: Elegant, emotional, refined
Time of planning: 2 months
Number of guests: 120
Setting: Villa
Season: Summer
Victoria, originally from Saint Petersburg, and Rossano, from Verona, met over two decades ago and have built a life grounded in love, trust, and shared purpose. Together, they’ve raised two daughters and grown both as a family and as partners — in marriage and in business. To mark their 20th anniversary, they chose to celebrate their story with a sacred ceremony in Italy, honoring all they’ve created and the future they continue to shape, surrounded by the people who had been there from the start.
Bridal Morning
Victoria’s morning unfolded quietly, with her two daughters helping her prepare. The three shared a soft, emotional rhythm, dressed in matching robes with gold-foiled titles that captured their bond. Victoria’s first look of the day was a sleeveless sheer gown by Milla Nova with a textured overlay — ethereal and modern, with a gentle softness that mirrored the atmosphere around her. Her hair was pulled back into a clean chignon, and her makeup remained true to her signature style: delicate and polished.
"As a wedding planner myself, I envisioned an event that embodied “understated elegance.”
For the ceremony, she chose a custom dress by Antonio Riva Milano, gifted by the designer himself. The structured silhouette featured a one-shoulder neckline and sculptural draping that subtly echoed the lines of a calla lily. She wore long aquamarine earrings by Maison Gemier and added a classic veil that her daughters gently placed over her. They were dressed in flowing turquoise seafoam gowns, making their way toward the church together.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place at a hilltop church overlooking the vineyards of Valpolicella — a peaceful and spiritual setting chosen for its meaning and stillness. Along the entrance, tall calla lilies were arranged in floating white boxes, lining the path in sculptural rows. The flower held deep personal symbolism for Victoria, echoing her mother’s bridal bouquet, and here it became a unifying visual element — pure, minimal, and full of presence. The natural stone facade of the church added contrast to the structured floral lines, while the wooden doors framed the couple’s exit with quiet grandeur. Inside, candles flickered gently behind the altar, and soft floral accents extended the same understated language of the exterior design.
The ceremony followed a traditional Catholic format, solemn and deep. Victoria entered the church with her daughters, and together with Rossano, they sat closely in the front pew — a quiet, emotional formation of everything they had built together. Then came the surprise: a video performance of “Ave Maria” by Al Bano, recorded especially for them. As his voice filled the church, guests were moved to tears.
"A particularly touching moment was a surprise video message from Al Bano, one of our favorite artists."
Decor & Setting
The reception took place under a canopy of trees in the formal gardens of Villa Rizzardi — a natural aisle of green framing a single, uninterrupted table. Soft sage linens covered the length of the setup, paired with classic oval-back chairs and polished silver chargers. The floral design by Bloom Ministry combined pastel dahlias, lisianthus, and delicate greens arranged in low mirrored vessels, creating rhythm without crowding the table. Each place setting featured personalized menus and tassel-tied name cards, while tapered blush candles added height and warmth as evening fell. The scene shifted gently from daylight to golden glow, letting the surroundings do most of the work.
"I wanted to create a celebration that felt sacred yet intimate, elevated yet natural."
Reception
The reception opened with a powerful performance by a 40-person gospel choir from Tuscany, staged in the lower gardens of Villa Rizzardi. Guests gathered on the gravel terrace as voices filled the amphitheater in rich, rising harmony. Victoria stood among the singers for part of the performance, visibly moved. It brought warmth and rhythm to the space without interrupting the flow of the day — a natural, heartfelt beginning to the evening ahead.
Dinner followed beneath the long tree-lined alley, where guests took their seats at one uninterrupted table glowing with candlelight. Food & Sweet Catering served a multi-course menu, followed by the wedding cake — understated, refined, exactly in line with the rest of the celebration. Cocktails came from Bartenders Group, while the soundtrack moved fluidly between live vocals and curated playlists by Joy Entertainment. Speeches wove in between courses, and the atmosphere held its own rhythm — unhurried, open, and quietly joyful.
Later, Victoria changed into her second look and joined Rossano at the top of the garden steps. They descended together toward the champagne tower, where their daughters stood waiting. The family poured together, surrounded by cheers, followed by a bouquet toss that brought a new surge of energy to the crowd. The “Ring for Champagne” wall opened up, the music got louder, and the dancing began. Some stayed at the bar, some filled the dance floor, and others returned to candlelit tables.
It felt generous and unhurried, the kind of evening where every detail served the same purpose: to honor the life Victoria and Rossano had built, with joy, beauty, and the closest people.
Advice from the couple:
• Trust your team. Choose people you can rely on, and then let go. I was able to stop thinking like a planner and start feeling like a bride, which is the best gift I could’ve given myself.
PLANNER PALAZZOEVENTI | BRIDE Victoria Kursova Olivieri | VENUE Villa Rizzardi | PHOTOGRAPHY Andy Nasta Nykolast Photography Haute Content Maison Roman Ivanov | BACKSTAGE PHOTOS Alexandr Dombrovschi Coconova Photography | VIDEOGRAPHY Oshepkov Films Danilovs Movies Yuri Gregori | FLORALS & DECOR Bloom Ministry | MAKEUP & HAIR Anastasia Garbarenko | DRESS Antonio Riva Milano | SUIT Pisconti Milano | SECOND DRESS Milla Nova Le Spose di Mori | JEWELRY Maison Gemier A.Pri Jewelry | HOST Georgy Chkareuli | CATERING & CAKE Food & Sweet Catering | BAR Bartenders Group | STATIONERY Dal Prato | GIFTS Palazzo Exclusivity | REELS Daria Glory Italy Alexandr Dombrovschi | TECHNICAL SUPPORT Palco Pro Rent | ENTERTAINMENT Joy Entertainment | RENTALS Regie d’Autore Lake Como Rental
