The Bride’s Sister Designed Her Dress For This Ethereal, Elegant Wedding Day In Italy

Sometimes a wedding dress is so good that it inspires the entire wedding.

Or at least that’s what happened with Kristina + William’s breathtaking destination celebration in Tuscany. “To be honest, the style inspiration for our wedding started with my wedding gown,” bride Kristina says. “Everything else naturally complimented it.” 

And the gorgeous wedding dress that started it all – the sheer lace stunner with a corset bodice + dramatic panier overskirt? It was designed and made by Kristina’s sister 🥹. “With the dress as our inspiration, we aimed to keep the overall vibe minimal and ethereal, allowing the rich Italian charm of the venue to shine through and speak for itself,” Kristina adds.

By setting their wedding day at Country Relais le Capanne the couple treated their guests to all the stunning views + rustic romance that Tuscany has to offer. And, not only was it the dreamiest Italian destination spot, tucked away in the hills of Pisa, it also took care of the entire day’s event design + planning!

“Kristina + William’s wedding stood out for its effortless sense of joy and style,” remembers photographer Celia of The Lightbox Tales. “The day was intimate and relaxed, yet full of energy from start to finish — the kind of celebration where the atmosphere carries itself and everyone feels part of something special.”

The bride + groom rocked flawless looks at both the rehearsal diner and on the wedding day itself that we can’t wait to show you. It’s so great to see a couple really embrace their own style instincts like Kristina + William did. As a result the whole thing has a chic, intentional, meant-to-be vibe.

“They booked us just a few weeks before the wedding, almost by chance, as we happened to still be available. Looking back, it felt like one of those rare alignments where everything falls into place,” Celia shares. “The day flowed naturally, without pressure or pretense, allowing us to document it in a very honest and joyful way.”

“It remains one of those weddings that reminds us why we love doing this work.”

The Day Before

We could write an entire essay about how much we adore Kristina’s rehearsal dinner bridal separates look. The 3D floral details. The sexy-yet-sophisticated silhouette. The hat!!

Not to worry — We’ve got a rehearsal dinner guest style guide to help you get on the same level as Kristina + William’s gorgeous guests for the next wedding weekend you’ve got on the books.

Check out our rehearsal dinner dress collection if Kristina’s gorg two-piece look has you excited to shop for your own flawless rehearsal dinner fit.

The Wedding Day

“I had the incredible honor of having my baby sister, Kayla Santos, design and create my gown,” Kristina says.

“I wanted to embody the chicness, timelessness, and elegance of a Tuscan wedding. And she brought that vision to life beautifully.”

The Ceremony

Flo Bloomlab added bursts of bright color to the Tuscan hillside with these whimsical ceremony floral towers.

LOVING the two-tone b+w details of William’s wedding tux! You can shop this one from SuitShop for a similar look.

No matter the silhouette, there’s just something so undeniably, classically bridal about a lace wedding dress.

You should check out our expert-approved destination wedding planning guide if these sunny Italian countryside vistas have you feeling some wedding-related wanderlust.

Very into the drama of Kristina’s long, lace-edged wedding veil. The Pronovias x Anthropologie Weddings Eika Lace Cathedral Veil has a similar look + vibe!

We’ve got a whole roundup dedicated to the timeless beauty that is the high neck wedding dress that you should scroll through if the neckline of Kristina’s look is speaking to you.

“We first met while working retail at the same mall, different stores!” the couple shares of how their love story got its start. “We were just a few steps apart and always crossed paths!”

The Reception

We’re very into a guest dress code — especially an unexpected, taboo-breaking one, like asking your guests to wear white to your wedding!

This striking destination wedding in San Miguel de Allende and this “minimal but extra” destination wedding in Santorini are two of our other fave examples.

Our Advice
It’s never too early to start planning! Beginning early gives you the freedom to explore all your options without pressure and truly bring your vision to life. Plus, starting ahead of time helps reduce stress, so you can enjoy the journey!

Our Favorite Memory
Putting together our wedding cake was such a special moment. The Italian tradition of assembling the millefoglie cake in front of everyone to witness made the day feel even more personal. It really brought everyone together, and we could feel all the love and immaculate vibes surround us.

Congratulations, Kristina + William! Your destination wedding in Tuscany was all ethereal Italian elegance with a chic + playful edge, and we’re so glad we’ve got this video from The Lightbox Tales that so beautifully captures the vibe. All the best from GWS!