With its rolling hills and surrounding vineyards – I would’ve sworn this Villa celebration took place in Tuscany. But alas, this Golden State féte proves that you don’t need a passport when you’ve got vendors like Danielle Poff Photography, All Set, and La Tavola Linen. From the bridesmaids’ pale blue Jenny Yoo gowns to the rustic chic tablescapes, you can see the entire day here!
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From the beautiful Bride… Making decisions about our wedding was not only exciting, but also fun and easy thanks to our wedding planner Heather Ferrai of All Set. I’m Italian and have grown up surrounded by a large, Italian family. Although my husband is Irish, he has embraced the Italian culture over the years and after a family friend graciously allowed us to host our wedding at his Italian Villa in wine country, we knew it was the perfect venue to carry a romantic, Italian theme throughout the entire celebration.
Villa Pietra is located in the hills of Kenwood, California. The Villa is magnified by cast stone columns, stained concrete floors, and distressed woodwork, creating a venue that looks as if it is hundreds of years old. The olive trees and surrounding vineyards create a location that makes you feel like you are right in the middle of Tuscany.
After our guests arrived, they were greeted with their choice of Italian sodas or Pellegrino. The ceremony took place outside, overlooking the rolling vineyards, hills, and infinity pool. A string quartet set the tone for a classic ceremony as the sun was setting in the foreground. White flowers with soft greenery lined the aisle and filled the bridesmaids bouquets.
Dinner was a very traditional Italian meal- no one went away hungry! We wanted all of our family and friends to feel like they were joining us for a hearty three course meal in the middle of Italy. Wine was flowing throughout the meal which included authentic Italian dishes such as Caprese Salad, Cavatelli, Osso Buco, Ravioli, and Whole Grilled Trout. The tablescapes consisted of peony filled floral arrangements, candelabras, and lots of candles. Some of our favorite touches produced by All Set were the personalized menus and custom bottles of olive oil for our guests to take home.
After dinner, dessert and dancing began! The cake featured an acrylic laser etched cake topper with a custom drawing of our Labradoodle puppy, Posey. In addition to cake, our guests were able to enjoy delicious gelato with made to order coffee at the espresso cart. The most popular drink of the night – the McGovern’s Irish Coffee, a tribute to my husband’s Irish roots. Although another fan favorite was the spiked Capri Sun that was enjoyed on the dance floor as guests danced the night away to our amazing band and DJ.
While the entire day was incredible, both my husband and I felt that one of the best moments was when we saw each other for the first time. As I walked down the aisle with my father to Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” played by the string quartet, we were both overcome with love and emotion – a moment that we will never forget.
Photography: Danielle Poff Photography | Videographer: 618 Studios | Wedding Coordinator: All-Set | Florist: Catherine Scott Flowers | Wedding Dress: St. Patrick-La Sposa | Cakes: Michele Corner Cakes | Invitations: Mount Tabor Park | Brides Shoes: Louboutin | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Stag Dining | Hair + Make Up: The Hair and Makeup Company | Lighting: ATL Events | DJ: Franco Finn | Band: Innovative Entertainment | Grooms Suit: Z by Zegna | Transportation: Gateway Global | Venue: Private Villa | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Bright Event Rentals | Rentals: Encore Events Rentals | Signage: Bee Curious Designs | Tabletop Decor: Theoni Collection