Katie and Josh’s destination wedding weekend at Villa Vistarenni in Tuscany, Italy was one to remember. It was my first destination wedding outside of the United States and my first trip to Italy, but it certainly won’t be my last!
Reflecting on this day (which was now almost two years ago in 2019), makes me appreciate not only having the ability to travel, but doing it for such a joyful occasion. On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with so many countries (not to mention the wedding industry) still being impacted around the world, it makes me realize how easy it is to take such a special opportunity for granted.
Katie and Josh partnered closely with a destination wedding consultant, The Knot in Italy, since they were planning their wedding remotely from home in Boston, Massachusetts (see their South End and Back Bay Boston engagement session here).
Their wedding vision could be described as “Tuscan elegance”, which was brought to life through even the smallest details.
Looking forward to spending time with their nearest and dearest in Italy first and foremost, Katie and Josh chose to host friends and family for a weekend at a stately 1600s villa, Villa Vistarenni. The property had stunning views, overlooking rolling hills and vineyards of the Tuscan countryside. It surely set the tone for mid-summer Tuscan elegance!
Their wedding color palette consisted of a beautiful dusty, steel blue with pops of greenery, gray and white neutrals. One of my personal favorite details (and there were many!) was the custom watercolor painting of Villa Vistarenni (pictured below) as part of their stationery suite. Amazing work by Lady Slipper Stationery.
Just prior to Katie and Josh’s first look on the front lawn of the villa, the skies turned gray and a thunder storm blew through the area unexpectedly. Thankfully it was a quick storm, and the lingering clouds diffused the sun nicely for their portraits (a photographer’s dream!).
This lawn later turned into a beautifully curated dining area. It featured a farm style banquet table, that seated all of Katie and Josh’s guests. Can you guess how long the table runner was?! A little fun fact – Katie and her mom made the runner themselves after finding the perfect shade of dusty steel blue fabric. Keep scrolling to see how beautiful the table scape turned out!
Following the first look, we hopped into our Mini Cooper (such a fun little car to drive through the winding roads of Italy!) to the ceremony location. Josh and Katie exchanged vows at Chiesa di Santa Maria (the Church of St. Mary) in the quaint town of Panzano in Chianti.
After their grand exit, we walked through the neighborhood, where locals shared well wishes with the newlyweds, to an overlook point just down the road. The landscape views from this location were incredible to say the least. To make it even better, a local taxi driver happened to be passing by in an authentic tuktuk! He was kind enough to let us borrow it for a few photos before our trip back to Villa Vistarenni for cocktail hour (or aperitif in Italian culture), dinner and dancing.
A blend of American and Italian wedding traditions were infused throughout the day. One of my personal favorites was the making of the traditional Italian Millefoglie wedding cake. This is probably not a shocker, if you know me and my sweet tooth!
Not only was the cake delicious, but it was beautiful and quite a work of art! It was assembled during the reception for all to watch. Assembly consisted of layering Italian sweet cream custard with puff pastry, and topping it off with fresh berries, powdered sugar, and (in this case) chocolate chips! Yum! Thank you Galateo Ricevimenti!
A traditional American wedding cake was also part of the reception.
The evening carried on under the stars to the sounds and entertainment of the Brightlights band.
What an experience and what a trip to remember. Thank you for asking me to be a part of it, Katie and Josh! It’s been fun taking a trip down memory lane, and reliving your wedding weekend through this blog post.
Thank you to an amazing team of wedding vendors!
Wedding Planner: The Knot in Italy, @theknotinitaly.it
Photography: Michelle Dunham Photography, @michelledunhamphoto
Videography: Diego Perrini, @diegoperrinivideo
Hair & Makeup: Tuscany Bridal Beauty Stylists, @tuscanybridalbeautystylists
Band: Brightlights, @brightlightsband
Catering: Galateo Ricevimenti, @galateoricevimenti
Stationery: Lady Slipper Stationery, @ladyslipperstationery
Florist: Flowers Living, @flowersliving
Bridal Gown: Calla Blanche, Chantilly’s Bridal Boutique, @chantillys_bridal
leave a comment!