Our Italian Wedding

Ten years ago, I made the nerve-wracking decision to study abroad in Italy. I never imagined that leap of faith would eventually lead my husband and me back to the Tuscan hills to say “I do” surrounded by fifty of our favorite people. Choosing an intimate destination wedding allowed us to bridge the where my love for travel began with our future together, sharing our greatest passion with those we love most.

Borgo Stomennano

Booking a wedding venue sight-unseen is a leap of faith few couples take, but the moment we saw the images of Borgo Stomennano, we were sold. The property’s iconic, imposing pillars captured my heart instantly; I knew right then that this was where we would say “I do.”

We didn't step foot on the grounds until over a year later during our spring pre-planning trip. There, alongside our lovely planner, Cristina Ditta, we finally experienced it all in person—from the floral design and food tastings to the long-awaited venue tour. Nestled in the rolling hills of Monteriggioni, just outside of Florence and Siena, the Borgo hosted 38 of our guests and provided the quintessential Tuscan backdrop for our wedding weekend.

The Rehearsal Dinner

Our wedding weekend began on Thursday, September 18th, with an intimate group of twenty immediate family members and our closest friends. To honor our historic surroundings, we hosted a dinner nestled within the ancient walls of Monteriggioni. Seated at one long king’s table, we shared a traditional Tuscan feast of salumi and formaggi, pici pasta, and roasted lamb, finishing with classic tiramisu. With Aperol Spritzes and bold Tuscan wines flowing, it was the perfect moment for everyone to settle in and toast to the weekend ahead.

The Welcome Party

Dare I say it… but if we could relive just one day of our wedding weekend, it would be the welcome party. While our wedding day was a dream I’ll forever cherish, the welcome party was pure, unadulterated fun—the kind of night we constantly revisit when we reminisce.

Since our wedding was a formal black-tie affair, we wanted the night before to evoke the effortless spirit of an Italian summer. Guests arrived in vibrant, sun-drenched hues as a folk duo played a mix of Italian and American classics. Set against the rolling Tuscan hills with a perfect sunset to boot, the energy was infectious. Between the live pasta station, the fresh mozzarella bar, and the gelato cart, the evening flowed seamlessly, punctuated by Aperol Spritzes and heartfelt speeches from my mother-in-law and two of our best friends.

I would be remiss not to mention the tablescape; our florist completely blew us away. With organic green hues, custom velvet lamps, and elegant place settings, the design was jaw-dropping—a true "wow" factor that left our guests eager to see what the wedding day had in store.

The wedding day

I was never the type to dream about my wedding day as a young girl, but looking back at our time in Tuscany, I realize it was everything I never knew I wanted. The morning started privately, just the two of us, as we read our vows and exchanged gifts. It was a beautiful, tear-filled moment of calm before the whirlwind of the day began. While we shared those same vows later in front of our guests, having that intimate moment alone first was incredibly important to us.

Our vision was "ethereal, intimate, and elegant." Every element was meticulously curated—from the specific cadence of the music to the neutral black-tie palette of our guests. I’m endlessly grateful to the vendors who turned these intentions into a reality. It wasn’t just a perfect day for us; it was an experience that our loved ones are still reminiscing about today.

The pool party

Is an Italian wedding truly complete without a post-wedding pool party? We were so grateful to have my relatives host this for us, and they absolutely blew it out of the water (pun intended!). After months of managing destination wedding logistics, it was a rare treat to relinquish control and have such a fun surprise to look forward to the day after saying "I do."

As we entered the pool area, we were greeted by a live wood-fired pizza station, spritz and beer on tap, and a gelato cart. With our wedding DJ spinning tropical house beats and the weather a perfect 80 degrees, it was the ultimate afternoon of relaxation—the perfect "recovery" after the late night of our wedding day.

The Lane feature

I’ll preface this by saying that the sanctity of a wedding far outweighs any accolades. I will forever cherish our wedding day for its true meaning: celebrating our union and the start of our life together. That being said, I spent nearly two years meticulously planning every detail of our wedding weekend, drawing much of my inspiration from The Lane.

So when one of our vendors reached out about submitting our wedding to them, I was overjoyed. I was even more honored to learn they had selected our wedding for a full feature. To be recognized by the publication I admire most is a true dream come true.

[You can find the full feature linked here.]

Closing thoughts

There are often varying opinions when it comes to destination weddings, but I believe every wedding should be a unique reflection of what a couple envisions as their “perfect day.” When we chose Italy, we understood that some dearly loved guests might not be able to join us, and that was a reality we accepted. To bridge that gap, we opted for a nearly two-year engagement, doing everything we could to give our inner circle the time to plan alongside us. Looking back, sharing something so near and dear to our hearts with those who could attend was the best decision we ever made. Our wedding weekend was intimate, intentional, and everything we dreamed it would be—we wouldn't change a single thing. It was also incredibly special to see our closest friends and family turn our wedding weekend into a larger adventure - as for many, it was their first trip to Europe and the trip of a lifetime.