Alexandra + Thomas’ wedding by the sea in Tuscany
Photo: Vin Studio
It was fashion to forever for U.S. couple Alexandra and Thomas who met while working for the same Italian fashion brand and fell in love during a trip to Milan. When it came time to plan their wedding, there was no doubt it had to be in Italy, the place where their story began. The challenge was choosing where. They dreamed of being near the water, somewhere with the Italian charm they loved, yet accessible for their guests, and when they came across the unique Villa Parisi in Tuscany, they knew it was the one. With the help of LL trusted planner Ksenia, she brought their vision to life in an effortlessly elegant celebration that perfectly reflected their journey.
The Love Story
“We met working for an Italian fashion company, Loro Piana, while we worked in different departments, we met at a company socialising event. Thomas then proposed at The River Cafe, in Brooklyn NY, he told me we were going to dinner with his family to celebrate his sister and mom's birthday but when we arrived, he suggested we walk through the garden because they were early to the reservation. Upon entering the garden, I saw white rose petals and candles on the ground, thinking we were about to witness someone else's engagement, I exclaimed "someone is getting engaged!" When Thomas only responded with a smile, I realised.”
Why Italy?
“We have worked for Italian companies for the majority of our professional careers, and spent much time in Italy both for work and pleasure. One of our work trips to Milan happened to overlap on the same weekend and we spent the day walking around the Duomo, Indro Montanelli Gardens, and even happened upon a carnival. It was on this trip that we fell in love, both with each other and with Milan, so when we got engaged it was never a doubt that the wedding would be in Italy. ”
The Venue
“We originally had our eyes set on a beautiful lakeside villa in Lago Maggiore but wanted to get married in a venue where we could also host our guests overnight. We felt it was important to be able to provide our loved ones with accommodations for the weekend being that most of our guests were coming from overseas. We knew we wanted to get married by the water and have the convenience and beauty of Tuscany, so when we found Villa Parisi, it offered everything we needed.”
The Ceremony
“We had been planning the wedding for nearly a year, with every area of the celebration carefully mapped out. But everything changed during our final site visit just one month before the big day. At the bottom of Villa Parisi, we discovered a tiny platform nestled in the sea—and it was love at first sight. We knew instantly that this hidden gem had to become the ceremony location. Transforming that spot came with its share of risks: unpredictable weather and sea conditions, complicated logistics for transporting equipment, and access challenges. But we embraced it all. Guests were provided with comfortable shoes to reach the location and were guided every step of the way by our team. The unforgettable final touch? We made the rocks bloom—adorning the ceremony space with hundreds of roses, turning stone into romance.”
~ Ksenia, Planner
The Style
“Our inspiration drew from celebrating the coastal Italian charm of the venue, mixed with a very classic and timeless aesthetic. We wanted an elevated and natural feel, so we tried to stay away from a particular color or symbolic theme. We used all white flowers and accented our dining tables with black and a touch of gold. Our wonderful wedding planning team had a milanese design specialist who took our thoughts and made them into a reality.”
The Dress
“My wedding gown was designed and hand sewn by my grandmother (93 years), with a 100% silk faille fabric from Oscar De La Renta that I chose from New York's 'Mood Fabrics'.”
Stand Out Moment
“During our seated dinner we wanted to have some form of entertainment for our guests because Italian dinners can be long. Our wedding planner suggested we include a surprise performance by opera singers who were dressed as servers and then burst into song when everyone least expected it. The whole room was amazed by the performance and everyone got up from their seats and danced and sang along.”
The Cake
“Later in the evening during our cake cutting the opera singers came out to serenade us with Andrea Bocelli's, 'Con Te Partirò' as fireworks were set off behind us.”
Advice For Couples
“The wedding planner you choose is so important, not just because it is a long journey with them from start to finish, but because they are the ones who do this for a living and are truly experts. We did not feel stressed or anxious leading up to or during our wedding because we had the peace of mind that we had a great team making our dreams become reality.”
VENDOR TEAM
Venue + Catering: Villa Parisi | Planner: Ksenia Weddings Weddit Agency | Photographer: Vin Studio | Videographer: Beautiful Day Films | Florals: G&G Fiorista | HMUA: BLBS | Music: La Bottega della Musica | Rentals: Preludio Divisione Noleggio
Yet to find your dream wedding venue? We sift through the average to find you the impeccable; it’s time to find yours now.
Categories
PLANNING | REAL WEDDING | SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT | INSPIRATION | WANDERLUST
