Sample No. 0062
Olivia and Amir’s Colorful Jewish Wedding at Four Seasons Firenze
A rainy-day-ready Florence celebration paired vibrant seasonal flowers, meaningful Jewish traditions, two bridal looks and a two-week Dolomites honeymoon.
Olivia and Amir wanted their wedding to feel as joyful as the Italian trip they hoped to share with their closest people. Their September celebration at Four Seasons Firenze brought together vivid seasonal flowers, personal Jewish traditions and a party that moved from live music to a DJ. Rain fell for much of the day, but the venue’s indoor plan offered the couple a beautiful alternative to their original arrangement.
Olivia, a speech language pathologist, and Amir, who works in construction and development, also made room for two distinct bridal looks: an elegant Martina Liana A-line gown and a short, sparkling pink dress by Galia Lahav. The result is a useful example of how a destination wedding can balance a considered visual theme with details rooted in a couple’s own story.
A relationship that found its way back
The pair first met at a high school party. After graduation, Amir moved to Israel, and they stayed loosely in touch. They reconnected in 2019 when Olivia travelled there with her family to celebrate her brother’s Bar Mitzvah. A little over a year later, Amir moved back to America permanently.
Choosing a venue with a strong rainy-day plan
For Olivia and Amir, the destination itself was part of the invitation. They hoped the wedding would give family and friends a reason to enjoy an Italian holiday, with its food, fashion and places to explore. The Four Seasons Firenze appealed not only for its setting but because the indoor contingency felt just as special as their first-choice plan. That mattered: rain affected much of the wedding day, so having a venue they loved in either arrangement helped the celebration keep its sense of occasion.
The venue’s catering manager, Anna Peri, coordinated the wedding. Olivia says Peri was “perfect in every way.” For couples planning a destination event, this celebration points to a practical question worth settling early: does the backup space feel like a real option you’ll be happy to use, rather than a compromise?
Color carried from flowers to the chuppah
The couple chose bright, vibrant wedding colors to make the rooms feel happy and beautiful. Flowers Living translated their broad color direction into arrangements using flowers in season for the September date. That choice suited both the celebratory palette and the time of year, while giving the florist room to work with blooms at their seasonal best.
The floral design continued into an ornate, colorful chuppah. Olivia and Amir wanted it to express happiness, and they stood beneath Amir’s grandfather’s tallit. Their ceremony was led by the rabbi who had known Amir while he was growing up, adding a personal connection to the ritual.
Rather than read traditional personal vows, they each sent the rabbi notes about what they thought of the other. There was no assigned prompt or word limit; he simply asked them to share their thoughts. Hearing those words during the ceremony became one of their favourite moments, and brought tears.
Two dresses, two sides of Olivia’s style
Olivia found her ceremony gown at Boca Raton Bridal. Her simple A-line Martina Liana dress reminded her of ballet, which she studied growing up. She wanted to feel like herself, with a bridal finish; the gown gave her the elegant, timeless look she had in mind.
For the reception, she changed into a short, glittering pink Galia Lahav dress. Where the first look felt classic, the second gave Olivia room to show more of her personality and dance comfortably through the night.
Personal paper and music for every part of the day
Lewe’s Lettering Co. created the invitation suite, whose front featured a watercolor illustration of the venue lobby. It gave guests an early glimpse of the place that would shape their wedding week.
The couple’s ketubah came from Ketubah.com and was designed by artist Britt Yudell. Olivia describes the canvas piece as refined.
Music shifted with the pace of the celebration. Elan Artists supplied string musicians for the ceremony and dinner, a jazz band for cocktail hour, then a DJ accompanied by live saxophone and percussion for dancing. Three tenors surprised guests with Italian opera. The mix of styles let the evening move from ceremony to party without asking one musical format to do everything.
Photography, a two-week honeymoon and advice
Olivia and Amir chose D2 Photography for images that capture both headline moments and quieter interactions. A trial shoot during a venue visit helped them decide: the photographers offered enough direction to put them at ease while leaving space for their personalities. Waterfall Visuals filmed the day; the couple were pleased with both teams’ finished work.
They returned to Italy for their honeymoon, this time spending two weeks in the Dolomites. Their stays at The Forestis and the Aman Rosa Alpina combined sightseeing and shopping with spa time and rest. Olivia says the trip allowed them to do what they wanted without giving up time to relax, and recalls the dining experiences fondly.
Her advice to couples is straightforward: choose a partner you trust and vendors who make you feel heard. When plans change, she says, those relationships can help keep the day in perspective and leave you confident that your team has your back.
