A Glamorous, Romantic Wedding at Villa Miani in Rome, Italy

Silje Glenne (26 and a wedding planner and designer) and Tommy Szabo (31 and a director of sales and retention) planned an intimate Italian affair with plenty of glitz and glamour for their early-September wedding in Rome. With their friends and families scattered across Europe, travel was inevitable. Instead of gathering everyone together in the couple's Norwegian home, Silje and Tommy gathered guests in Rome's historic hills, where they could take in the sights and celebrate alongside the couple. “As a wedding planner and designer, I work with plenty of themed weddings," Silje says. "Since I was the bride, I could finally do exactly what I had always dreamed of: a luxurious and sparkling destination wedding." The day of the nuptials, guests were led into Villa Miani’s perfectly groomed garden for the ceremony. Taking cues from the setting’s elegant aesthetics, Silje and Tommy adorned the ceremony site with bountiful bouquets of white- and cream-colored orchids, ranunculus, roses and peonies, as well as a striking floral wedding arch that framed the couple as they exchanged vows. Gold chiavari chairs gave the serene setting a hint of glitz, while a gospel choir filled the air with renditions of the couple’s favorite songs. “When we finally said our ‘I dos’ and shared our first kiss, the choir started singing ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ by Aretha Franklin as we walked up the aisle," Silje says. Postceremony, the reception unfolded in the Villa’s grand ballroom. Silje and Tommy transformed the space into a romantic, dreamlike scene with luxe, oversize arrangements of ivory orchids and roses punctuated with cascading tulips. Panels of ivory silk adorned each gold chiavari chair and the warm glow of dozens of votive candles brought the tables to life. Gilded bars served some of the couple’s favorite libations, and a Cohiba cigar bar was available after the four-course meal. Sparklers and a selfie station complete with funky props provided endless entertainment when guests needed a break from the dance floor. "It sounds cliche, but we’re so happy we just enjoyed each other and the whole atmosphere instead of stressing about everything. We look back at the wedding as the best time in our lives because we enjoyed it to the fullest.” —Libby MacCarthy