A majestic wedding at Villa Aurelia
Patrick and Pateil, affectionately nicknamed Pat & Pat, dated for 4 years before deciding to get married in June 2020 in Rome.
This cute couple, him Lebanese/Swiss, her American/ Armenian, loved Italy, its people, food, and history. When they first contacted me in 2019, the idea was to plan a grandiose affair for 280 guests from all parts of the world with 2 lavish events. So we worked closely for months on choosing the locations, the church, and all the vendors.
The pandemic put on hold all the preparations and their dreams. First, they tried to postpone the wedding to September 2020, then to May 2021. But the situation worldwide, the restrictions, the lockdowns forced them to cancel their big event a third time. But they did not give up on getting married in the Italian capital. The final decision was to hold a more intimate wedding with the 70 guests who could attend their wedding, all close friends and family, on the 4th of August 2021.
And finally, after so many frustrations and uncertainties, the wedding happened. The ceremony took place in the majestic Basilic of the XVII Apostles. The guests were astonished by the church’s beauty, elegantly decorated with pink and white flowers and candles. The reception then followed in one of the most beautiful villas in Rome, Villa Aurelia in Gianicolo. Perched in a dominating position on the highest point within the walls of Rome, this 17th-century Villa offers a breathtaking view of the city. In addition, the splendid gardens, the elegant interiors, and the variety of spaces available make Villa Aurelia the ideal location for high-level events.
From personalized masks and sanitizers to heel protectors and ballerinas to prestigious wine bottles as giveaways, details were not spared to provide the guests a unique and secure experience. In addition, a great band entertained the crowd during dinner. The highlight of the evening was the performance of a tenor opera singer that captivated the audience with some of the most famous Italian songs. At the end of the show, Pateil, a professional violin player, surprised her new husband by performing a Lebanese tune with the help of the tenor, much to the delight of friends and family.
