• About
  • Find a Vendor
  • Submit
  • Advertise
  • Brides Club
  • Your Jewish Life
  • Contact

Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

  • Real Jewish Weddings
    • City Chic
    • Fashion Forward
    • Outdoor
    • Destination
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • France
      • Beach Weddings
    • Super Luxe
    • Budget
    • DIY
    • Same Sex
  • Jew-ish Weddings
    • Real Jew-ish Weddings
    • Jewish-Catholic Weddings
    • Jewish-Chinese Weddings
    • Jewish-Christian Weddings
    • Jewish-Greek Weddings
    • Jewish-Hindu Weddings
    • Jewish-Humanist Weddings
    • Jewish-Irish Weddings
    • Jewish Japanese Weddings
    • Jewish-Muslim Weddings
    • Same Sex Jew-ish Weddings
  • Inspiration + Guidance
    • Engaged? Start Here
    • Ceremony
      • Chuppah ideas
      • Jewish ceremony music
      • Jewish wedding ceremony 101
      • Jewish ceremony traditions
      • Ketubah Ideas
      • Jewish wedding legalities
      • Jew-ish ceremony ideas
    • Reception
      • Music
      • Speeches
      • Entertainment
      • Venues
    • Food & Drink
      • Kosher catering
      • Wedding cakes
      • Drinks
    • Decor
      • Decorations
      • Favours
      • Floristry
      • Guestbooks
      • Stationery
    • Style
      • Brides dresses
      • Shoes & accessories
      • Grooms
      • Bridesmaids
    • Advice
      • Converting to Judaism
      • Real blogging brides
      • Dear Karen…
    • Honeymoons
    • STG Live
    • Five Minutes With
    • Wedding Must-Haves
    • Wedding Consultancy
  • Jewish Brides Club
  • Find a Wedding Vendor
Home > ‘Old Hollywood’ destination Jewish wedding at The Great Synagogue of Florence and Villa Di Maiano, Florence, Italy

‘Old Hollywood’ destination Jewish wedding at The Great Synagogue of Florence and Villa Di Maiano, Florence, Italy

08/12/2015 by Karen

Jewish-wedding-Florence
Olivia and Jacob  are one seriously hot couple  —  I mean just  look at  David Bastianoni‘s gorgeous  images of them both… And it gets even better. They chose a wedding theme of  50’s / Old Hollywood glamour meets The Godfather. Off the scale, right?!

Both  Londoners,  (they met 7 years ago at Nottingham University) the bride and groom opted  to marry in Florence, as that’s where Jacob proposed to Olivia. They chose the  breathtaking  Great Synagogue of Florence followed by a magnificent party at  Villa Di Maiano,  and their big day is every bit as glamorous and romantic as you’d expect. There’s an  immense  chuppah made from gypsophila, pretty blush  pink roses  and candles, beautifully ornate calligraphic decor, a classic convertible  wedding car, a mille-feuille wedding cake constructed in front of the guests, a phenomenal firework display… I could go on and on  and on!

As you’d expect, our bride and groom look impeccable stylish too — Olivia  in a beautifully cut bespoke  Suzanne Neville gown (based on a design that her and her  mother created), and Jacob  in a bespoke suit by  Cad and the Dandy. It’s a super chic  wedding, full of  panache, and lots and lots of heart.

Not only do we have the insane  images by STG fave,  David Bastianoni,  but we also have the 8mm film by  Marriage à  la Mode. Jewish wedding Florence

Choosing to get married in Florence, Italy

Olivia and Jacob had been together for 7 years when he  proposed to her  after a very special dinner in the gardens on the edge of Villa San Michele in Fiesole, overlooking Florence.

They chose to have their wedding reception at  Villa di Maiano, as it was nearby  and  was actually featured in the film A Room with a View.

Jewish wedding Florence
Old Hollywood glamour meets The Godfather

Olivia and Jacob’s  theme was    50’s /old Hollywood glamour with a splash of the Godfather – genius! In terms of colours and styles they worked with vintage shades, beautiful rose gold calligraphy, pale grey candle sticks, delicate cracked antique vases and fragrant garden roses.

For their wedding dà©cor they  used a wonderful Florentine based calligrapher called Betty Soldi.

Jewish wedding Florence
Exquisite stationery

Olivia is a self-declared  calligraphy and stationary obsessive so this was an extremely important component of the wedding. They  used one of my favourite stationers, the fabulous Ruth Kaye Design, for their  invitations, and selected a textured white linen envelope with a white wax seal, and created a bespoke stamp using a vintage photograph of the synagogue. Inside the envelope was a delicate white muslin pouch which held a collection of white invitations with pale rose gold calligraphy.

Jewish wedding Florence Jewish wedding Florence
A bespoke Suzanne Neville  gown

Olivia’s pale ivory wedding dress was by  Suzanne Neville. It was a bespoke gown based on a design that Olivia and her mother conceived. The inspiration was 50’s fashion, in keeping with the theme of the wedding.

Suzanne also made a delicate French lace bolero for the ceremony to cover Olivia’s shoulders and a dramatic train which she removed later on in the evening.

Olivia’s  veil was cathedral length and trimmed in French lace, and also designed by  Suzanne Neville.

Jewish wedding Florence
A classic wedding car

They  chose an absolutely  classic wedding car  —  a silver 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 Adenauer Cabriolet with a tan interior. It was actually  the same car that was used in the new Audrey Hepburn Galaxy chocolate commercial!

Jewish wedding Florence
A bespoke suit for the  groom

Jacob wore a  Cad and the Dandy bespoke suit, a bow tie from Turnball &  Asser, and shoes from Church’s.

Jewish wedding Florence
The Great Synagogue of Florence

Being so historical, and beautifully ornate, the  Great  Synagogue of  Florence was the perfect place to host their  wedding ceremony. Olivia and Jacob  brought along Rabbi Shlomo Levin and Chazzan Avromi Freilich from London, both of whom made the ceremony extremely special and personal to them.

Jewish wedding Florence_
Chuppah design

Their  magnificent chuppah was made entirely of gypsophila which I can imagine emanated  the most wonderful aroma!  The chuppah and all the  wedding flowers were created by  Tuscany Flowers.

Jewish wedding Florence_ Jewish wedding Florence
Fantastic photography and videography…

David Bastianoni  captured each natural moment impeccably and  Marriage à  la Mode  (a   husband and wife duo from London that use 8mm film)  made a wonderful film of their  special day (See the wedding film at the end of the post).

Jewish wedding Florence_0389 Jewish wedding Florence Jewish wedding Florence_0392 Jewish wedding Florence_0391 Jewish wedding Florence_0390
A mille-feuille wedding cake that was constructed in front of the guests!

Their  wedding cake was mille-feuille and was made in front of the guests on the terrace of Villa Di Maiano overlooking Florence. Whilst the cake was being constructed, a tenor sing Funiculi Funicular and O Sole Mio amongst other wonderful songs!

Olivia and Jacob had shared a a mille-feuille  at dinner the night he proposed to her  so it was a lovely detail  to tie it  into their  wedding.

Jewish wedding Florence
Fireworks

After the cake was constructed there was a magnificent  Soldi  fireworks show which everyone  watched from the terrace of the villa.

Jewish wedding Florence
First Dance

Following  the fireworks, Olivia and Jacob had their  first dance. Spotlights were positioned from the villa’s balcony, onto the terrace, whilst the band sung their  first dance tune of Marvin Gaye’s classic  You’re All I Need to Get By.

Jewish wedding Florence

Olivia & Jacob’S  LITTLE WHITE BOOK

Photography —  David Bastianoni
8mm Film —  Marriage à  la Mode
Wedding Planners —  By Cassini  and  SposiamoVi
Reception Venue — Villa di Maiano
Ceremony venue —  Great  Synagogue of  Florence
Bride’s  Dress — Suzanne Neville bespoke
Stationery —  Ruth Kaye Design
Flowers — Tuscany Flowers
Decor —  Betty Soldi

Share this post:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Filed Under: Jewish Synagogue Weddings, Jewish City Chic Weddings, Jewish Country House Weddings, Jewish Destination Weddings, Jewish Super Luxe Weddings Tagged With: Neutrals, Metallics, Suzanne Neville, Italian wedding, Florence, David Bastianoni wedding photography, metallic, Ruth Kaye Design, SposiamoVi wedding planning, Italy, Cad & The Dandy groom, Pink

You might also like...

  • Natalie & Oren | Spectacular Jewish wedding at The Great Synagogue + Villa Cora, Florence, ItalyNatalie & Oren | Spectacular Jewish wedding at The Great Synagogue + Villa Cora, Florence, Italy
  • A music and art-filled Jewish wedding with Monique Lhullier and Jenny Packham gowns at the Great Synagogue and Four Seasons Hotel in Florence, ItalyA music and art-filled Jewish wedding with Monique Lhullier and Jenny Packham gowns at the Great Synagogue and Four Seasons Hotel in Florence, Italy
  • Michaela & Zac | Destination Jewish Wedding at the Great Synagogue of Rome and the St Regis, Rome, ItalyMichaela & Zac | Destination Jewish Wedding at the Great Synagogue of Rome and the St Regis, Rome, Italy
  • A Suzanne Neville Bride for a Tuscan Fantasy of a Jewish Wedding at Villa Palmieri, Florence, ItalyA Suzanne Neville Bride for a Tuscan Fantasy of a Jewish Wedding at Villa Palmieri, Florence, Italy
  • A Suzanne Neville Bride for a Super Luxe Destination Jewish Wedding at the Great Synagogue of Florence and Villa de Maiano, Florence, ItalyA Suzanne Neville Bride for a Super Luxe Destination Jewish Wedding at the Great Synagogue of Florence and Villa de Maiano, Florence, Italy
  • Buranco Vineyard, Cinque Terre, ItalyA Stunning Super Luxe Peony-filled Jew-ish Destination Wedding at Buranco Vineyard, Cinque Terre, Italy

About Karen

Loves great design, cityscapes, berry cocktails, and the word “yes”. Founder and editor of Smashing The Glass. Follow me @SmashingTheGlass

Comments

  1. Wedding venues says

    08/12/2015 at 2:17 pm

    I have never seen such a great organize wedding ! perfect!

  2. SposiamoVi says

    10/12/2015 at 12:12 pm

    Hi Karen,
    thank you for the feature.
    David’s photos are really smashing!

    We loved working at Olivia and Jacob’s wedding.
    It was a truly spectacular and amazing event from start to finish!

    Congratulations to the beautiful couple!

    SposiamoVi Team

    • Karen says

      10/12/2015 at 12:19 pm

      Thrilled to feature your work! The wedding is truly spectacular and I’m honoured to have featured it. All the very best! Karen x

  3. edessa says

    03/05/2016 at 2:30 am

    Hi,

    Everything about this wedding was amazing!!

    Could you please tell me who the hair and makeup artists were?

    Thanks 🙂

    • Karen says

      03/05/2016 at 3:44 pm

      Hi Edessa!

      Let me email the bride and find out.

      All the best

      Karen

  4. Sharna Jackson says

    06/10/2016 at 4:15 pm

    Hi Karen,

    This wedding is so beautiful.

    I wondered whether you managed to find out who did Olivia’s bridal hair and make up, I know someone asked the question in an earlier post.

    I am getting married in Florence September 2017 and it would be really helpful to know.

    Thank you,

    Sharna

  5. Camila says

    08/11/2016 at 6:33 pm

    Hi Karen,

    Just as Sharna, I am getting married next year (July 2017) in Tuscany and I would love to know who were the hair and make up artists. I would really appreciate your help!

    Thank you very much!

    Camila

    • Karen says

      14/11/2016 at 10:25 am

      Sure! I’ll drop you an email.

      Karen x

Jewish Weddings by Country

Vendors We Love

Weddings by Colour


Awesome Jewish Gifts

Vendors We Love

Get posts directly into your inbox

Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.

Liberty London
Kate Spade UK Limited
Monica Vinader
Mr And Mrs Smith Honeymoons

Today’s Top Posts

  • A guide to the Jewish Wedding Ceremony and Order of Service under the chuppah
    A guide to the Jewish Wedding Ceremony and Order of Service under the chuppah
  • A Jewish Wedding with an Alice in Wonderland-Inspired Color Scheme at the Edwardian Radisson, Manchester, UK
    A Jewish Wedding with an Alice in Wonderland-Inspired Color Scheme at the Edwardian Radisson, Manchester, UK
  • How to Turn Your Smashed Glass Shards Into a Keepsake Souvenir of Your Jewish Wedding
    How to Turn Your Smashed Glass Shards Into a Keepsake Souvenir of Your Jewish Wedding
  • Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained - Breaking The Glass
    Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained - Breaking The Glass
  • The Badeken – Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained #4
    The Badeken – Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained #4

Subscribe by Email

Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.

closeJoin our members-only community for Jewish brides!

All content © Smashing The Glass 2025