A Celebration of Intimacy and Vintage Romance Villa Di Monaciano
We envisioned our wedding as a celebration of intimacy and vintage romance, fully embracing the venue's charm and the enchanting Italian backdrop. It was essential for us to weave our unique love story into the fabric of the event, honoring our family and friends in the process. Our goal was for the weekend to feel like more than just a wedding; we wanted it to be a heartfelt retreat for our closest loved ones, where by the end, everyone felt like family. Above all, we aimed to avoid a 'production' vibe and instead create the warmth of a dinner party. A key element in achieving this atmosphere was selecting a venue that felt like home, allowing the majority of our guests to truly settle in and enjoy the long weekend together."
We first met in a sophomore class at Villanova, though we’d brushed past each other in previous courses without truly connecting. In this class, we were assigned to the same team for a semester-long project, and I felt an undeniable spark from the start. After we submitted our final project, we finally took the leap and acted on our feelings, and everything just clicked. Fast forward a decade, and I can hardly believe how far we’ve come since that first encounter 12 years ago. London has always held a special place in our hearts. We began our journey as a long-distance couple, with him in London and me back at Villanova. Our first trip together was when I visited him there, and since then, we've made it a tradition to return as often as we can. On this particular trip, I hesitated at first, thinking it was more of a 'boys’ trip' for a West Ham game. But we arrived a day early, with the promise of dining at a restaurant I had been eager to try. Little did I know, as we strolled down a charming street in Notting Hill on our way to breakfast, he was about to propose. I was completely caught off guard and not dressed for the moment! To add to the adventure, he had arranged for a photographer to capture the proposal, but with the tube striking, we couldn't grab a taxi. Instead, we ended up biking six miles to the photoshoot—with me in heels! It was a hilariously chaotic start to our engagement and felt perfect 'us'."
My wedding dress was designed by Monique Lhuillier, but let me tell you, finding it was a journey! I tried on over 150 dresses, visiting every designer in NYC and even trekking out to Long Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. At this point, I joke with my friends that I should start a bridal dress consulting company because I’ve become a walking encyclopedia of bridal styles and designers. I designed a custom veil with Kadaleyah, and it was the perfect complement to my dress! For the after-party, I switched into a fun vintage boudoir-inspired mini dress adorned with sparkling crystal embroidery. I completed the look with a stunning vintage pearl cameo necklace I discovered thrifting. It all came together beautifully and added that extra touch of whimsy to the celebration!
Cam wore an Alan David tuxedo. He got ready in Monaciano's playroom with his brothers and two best friends. They played pool and cards and even brought the girls sandwiches for lunch!
Our dinner took place in the enchanting stone courtyard, truly feeling like a fairytale with warm uplights, twinkling string lights, and the dreamy florals from Stiatti Fiori. The food was outstanding! We partnered with Delizia Ricevimenti to craft the perfect menu, and our guests were blown away by the deliciousness of every dish—from the homemade ricotta during the aperitivo to the two exquisite pasta courses and the late-night pizza. Everything was simply perfect!
Our wedding florist was the talented Stiatti Fiori, whose stunning work I discovered on Instagram. I immediately knew I had to have them! I envisioned a romantic palette of blush, light pink, dusty blues, purples, and mauves for the florals. To enhance that old-world Italian charm, I also wanted stone busts, dripping candles, figs, grapes, plums, and vines. For my bridal bouquet, we added some bolder shades of pink and purple, which turned out beautifully! I was heartbroken that I couldn't take it on my honeymoon with me—it felt like leaving behind a piece of the magic.
We wanted our first dance to be fun and upbeat, so we chose 'L-O-V-E' by Nat King Cole. We asked our band to play the second verse in Italian, but there was a little mix-up—they ended up playing the entire song in Italian! It threw off our dance moves a bit since we were relying on the English lyrics for cues, but it turned into lots of giggles on the dance floor!
Our wedding was a three-day affair, with nearly 100 of our 130 guests checking in on Friday and staying right on site! We kicked off the weekend with an incredible welcome party in the stunning vineyards surrounding the Poggio Country House, one of the guest houses on the property. Guests were treated to a taste of Tuscany with pizza fresh from the Brindapino oven, a variety of delicious Italian bites, a gelato cart, and plenty of on-tap spritzes, prosecco, and beer. We leaned into the vineyard vibes with beautiful tablescapes featuring warm lighting, red checkered napkins, potted herbs, and vibrant flowers in orange, yellow, and white. To keep the energy high, a Tuscan folk band filled the air with lively Italian music. My favorite part was the welcome market that my planner, Elisa, helped bring to life. With accommodations having full kitchens and dining areas, we created a beautiful market for our guests to stock up for the weekend. From endless vibrant vegetables and freshly baked bread to flowers, wine, and olive oil from Monaciano, as well as local crackers, cookies, pasta, pesto, and sauces, our guests were well-fed and happy, filling their wicker baskets with treats for the weekend. Honestly, we didn’t want to leave!"
To close out the weekend, we arranged a delightful wine tasting. They learned about the rich history of the property and got to know the wonderful family who graciously shared their home with us. Everyone sampled a variety of the incredible wines we had enjoyed throughout the weekend. It was the perfect way to wrap up our fabulous celebration, with family at the heart of it all.
