Ivory & Beau Goes To Italy?!
Yes - you read that correctly! Well, the I&B team didn’t go to Italy… but some of our wedding dresses did!
Back in December of 2023, Abby & Simona of Bella Vita Retreats came to our Savannah Bridal Shop looking for the perfect bridal gown to take with them to Italy for a Styled Shoot they were hosting! Well, they ended up walking away with not just one, but THREE of our discontinued wedding dresses, and a veil!!
Their trip to Milan & Lake Como in Italy took place in April, and we recently received a very exciting email with all their photos! YAY!!
We also got to chatting with the pair, as we were SO intrigued with their company, Bella Vita Retreats, so we got the privilege to talk with them about their company and their experience in Italy!
So, what is Bella Vita Retreats?
“Bella Vita Retreats was born from the minds of Abby Giles and Simona Land. As photographers who are really inspired by destination weddings, and who value community over competition, we thought what better way to help other photographers break into this industry than with beautifully curated destination wedding retreats and styled shoots?
“ “Bella Vita” means “beautiful life” in Italian. We loved this name because our retreats focus on inspiring photographers to notice life’s beautiful moments, capture them, and rediscover the beauty in their craft.”
How did you decide on going to Milan & Lake Como?
“Our Milan and Lake Como retreat was dreamed up by drawing inspiration from renowned publications such as Vogue, Brides, and Harper’s Bazaar. We chose Italy as our first-ever retreat not only because of its undeniable presence in the destination wedding world, but also because this country has inspired artists for many centuries and we knew we needed that kind of creative hub.
“The photographers who joined us came from many different countries, from the UK to Canada to even Romania. The diversity brought out exciting conversations and the opportunity to share our craft and leave knowing more than we came with.”
Why did you choose our wedding dresses?
“The three gowns we got to browse at Ivory and Beau, and ultimately purchase for this retreat, had the perfect classic elegance that we wanted to capture. For our shoot at Villa Pizzo in Lake Como, we knew we needed a dress that screamed Italian luxury with a timeless feeling. As soon as we saw the Elias gown by Maggie Sottero we knew it was the one. We also had the amazing opportunity to shoot at Museo del 900, a unique modern art museum in the heart of Milan. This location called for a sleek, classy look, with minimal distraction so as to not take away from the art.
“The Augusta gown from Rebecca Ingram’s line by Maggie Sottero checked all our boxes and fit our model beautifully. To add a fun and editorial flare, we added a fingertip-length veil with dimensional florals, also from Ivory and Beau.
“Lastly, we closed our retreat with a sunset photoshoot at Arco della Pace in Milan, for which we envisioned a romantic dress with a touch of whimsy. At Ivory and Beau, we found the Courtney gown, also by designer Rebecca Ingram. This had the perfect flowy and free feeling that captured the artistry of this iconic Milan landmark.”
Well, let’s take a look at some of Abby & Simona’s stunning work with our gowns!
Villa Pizzo, Lake Como
Vendor List:
Hosts: @bellavitaretreats | Photographers: @promisedlandarts + @abbygilesphotography | Venue: @villapizzo | Bride & Groom: @milan_model_couple | Hair & Makeup: @theivorystandard | Florals: @theblondeflower_ | Accessories: @whitesandsbridal | Villa Signage: @thepemberleycreative | Villa Stationery: @wordforworddesigns | Villa Chair Rental: @smacrent | Villa Boat Rental: @lakecomo_tours | Dress: @maggiesotterodesigns | Bridal Shop: @ivoryandbeau | Car Rental: @como_rentalsolutions
Museo del 900, Milan
Vendor List:
Hosts: @bellavitaretreats | Photographer: @promisedlandarts + @abbygilesphotography | Venue: @museodel900 | Bride & Groom: @matthewjanedavis | Hair & Makeup: @theivorystandard | Florals: @theblondeflower_ | Accessories: @whitesandsbridal | Dress: @maggiesotterodesigns | Bridal Shop: @ivoryandbeau
Arco della Pace, Milan
Vendor List:
Hosts: @bellavitaretreats | Photographer: @promisedlandarts + @abbygilesphotography | Venue: @museodel900 | Bride & Groom: @s.l.ukcouple | Hair & Makeup: @theivorystandard | Florals: @theblondeflower_ | Accessories: @whitesandsbridal | Dress: @maggiesotterodesigns | Bridal Shop: @ivoryandbeau
Whether you are a bride on the hunt to find your dream wedding dress, or if you are a photographer looking for a gown for your upcoming styled shoot (no matter where in the world it may be!!), get in touch with our lovely Bridal Stylists who will help you create the perfect look for your special day!