Bianca O’Donoghue hails from South Africa and Hazim Mohamed is Sudanese with Egyptian roots. Before a chance encounter in Dubai, neither could imagine falling in love so quickly and having the wedding of their dreams in the heart of Europe.
As Bianca recalls with emotion, “Hazim parked at the bank, my workplace, for two consecutive years, trying to get my attention and gather the courage to speak to me. My colleague’s desk had him nearly every day for a very long time. I didn’t think much of it, but he persisted. Many of his friends tried to dissuade him, to look elsewhere but he was fixated on me for reasons only known to him. However, I felt that destiny struck immediately when we started dating and without further ado, he proposed to me with a gorgeous Cartier diamond engagement ring.”
Since its inception a few years ago, Just Amore has created romantic fairy-tale weddings, brimming with Italian charm for a host of clients. The company’s ambition and values spark from its founder, Anna K. Frem, and her passionate fascination with style, authenticity and uniqueness. Anna gives us the exclusive details of Bianca and Hazim’s magical, luxurious marriage.
Since Bianca had always dreamt of Italy as the most beautiful destination to wed the man of her dreams and with Lake Como as her first option, I was incredibly passionate about planning their ceremony at Villa D’Este, Cernobbio in Lake Como, five months before they say their vows on their wedding day. Lake Como is the place for the rich and famous. Villa D’Este was a residence known for its aristocracy for centuries which was converted into a luxurious 5-star hotel in 1873. With guests coming from all over the world to celebrate the union of the bride and groom, this dreamy venue with magnificent sprawling lawns, centennial trees, antique statues and an array of colourful flowers was naturally, the perfect choice for a fairy-tale themed wedding.
What I love about organizing weddings in Italy is that most venues have so much indoor and outdoor space to move around and accommodate guests. The most romantic ceremony was organized at the stunning mosaic garden, wherein Bianca made her grandiose entrance with a white horse-drawn carriage to the sound of violins. Her dress was simply stunning complete with a 6-meter veil, made on measure by famous Italian atelier, Tosetti Sposa. After the bride and groom exchanged their vows amidst tears of emotions, guests were then entertained to an extravagant cocktail reception on the terrace overlooking the serene view of Lake Como. It was followed by a solemn four-course dinner that took place in the magnificent Imperial ballroom. The cake cutting ceremony took place on an adjacent terrace and the intimate event was accompanied by a majestic firework show displayed at the heart of the lake. Concluded by an private after party at the hotel’s own night club.
We had the chef of Villa D’Este create the couple’s sumptuous, classic, yet sophisticated 5-tier wedding cake adorned with fresh pink-blushed orchids to give it an elegant effect took nearly 3 days to create. To add a sentimental touch, the cake was comprised of contrasting white and dark chocolate flavours because the bride wanted the cake to symbolize and celebrate the coming together of the couple’s different ethnicities.
Pink has always been Bianca’s favourite colour and she has constantly incorporated a dash of pink in every monumental event of her life. For example, on her engagement day, her dress was a gorgeous rose pink by renowned fashion designer Dolce & Gabbana. Consequently, for her wedding day, she had all her bridesmaids’ wear the same blush-hued attire, true to the colour palette chosen for the special day. The bright colours of the gardens and the ballroom of Villa D’Este needed no further enhancement. So, in order to integrate the pink in such a powerful locale, we opted to combine shades of pink with white and ivory décor to soften the vibrant colours of the gardens of Villa D’Este. The result was indeed harmonious!
The couple had their first dance to “From this moment on” by the musical legend, Shania Twain. It was a live set up performance by one of the greatest singers in the Italian region who frequently performs at VIP and private dinners several celebrities. It was executed in a very traditional manner on a rustic wooden stage in the middle of the lavish ballroom, surrounded by mirrors, grand chandeliers and lots of aromatic candles, in the presence of their near and dear ones. We had arranged cold water fountains to be set off when they would start dancing and then at regular intervals during the forte moments of the song. Special LED lighting effects were set up in the ballroom which diffused different shades of colours to create a surrealistic atmosphere during dinner.
Of course, the after party was the perfect way to commemorate the regal ceremony. It ended with Georges Clooney’s favourite singer entertaining the guests and a special belly dancing show to honor the groom’s Egyptian roots.
With each wedding, I try to raise the bar on my clients’ expectations, exceeding them. This one was no exception and since Bianca and Hazim wanted to marry in style, I worked whole-heartedly with all vendors, from the florists to photographers and the live entertainment company to ensure that the happy couple received the best service possible. I was truly touched by the contentment on Bianca and Hazim’s faces. My team and I were overjoyed that we were able to reflect the unique vision that the couple dreamt of and create an unforgettable experience that would last a lifetime!
Their compliments after the exquisite wedding ceremony were my best reward.
“Thank you for making my dreams come true on my special day. It was pure magic. You made my journey all the way from Dubai to Lake Como an unforgettable experience”. – Bianca O’Donoghue
Details:
Wedding Planner: Just Amore Weddings by Anna K.
Venue: Villa D’Este Como
Photographer: Daniela Tanzi
Dress: Tosetti Sposa
Catering and Cake Designer: Villa D’Este Food and Beverage Department
Florist: Barbara Botta Fiori
Lighting, Sound and Entertainment: Bottega Della Musica
Hair and Make-up: Daniela Guanziroli
