This Wedding at the White Lotus Hotel in Sicily Was All About Classic Italian Maximalism

“When I saw the sketches inspired by Angelica (Claudia Cardinale) in Il Gattopardo I knew I had met ‘the one,’” Rey says. “From there, I had my measurements taken, and we pored through the different fabrics, shades of white, lace, and details. The experience was unforgettable and one I will cherish forever.”

It was so enjoyable, Rey asked if they could also create a dress for her welcome dinner, and then later, the recovery brunch. The next time she saw her wedding dress, however, wasn’t until January at the Milan atelier. “It’s hard to believe that after only one fitting—which was only to take measurements!—the dress fit like a glove,” Rey says. “During this fitting, we finalized finishing touches like shoes, details, the veil, and the headpieces I would wear on all three days.”

For the welcome dinner on Friday at Taormina’s newest restaurant Nunziatina, Dolce & Gabbana created a custom turquoise and pink mermaid gown. It was made from the carretto and bougainvillea print from a 2014 collection inspired by Taormina on a sunny day, with the bottom of the dress including a motif of the iconic Sicilian carretto wheel. The look was topped off with a crown of handmade silk bougainvillea flowers.

The ceremony took place on Saturday outside in the gardens of San Domenico Palace. It was short and sweet, but also intimate, full of love, and very meaningful. “We wanted our service to reflect both of us,” Rey says. “Our celebrant Luca was from Calabria, where Jonny’s maternal family is from, and we included elements of a traditional Persian ceremony to represent my family’s background.”

Rey and Jonny didn’t want anything to detract from the natural beauty of the landscape or the significance of the moment, so all the florals were designed to feel like an extension of the gardens. They wanted to complement the blue of the ocean and the purples of lavender and bougainvillea that were already in abundance so they used a mix of delphinium and campanula.

The bride wore her custom organza Dolce & Gabbana wedding dress with zagara detailing on the bodice and skirt when she walked down the aisle aisle full of cut delphinium petals, to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” played by a violinist and a cellist. “I felt so at peace,” she remembers. “The happiest I have ever been in my entire life. I have spent so much time living abroad that I have always felt like a piece of my heart is missing. When I was living overseas, it was missing my family back home in Sydney, now that I’m back in Sydney, it is missing my best friends overseas. On this special day, my heart was so full and whole. I can’t describe how incredible it is to have every chapter of your life come together in one place and moment.”