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A summer destination wedding in Venice, Italy, combining the best of Italy, the Netherlands, and the USA, set on the exclusive island of San Servolo
This destination wedding in San Servolo Venice was a perfect blend of international love, refined style, and authentic Italian charm. Choosing the private island of San Servolo for their Venice destination wedding allowed Sandra and Nicola to celebrate surrounded by breathtaking views, meaningful traditions, and their closest friends and family from all over the world.
Summer Destination Wedding in Venice Italy
A wedding in Venice combining the best of Italy, Netherlands and the USA
Choosing Venice as a destination for their wedding was not an obvious choice. Both Sandra and Nicola have put their growth and career first, since a very young age, and did not hesitate to take chances and move to different countries. Nicola studied in the Netherlands and moved to San Francisco in 2016.
As professionals coming from different countries, with a lot of experience under their belt, they chose to live in the USA and pursue their dreams in a new country. Sandra and Nicola finally met at a friend’s house in San Francisco. Two Europeans in the USA with a shared love for their new country.
Their love grew fast and together they decided to focus on their dreams.
They settled in Texas where they purchased an incredible lot of land in Texas Hill Country. And they are planning on building their dream house and a boutique luxury resort. Their excitement about the project is contagious!
Why Venice Was the Perfect Choice for Their Destination Wedding
The groom was born in Venice Italy and the bride agreed that it was a perfect location for a destination wedding.
Nicola was born in the Venice area, and that is where his family and his heart is. Sandra was born in the Netherlands and agreed that Venice was a great choice for a destination wedding with all of their best friends, flying in from all over the globe. They had decided to get married years before, but Covid and paperwork complications delayed it more than once.
This summer destination wedding in Venice was centered on family and friends, colorful, romantic, emotional and a lot of fun.
Planning a Destination Wedding in San Servolo Venice
When they finally reached out to me, it was just a couple of months before the actual wedding date. Despite the difficulties and the rescheduling, they created the best possible experience for all of their guests. As a young and fun couple with outgoing and sunny personalities, Sandra and Nicola did their best to make this destination wedding an unforgettable experience.
Getting Ready for the Wedding in Venice Near Piazza San Marco
Nicola’s mother, a Venice native, looked around for venues in Venice with the help of her best friend. They checked the most notable Venice wedding venues and finally set their eyes on the island of San Servolo.
San Servolo is a more private and secluded location with a magnificent view over the city of Venice. It is an island loved by Venetian couples because it offers a unique view over the city. It makes you feel like you are enjoying Venice but you are not in the middle of the summer crowds — one of the main reasons couples choose a destination wedding in San Servolo Venice.
A Perfect Summer Wedding Day in Venice
The wedding took place in Venice on a warm day at the beginning of the summer.
Italy is one of the best countries in the world for a summer wedding, even though the weather in Venice can be very humid and muggy. On this day, the weather was sunny and warm, but also windy enough to make everybody happy. Sandra and Nicola chose to start the wedding later in the day, in the early afternoon, and enjoy the night at the fullest.
The focus of the day was on having fun with their friends and both Nico and Sandra created a great atmosphere for their guests to enjoy the best of Venice.
A Stylish Couple: Wedding Fashion for a San Servolo Island Wedding
Sandra wore a beautiful slit dress by Essence of Australia that showed off her figure. Nicola wore a black and white tuxedo, an original twist on the classic tuxedo. Both their choices were perfectly fitting for such sunny and outgoing personalities.
Sandra changed her dress later in the evening to dance with Nicola on the notes of a classical Italian song revisited for the occasion. Her night dress was a sparkling fringed flapper dress in ’20s style.
Wedding Details Inspired by Their International Story
When it comes to wedding details, I have all the information you need to help you prepare your wedding. Sandra and Nicola did a great job.
The wedding palette had touches of dark red and light blue. The wedding bouquet had dark red peonies, rose roses and eucalyptus leaves. The menus were extremely elegant in light blue and white and featured an ear of wheat coming directly from Nicola and Sandra’s land in Texas — a meaningful touch that reflected their life abroad.
First Look and Couple Portraits in Venice
We met at Donà Palace to document the bride and groom getting ready. The rooms they used had very different vibes and colors: the bridal suite had red and golden tones, very typically Venetian interiors. The groom’s suite had elegant purple wallpaper and dark green drapes.
They decided to invite their families and closer friends to their first look.
We opted to do the first look in the beautiful hotel court overlooking the canal. Sandra could see Nicola from a bridge not too far away and met him in the court, in an emotional moment for both of them and all of their loved ones.
Intimate Water Taxi Tour for Couple Portraits in Venice
We got on the water taxi and rode around the best locations in Venice for couple portraits. Considering the time of the day, just after midday, the sun was too strong to have good images in broad daylight on the Grand Canal.
We passed by the Bridge of Sighs and went to the lesser-known yet incredibly romantic area around La Salute Church. We then stopped at San Giorgio island for incredible portraits with Piazza San Marco behind them before heading to San Servolo Island for their ceremony.
Romantic Ceremony on San Servolo Island, Venice
The area chosen for the ceremony was the space facing the Church cloister on San Servolo Island, one of the most exclusive locations for a San Servolo Venice wedding.
This courtyard offered an opening on the water while protecting guests from the summer sunshine. Friends officiated the ceremony, and many loved ones contributed heartfelt speeches, making the celebration deeply personal and emotional.
Aperitivo with a View: San Servolo Terrace Overlooking Venice
We took sunset couple portraits before heading to the terrace for the aperitivo alfresco.
The San Servolo terrace is a magnificent space with a breathtaking view of Venice — from Lido di Venezia to Giudecca, with the San Marco basin and La Salute Church at the center. It is one of the most iconic aperitivo settings for a destination wedding in San Servolo Venice.
Local jazz musicians played during the aperitivo, creating a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. After drone photos with all guests, Sandra tossed the bouquet — which landed right in front of her best friend.
Candlelit Summer Wedding Dinner in the Church Cloister
The dinner area was the Church cloister, a fascinating and intimate courtyard supported by Istrian stone pillars decorated with bas-reliefs of the apostles. Thanks to its architectural charm, it is the perfect setting for a summer wedding dinner in Venice.
The refined Italian menu was prepared by Rosa Salva, one of the most renowned wedding catering services in Venice. Emotional speeches followed, creating unforgettable moments for everyone present.
A Fun Wedding Night Party on San Servolo Island
After the cake cutting, Sandra changed her outfit for a dance performance with Nicola, opening the dance floor.
Among the musicians was local saxophonist Alberto Vianello, who played alongside the DJ creatinga magical atmosphere overlooking the lights of Venice. As Sandra and Nicola said from the beginning, the goal was to have a lot of fun — and their destination wedding in San Servolo Venice delivered exactly that.
