Clifftop Casino Turned Villa Wedding In Sicily

The best present of all came a day after Christmas for Candice. She was holidaying with her family and friends in Sicily when Vincent asked her to marry him. She was shocked.

“We were sitting in the main piazza toasting to a great trip when we decided to go for a wander through the shops (or so I thought), but instead Vincent took me to some steps nearby a church and got down on one knee and proposed.”

Taormina was the chosen destination for this balmy wedding. Candice travelled back to Italy with her mother and aunt to scout for venues before the special day. She settled on Villa Mon Repos for the reception; a 1950s cliff side casino turned villa.

“The view and grounds were beautiful, and the food was true to the Sicilian flavours we wanted to offer our guests.”

Having a self-confessed obsession with all things Dolce & Gabbana during the planning process, Candice took inspiration from the Italian fashion house. She even found Dolce & Gabbana stationary for the invitations.

“We couldn’t go past beautiful pink and deep Bordeaux peonies, bougainvillea, peach coloured roses with lots of olive leaves for greenery accented with gold cutlery and crystal glass wear.”

Candice has her wedding planner, Mariangela, to thank for the smooth running of the day. Planning a wedding from the other side of the world can be a logistical nightmare, so it’s important to have local knowledge.

Having authentic Sicilian touches throughout the day was important to the couple. They had extended family sing Sicilian folk music as the bridal party left the church and millefoglie, a traditional Sicilian cake comprised of sweet ricotta and pastry, for their wedding cake. In true Italian style, the party continued well into the night. The band got so loud that they received a warning from the police to either quieten down or stop the party.

“The staff at Mon Repos swiftly moved our DJ to inside the Villa and began passing cocktails around like they were running out of fashion.”

Candice was mortified at the time, but in hindsight finds the altercation amusing.

However, the best moment of the day was more private. It happened when Candice, Vincent, and the bridal party hopped into vintage fiats to drive to the Castelmola, a small village above Taormina, for the wedding photos.

“This would have to be one of my most memorable moments, driving up with my new husband, taking in the amazing view around us and just enjoying the moment being alone.”

Photography by Giussepe Marano