Le Wedding Details

Ceremony

For our elopement, we traveled to Europe, and I wanted to bring a piece of that dreamy Italian landscape and Victorian charm back home to the States. To create that ambiance, I carefully chose florals that reflected our theme’s colors, adding an extra touch of elegance with Capiz petals and delicate feathers to introduce more texture and grandeur. My love for collecting face pots and figurines perfectly aligned with this vision, so they became a natural addition to our decor. Being passionate about vintage style, we also incorporated candelabras and gold accents to elevate the atmosphere. We personally handpicked all the decorations, and as a result, many of them now live on as both beautiful home decor and cherished keepsakes from our unforgettable wedding day.

Welcome Area

Every detail of our wedding was deeply personal, carefully crafted to reflect us a perfect blend of Italian charm, Victorian elegance, aviation, and our love for travel. Each design and idea held meaning, making our day uniquely ours.

One of my favorite elements was our seating chart, which invited guests to “Find Your Destination.” Instead of traditional place cards, we gave each guest an airplane-shaped bottle opener that guided them to tables named after cities in Italy, one of our favorite places in the world.

For our guest book, we wanted something truly special and memorable. We chose decorative propellers that our guests could sign, which now hang proudly on our wall as a beautiful reminder of the day.

To add a playful twist, we hosted a masquerade party and provided elegant masks for our guests, it was such a fun way to elevate the celebration! And because I’ve always loved when weddings provide slippers for dancing, we did just that, and everyone couldn’t stop raving about how thoughtful (and comfortable!) it was.

To tie everything together, we incorporated aviation details, including “in-flight snacks.” Our guests adored the little Biscoff biscuits stamped with our custom logo such a simple yet meaningful nod to our story.

Every element, big or small, felt intentional and true to us, making it a celebration we’ll cherish forever.

The Reception

For our December wedding, we wanted every detail to feel meaningful, practical, and memorable something our guests could treasure long after the celebration.

On the tables, we used personalized luggage tags as place cards, each engraved with the guest’s name. Alongside them, we placed our very first Christmas card as The Leonards, adding a festive and personal touch to the season. It was such a joy to share this milestone with our loved ones in such an intimate way.

I also wanted the gifts and items we provided to be both thoughtful and functional, ensuring our guests could use them as keepsakes. On our welcome table, we included curated goodies, but one of my favorite touches was the shawls we used to drape over the chairs. I found beautiful scarves during a trip to Italy and had our wedding logodesigned by me embroidered on them. These shawls not only added a personalized touch to our décor but were also a practical gift for a chilly winter day. Seeing our guests wrapped in them during the celebration and continuing to use them afterward warmed my heart.

Every detail, from the souvenirs to the thoughtful gifts, reflected our love and gratitude for our guests. It made the day even more special to know that these small gestures left a lasting impression.

Being a fan of travertine, I instantly fell in love when I came across these beautiful travertine table numbers, I knew they’d be perfect for our wedding. To make them even more special, I incorporated my love for painting by creating custom table name cards as mini art pieces.

Each table was named after an Italian city, tying into our travel-inspired theme, and I hand-painted the backgrounds using our wedding colors to add a cohesive and personal touch. Displayed on small easels, these artworks brought a sense of creativity and warmth to the tables, blending my passion for art with the elegance of the day.

It was such a joy to infuse something so personal into our decor, making each table feel like a unique reflection of us.

For our signature cocktails, we wanted the drinks to reflect our personalities and tastes. Since I’m a cocktail lover, I chose my favorite Lava Flow, as one of the options. For him, a beer enthusiast, we featured his go-to Guinness. And, of course, we couldn’t have an Italian-inspired wedding without Aperol Spritz,it was the perfect nod to Italy and a crowd favorite. These drink choices added a personal and playful touch to the celebration, making it feel even more us.

Our sweetheart table held a special significance, it was named Lake Como, the place where we had our intimate elopement in Italy. It felt so meaningful to bring a piece of that cherished memory into our wedding day, connecting two of the most important moments of our lives. It was a beautiful way to honor our journey and share a bit of that magic with our loved ones.

The Cakes

Our wedding cake was truly a labor of love, a masterpiece that brought together our creativity, family, and passion. Since we run a fondant cake business, it was only fitting that my mom, who has always made our cakes, took on this special project. We had long dreamed of creating a show-stopping, grand cake, and my wedding was the perfect occasion to finally bring that vision to life.

The result? A stunning 7-foot cake that was not only beautiful but deeply personal. It was a family effort my brother and his wife handled the technical side, figuring out how to incorporate a chandelier with lights inside the cake. Meanwhile, I added my personal touch by painting the back of the cake the day before the wedding. I recreated a top-down view of one of our favorite photos from Villa del Balbianello in Italy, capturing the water, mountains, and us walking together.

As a nod to my mom’s idea, we incorporated photos of our journey as a couple into the cake. While I was initially hesitant about putting photos of us on it (vain, I know!), the final design combined both our ideas beautifully. The top featured our elopement photo, while the inside showcased framed photos from our engagement, civil wedding, and elopement, surrounded by intricate details I had envisioned.

This dream cake wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our principal sponsors, who supported us through sleepless nights to finish it on time. Created by Celicious Fondant Cakes, it was truly a work of art, filled with love, and a centerpiece we’ll always cherish.

And yes, there was another cake! To truly immerse our guests in the Italian wedding experience, we served a traditional Italian wedding cake, the Millefoglie. This delicate, layered dessert was a perfect addition to our celebration, offering everyone a taste of authentic Italy. It was light, creamy, and absolutely delicious a crowd favorite that added yet another special touch to our unforgettable day.

The Photobooth

Chris was really set on having a photo booth at our wedding, even though I wasn’t entirely sold on the idea. But knowing how much our guests would enjoy it and how it would double as a fun souvenir, we decided to include one. Initially, I wanted something simple and classic, like black andwhite photos. However, when they added our floral backdrop, I realized it looked so much better in color and matched our theme beautifully. It was the perfect compromise, and it turned out even better than I imagined!

The guests loved it, and we can’t wait to share the photo booth pictures in a future post. Huge shoutout to Big Hugs Photo Booth for making it all come together so seamlessly highly recommend them for your next event!

The Entrance/Lobby

Our venue was everything I dreamed of it had a vintage, romantic mansion ambiance that set the perfect tone for our wedding. The entrance and lobby exuded elegance and charm, so we decided to keep the decor minimal, letting the space speak for itself. We added a few thoughtfully arranged florals to the tables and a framed photo from our elopement to infuse a personal touch.

The result was simple yet incredibly meaningful a seamless blend of the venue’s timeless beauty and details that reflected our journey as a couple. It created a warm and inviting atmosphere, the perfect way to welcome our guests into the celebration, and what I loved most was the violinist playing at the lobby while guests arrive.

Two of my favorite “IG spots” at the Armour House were undoubtedly the grand staircase and the fountain. Both felt like they were straight out of a dream and perfectly matched our Italian-Victorian theme. The staircase, with its timeless elegance, and the fountain, surrounded by lush greenery, created such romantic and picturesque settings. They were not only a dream for photos but also added to the magical ambiance of the day, perfect little corners for our guests to enjoy and capture their own memories!

The Gelato Cart

In addition to the cakes, I wanted to add another Italian-inspired treat, a gelato cart with several classic Italian flavors. While I originally wished it came with an umbrella for that extra touch of vibes, it still turned out to be one of the best highlights of our wedding! Guests absolutely loved it, and by the time I walked into the library to check it out, it was completely gone. Thankfully, my mom saved me a few scoops so I could try the delicious flavors too!

We hired Sweet Home Gelato for the cart, and it was such a hit! Definitely a detail I’m so glad we included!

Something Blue

I incorporated several “Something Blue” touches into our wedding, each one adding a bit of tradition and sentimentality to the day. From my garter to my wedding shoes and a delicate handkerchief, these little blue details were subtle yet meaningful, tying together the classic charm of the occasion.

Something Borrowed

My “something borrowed” held so much meaning. My matron of honor/cousin’s wedding robe. Years ago, I told her that one day I’d love to borrow it for my own wedding, and that moment finally came true. Wearing it on my special day felt like such a beautiful way to honor our bond and carry a piece of her love and blessings with me.

Something Old

Two of the most meaningful details on my wedding day were tied to my mom and grandmother. I’ve always dreamed of wearing my mom’s wedding dress, and getting to do so felt like such a special connection to her love story as I started my own.

I also wore an heirloom from my grandmother, her wedding ring. I’ve always wanted a thin, simple gold wedding band for everyday wear, and her ring matched perfectly with my engagement ring. These pieces were more than just accessories, they were a beautiful way to honor the women who inspire me and to carry their love and legacy into this new chapter of my life.

The Gifts

We personalized almost every gift and favor for our bridal party and guests, making each one meaningful and unique. For our moms, we gifted Tiffany & Co. knot style necklaces with a heartfelt note that read, “We can’t tie the knot without you.” For the bridal party, parents and sponsors, we added thoughtful touches like matching pouches and pearl clutches for the bridesmaids and principal sponsors, which perfectly complemented the vintage vibe of our wedding where they can use and carry while walking down the aisle.

We embroidered handkerchiefs for everyone, each with a special message. Our parents received personalized notes, my bridesmaids had “No Ugly Crying,” and the guests got “Happy Tears” handkerchiefs, an especially practical touch during our emotional vows!

For the fathers, my brother as the secondary sponsor, & the groomsmen, we provided neckties personalized with a photo of Chris and the recipient on the back. Instead of traditional corsages and boutonnieres, we opted for meaningful bouquets & brooches. The groom and groomsmen wore airplane brooches to represent Chris’ career as a pilot and his love for aviation, while the fathers and sponsors wore Victorian-style brooches to match the timeless elegance of our theme. Each bridesmaid’s pouch also featured a matching Victorian brooch same color that tied beautifully to their dresses.

The groomsmen received knot-style cufflinks, and the bridesmaids a matching knot earrings and necklaces a subtle nod to the idea of “tying the knot.” I’ve always loved pearls, so I incorporated them into the details, from the clutches to the bouquets, which were adorned with pearl accents for that vintage touch.

For my bridesmaids’ bouquets, I chose a single stem rose instead of traditional arrangements. Roses are my favorite flower, and Chris has always given me single-stem roses, starting from our first Valentine’s Day when he surprised me by displaying them one by one. It felt like a sweet, sentimental way to include a special piece of our love story in the day.

These little touches made the gifts and details not only beautiful but deeply personal, and it brought me so much joy to see how much everyone appreciated them.

The Wedding Dresses

Ceremony Gown

I designed all of my wedding dresses and knew I wanted my ceremony gown to embody a timeless, Victorian-Italian elegance. The result was a classic, all-lace ballgown with intricate details that felt straight out of a romantic fairytale. To add a dramatic touch, I included a detachable train, it was stunning but so heavy!

One detail I absolutely insisted on was adding pockets to the gown. I wanted to keep my embroidered handkerchief with me during the ceremony, and the pockets were both practical and a hidden luxury. I also wanted a veil that would cover my face at the beginning of the ceremony that moment hits different once they put it over my head, and I like it long but not too much so this one just fits perfectly with my train.

Originally, I planned to remove the train for the cocktail hour, leaving just the dress itself for a simpler silhouette. But with so much happening and needing to get ready for my next look, time slipped away, and the train stayed on. Still, it made such a statement and truly captured the vision I had for my dream wedding dress!

Reception Dress

For the reception, I envisioned a more romantic and glamorous look, so I added some stunning details to elevate the dress. I requested delicate beading and a touch of sparkle to give the gown a bit of bling, along with soft fur accents for a touch of luxe elegance. To enhance the romance, I designed sweet off-shoulder drapery for the top, creating a flowing, ethereal vibe.

The train was removable, so I wore it just for the grand entrance, making a dramatic statement as we entered the reception. Once it was removed, the gown transformed into a more effortless yet still elegant silhouette, perfect for celebrating and dancing the night away! It was everything I envisioned—romantic, glamorous, and unforgettable.

Party Dress

One of the most special parts of my wedding day was wearing my mother’s wedding dress. I didn’t have to change a single thing about it. I absolutely loved everything, from the style to the intricate details. The soft gold beading perfectly matched my gold rings, and the design aligned beautifully with the extra glamorous vintage look I wanted.

What made it even more magical? The dress fit me perfectly, as if it was meant for me all along. It was such an honor to wear a piece of my mom’s history on my big day, making it all the more meaningful and unforgettable & hoping I can pass it on to my future daughter 🙏