When it comes to living life to the fullest, the Italians certainly reign supreme. Their overriding pursuit of beauty, excellence and enjoyment in whatever they do has yielded some of the world’s finest cuisines, operas, wines, fashion, race cars, and art. La passione Italiana—the Italian passion—reflects an unbridled zest for life that goes beyond emotion or sentiment.
Operating under the same passion for fine living is Vivere Hotel & Resorts in Alabang. Named after the Latin word and Italian verb that means “to live,” Vivere boasts nature-inspired interiors amidst a scenic view of Laguna de Bay and the metropolis, while providing luxurious hotel amenities and facilities that are complemented with exceptional guest service imbued with warm Filipino hospitality.
At the Vivere Ballroom, event sylists JP De Jesus & Allen Uy of Blooms 2710 created a setup that reflects the Italian flair via a Tuscany-inspired theme. JP & Allen evoked the rich landscape of Tuscany’s countryside through a luxe garden setting. Composed of a predominantly warm color palette that features shades of yellow, gold, ochre, magenta, deep brown and green, JP & Allen setup incorporates a lot of natural elements to give off a rustic feel, but with touches of luxury.
Jp & Allen channeled an outdoor garden setting by constructing a backdrop comprised of two laser-cut, gold painted framework that resembles a trellis, against two walls of artificial grass. The stylist then added a four-poster flower arch and covered it with foliage, lemons and white bougainvilleas, which all extend to the ceiling. To set the mood, rustic wrought-iron-and-ivory chandeliers, fairy lights, and basket chandeliers cast a warm glow over the entire area.
The rustic element continues on the bare wooden VIP table minimally accented with a gray table runner, while the accompanying tan chairs are upholstered in a woven fabric. Meanwhile, the abundant tablescape is laden with a variety of flowers like blush proteas, orange Ecuadorian roses, foxtail, grass, fuchsia garden roses, pink and orange tulips, as well as sunflowers with plucked petals to temper the setup’s profusion of yellow color. JP & Allen also interspersed sprigs of dried cotton flowers and green berries into the flower arrangement, as well as lavender plants in brass containers.
Brass candlestick holders with tapered white candles illuminate the space, along with wide candles on iron candlestick holders with rope detail for a countrified touch. JP & Allen also integrated seasonal fruits and herbs in Tuscany to double as added decoration, like potted rosemary, along with baskets and wooden trencher trays of lemons, pomegranates, oranges, and pears.
For the tableware, JP & Allen opted for simple, white plates so as not to compete with the colorful flowers, while gilded white charger plates and gold cutlery add a touch of luxury to the table setting. Additionally, a bunch of misty flowers tied with a gold-green ribbon adorn each plate, along with the menus and table numbers, courtesy of The Write Impression.
A combination of gorgeous watercolor botanical design and Italian heritage, the stationery is bespoke for weddings with a Tuscan feel. Meanwhile, the invitation is printed onto specialty cardstock in cream, accompanied by an envelope with an illustrated liner.
The wedding fare features a rich selection of international cuisine, courtesy of Vivere Hotel. For the appetizer, there’s maple glazed chicken breast with chili mango salsa, followed by cream of spinach with roasted garlic soup and herbed croutons. There’s also mixed salad greens with strawberry vinaigrette and a calamansi lemon sorbet as a palate cleanser. For the main course, there’s baked salmon fillet normandy and rosemary buttered pumpkin, and finally, a chocolate éclair for dessert, served with coffee.
The sweet finale comes in the form of the wedding cake, courtesy of Caking Giant. Cake artist Franciso Peralta wanted the cake to have a non-traditional style and a clean, simple look, so he opted for a nude base on all the four tiers. For the main decor, Peralta added white lines that resemble a trellis, reflecting a sense of continuity from the outdoor garden theme. Lemons, roses, and leaves made out of sugar and fondant complete the rest of the design, along with mimosaflowers to echo the setup’s predominant yellow color.
DREAM TEAM | Photography ADRIAN ARDIENTE | Words SHAHARAINE ABDULLAH | Event Styling BLOOMS 2710 EVENT STYLING BY JP DE JESUS AND ALLEN UY | Cake THE CAKING GIANT | Stationery THE WRITE IMPRESSION | Trusses CONTECT SOUNDS AND EVENTS | Venue and Food VIVERE HOTEL ALABANG | Special thanks to Ms. Belle Pascua Tolentino and Ms. Charm Tan
