A Vibrant Destination Wedding in Sicily: Tom & Hilary

Featuring a gorgeous colour palette and chic bridal style!

A poolside ceremony and a twinkling al fresco reception, doesn't that sound like the most dreamy destination wedding setting?! Well, that's exactly what our real wedding couple Tom & Hilary opted for with their Italian wedding at Villa Mon Repos, a gorgeous wedding venue in Taormina in Sicily. Along with the help of their wedding planner, the couple’s planned a celebration that was vibrant, full of personality, and timeless. The magical day was captured by photographer and videographer Avenir Wedding Films—thank goodness it was because we can’t stop staring at their images!

blonde bride puts on her earrings
bride looks up holding bouquet
bride stands at balcony holding bouquet of flowers

Tom and Hilary who are from the UK and the US, but currently based in The East Coast of the US first met while one of them was studying abroad, through mutual friends.

grooms suit jacket hanging up at portraits
groom and groomsman hold up bottle of shot alcohol
groom and groomsmen take a drink / shot
groom standing in front of wooden wall fixes up his suit jacket

The proposal happened as the bride puts it, "on a spectacular mountaintop – you can imagine how it went!".

bride walks down the staircase to wedding venue scenic landscape in background
bride and groom at top of wedding venue balcony all smiles celebrating building and landscape in background
bride and groom look at each other she holds bouquet of flowers

The couple opted to do a first look which they both agree was one of their favourite parts of the day. "We took first look photos in Villa Scimone – an oasis in Taormina full of family memories."

bride and groom at top of steps landscape in background

Even before ever selecting a venue, Hilary and Tom had a clear vision for their celebration. "First and foremost, to be able to share a magical place with close friends and family."

bride and groom stand at wedding venue surrounded by flowers
bride and groom stand looking at each other surrounded by flowers

When it came time to choosing the venue for their day, the pair had their hearts set on Sicily, where they were then seduced by the beauty of Villa Mon Repos in Taormina. The bride tells us, "It was the right size, with the spectacular backdrop of the ocean plus Mount Etna. The chef and manager also made us feel well taken care the moment we met him."

mother and father make their way to the ceremony

Describing the overall look and feel of the day, Hilary tells us it was, "Elegant, colorful and joyous. Pure Sicilian magic!".

bride pops her head out of roof of wedding car
bride is driven through gate entrance she stands and looks out roof

She adds, "Despite being a more intimate size, the celebration felt grand due to all the delicious food and dancing. Like our wedding planner, it dazzled! Covid led to a delay, like it did for many people, so when the day finally arrived we felt unbelievably lucky."

groom and his mother make their way to the ceremony
man smiles towards the camera during ceremony setting
father of the bride and daughter walk towards the ceremony

The bride tells us that their wedding aesthetic was inspired by the dreamy location. "Sicily speaks for itself. The landscape, architecture and abundance of natural beauty are a work of art. We latched on to the theme of Sicilian oranges, and wanted as little traditional wedding white as possible."

bride and groom and celebrant in front of swimming pool

Adding to the romance of the occasion was the stunning floral arch before which Hilary and Tom exchanged their vows. Two half arches, varying in height, adorned with roses, peonies and lush greenery, created a mesmerizing backdrop for their heartfelt promises.

bride and groom hold hands groomsmen in the background
bride groom and bridesmaids behind couple during ceremony

Looking back on their day, the couple tell us their ceremony was incredibly special and filled with wonderful moments including dear friend reading a passage from Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist,” which the bride says "was really special". This reading describes twin flames and how it feels when you finally find that person that seems to have been destined for you. It's a truly romantic ceremony reading option.

bride and groom in front of swimming pool

Following the vows, there was a fun and fabulous cocktail hour, before their colourful al fresco reception dinner which was brimming gorgeous details.

bride and friend hug embrace
women cheers with cocktails drinks
bride and groom cheers towards guests

Hilary wowed in a chic  lace halter neck bridal gown by the designer Emmie Mae Indigo. She completed her bridal look with a simple gold block heel, gold bangles and drop pearl and gold earrings. Her soft braided updo was perfect for letting the beauty of her dress shine.

bride bridesmaids bridal white gown autumnal dresses colour and bouquets and groomsman
bride bridesmaids bridal white gown autumnal dresses colour and bouquets

The bridesmaids graced the occasion in a harmonious combo of both elegant long and midi dresses. Each dress showcased a unique design, as chosen by each individual bridesmaid. We do love a mis-matched bridal party!

bride and groom stand beside wall covered in pink flowers and green ivory
group photo bride bridesmaids groom and groomsmen walk up the wedding venue steps

The groom and his men all rocked soft grey linen suits from Next, perfect for keeping cool in the summer heat.

seating arrangement details for guests
bride and groom stand at the dining room table
long view of dining room table orange themed wide shot
oranges on the table
long view of dining room table orange themed
oranges on the table cutlery plates dining room
The name Tom and a sauce bottle

From the elegant bride and bridesmaids bouquets to the captivating colorful centerpieces, florals added a touch of natural beauty, creating a dreamy ambiance that perfectly complimented the special day. The floral centrepieces boasted an enchanting palette of coral peonies, yellow, orange and peach roses, and lemon Lisianthus.

oranges on the table dining room exterior lights
orange table setting decor pattern cutlery
oranges on the table cutlery plates dining room
bride and groom kiss at the dining room table

Oh to be a guest at this colourful celebration!

bride and groom kiss at the orange themed dining room table exterior scenic view

Offering advice for other couples planning their day, Hilary says, "Hire a wedding planner if you can!" She adds, "No matter how big or small your event, a planner will take so much stress off your plate. We cannot thank our planner, Emily, enough and would have been lost without her contacts and coordination."

guests chat
bride from behind guests looking at her fairy lights above
guests at dining room table looking at speeches take place
bride and groom laugh together as they listen to speeches

Dressed in a pristine white and adorned with delicate bunches of fresh blooms, the cake by Villa Mon Repos stands as a work of edible art!

drone footage of wedding venue from above

Dreaming of the honeymoon? Then you should definitely consider taking a leaf out of Hilary and Tom's book. "We love to travel, so we consider every trip since our wedding a mini-moon!".

A very special thank you to Hilary, Tom and Avenir Wedding Films for sharing this gorgeous Sicily wedding day with us at One Fab Day!

Dreaming of tying the knot in the sunshine? We have so many Destination Real Weddings for you to pore over!

Suppliers 

Photographer & Videographer //
Avenir Wedding Films
|
Wedding Planner //
Dazzled by Emily & Adriana
|
Wedding Dress Designer/Label //
Emmy Mae Indigo
|
Bridal Boutique/Store //
Vows
|
Bridal Shoes //
Naturalizer
|
Groomsmen Suits //
Next
|
Planning/Styling & Decor //
Dazzled
|
Transport //
Dazzled
|
Wedding Rings //
Barmakian Jewelers
|
Band //
Samarcanda
|
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