"Tuscan Summer Elegance" Inspired This Sky-Blue Wedding in Melbourne, Australia
They say timing is everything, and that couldn’t have been truer for David and Richii. Fate brought the two together many times over a decade, but it wasn’t until a windy day in the city when David caught Richii’s umbrella that they really started to see each other. They soon found out that David’s company managed the building of Richii’s workplace, and after David moved to Brisbane, the two had to overcome distance now. “Once everything finally clicked and the stars had aligned, things moved in super-speed. Just six months after we officially became boyfriends, David proposed during a trip that was nothing short of unforgettable,” Richii says. During that two-week cruise through Spain, Greece and Cyprus, they hiked the mountains of Lebanon in Richii’s grandmother’s village, and David popped the question in front of a meaningful old school for Richii’s family.
And when it came time for wedding planning, the couple had the perfect venue in mind: a family-owned Tuscan villa in Templestowe that soon inspired the theme of “Summer Tuscan Elegance.” Wanting to bring the Italian countryside to Melbourne, the grooms worked closely with a wedding planner to inject a mix of “Mediterranean charm and modern sophistication, with the villa and gardens setting the perfect backdrop,” says Richii. That meant a color palette of sky blue and gold, which each groom incorporated into their wedding attire as well.
“David went for a custom black velvet suit with royal-inspired gold embroidery. I wanted something a little different, so I wore a sky-blue Tom Ford jacket with a cool snake jacquard pattern that I thought would look amazing against the backdrop of moving water,” Richii says of their wedding day looks. Both men mixed style and comfort in their outfits, with Richii wearing matching Converse sneakers and Versace accessories to complete his aesthetic.
The nearlyweds focused on blending their two families together through their heritage. Richii adds, “We also blended in some lovely touches from my Lebanese heritage, like incorporating Mediterranean herbs into the ceremony as part of a live cooking experience. To [honor] David's Croatian roots, his processional was led by a flag-bearer waving the Croatian flag, adding a personal and cultural touch to the ceremony.” Other cultural nods during the day included a live bouzouki player during dinner, Lebanese drummers and a Croatian circle dance.
To let the villa’s natural beauty speak for itself, the decor was kept to a minimum, with thoughtful touches sprinkled throughout to keep with the theme and color palette. Shades of blue elevated the ceremony area, an infinity pool with moving water that tied into Richii’s sky-blue suit jacket. An arbor arched over the water, with painted baby’s breath in a turquoise hue alongside roses, orchids and delphiniums. Richii says of the ceremony space, “Rows of ghost chairs reflected the light and water and gave the whole setup a magical glow. Sleek sun lounges gave the poolside a relaxed, sophisticated vibe. We really wanted every space to feel like an extension of the villa, filled with thoughtful details that reflected our style.”
The floral arrangements at their wedding took center stage, including sunset-colored centerpieces at the reception, adding even more elegance and color to the simple decorations. A local florist brought their vision to life, including a unique way to “blur the lines between inside and outside,” according to Richii. He adds, “We brought the villa’s charm into the 38-meter marquee, positioning it amongst the olive trees and dressing the tables with gold candlesticks, amber goblets and gold velvet napkins, while citrus [centerpieces] added a pop of vibrant [color].” They also added luxe lounge areas, utilizing the villa’s own furniture with a mix of woven tapestries, antique gold frames and rich textures to enhance the Tuscan theme.
An exciting way David and Richii surprised guests is through their grand entrance at the reception. “Our grand entrance at the reception—riding in on a blue Vespa through a cloud of smoke and sparks, with our guests waving their gold napkins and cheering us on—was such a fun, unforgettable way to start the night,” Richii says of the quirky transportation. Guests continued to be treated specially during the reception with a gelato cart (perfect for the Italian vibes) and an acrylic artist capturing the day in a live painting session, making a wonderful keepsake for the newlyweds.
To end the night, loved ones gave the grooms a sparkler send-off as they made their way up to the villa’s Juliet balcony. Richii says, “From there, we had the perfect view of all our friends and family celebrating below. Standing up there with ‘On a Night Like This’ playing by Kylie Minogue, it felt like we were on top of the world, and it was the most surreal and beautiful way to end an incredible day.”
Most of what made the day so incredible for the couple was their focus on making the day true to who they are and soaking in all the big moments. And for any future newlyweds during the wedding planning process, they offer this advice: “Don’t worry too much about what’s expected—just focus on what makes the day meaningful for both of you. Also, don’t stress over the small stuff. Trust your vendors and enjoy the process because it goes by so quickly!”