Tuscany Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

A Candlelit Tuscan Wedding at Castiglion Del Bosco

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]We knew our color palette for the wedding would be more subdued so we decided to play with bright colors and fun design for our Welcome Dinner. The inspiration ultimately came from my dress which was bold primary colors. Our wedding color palette was built off of the color sage which is also the name of the high school where we met. We wanted a timeless color schemed that lended itself well to the surroundings.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]For the Welcome Dinner, we wanted fun design! I designed the menus and place cards. Each table had a different color menus and corresponding place cards.

The wedding vision was always simplicity and elegance. The property is so breathtaking as is so we never wanted to detract from that. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]The proposal story is SO good. :) It was our eighth anniversary and we were spending it in New Orleans, which is where I went to school. Eric and I are big letter writers. We write letters to each other a few times a year and always on our anniversary. We will typically exchange the letters in the morning and spend some moments reading them. The morning of the proposal, we had our usual letter exchange except Eric’s letter he handed to me had “Part 1” written on the envelope. The letter was all about the beginning of our relationship. It talked about high school, our friendship, and the early days of us dating.

Later in the day, he handed me another envelope that said “Part 2”. The following letter talked all about college and doing long distance all throughout undergrad and grad school.

At this point in the day we had gone back to our hotel and were getting ready for dinner. Eric didn’t tell me where we were going but he did say when to be ready. Once I was dressed and ready, he handed me the final envelope with “Part 3” written on it. The letter inside talked about our “present”. It talked about our life in LA together and living together.

He led me outside our room, down to the lobby, and into a private room. This cozy private lounge had four tables all with my favorite flowers (peonies) and pictures in frames. Each picture represented one “part” of our relationship. The first frame had a picture of us from high school, the second had a picture of us in college, the third had one of us in LA, and the last frame was empty. Eric got down on his knee and began to explain how the empty frame was our future and how he couldn’t wait to create that future together. I honestly can’t remember what else he said because I was so overwhelmed. We ended the night with dinner at our favorite restaurant where he coordinated a custom menu with all of our favorites.[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]For the Welcome Dinner, I knew that I wanted to wear something bright, colorful and quintessentially Italian. After a long search, I was able to track down the Dolce & Gabbana dress that I ended up wearing.

I wore a Monique Lhullier dress which was actually the first dress I tried on. Sometimes you get it right on the first try![/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]I only had a MOH and she wore a Shana Joy dress in green. It was gorgeous![/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]For the Welcome Dinner, there was pizza served fresh out of the ovens and a myriad of fresh summer salads to choose from. Peach bellinis and Aperol spritz (our favorite drinks) were flowing. For dessert we served tiramisu, fresh fruit, nutella pizza, and we of course had a gelato cart.

For the wedding, we had passed hors d’oeuvre during cocktail hour which included fresh focaccia that was made in the pizza oven right at the villa. We served three courses and then went straight to dessert. The courses were eggplant tartare with dry
tomatoes and pecorino, maltagliati pasta with tomato sauce and burrata cheese, and a choice of wild sea bass or braised veal cheek with brunello sauce and mashed
potatoes. Since dinner was long and we wanted to get the party going, we had trays of espresso martinis waiting for our guests as they were directed to the dance floor. Of course there was also late night pizza.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Our florals were whites and greens for the wedding. My bridal bouquet was made of peonies because the corsage Eric gave me for our high school prom was a peony. The dinner was probably the biggest highlight from all the events. I wanted a really dramatic long table with candles as the focal point. I learned how to embroider and spent time leading up to the wedding embroidering each guest’s names onto the napkins. Those napkins served as the seat assignments.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Our guests are still talking about the cake. Millefoglie is a traditional Italian wedding cake and for good reason. Everyone loved it.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The ceremony took place at an overlook on the property. A string quartet played songs that we had long associated with each other as we walked down the aisle. I walked down to the song “On Top Of The World” by Imagine Dragons. As I walked down the aisle with my dad, all I could see was Eric’s head down. He was crying. We read our own vows and one of our best friends beautifully officiated the ceremony. He was there the night we first met! There were many smiles and many tears. My family is Jewish and so we incorporated a bit of tradition into the ceremony, Eric stomped on the glass and everyone shouted “Mazel Tov!”. We sauntered back up the aisle to the string quartet playing “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys. With a glass of prosecco in hand, our guests were transported from the main hotel to Villa Sant’Anna where cocktail hour awaited their arrival.

[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Eric and I met at 15 and we’ve been together for 10 years. We were high school sweethearts. It wasn’t love at first sight, but it was like at first conversation. There was instant chemistry which helped us build a strong friendship. And as time went on, we grew closer. Our relationship grew out of a friendship and we remain friends before anything. We endured 6 years of long distance through undergrad and graduate school for Eric. Cut to now, living together in Los Angeles. I work in entertainment and Eric launches rockets for a living. I’m the creative one, he’s the level-headed one. Opposites really do attract.

When it came time to discuss our wedding, we wanted each and every decision to be meaningful since we have such a rich history. We easily decided on Italy since I studied abroad there, Eric’s family roots are Italian, and some of our favorite memories are moments from trips to Italy. It was a no-brainer. We decided on the timing of our wedding as it would be close to our 10-year anniversary. I decided to take on the wedding planning myself with the help of Eric and the events team at the venue. We wanted to host a Welcome Dinner so all of our guests could get to know each other before the big day. Each event felt intimate given there were only 55 guests and we wanted everyone to mingle. Keeping the list small was important to us because we wanted to celebrate with people who we felt knew us best.
[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The evening of our welcome dinner was filled with touching and funny speeches and it ended with a movie night. Our friends sauntered over to the movie night viewing area but not without stopping by the gelato cart first to enjoy while watching. Since Eric and I went from friends to more-than-friends, we thought it was perfect to watch When Harry Met Sally. We wanted the evening to be a big welcome and a warm hug. It was the perfect way to set the tone for events to come.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]We spent the night dancing under the stars. After midnight, we switched the playlist to entirely music that we had listened to in high school. Our friends loved it and tequila was flowing! The night ended with all of our friends jumping in the pool in their tuxes and dresses. We stayed so late that we even had to extend the shuttles by an hour. Our friends headed back to their hotel rooms in wet clothes and robes from our villa.[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Wedding Weekend Events”]

[/board_carousel]

A Perfect Blend of History, Elegance, and Art in Siena, Italy

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Soft French blue, cream, dusty red, pink tones. Paulina incorporated fruit as a different element and texture to complement the color scheme. The color scheme was meant to blend with the beauty of the historical venue.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]When Paulina and Adrian began planning their wedding at Villa di Geggiano just outside Siena Italy, they were looking for a historical venue with a garden filled with ancient statues, and walls filled with murals and art. They wanted the theme to blend with the natural beauty of the venue. The venue was originally built in the 14th century and still has many original pieces of art and furniture, so it was important to honor the history and story of the venue. Transforming the ceremony site into the reception site was a favorite for Paulina, wowing guests and adding a little drama to the setting to achieve that fairytale vision. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Paulina didn’t need a ring to start planing their wedding, but Adrian being a traditionalist wanted to make sure she had something on her hand to show family and friends. The morning of the proposal, Paulina scheduled a FaceTime with a planner in Italy just to start getting organized. Being in the wedding industry she understood you need to get organized sooner rather than later. Clueless on what was to come, they planned on going to the city for a date night as well as browse for rings. Little did Paulina realize Adrian had already purchased the ring, and proposed in Golden Gate Park. He was hoping to propose with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, but it was a very fog day in the city. We had to change our plans and decided to stay warm inside of the de Young museum and explore an Egyptian exhibit. When leaving the museum, Paulina thought we were going ring shopping, but Adrian got down on one knee in the middle of the park. Poor guy was stressed all afternoon and Paulina had no idea. [/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”First Look”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]When it came to choosing wedding attire, Paulina tried on many dresses (going to 9 different stores) before finding her perfect Liz Martinez dress, loving the unique lace and trail design. Paulina felt confident and comfortable in it, knowing it was just the right dress. Paulina shared a special moment with her mother getting into her dress and paired her dress with a beautiful family heirloom diamond watch gifted to her by her parents. Now, their future daughters, their son’s future wives, and her brother’s future children’s wives will all wear it on their wedding days. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Paulina and Adrian did not have a formal bridal party, rather asked all of their guests to be their “Something Blue” and was happy to see how creative people got with their blue attire, everything from blue dresses, blue suits, blue shoes, blue purses, and even blue earrings. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Adrian loves to wear color and wore a custom-designed soft blue suit from a local tailor. [/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]Paulina and Adrian served a traditional seasonal Italian meal during their reception. Villa di Geggiano chianti was served with dinner. Signature drinks were designed to represent their dogs. Lily being a type of flower, they designed an elderflower gin and tonic. Luna meaning “moon” they designed a darker color cocktail to represent their black lab. Paulina and Adrian wanted to incorporate a piece from Romania in their Italian wedding, so while they were visiting Romania, they found ceramic glasses with a touch of blue that all of their guests used to cheers with as they made their wedding speech. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Paulina and Adrian added simple but elegant table decor with fruit and pearled silverware, lighting on the villa, and chandeliers (embellished with greenery on the stands). Floral arrangements lined the ceremony aisle, which lead to the focal point of a low semi-circular arrangement defining the alter. Being a wedding photographer herself, Paulina incorporated unique details such as watercolor illustrated invitations, paper fans with their monogram, and asking guests to wear a shade of blue as their “Something Blue.”[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Paulina and Adrian did not have a traditional wedding cake, rather they treated their guests to gelato. The couple even got to serve from the cart, making for a special experience for their guests.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Paulina and Adrian had a highly talented string quartet that played during the ceremony and cocktail hour, and the DJ and saxophone player combination entertained their guests during the reception. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]About the Welcome Party: Paulina and Adrian planned a wedding weekend event for their closest family and friends in Siena, Italy. The weekend started off with a welcome party held at the beautiful Relais Borgo Scopeto where many of their guests stayed. It was important for Paulina and Adrian’s guests to have a relaxed and enjoyable weekend filled with Italian culture, creating special memories. Choosing to hold this event was well worth it because their guests had the opportunity to make memories and create genuine relationships with one another. Since Adrian’s family lives in Romania or Canada, and Paulina’s friends and family are scattered throughout California and the United States, it was a wonderful experience for all, and one of Paulina’s favorite things about their destination wedding. As a special touch, they chose luggage tag place cards for each of their guests. Paulina wore a beautiful floral Dolce & Gabbana dress perfect for a late summer evening and enjoyed welcoming her family and friends along with Adrian to their Italian countryside wedding. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The most important thing was being surrounded by friends and family, celebrating Paulina and Adrian’s love. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]second video link (teaser trailer): https://youtube.com/shorts/MmL0SrbOnko?si=G2qbappfOxJc0y7a[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Wedding Weekend Events”]

[/board_carousel]
[iframe https://www.youtube.com/embed/wP6YE3LSzAs 600 338]

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Paulina Perrucci

View Portfolio

A Stationer Bride’s Blue And White Garden Destination Wedding in Tuscany, Italy

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were blue, white, green, cream, and gold.

[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Ed and Darcy’s vision was to host an event that celebrated the natural beauty and rustic elegance of the Tuscan countryside while weaving in touches of both of their personal tastes. They wanted it to look and feel like a refined yet comfortable al fresco garden party, taking as much inspiration from nature and the region as possible. The colors were inspired by their own home and wardrobe palettes, and many touches were inspired by their mutual appreciation of antique furniture and art. With the bride being a lover of all things floral and botanical, they also brought in floral elements throughout the stationery, decor, tablescape, her gown, and the bridesmaids’ dresses.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]When Darcy and Ed began loosely discussing where they might want to tie the knot one day, Italy immediately came up as an option they both absolutely loved the look, feel, and atmosphere of. This was, however, despite not having a chance to visit together yet as their relationship began just as the pandemic did. When it was safe to do so, they planned a romantic trip to the Amalfi coast in the spring of 2022, which is where Ed proposed on a boat with the view of Positano in the background. They spent the rest of the holiday drinking prosecco and starting to dream up their Italian wedding. [/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”First Look”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

The bride knew that Reem Acra‘s Open Your Heart gown was going to be hers as soon as she saw it. After trying on what felt like every floral-inspired gown there was, this one immediately felt unequivocally “her” with its stunning floral applique, unique illusion neckline, and ethereal, slightly translucent skirt. The open back and surprisingly light and comfortable wearability solidified its status as her dream dress.

[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids wore mismatched blue dresses of their choice, ranging in tone from light sky to deep navy and varying in pattern and texture, and some with touches of white or green. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

The groomsmen each wore their own blue suits, paired with mismatched vintage Ferragamo silk ties that Ed sourced himself and gifted to them.

[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]

During cocktail hour, their 75 guests from the U.S. and U.K. toasted the newlyweds with ice-cold Aperol Spritzes, negronis, processo, and Italian beers paired with an array of local cheeses, meats, and antipasti. The four-course, plated dinner took place over nearly 3 hours while Terre Di Nano‘s own Montepulciano wines flowed and the remaining speeches punctuated each course. The primi piatti, or first courses, were two handmade pasta dishes. First, a truffle and ricotta ravioli, followed by a pici pasta with red Tuscan ragù. Pici is a hand-rolled shape of pasta unique to the region, and absolutely delicious. For the main course, guests savored a cinta cense pork fillet topped with red onion and balsamic vinegar sauce and a selection of sides. This is the prized pork meat of the region, which is lean yet savory. Lastly, the couple served traditional Italian millefoglie cake with fresh strawberries and of course, espresso. After midnight, slices of pizza from the venue’s century-old wood-burning pizza oven were passed to help fuel the late-night dancing.

[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

ToscOana Flowers brought their white and green floral dreams to life with a beautiful spread of white blooms, including a classic ceremony arch and a romantic trail of flowers climbing up an olive tree between their two long dinner tables. They also provided the antique-style brass vases and candlestick holders used throughout the tablescape. The couple opted for simple string lighting throughout the olive grove, in addition to the cream taper candles along each table, to set a cozy and natural ambiance for the al fresco evening reception. The bride, a wedding stationer, hand-made their navy blue silk ribbon place cards which tied a small olive branch to each napkin atop the custom gold-foil printed menus, also designed and produced by the bride. For the tablescape, the couple opted for pieces that celebrated antique styles, including pearl-handled silverware, blue and white floral plates, and a mix of vintage brass vases and candlestick holders. All of the thoughtfully selected items were placed atop dusty blue linen tablecloths, which brought in a subtle but energizing pop of color.

[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Before their first dance, the couple cut into a traditional Italian Millefoglie cake with fresh strawberries, which was prepared by Terre di Nano’s talented in-house culinary team. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]In true Swiftie fashion, the bride walked down the aisle with her father to a cover of Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” performed by a string duo. Following their first kiss, the couple recessed to cocktail hour to a string performance of the classic and joyful “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”. After cutting the cake, the couple kicked off the live music and evening of dancing with their first dance to a live cover of “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]After producing her own invitations, the bride has since become a full-time wedding stationery designer. Coming from a creative marketing background, Darcy was excited to design their invitation suite and other paper goods and wedding branding. Throughout the process of working with printers, sourcing vintage stamps, and assembling each suite, she fell in love with the creative and tactile art that is wedding stationery and decided to pursue it full-time. She designed and produced the couple’s letterpress save the dates, letterpress and gold-foil invitations, their custom envelope liners and silk ribbon place cards, and sourced the collage of vintage stamps and silk ribbon used for their suites. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]In England, where the groom is from, it is tradition for the groom to give a full wedding speech during the reception. The couple was excited to honor this tradition with a modern addition during their cocktail hour. The bride, an American, gave the first speech of her own, which was then immediately followed by the groom’s speech. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

[/board_carousel]

Luxurious Fall Wedding in the Hills of Chianti at Castello Di Meleto

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Wild & Romantic Fall Colors – Wine reds, burnt orange, ombre yellows framed with organic fruits as supporting palette (Plum, grapes, pomegranates)[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The way we have always described the long-awaited celebration to guests would be a Tuscan affair where we would wine and dine to the best Chianti had to offer against the backdrop of the castle vineyard with the evening spread out against the sky – and with our hearts full, dance away the night under the Tuscan stars to the bride’s favorite vintage French jazz band.

For the ceremony, the highlight is the arrival of the bride and father of bride driving up the hill in a vintage white car in a long cypress lined road, tooting their horn to the fanfare of the guests’ fanfare and cheers. Against the backdrop of two French vintage jazz singers and the band crooning La vie en rose and an Italian garden setting on the hill overlooking the castle and vineyard, the bride walked down the aisle with clouds of white florals framing the scene. The design was stylish and organic to complement the lush Italian fauna, with two aged trees framing the view of the castle as the couple exchanged their vows. A special moment would be guests participating in the warming of the rings, where they passed the wedding bands around to imbue their well wishes and love into them before the rings are exchanged against the Le Moulins de mon Coeur song. As the couple were declared husband and wife, the bride throws her bridal bouquet back to the wedding party before getting into the vintage car, driving into the sunset against Ella Fitzgerald’s From this moment on.

As guests stroll down the cypress lined road to the herb garden overlooking the vineyard hills, the reception is the beginning of savory indulgences – with the appetizers made fresh on the scene – including live carving of prosciutto, stations of Italian hams, cheese and passed around carpaccios. Each food station was designed with vintage décor (Record players) and organic elements such as herb plants with waiters dressed in crisp black and white suits. Guests sip on their herb-infused cocktails against bossa nova and jazz acoustic pieces by the band.

For the dinner reception, the bride had decided on a less traditional design with a red and white antique patterned table cloth with white framed plates and mother-of-pearl cutlery, which accentuated the fruits and wild fall floral pieces on the tables, specially designed by Fluida Designs, a floral and landscape artist. There were a few special design choices the couple made: A special design element was the seating chart were green leaf-shaped cards that were hand calligraphed and placed on individual fruits that reflected the region and season. Guests also received a burgundy colored luggage tag as gifts that stated ‘And so the adventure begins’, hung on their chairs to bring home with. The bride chose to have a canopy of fairy lights to add an additional magic flair to the terrace lawn by the castle – to truly capsulate ‘Dining under the Tuscan stars’. The couple opted to have the Milliefoglie, a traditional Italian wedding cake made of crispy layers of pastry, fresh strawberries, raspberries and cream, made live in front of the guests which provided a very memorable moment. Guest have gushed that this was the best wedding cake they have eaten. The groom also specially requested to have a gelato cart where fresh Italian gelato would be served to guests for dessert. And as promised, after the couple twirled to their first dance, guests danced away the night to the bride’s favorite vintage french jazz band (Gatsby Follies by Jazz around midnight, who flew over from Paris and was decked out in full flapper dresses and suits). A unexpected surprise of the night was the after party DJ who guests have expressed as one of the best wedding DJs they have been treated to.

For the day after fancy pajama farewell party, the location was in a secluded garden area where guests were treated to a bohemian chic themed set up – filled with balloons, velvet sofas and lounge chairs, carpets and cushions. Guests were asked to dress up in their fanciest and most colorful pajamas – silk, feathers, pearls, etc. They milled around to the castle’s self-produced wine, live Italian barbecue against the backdrop of the playlist custom curated by the best man. Guests wrote their well wishes for the couple on the balloons, and before the end of the night, the couple released them to the night.
[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Kim and Yao met in international orientation and started dating in the freshmen year of college (They were college sweethearts). They have bonded over their love for food and travel – and have been meticulously checking off their bucket list food and travel destinations around the globe each year. Yao surprised Kim with a proposal in Tokyo in November 2018. It was unexpected for Kim as she has always insisted that the proposal, whenever that happens, must be private with no audience (she’s easily embarrassed clearly). Given the trip was planned to the detail by her and they were traveling with another friend, she thought there would not be a chance it would happen then.

The aforementioned friend had made an excuse that night when they got into Tokyo from Kyoto that he had to meet with his colleague in Tokyo for drinks – and would join them later. Yao brought Kim to a hotel bar they loved in Tokyo – at the Andaz Tokyo on Toranomon Hills that had the perfect 360 view of Tokyo night lights. Kim and Yao had stayed there a couple of times when they have visited Tokyo before. As they ordered drinks, Yao disappeared strangely for a long time on the excuse of going to the bathroom, before the hotel manager approached Kim and handed her a room key. She thought he mistook her for someone else and tried to deny vehemently to a flustered manager that she was not a guest there.

The flustered manager eventually blurted out her name and told her to follow her. At that point, Kim thought something was suspicious as he brought her to the door of a room and ran away, leaving an amused Kim standing outside. As she knocked, Yao opened the door and swept her inside to the words of ‘Would you marry me?’ in perfectly cut out letters on the bed – and photos of their travels over the years hung around the room along with champagne and flowers. Yao shared that this was the exact room they stayed in when they first visited Tokyo together – overlooking the Tokyo tower. And with the Tokyo tower lights glistening behind, Yao dropped on one knee, brandishing a ring. Frankly, at that point, Kim had blanked out and did not remember a single word of Yao’s speech (he swears it was a beautiful speech and he did not make her sign away her life savings). After she said yes, they had a champagne toast – and went back to to the rooftop bar to find their friend (who was in on it the whole time and helping decorate the room) to celebrate.

There were many hilarious moments that proved Kim was completely oblivious – Yao had carried his backpack the whole time on the trip (with the ring in it) which was extremely uncharacteristic. Kim had suggested taking a later train to Tokyo from Kyoto, which both Yao and friend had vehemently objected to. Kim had texted Yao while she was waiting in the bar when he disappeared, to which he texted back a poop emoji to keep her from suspecting anything. Their friend was hiding on the floor of the hotel room right around the corner to ensure Kim did not run into him when being brought to the room. Luckily, in the midst of laughs and fun, she said Yes and the rest is history.
[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Ceremony:
• Dress: Oscar de la Renta Lace Wedding dress (altered with added sleeves) and custom matching veil.
• Shoes: The comfiest block heels by Sarah Flint! To navigate the grass lawn
Reception/Dinner:
• Dress 1: Naeem Khan long embellished crystal dress
• Dress 2: Naeem Khan Flapper dress for dancing to the vintage Jazz band!

Pre-wedding photo shoot:
• Dress 1: 16 Arlington (Dress with feather sleeves)
• Shoes 1: Amina Muaddi

• Dress 2: Alexa Maria (Dress with bow on back with altered added sleeves)
• Shoes 2: : L’autre Chose

Day after – Fancy Pajama Farewell party
• Dress: Gilda & Pearl (Satin slip dress with feathers)
• Shoes: Amina Muaddi[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Topshop mismatched blush dresses with gifted earrings from bride (Brand: Kate & Mari) [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Groom wore custom made tuxedo with a special tuxedo embroidered coat change for dinner.
Groomsmen wore their own black tuxedo & black bowties.
[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Bridal Party”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]Signature food –
Dinner:
All dishes were made fresh at the scene – including two pastas and two mains-
• Bundle tied with silk leeks stuffed with eggplants and burrata cheese on tomato coulis (This was so good that guests asked for seconds).
• Pici with veal ragout, vegetables julienne and crispy guanciale
• Beef steak fillet “Chianina” with reduction of Chianti Classico

Highlights of finger food and stations from cocktail reception:
• Passed around by waiter – Highlights: Bruschetta with shrimp and chopped pistachios, Swordfish carpaccio with grapefruit juice, Wafer cone with burrata cheese mousse and cherry tomato
• Cheese bouvette station: Tuscan cheese with Ricotta & strawberries, Buffalo Mozzarella, Burrata Cheese from Andria, Smoked Burrata Cheese, Pecorino cheese assortment – served with honey and fresh fruit marmalades
• “Il Norcino” (Cold cuts and cured ham) station: Pratomagno ham leg (cut live by chef), Cinta Senese salami, Finocchiona (Fennel Salami), Greve in Chianti Salami (All sourced locally) with sesame breadsticks.
[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]White clouds for the ceremony and Fruits and wild fall romance for diner was the theme and brief – with Fluida Design given complete autonomy to create her art. Fluida Design provided florals, candles, fruits and décor. Roland’s Florence provided the furniture and all dinner elements (plates, glasses, cutlery, tablecloth)[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Live performance of Milliefoglie by chef from Roland’s Florence. Traditional wedding cake assembled live in front of the guests (and the couple putting some finishing touches) – with layers of flaky pastry, fresh strawberries & raspberries, and crème. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Gatsby Follies by Jazz around Midnight (6 piece band including 2 female vocals from Paris) – vintage French jazz, complete with 1920s flapper dresses for the dinner and party.
• Ceremony Music: La Vie en rose, La Mouline de Mon Cœur. From this moment On by Ella Fitzgerald)
• Dinner reception: Gatsby Follies (French jazz and vintage numbers such as Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, Diga Diga Doo, Yeh-Yeh)
• First Dance: At Last by Etta James
• Custom playlists by the best man
• Prelude music: All of me (Billie Holiday/Ella Fitzgerald Jazz version), I can’t give you anything but love, The girl from Ipanema, Wave, So banco samba

Readings:
Kim wrote the entire wedding program and script herself with select readings from the Bible and assembling many elements of the script from various sources – including the definition of commitment, ring warming and declarations.
[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

[/board_carousel]
[iframe https://www.youtube.com/embed/KYAd_qFvwhk 600 338]

Ultra-Romantic Wedding Weekend in Tuscany That Exudes Femininity

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”The Inspiration”]

We wanted to showcase the versatility and options that a countryside Italian venue like Villa di Geggiano could provide for an entire weekend experience for our couple and their guests. The couple’s celebratory experience began with a softly colorful welcome dinner the night before the wedding followed by a garden ceremony with the cutest flower girls and a timeless outdoor dinner reception framed by the gorgeous villa. These paired with a pre-ceremony portrait session in a floral Monique Lhuillier gown highlighting the gorgeous gardens, a celebration including a vintage Fiat 850 Spider getaway car, and a delicious MonAnnie designer cake. We also included dozens of details like dreamy paper goods by talented stationery artist, Studio Wren & Co., chic Jimmy Choos, and a unique, sparkly Monique Lhuillier for the bride’s final look. To bring the details to life, we chose colors that weren’t overly bright, yet felt fresh with touches of the colors seen in both the wildflower gardens and the indoor living spaces, using shades of pinks, creams, and subtle greens and blues. It was important for us to keep in line with the fine art aesthetic while adding both personal touches and pops of colorful patterns.

[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Pinks, magenta, creams, subtle greens, baby blue[/field]
[field title=”The Venue”]

Villa di Geggiano is just outside Siena in Tuscany. The winding, cypress-lined roads through the Chianti Classico region of Italy led us to the family-owned (since 1527!) winery escape of Villa di Geggiano right outside of Siena. The blend of this incredible area (including a hilltop view of Siena’s silhouette from the villa’s garden) with a nod to baroque architecture and decor, antique frescos, wildflower gardens, soft country landscapes, and truly familial hospitality from the original family owners and staff made it a perfect choice for a dream couple’s intimate Tuscan celebration.

[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Beauty”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

The experience was both intimate yet elevated as we showcased the couple’s preference for fashion and design in the haute couture gowns from Galvan London for the welcome dinner, Eisen Stein Bridal for the ceremony, a stylish and bold floral gown by Monique Lhuillier for pre-wedding portraits, and a sparkly Monique Lhuillier for the reception dinner. The groom was not spared in his regal look as well in two different attire designs by Bencivenga Alta Sartoria. The couple was adorned with jewelry and accessories by Eden Luxe Bridal.

[/field]
[field title=”Bridal Party”][/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Fashion”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

We worked with the incredibly talented floral designer, Winsome Floral, to create stunning floral vignettes that flowed naturally throughout each space – from a show-stopping ceremony installation flowing through the iconic garden gates peering out to Siena in the distance, to two lush tablescapes – one backdropped by the villa and the other by the Tuscan architecture in the gardens, each lush with pops of softly toned florals and taper candles. She also created the most romantic bouquets for the bride and her delicate, romantic gowns. The touch of flowing florals, grapes, fruits, and cheeses perfectly enhanced the already stunning natural vineyard landscape.

[/field]
[field title=”Favorite Design Element”]

Inspired by the “blue room” inside the Villa where the bride got ready, we incorporated touches of this blue throughout the design, from a hint of it in the stationery to asking guests and having the flower girls include the color in their outfits.

[/field]
[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”]

For a wedding weekend, unique fashion for each event is a must. In keeping with a true Tuscan theme of being stylish and chic yet relaxed, choosing designs that offer both ease and impeccable style are a must. It’s also important to consider the aesthetic and color palette of each event. For this welcome dinner, the vibe was simple yet elegant so the bride wore a long white shift gown with a unique tie along the back. For epic pre-ceremony portraits, she wore a fashionable floral Monique Lhuillier gown, which easily played off the wildflowers and colors in the gardens and allowed her to move easily. She chose something more traditional for her ceremony look in the Eisen Stein Bridal gown, before changing into her last Monique Lhuillier gown. Her final gown was beige and sparkly – a nod to the colors cast on the villa in the setting sun and to the party that would soon follow the dinner!

[/field]
[field title=”DIY Moments”][/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Details”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]

Spring in Full Bloom at Villa Di Geggiano in Siena

Today’s editorial planned by Caterina Weddings is your perfect blueprint for an ethereal Spring wedding – complete with one of our favorite bouquets of all time! In a feminine palette of ivory, blush and pale peach, Chiara Sperti infused the natural beauty of the season to her lush arrangements. Allow the full gallery to fully transport you to Springtime in Siena, captured to perfection by Linda Nari Photography!

From Linda Nari Photography…Rebirth, purity and flourishing beauty inspired this romantic editorial set at the 14th Century Villa di Geggiano wedding venue in Tuscany. Blush tulle, delicate flowers and several beautiful bridal looks create a timeless universe enlightened by love and fine art vibes.

The stunning visuals are created by fine art wedding photographer Linda Nari with planner Caterina Weddings and a team of creatives inspired by rebirth and the flourishing blooms of spring: “We wanted to create a tribute to life. A message of hope and a hymn to beauty, which will always be our salvation in hard times.”

The gorgeous floral design from Chiara Sperti Floral Events follows a soft feminine colour palette of ivory, blush and pale peach with tiny touches of blue and purple. The spring medley of flowers features garden roses, ranunculus, spirea, sweetpeas, narcissi and fritillary in a beautifully natural freeform style.

For the ceremony, Chiara created a floral structure echoing the design of the ornate stone arch at the head of the aisle, plus freeform clusters around the chairs for a lovely organic feel. The natural styling continues to the tablescape, featuring foliage decorated beech branches and informal floral compotes.

Every detail echoes a lightless touch, from the delicate lingerie and blush tulle gown to the intricate gold jewellery and understated stationery.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/595907193 600 338]

A Romantic Summer Wedding at the Pinterest-Viral Abbey of Saint Galgano

You’ve probably seen this venue many times before during your late night, endless Pinterest scrolling sessions – but may have never known exactly where it was! The Abbey of Saint Galgano is a breathtaking Gothic style church from the 13th-century, situated in the beautiful province of Siena region in Tuscany. Flowersliving brought the couple’s dreams to reality… dressed in a pastel palette, overflowing with heavenly blooms, and blanketed by rows of twinkle lights. Trust us, you’re going to want to spend some extra time on today’s full gallery captured by Facibeni Fotografia.

From Flowersliving… A romantic yet modern destination wedding in Tuscany in the most beautiful church nearby Siena.
San Galgano Abbey is a breathtaking venue and the colors of the flowers really complement the beauty and the uniqueness of the church.

Sara & Marcello from Emilia Romagna Region decided to tie the knot in the beautiful Tuscany looking for the perfect rural countryside but choosing a romantic and elegant colors palette of light pinks and dusty blues.

After the civil ceremony at the abbey they decided to celebrate in the beautiful maremma area surrounded by cypress and olive trees.

The aperitive at the sunset overlooking the tuscan hills was a magic moment for all the guests who enjoyed the tuscan breeze and the dreamy view. A tripude of candles to lighten up the dinner area as a frame to celebrate the newlyweds.

Limoncello Inspired Italian Wedding Editorial

When life gives you lemons, use them in your wedding decor! This limoncello inspired editorial, at the historical Villa Cetinale in Siena, Italy, has everything from a limoncello table to fresh lemons decorating romantic reception tables. AMV Weddings planned, designed, and styled this spectacular day filled with free flowing organic blooms by Flowers Living. It was all elegantly captured in the incredible imagery by Jenny Wagner Photography. Take a trip to Italy in the full gallery.

From Jenny Wagner Photography… This wedding editorial, set in the autumn in the countryside of Tuscany, features a vibrant couple and fittingly bright and crisp details to suit their style. Lemon trees and a limoncello table, a cake design inspired by porcelain, and a gorgeous vintage getaway car round out a vibrant and romantic wedding design.

The couple enjoyed their ceremony at the back of the historic Villa Cetinale in Siena, Italy, with a ceremony space covered in beautiful florals and greenery.

The bride took a quiet moment to admire her gorgeous reception table, also adorned with intricate greenery and lemon and porcelain details. The couple then shared a few sweet smiles and kisses during a more private moment between just the two of them, in their vintage Italian getaway car.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Koman Photography

View Portfolio

AMV Weddings

View Portfolio

Inquisited

View Portfolio

A Fairytale Wedding Under Tuscan Sun

Imagine falling in love with a dress that you saw in a magazine, finding out it wasn’t even on the market yet, and then becoming the first ever real bride to wear it on her wedding day! Oh, and then it subsequently becoming majorly instagram-famous. Well, that’s the story of our beautiful SMP bride, Maria! To see all the swoon-worthy details from their fairytale wedding under the tuscan sun planned by Happy Moments Collector – complete with blooms by Haute Couture Flower, sparkling string lights and a peacock – head on over to the full gallery of inspo, all taken by Andrew Bayda and Artur Nechaev!

From Anastasia of Happy Moments Collector… When we met the very first time Maria and Stas – we just fell in love. Pure beauty of Maria just simply took our breath away. First we started thinking of Lake Como as a place of the event but after we found the unique villa in Tuscany and the couple visited it – the decision was made immediately. Bride and Groom wanted to gather all the closest family and friends in one villa and to enjoy couple of memorable days all together to celebrate their love! Maria chose as the main colour palette blush, peach and greenery that perfectly matched the villa itself and the surroundings.

The flower arrangements were meant to be natural looking and fresh, inspired by the venue and the Tuscan hills. We can’t help mentioning the peacocks that live on the territory of the villa! And we were lucky enough to have them posing together with the bride for some pictures and making the event in time they have their beautiful tails. I guess, you may not know that the tail of the peacock is beautiful only during some certain period of time during the year. By August/September they lose it in order to grow it once again by Spring time.

Ceremony was followed by Italian style rich aperitif hour and the dinner accompanied by an Italian band singing famous songs. After we proceeded with dancing near the pool – and OMG, you haven’t seen that amazing dance performed by the couple. It was just something out of words! By the way, it was really hard for Maria to find the dress of her dreams.

Her heart was stolen by the dress of Galia Lahav and it was not yet on the market, only in catalogues and it seemed impossible to be found by the date of the wedding. But Maria managed and found the dress and she was the first ever real bride wearing this masterpiece by Galia Lahav. This dress looked like it was made for Maria.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/615442976 600 338]

Get Lost In All Of The Elegant, Old World Charm At Castello di Celsa, A Castle in Tuscany!

Oh to get married at a castle in Tuscany…well, Tuscan Tours and Weddings is here to show you exactly how at Castello de Celsa with all of the Old World charm, romance and views one could ask for! Alexandra Vonk captured one epic photo after the next from images of the brides ethereal Daalarna wedding gown to florals by Corcortez and of course a vintage getaway car from Slow Hills. Take a peek below and be sure to check out the video by Katia Casprini!

From Alexandra Vonk…This editorial shoot at Castello di Celsa in Tuscany is elegant, romantic and breathtaking with this ancient castle in the background.

Castello di Celsa, an extraordinary castle, built in the 13th century, with amazing views over Tuscany and Siena and a stunning garden. A castle that immediately brings you back to the ‘old world’. This castle is the perfect mix for your luxury Italian wedding day with an old world vibe.

The walls of the castle formed the inspiration for the color palette. Soft and romantic tones with a touch of dusty blue. Which you can find back in the beautiful door of the 16th century chapel and in some of the walls.

Industry talent from all over Europe came together to make the perfect intimate celebration.

Pen to Paper created a stationery suite with the most beautiful envelop liner and menu cards. She was inspired by the wedding gown’s exquisite lace, the florals and the stunning venue. She felt that delicate handmade paper was a must, combined with inky calligraphy, charcoal vignettes and wax seals, to celebrate the beauty of Tuscany and its history.

The bride wore an exquisite Daalarna couture gown. The delicate details on this dress are just beyond and gives you that romantic feeling. These romantic lace Bella Belle shoes suited the dress perfectly. The bride also had two hair styles. A more romantic feminine look with some waves during the ceremony and a classic updo as a party look, both created by Frank Giacone.

We chose to place the intimate ceremony setting at one of the gardens with a magnificent view of the castle. Lush flowers decorated the old doors and with the beautiful Louis XVI chairs we created a luxurious organic old world feeling for the ceremony setting.

Since it was a very hot day in August, we decided to go for a champagne tower instead of a wedding cake. The champagne tower was decorated with amazing flowers from Corcortez floral design and stood in front of the beautiful dusty blue door of the chapel.

The elegant Italian garden of the castle was the perfect setting for this timeless intimate outdoor ‘fete’. The table wanted to evoke old world romance with a modern and elevated twist, using layered linen and pretty textures, gorgeous blooms focused primarily on soft romantic pinks and mauves and a touch of blue, plus a few statement décor elements. All to announce the delicate transition from Summer to Fall. And to make you want to get lost in this modern romantic wedding prettiness.

The couple drove away in a stunning vintage get-away-car that was decorated with flowers, because who doesn’t love a good vintage car?!

This feature is the perfect fit for a couple seeking elegant, luxe inspiration with a hint of old world vibes for their wedding day.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/457035165 600 338]

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Alexandra Vonk Photography

View Portfolio

A Disney Princess Inspired Wedding at Castello Di Celsa in Siena, Italy

Judging by the title, you know this is going to be good. All you romantic brides, prepare to fall head over heels in love with today’s storybook princess wedding in Siena. Wedding Italy brought the couple’s modern day fairytale vision to life, complete with old world elements around a palette of blush tones, hints of grey and neutrals, with gold accents and lots of greenery. To see all the magic this day has to offer, including Tuscany Flowers’ enchanting floral arrangements, head on over to the full gallery – all taken by Lace and Luce!

From Lace and Luce… Sometimes fate truly brings two couples together, as is the case with Monica and Warren who met almost ten years ago and then didn’t re-connect for 6 years. From the bride “I’m Canadian and Warren is based in Southern California, but we met serendipitously in London, England in 2012. There was an immediate and undeniable spark between the two of us, but the timing wasn’t right. After almost 6 years, we reconnected as if by fate. Warren flew to Canada to finally take me on our first date, and the rest was history. After Warren proposed, he took us on a trip to Greece & Italy to celebrate, which he lovingly referred to as our “engagement-moon”. After falling in love with Italy’s history, culture, food and wine on our “engagement-moon”, we knew it would be the perfect place to start our happily ever after! Our love story has truly been a fairytale, so I wanted to capture that in the wedding design. I found Castello di Celsa (which is a picturesque castle outside of Siena) online and knew immediately that it would be the perfect venue! With the help of our wedding planner, Sonia Gallina with WeddingsItaly, we were able to curate the wedding of our dreams. We wanted to create an ethereal, storybook-princess style for the wedding.

The overall vision was modern day fairytale, with old world elements. My favorite movie growing up was ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and our venue and garden rose-dominant florals really paid homage to that. To compliment our stunning venue, the wedding was designed around a palette of blush tones, hints of grey and neutrals, with gold accents and lots of greenery. These colors were reflected in all the wedding decor including the flower arrangements, day of stationary, and tablescapes. We wanted the florals to have an organic feel, as if they could have been growing naturally on the castle grounds. Our florist, Tuscany Flowers, blew us away with the floral design. The end result was a romantic and elegant fairytale vibe, with a true Tuscan flair. We wanted to curate a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our guests, so we decided on hosting three days of wedding festivities. In addition, wedding days fly by in the blink of an eye, so we intentionally extended the celebration in order to build more memories with our loved ones.

Obsessed with this adorable “Together is a beautiful place to be” sign? Us, too ;) Shop it here!

The wedding weekend began with a Welcome Dinner at Pizzeria La Miniera on Friday, the Wedding Day at Castello di Celsa on Saturday and finished with a private winery tour, wine tasting and lunch at Castello di Fonterutoli on Sunday. Our wedding date, October 5, holds special significance to us because it is my beloved grandmother’s birthday and also the day that she married my grandfather. My grandparents were my biggest inspiration in life, and since I was a little girl, it has been my dream to get married on this date. We paid homage to my grandparents in multiple ways throughout the day. My mother walked me down the aisle to ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ a song that my grandfather still sings to me to this day. Our guestbook table featured a photo of them from their wedding day. I also incorporated them in my ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’. For my something old I wore my grandmother’s wedding ring on my right hand, and used her hand-beaded purse, which was given to her by my grandfather.

For my something borrowed I had my grandfather’s wedding band tucked in to the purse, and my mother tied a blue ribbon around it as my something blue. It was so special to have both of their wedding rings with us as we got married on the same date, 68 years later. I’m a huge fan of the wedding dress designer, Hayley Paige and I always knew that I would wear one of her stunning designs down the aisle. I booked an appointment for a trunk show at her flagship store, JLM Couture in West Hollywood, with my lovely sister-in-law, Trudi. Prior to the appointment, I saw a new design on Hayley Paige’s instagram page that I absolutely fell in love with. I decided to send her a DM to inquire about the style number of the dress, and if it would be available at my upcoming appointment. To my suprise, Hayley herself responded and informed me that the dress was called ‘Warren’ – the exact same name as my fiance! I knew right then and there (prior to even trying it on) that this was my dress, I feel like it chose me! Much to my surprise, when I went for my appointment I got to meet Hayley Paige in person! It was a dream come true to meet her and have her there for my ‘say yes to the dress’ moment. She ended up drawing me a sketch of me in my gown, and it is something I will cherish forever.”

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/377400966 600 338]

Intimate Destination Tuscany Wedding Bursting With Romance

This Tuscany wedding is our idea of destination wedding perfection! The outdoor affair filled with pops of green, white, and gold simply radiates beneath the Tuscan sun. The decor aesthetic of the day beautifully compliments the landscape of one of the world’s most beautiful locales. Les Anagnou exquisitely captured all the elegant details and touching romance of the day. See how it all came stunningly together in the full gallery.

From Les Anagnou… Tuscany is the ultimate destination for a romantic and refined wedding if you ask us! Priscila and Marcello’s wedding was a true Tuscan dream, with delicate florals and a wedding dress fit for a modern-day princess! The couple wanted a true fine art wedding. All the details were handpicked by the bride to fit the refined aesthetics!

The ceremony was held in a serene chapel in Tuscany. It was a heartfelt and romantic ceremony with close friends and family to congratulate the young couple and throw hundreds of rose petals and rice to celebrate their union!

After the ceremony an al fresco wedding dinner followed in the gardens of Villa Montanare amongst the olive groves. Merging the Tuscan landscape to the décor, the wedding table was set with elegant tableware and the most beautiful garland of vine leaves! Priscilla and Marcello’s wedding was a chic affair filled with love, laughter, and lots of dancing!

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Villa Montanare

View Portfolio

A Masterpiece Wedding Cake Inspired by the Cake Served at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Wedding

I’m pretty sure we can all agree that when it comes to destination weddings, no place does it quite like Tuscany – and today’s wedding is proof! After getting engaged in Italy, the beautiful bride and groom decided it was the perfect place to come back for their organic-chic themed wedding. The Tuscan Wedding planned every thoughtful detail of their weekend, from the pizza party welcome dinner to the jaw-dropping fireworks show to end the wedding night. Our favorite moment? It had to be the ceremony, featuring breathtaking views of the medieval village of Il Borro – I mean, does it get any better than that?? Don’t miss the full gallery captured by PureWhite Photography for a glimpse into this heavenly day.

From The Tuscan Wedding… For this lovely couple from US, Italy was their dream destination for their wedding. They had gotten engaged after three years in the beautiful city of Venice, and decided that coming back to one of their favorite countries to tie the knot was a must. They love to explore new places trying new and native foods and immersing themselves in the culture. It was also important to incorporate nature, history, and art into their location while also being mindful of their organic, romantic, chic theme. What better place than Tuscany to accomplish all of those things? Yolanda and Ronald called on The Tuscan Wedding to help turn their dream into a reality. The couple chose Il Borro as their ideal location, a wonderful property in the Tuscan countryside, a place where you are transported back to medieval times.

They wanted a beautiful romantic ceremony to share with fifty of their closest friends and families. Before the wedding day, they welcomed their guests with an Italian style Pizza party arranged at the Bistrot at Il Borro. It was the perfect way to begin integrating Italian culture into their big day, with good friends, great food, and fine wine. The pizza party was an exciting way to get the festivities of the weekend started. They enjoyed the customary Italian treat while listening to live music and swapping fun stories about the bride and groom to be, surrounded by the lemons’ scent of the flowers decorations arranged by Flowers Living. On the day of the wedding, the guests shared a drink and eagerly awaited the groom’s arrival for the start of the ceremony on the terrace overlooking the Italian garden, already set up for the symbolic ceremony. The view on the medieval village of Il Borro was absolutely breathtaking.

The bride got dressed in her elegant satin gown and took her beautiful bouquet created by Flowers Living made of ivory peonies and light pink astilbe, the perfect mix to create the romantic and organic theme. The groom put on his handsome white jacket, hopped in a Mercedes Benz 190 sl, and drove down to meet his future wife under a beautiful round flowers arch, that symbolized their endless love. The ceremony space had this kind of timeless elegance. The groom stood at the altar as the bridal party came flowing down the grand staircase. As the bride revealed herself, you could see the pure happiness in Ronald’s eyes. The couple stood in front of a beautiful fountain, under an arch of endless flowers. They exchanged heartwarming vows and sealed their love with a kiss in front of their friends and families. After the ceremony came to an end, The Tuscan Wedding guided all guests to join the newlyweds on the terrace for a cocktails and aperitif arranged by Galateo Ricevimenti.

For the wedding reception, they sat under the trees with magical lighting by Wedding Music and Lights. It was a fairytale. They shared a menu packed full of Italian cuisine. After a sunset photoshoot perfectly captured by Purewhite Photography, where Yolanda & Ronald shared some of their first moments as Mr. And Mrs. Walking across the Italian countryside, for the newlyweds it was time for the cake cutting. We cannot forget about the masterpiece wedding cake created by Tuscan Wedding Cakes and inspired by the cake served at the Royal wedding of Megan Markle and Prince Harry.

As the reception came to an end, Yolanda & Ronald wanted to leave their guests with one last bit of entertainment… And what better way to do this than a dazzling fireworks show? What an electric way to end the perfect evening. The photographer, Purewhite, and videographer, Vertigo Wedding, had an amazing landscape to capture the most precious moments of this beautiful reception orchestrated by the Tuscan Wedding. Yolanda & Ronald, together with their guests, danced into the late hours of the night not wanting their day to end. The day had been nothing short of a dream that ended under the Tuscan stars. Yolanda & Ronald are truly soulmates and made for each other, this day really represented the intimate bond they share. Our team was so appreciative to have met this lovely couple and we wish them a life full of happiness and love together.

[iframe http://www.youtube.com/embed/VLL4eeC11rY 600 338]

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

The Tuscan Wedding

View Portfolio

Consider This Storybook Castle in the Rolling Hills of Tuscany for Your Italian Elopement!

Planning to elope somewhere fabulous and romantic in Europe? We may have just found your dream venue! This stunning castle set in the rolling hills of Tuscany is every bride’s dream – it’s like something out of a fairytale. The talented team at NKT Events designed a styled shoot fit for a princess, perfectly complimenting the picturesque property of Castello di Celsa. Run don’t walk to the full gallery to see two gorgeous dresses, the most effortlessly beautiful stationery suite ever and reception inspiration that’s just as breathtaking as the views – all captured by Jenny Quicksall Photography!

From Jenny Quicksall Photography... It has been a dream of Jenny’s to shoot in the rolling hills of Tuscany, so when an opportunity came to shoot our real couple’s Elopement and Wedding Inspiration shoot, we knew we had to head to one of the most special chapels, the cappella della madonna di vitaleta.

Cappella della madonna di vitaleta sits at the top of a hill with a breathtaking view of the Tuscan countryside, making it stand out and becoming the focal point on this private property. With such picturesque setting, it wasn’t hard to capture the love shared between them as they wandered the property.

After the engagement session we headed to the Castello di Celsa, a family owned property for the past 400 years that is situated in the picturesque countryside of the “Montagnola Senese”. To highlight the venue itself, Nyachia from NKT Events structured the creative direction and design around this 16th century castle and dreamed up an inspiration fit for a queen with a modern & sexy flare.

When thinking of the perfect ceremony dress, Romanian designers Ersa Atelier came to mind with their cap sleeve gown with layers upon layers of tulle. With accessories from Lindsay Marie Design perfectly accenting our design, hair & make up artist Trine Juel created the perfect updo. The ceremony setup created by master florist Dario Benvenuti Florals, was strategically placed in the garden to mirror the stone wall structure that elongated the view over the Tuscan Valley spread before the castle. Explore the beautiful Tuscan countryside with Kendall & Mattia and start dreaming of your next destination event.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Photography

Jenny Quicksall Photography

View Portfolio

Tuscan Renaissance Wedding Inspiration at Villa di Geggiano

What’s more romantic than a wedding under the Tuscan sun? I mean, it’s pretty hard to beat if you ask us! This gorgeous shoot with planning and design by Fête Event Planning and photos by Molly Carr Photography is all the inspiration you’ll ever need for the romantic renaissance wedding of your dreams. Don’t miss all the enchanting details at the full gallery, from bold and bright fleurs by Isibeal Studio to a Tuscan castle fit for a royal.

From Fête Event Planning… When we stumbled upon the Villa di Geggiano it was like stepping back in time to 18th century Italy. Set atop a hill in Chianti, the estate has breathtaking views of vineyards and olive groves in every direction. The villa’s remarkable interior decoration – done in the most avant-garde style of the 1700s – has been lovingly preserved by the Bianchi Bandinelli family and was an incredible source of inspiration for our collaboration.

As we often like to do, we took our cues from the spaces. With the fabulous creative partnering of Isibeal Studio and Fête Event Planning, we set out to imbue our stylings with a sense of modern Renaissance romanticism underpinned with a touch of mysticism, all artistically captured by Molly Carr Photography.

As you turn every corner there are beautifully aged treasures. Were they placed there by the gods? The images create a narrative evoking a sense of magic and romance through painterly images, the patina of the villa and the creative backdrops of florals and tablescapes we created using some beautiful pieces from Duchess & Butler. Our model is a true Italian redhead in the mood of Boticelli.

Sanni Sorma created her looks that ranged from soft & demure, to Renaissance glam to delicate & ethereal. The bridal gowns were furnished by Pandore in Paris and feature creations by Sadoni and by Inmaculada Garcia. The paper designed by Studio French Blue tied in the romantic and mystical elements, with a wedding announcement laid out in the traditional Italian format, and a custom star chart for the date. The paper suite was styled using paper pressed with a relief of fresco from the famous Fabriano Paper Mill.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Fete in France

View Portfolio

Intimate Tuscany Castle Wedding at Castello di Casole

This dress. The view. A castle!… oh my. I’m really not sure where to begin with this beautiful celebration of love. It’s elegant, yet casual and intimate, yet collected. For this Bride & Groom (who happened to meet in an airport!), that combination feels just about right. They decided on a gathering in Italy, where they could truly join their families and loved ones and with the help of Brenda Babcock Celebrations, the result was just that and so much more. Emm and Clau were in attendance to document every moment, which I have no doubt will spark inspiration for your own Big Day.

From the bride… We met when Saumil was visiting Vancouver for business, and on his way home he was waiting for his flight at a bar in the Vancouver airport. I happened to be seated next to him and we struck up a conversation. Even though we exchanged phone numbers before going our separate ways, I didn’t think anything would come of it knowing that we lived in different countries. We kept in touch, and months later I happened to be visiting Palm Springs, California on a holiday. Knowing that Saumil lived only a couple hours’ drive from there, I told Saumil I was going to be visiting, and Saumil drove to Palm Springs to take me on our first date. We hit it off right away, and Saumil ended up taking me on our second date the very next day!

We wanted our wedding celebration to be an intimate gathering of our families and closest friends. Our guests would be traveling from Canada (my home), the U.S. (Saumil’s current home), and India (where Saumil grew up). Italy, being centrally located between all those places was a big plus. I also happen to be half-Italian. My mother’s parents were both born in Italy and Italian traditions have played a big part in my life. Saumil also felt that Italy’s family-oriented traditions were very similar to those he grew up with in India. Knowing Italy’s reputation for hospitality and gastronomy, we thought it we would be the perfect place for our wedding celebration.

Since Saumil and I had grown up and lived in different countries for most of our lives, our families and friends did not know each other very well and so the idea of an intimate gathering was most important to us. We felt that a traditional one day celebration would not allow our our guests enough time to get to know each other, and so we decided to have our wedding celebration over three days with everyone staying on location together. Finally, we wanted Italian traditions and activities to be a big part of our celebration.

Once we picked our location, we communicated our broad ideas and desires to Brenda Babcock, our wedding planner, and gave her a lot of freedom to work on all the details. Both Saumil and I felt that we would enjoy our wedding more if we knew less about every single detail. We wanted our celebration to be as much of a surprise to us as it would be to our guests. We were extremely lucky to find someone like Brenda and her team who really embraced this idea and executed it flawlessly. Brenda really took all the stress away from us, and she made sure she understood our likes and dislikes during the planning process. Brenda was able to transform our broad ideas and desires into a celebration planned to the smallest detail, which included three very different yet very Italian dinners; a day full of Italian activities, such as a bocce tournament, pasta making class, and wine tasting; and finally a romantic yet modern wedding. At the end, Saumil and I really felt like guests at our own wedding, totally relaxed and excited by all the surprises Brenda had planned for us.

Italian Renaissance Wedding Inspo a la the Master – Leonardo da Vinci

Renaissance … it is not just a person, place or period in time. It IS a feeling from deep down inside that inspires passion and timeless emotion. And this styled shoot IS a true testament to that period in time, to Italy and to the Master of artistic expression, Leonardo da Vinci. The Italian wedding dream team who came together to inspire (chiara, anna, the ladies of jardin divers, giulia, carol and esther) built on the artistic essence of the Renaissance aesthetic… romance, art, symmetry, perspective and space to inspire in a classic, yet innovative manner. All who are in search of the rebirth of romance ~ read on!

An elegant Renaissance Italian villa, Villa di Striano, set in the heart of Tuscany is a breathtaking location for a wedding. It is a perfect venue for our Leonardo da Vinci-themed wedding photo shoot. Its majestic ochre walls stand out against the beautiful woods and hills of Mugello area. Throughout centuries many famous artists, doctors and writers have visited Striano to embrace and enjoy it’s quietness and peace among the lush Tuscan hills. Its gorgeous fresco ceilings, balconies, and elegant landscaping and gardens around the property brings a true authentic Tuscan wedding experience. This ancient villa is full of charm and mystery, which inspired us to design the photo shoot with a challenging main theme of Leonardo da Vinci.

The wedding inspiration was beautifully put together by a Fine Art stylist, Chiara, of Weddings in Tuscany, and her team. Being born and raised in the gorgeous Tuscan region, which is also native to Leonardo da Vinci, Chiara drew the inspiration from the culture so dear to her. Chiara chose to incorporate beautiful Florentine decor to portray the real authentic Italian Renaissance experience. Stunning wooden Florentine trays with golden details adorned the reception table set up. Chiara paid attention to the smallest details while planning the design of the photo shoot. Her creative and elegant work is done with excellency and professionalism at the highest level.

The incredible wedding gown in a soft purple tone evokes a dramatic and deepest emotion. Its light texture and cascading design with loose ribbons tied at the shoulders is magnificent.

Giulia Cecchrini gave our bride Sara a slightly darker color on her lips and cheeks to complement Sara’s beautiful Italian dark hair and skin complexion. Sara’s loose up-do has romantic curls coming down to suggest the Renaissance style and to showcase the iridescent silk chiffon flowing Myrina wedding gown by Carol Hannah.

Romantic, loose and fragrant flowers by Jardin Divers harmoniously complement the Renaissance theme. Jardin incorporated a variety of combinations of shapes and colors in her florals. White and blush wild flowers, gorgeous roses, raspberries, all adorned with a the simplicity of a jasmine vine is a wonderful representation of an Italian elegance. The contrast between the artful gold Florentine setting and simple and romantic florals creates the perfect balance for an elegant look.

A unique paper suite by Esther Clark at Esther Clark Illustration & Calligraphy was inspired by the old-world Renaissance period. Esther uses delicate handmade paper with deckled-edges. Love letter rolled up in a scroll is sealed with a gold jasmine flower detail. Lovely cursive font was incorporated into this elegant Leonardo da Vinci inspired invitation suite. Esther’s hand drawn sketch inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings is a stunning addition to the theme. Esther’s Fine Art approach and talent is easily noticed.

Fine Art wedding photographer, Anna, with Anna Grinets Photography, captured the elegant looks in a light and romantic style. Anna achieves this look by using a medium format film camera, which makes her work stand out and gives photos a beautiful softness. Her photography focuses on documenting emotions and creating stylish imagery in the highest quality. Anna’s work has been featured in publications and magazines in the United States and in Europe.

Each and every one of these artists would love to assist you in making your wedding dreams come true…. Look ’em up (and tell them we sent you)!

Intimate Tuscan Wedding at Villa Montanare with Foraged Florals

If you’re getting married in Italy, it’s a universally known fact that you have to experience authentic Italian pizza in some way, shape, or form… but integrating the pizza experience with your wedding weekend? E perfetto! Brilliant wedding planner and stylist Weddings by Silke designed Erin and Michael’s fresh and romantic Tuscan wedding to perfection, including the most chic “pizza party” you’ll ever see and loads of organic, foraged florals and details everywhere. Villa Montanare provided a flawless Italian backdrop for their weekend-long celebration and just wait until you see their sun-drenched couple’s portraits by Kate Ignatowski …

From Event Stylist Weddings by Silke… Come and join us to the intimate elopement of Erin and Michael which said “yes” in June at the magical Villa Montanare in Tuscany. This sweet couple decided to make their dream come true just with a small number of guests in a laid back and beautiful atmosphere without any conventions.

They started with a Pizza Party as rehearsal dinner and they loved the idea that each guest create a pizza by themselves and all guests share their own pizza creation. This was the best icebreaker and they had a really funny evening with the most delicious pizza and Italian salads.

On their wedding day they started in the afternoon with the getting ready in the amazing lower floor of the Villa Montanare with the original floors of 1640. We loved to see how much fun Erin had with her beautiful styling and we felt in love with her amazing robe of Catherine D’Lish.

The intimate ceremony take place on the highest point of the olive gardens with an breathtaking view over the valley. For the dinner they decided for the spot under the pergola with a stunning sunset. They liked to have everything in a very simple and organic style and we are overwhelmed about the prettiness of this dreamy tablesetting.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Villa Montanare

View Portfolio

Intimate Destination Wedding in Tuscany

Do you ever find yourself swooning over complete strangers’ wedding films? Confession: we do this all the time. The thing about wedding films is that they bring a unique life to a set of wedding images and they are oh-so-romantic, just like today’s lovely cinematic treat by videographers Happy Together Films! In an intimate setting, planned to perfection by Italian wedding planner Weddings in Tuscany, Natalie and Shane exchanged vows with the rolling hills and vineyards of Chianti as their witness….

From Happy Together Films… Natalie and Shane had this dilemma. They opted for a really small destination wedding in Tuscany with their nearest and dearest loved ones. With a small guest list of only twelve, they were able to celebrate in style. The place they found for the cerebration was in fact a very alternative venue, a countryside house in the middle of the hills and vineyards in Tuscany.

Since Natalie and Shane’s group was a small number of family and friends, they booked a local restaurant with an amazing Italian menu. Ohh, we remember it so well, the food was so so delicious. And the wine… no words. The perfect menu for small destination wedding in Tuscany. Natalie and Shane were very sure about going small and intimate. To help them achieve that, they hired a local wedding planner team to deal with all the logistics of the day. As they are from Australia, it was crucial to be able to trust a local wedding planner to help them plan from afar!

Skip what is not important for you, don’t waste your energy in traditional wedding steps if you don’t want them at your wedding. If you only have 10 or 20 guests, you probably don’t need formal invitations, it might be lovely to personally call each one to invite your guest. If you won’t have a big band playing, big set of party lights and a big cake, you may extend your wedding for one more day with your small group and experience more quality time with them. Wisely spend your budget to enhance what’s more important to you and creating an unforgettable experience for you and your guest is what every couples wishes. We are so thankful to Natalie and Shane for inviting us to be part of such a small and intimate group of people and be their destination wedding cinematographer. It was a pleasure being there and witnessing your super sweet wedding vows.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/263497880 600 338]

Cinematography: Happy Together Films | Event Planning: Weddings in Tuscany by Chiara Sernesi | Celebrant: Elena Petrucci | Villa: Casa al Bosco

Tuscany Elopement Inspiration at Villa Barberino

From Chiara with Weddings in Tuscany… We decided to organize the shoot at Villa Barberino for its beautiful Italian style gardens, which provided an absolutely perfect outdoor courtyard setting. Set halfway up the hill separating the Valdarno and Chianti Valleys, Villa Barberino dates back to the 14th-century. It was an amazing day working with some of the finest wedding vendors.

We used predominantly soft pastels – adding to the overall theme of romance. Our bride’s lush organic bouquet was created with fresh seasonal flowers from the garden.

The bride wore a tulle and lace gown designed by Adi Shlomo with lovely embroidered shoes from Bella Belle. The groom’s attire is by Menguin.

Usually, a Tuscan color palette is predominantly warm. We balanced the colors from the villa walls and its surroundings with the colors in our floral design. With a blush pink color palette, the stationery designed by Nicole of Every Little Letter was the perfect addition to a beautifully styled table setting. A soft pink velvet tablecloth and inlaid white plates completely enhanced the romantic feeling.

Audrey Norman, is a talented and passionate photographer. As you can see, she has the great ability to not only capture details but incredible moments.

There’s so much for from this beautiful wedding inspiration shoot in the full gallery!