Inside: Yasmine Naghdi's Wedding, Principal Ballerina Of The Royal Ballet The Wedding Edition

The Story

Riccardo and I met nearly six years ago at Mahiki in Kensington, London. That evening, I nearly didn’t go out as I was tired from a full week of rehearsals at the Royal Opera House, and I knew that I had two performances of Swan Lake coming up the week after at the Teatro Real in Madrid, but I didn’t want to let down my friends with whom I had agreed to meet up with that evening. Meanwhile, Riccardo had been dining with his friends at a nearby restaurant and had wanted to go home after dinner, but his friends convinced him to pop into Mahiki for a drink. When we spotted each other by the bar, we struck up a conversation. We got along so well, and he made me laugh a lot. I had a good feeling about him straight away.

He asked me to go out for a drink the next day and he kept his word. He took me to Bluebird in Chelsea on our first date, and the next day I flew to Madrid. Following The Royal Ballet Tour to Madrid, I went to France and Tokyo to perform so we spent several weeks texting each other keeping in touch. Fast forward three years…Riccardo proposed to me on top of the tower on the Torre a Cona private estate in Tuscany, one of the most magnificent 18th century villas in central Italy, and two years after our engagement we got married in Tuscany.

Venue

We got married on Saturday 02 September 2023, on the estate of Tenuta Corbinaia. We both fell in love with this estate because we were searching for a secluded venue with magnificent gardens as well as offering a stunning panorama. The villa and its gardens were the perfect fusion between refined architecture and natural beauty of the Tuscan hills.

On arrival they were welcomed by a Florentine String Quartet playing a mix of classical and modern songs, setting the mood for the upcoming Civil Ceremony. Uniformed waiters offered the guests Prosecco and ice-cold smoothies. The timing of their arrival allowed the guests to take a leisurely stroll through the gardens, and take in the beauty of the landscape, until they were called to make their way to the Belvedere Terrace, a corner on the estate of calm elegance and serenity, and an ideal setting for the Civil Ceremony. As the guests were called, the String

Quartet played the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. Riccardo’s Best Men walked on Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve, the Groom and his mother on Stand by Me by Ben E. King, the mother of the Bride and father of the Groom walked on Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro, the Groom’s two brothers and the Bride’s sister walked on A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. I walked down the aisle with my father on Canon in D by Pachelbel. Riccardo and I chose Perfect by Ed Sheeran to play during the Signatures.

Florals

I opted for minimalist elegance and my bouquet was solely composed of fragrant white peonies, created by Edi Rossello from Exo-Usia. Edi, an Italian stylist in the fashion and film world, who was also in charge of bringing to life all the floral decorations mum had designed for the Seated Dinner. Mum’s idea was to bring the lush gardens indoors: on the tables stood tall, tapering glass vases abundantly filled with huge full bunches of olive branches and fragrant eucalyptus. On the branches hung glass pendants filled with floating candles. Glass cylinder vases were filled with sliced Napoli lemons, limes and white hydrangeas, and were placed at the base of the tall vases. Floating candles in tall glass stands further enhanced the fairylike atmosphere. The charm of the gardens, where Mediterranean vegetation blended with the tropical, were filled with Italian statues and terracotta vases, all delicately lit up.

Bridal Party

Instead of having a group of bridesmaids, I chose to keep it more intimate, and my sister Tatiana was my sole bridesmaid as well as my Maid- of-Honour. She looked stunning and walked down the aisle with Riccardo’s two brothers who wore black-tie suits. Tatiana wore a silk, strapless, olive-green floor-length dress, designed by the sustainable fashion brand Reformation, and a pair of eye-catching golden earrings and bracelet by the Greek designer Kostas Kargakos.

Fashion

It didn’t take me long to find my perfect wedding dress because I knew exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a traditional wedding gown with a long train and classic veil but with a contemporary twist. I looked at many international wedding dress designers but the moment I saw the “Sara” wedding gown, designed by the world renowned, all female-led Ukrainian bridal brand Milla Nova, founded by sisters Zoryana and Iryna Senshyn, I instantly knew that was the one: a satin strapless wedding gown with a long train, in ivory colour, with a rushed “Mikado” bodice, and a draped multi-folded floor length skirt with a high slit in the middle to reveal a mini skirt underneath. I also asked to personalise my veil and embroider “Always in my heart” on it.

Food & drink

After the Ceremony we were showered with heart-shaped biodegradable confetti on the tune of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida. The guests were then invited to make their way for the Cocktail Reception, which was held by the infinity pool and in a natural setting with unparalleled beauty, lying on the crest of a hill. The setting created a tangible holiday mood and Tropical House music encouraged everyone to feel relaxed and joyous. Poolside loungers and canopies ensured our guests were comfortable in case they wanted to sit in the shade. Abundant food stations offered a fine selection of Tuscan cheeses and cured meats such as Prosciutto ham, Tuscan Coppa, and Finocchiona from Chianti, served with melon and assorted fresh Tuscan breads, as well as appetizers and finger foods served by uniformed waiters.

As the sun was slowly setting over the hills and the sky was tinged with a thousand shades, our guests were invited for the Seated Dinner inside “Il Crystal” where many candles and sparkly chandeliers created a magical scenery. Through the open windows blew cooling breezes enabling the guests to immerse themselves in the surrounding gardens. As the night was gradually falling, the atmosphere gave rise to unforgettable moments under the stars. Once the guests were seated, Riccardo and I made our entrance on Sara Perche Ti Amo by Richi & Poveri and the guests joined in the traditional Italian napkin swirling.

We hired the superb Florentine caterers Tuscan Excelsia and the menu included Risotto with courgette flowers and Porcini mushrooms, Pici pasta from Siena with Cinta Senese white meat ragu, Filetto di manzo al lardone di Colonnata, as well as vegetarian options, a selection of white and red Chianti wines, and fresh fruit and sweet mini pastries after dinner.

We didn’t want a multi-tiered wedding cake but chose the authentic, traditional Torta Nuziale: a round millefoglie cake with fresh Chantilly cream and strawberries. Our wedding cake was freshly prepared in front of all the guests. Numerous illuminated arches framed the panorama of the countryside, and cold spark firework machines enhanced the celebratory atmosphere when we cut our wedding cake.

Entertainment

For our First Dance we danced to Perfect sung by Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli. It was an easy decision when we had to select our song as it’s partly in English and in Italian, and we love that song!

Beauty Regime & Wellness

I spent quite some time considering various hair styles but, in the end, I decided just wanted to stay true to myself. I wanted a natural, soft, and elegant hairstyle, nothing showy or over the top, and no bridal tiaras. I did not want to feel as if I was about to go on stage and dance Princess Aurora in “The Sleeping Beauty”. The day before my Tuscan wedding I met up with Maurizio Nelli at Ciro Via delle Terme Hair and Beauty Salon in Firenze, and we tried out the look I envisioned. I guided Maurizio to make my vision come to life: a centre parting, wavy long hair smoothly brushed behind my ears, and adorned with a white satin ribbon acting as a hairband. Mum and my sister assisted me in getting dressed in the Bridal Suite, a beautiful part of the villa, and Maurizio came over from Firenze to arrange my hair.

Skincare leading up to the wedding was very important to me to ensure a perfect wedding glow. Starting a few months before my big day, I went to Santi Spa in South Kensington, London, for a course of bespoke facials. I am used to doing my own stage make-up whenever I perform at the Royal Opera House or internationally, so I decided not to use a bridal make-up artist and do it myself; “If you want to have something done right, do it yourself.” I used a Giorgio Armani Beauty luminous silk foundation as a base, with Laura Mercier translucent setting powder, NARS cream and powder blusher in shade “Orgasm”, Fenty sun stalker bronzer and brow pencil, a very small amount of Bobbi Brown cream shadow stick for eye shadow. To keep my natural look, I decided not to use fake lashes. With the weather being so bright and beautiful, it exposes any imperfection so I opted for a light layer of Dior show waterproof mascara. to prevent any risk of panda eyes when the tears would start rolling, and on my lips, I used Bobbi Brown lipstick pencil in shade “Bare”. A spritz of Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush setting spray helped to keep my make up remain fresh and long lasting.

Honeymoon

We had no time to go on honeymoon after our Tuscan wedding due to our professional commitments, so we decided to go on honeymoon before our wedding. Riccardo wanted to take me on a wildlife safari in the Maasai Mara, so we flew to Nairobi two weeks before our wedding and we spent one week on safari and one week on the beach by the Indian Ocean.

Advice

Do allow for “time-out” to be alone as a couple after the Ceremony, and to be “in the moment” before you’ll get busy greeting and chatting to all your guests during the reception, as well as having to deal with the photographers and videographer. It’s all very overwhelming and emotions run high. Time passes so quickly and before you realise your wedding day is over. Therefore, spending time alone as newlyweds is very precious, and it will leave you forever with those unforgettable intimate moments.