The Immersively Romantic Destination Wedding Weekend in Tuscany That Swept Us Off Our Feet

“If we had to bottle the whole weekend into one word, it would be romance,” say Ali + Michael of their heart-stealing Tuscan destination celebration. “Not just between the two of us but we wanted every single guest to feel wrapped up in it too. The candlelight, the colors, the music drifting through the air, the way the events were dressed; every choice was made to deepen that feeling.”

Ah, romance — the incandescent feeling that the whole world’s suddenly become more beautiful because someone’s stolen your heart 💌 From the first detail to the last – from sage, mauve, and burgundy invitations with swirling script to winding reception tablescapes overflowing with grapes + artichokes – Ali + Michael’s whole wedding weekend felt like walking into a love letter someone wrote by candlelight. With the help of planners from Gallorini & Giorgi Events, the couple really did create an event that was deeply and immersively, take-your-breath-away romantic.

“What made this wedding so memorable wasn’t just the setting—though Villa La Selva is undeniably breathtaking. It was how intentionally every piece of the weekend was designed,” remembers photographer Abby Jackson. “From the bride’s evolving custom gown to the hand-painted details created by a close friend, every element felt deeply personal. The reception in particular felt like stepping into a Tuscan painting: candlelight, fruit woven through the florals, antique-inspired table settings, and the hills of Tuscany stretching beyond the tables.”

Oh, that custom gown Abby mentioned? We’re so smitten, and we can’t wait to show you. It was a truly exquisite CINQ creation made up of several pieces — corset, skirt, cape, collar, and veil — so that Ali’s look could adapt + evolve throughout the day. 

“The entire weekend was designed to feel intentional, intimate, and reflective of who they are,” photographer Abby says, “a gathering where thoughtful details, exceptional design, and meaningful connection came together in one of Tuscany’s most beautiful settings.”

“It was the kind of celebration that encouraged guests to slow down, take it all in, and be fully present.”

“Personal details were thoughtfully woven into every part of the design,” photographer Abby recalls. “The couple’s wedding palette centered around rich burgundy tones, a color story that appeared in everything from the florals to the custom artwork.”

“A close friend of the bride, an artist, hand-painted the soles of her Gucci heels with the couple’s names in burgundy calligraphy, creating a meaningful heirloom piece.”

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“Michael wore a custom Tweeds tux, his ceremony jacket a double-breasted ivory piece embroidered with the words “I love you more” — the phrase the two of them have whispered to each other for years and the one he beat her to saying first in his vows,” says the couple of Michael’s classic-yet-personalized wedding day style vibe.

Custom cufflinks. Stylish wristwatches. These are definitely in our roundup of the 35 Best Groom Gift Ideas to Give Your Husband on the Wedding Day.

“Ali’s gown was a semi-custom CINQ, and its story began almost by accident,” shares the couple.

“Just a month after getting engaged in Ju ne 2024, a trip to California put her within reach of the CINQ atelier, and she couldn’t resist trying a few gowns on. That single afternoon was the only time she wore a wedding dress until the final decision came together in May 2025.”

“She fell for the idea of separate pieces: a corset, skirt, cape, collar, and veil so she could reimagine her look throughout the day, moving gracefully through four different silhouettes without ever losing the thread of her ceremony look.”

“Even our daughter had her own fairy tale moment, designing a custom gown alongside her talented friend Jaycie Renee Valdez, its colors echoing the wedding’s own palette in a softer, more playful key,” Ali + Michael say. “A little reflection of the love around her.”

The Ceremony

Why not share your vows literally surrounded by your friends + fam? We love to see couples go for creative ceremony setup ideas like Ali + Michael’s in-the-round configuration.

“We had known of each other for a while, orbiting the same circle of friends, one of whom, fittingly, ended up officiating our wedding years later,” say Ali + Michael of how they met.

“We followed each other on Instagram from a distance until one night, everything lined up: Michael posted a story tagged in New York, and it happened to be Ali’s very last night in the city and his very first. She messaged him on a whim. We met up with friends at a restaurant opening that night, and something about the timing made it feel like fate had been waiting for the right moment to introduce us properly. The rest, as they say, is history.”

Our Musical Choices
Processional
Groom's entrance: "Interstellar" || Father of the Bride & Daughter of the Bride: "Hallelujah" (a nod to the late Mother of the Bride's favorite song) || Bride's entrance: "Unchained Melody"  (the song her own parents danced to on their wedding day)
Recessional
"Young and Beautiful" — Lana Del Rey
First Dance
"So Easy to Fall in Love" — Olivia Dean

Our Favorite Memory
Truthfully? The best weekend of our lives, start to finish. But if we're painting the picture: our daughter twirling through a dance she choreographed herself with our guests at the welcome party. The quiet ache and joy of holding a photo of Ali's late mother, tucked into her bouquet, a gift from her closest friends. Michael realizing, mid-panic, that his shirt buttons had gone missing. The speeches that had everyone in tears one moment and laughing the next. The food, the dancing, the cake, every piece of it stitched together into one unforgettable blur.

Our Advice
It sounds like something you'd hear a hundred times, but it holds true: marry your best friend. You're building a whole life with this person so don't settle for anything less than certain. And know that love has its own timing; it tends to arrive exactly when you least expect it. Every stressful night, every late-night seating chart, every moment of planning chaos... all of it dissolves the second you're standing there, surrounded by the people who love you, beginning forever with the one you love most. There is nothing about that trade we wouldn't make again.

The Reception

“The reception design embraced a romantic interpretation of Tuscan elegance,” photographer Abby remembers.

“Long serpentine tables were dressed in softly draped linens that pooled onto the ground, layered with antique-inspired tableware, candlelight, and abundant florals in deep burgundy, blush, and mauve tones.”

Guests enjoyed an al fresco feast prepared by the creative chefs at Guidi Lenci.

“Fruit tucked between arrangements added an old-world sensibility, while the surrounding landscape provided a breathtaking backdrop,” says Abby of the dinner’s romantic location + design vibe. “Set beneath bare trees overlooking the Tuscan countryside, the tablescape invited guests to linger, notice every detail, and fully experience the beauty of the evening.”

Into the unique configuration of this alternating round tabled banquet setup? You’re gonna want to take a look at The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Reception Table Layouts: 25 Creative Ideas.

Carnations. Orchids. Red cabbage. Artichokes. Eggplants. Romanesco. The weekend’s floral creations by Stiatti Fiori opted for a rich + abundant everything-in-the-garden aesthetic. SO opulent.

“Every piece of jewelry I wore was heirloom, layered with unreleased pieces from Marrin Costello Jewelry,” Ali says of her meaningful-meets-original bridal accessory approach.

“There are two things we hope other couples take with them,” Ali + Michael say. “The first is how we chose to honor Ali’s mother, who couldn’t be there in person but was woven into every part of the day anyway. Rather than a formal “in memory of,” we let her presence live in small, tender gestures: a single chair at the ceremony draped in fabric, her photograph tied gently into the bouquet, her wedding ring and jewels worn against Ali’s skin, her favorite song carrying her husband and granddaughter down the aisle. It takes a little more thought to honor someone this way, but there’s a quiet beauty in weaving them into the day rather than setting them apart from it.”

“The second is something we believe every couple should sit with: your wedding day isn’t only yours. The people in that room gave up time from their own lives to stand in that one with you, and that deserves to be honored, too. So we wrote a handwritten note for every guest in place of a table card. We swapped seat assignments for soft blankets embroidered with each guest’s name. When we learned quietly that one guest was navigating a health issue, we let our chef know without making it a moment — and she was so moved that she built a menu just for them.”

“It’s these smallest details, more than anything grand, that made the entire weekend feel like the most romantic one of our lives. “

You won’t want to miss this gorgeous wedding vid Dylan Dirks. It so perfectly captures the love-drunk spirit of Ali + Michael’s day. Press play below!

Ali + Michael, your Tuscan destination wedding weekend was complete + total head-over-heels romance. We’re totally swooning for every deeply intentional detail. Congratulations from all of us at GWS!