From the Bride... "Without a doubt, the best decision we made was to tailor our wedding in a way that truly reflected us as individuals and as a couple.

Instead of following trends or adhering to a specific theme, we examined every element of the day and decided what felt right for us, and what told our story. We didn't include any wedding traditions "just because," nor did we succumb to pressure to conform to trends that didn't resonate with us. For instance, we skipped the traditional wedding cake—a moment we never really connected with—and instead opted for a champagne tower and toast to kick off the dancing.

Our Australian Shepherd, Stark, who is quite literally the center of our universe, couldn't make the trip to Italy but was very much present in spirit. He was featured in our officiant's speech, our vows, and even inspired our cocktail hour. We traded the conventional his-and-her cocktails for playful variations based on his personality, dubbing them "Stark the Good Boy" and "Stark the Sassy Boy" cocktails.

By focusing on our intentions rather than themes or traditions, we were able to shape the day into a beautiful blend of all the things that define us—our backgrounds, values, and favorite things. This included honoring Stefan's Serbian roots with traditional sprigs of rosemary for our guests and selecting a team primarily composed of women-owned and led small businesses from parts of the world that hold significance to us or our heritage. A prime example of this was our stationery, designed and made in Scotland, where my father's family hails from.

In essence, we crafted a celebration that wasn't bound by tradition but was deeply meaningful and personal to us. And looking back, we wouldn't have had it any other way."