Kirsten + Sal’s spring-time wedding at Borgo Corsignano

When Sal asked, “Shall we do dinner?” on a warm spring evening in 2019, neither he nor Kirsten could’ve known that a spontaneous mid-week date at an Italian restaurant in Williamsburg would lead them to say "I do" in the heart of Italy.

Fast-forward a few years to May, set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Italy, their multi-day celebration was less about tradition and more about authentic connection—with each other, with their guests, and with a place that felt effortlessly magical. With a stellar team of vendors, at the impeccable Tuscan venue, Borgo Corsignano, Kirsten and Sal reflect on the moments that stood out, top advice for future planning couples and what they would have done differently.

The dating

“Sal and I first met in 2019 at Testo, an Italian restaurant in Williamsburg. About three months in, things got complicated: we needed to sort some things out individually, and we stopped seeing each other. Six months later, I texted Sal for the first time in months. Admittedly, I was partly motivated by not wanting to take the last Metro-North train home at 1AM–way too early to leave a NYE party–but he’d also been on my mind. Long story short, we weren’t able to meet up that night, and I did end up having to take the train home, but we agreed to meet up the following weekend. We grabbed dinner at a pizza place near his apartment, and we’ve been together ever since.”

The engagement

“Our proposal was sweet, simple, and perfectly reflective of our relationship. We decided to get engaged through a series of conversations, rather than a traditional surprise. It was important to me to feel like an equal partner in such a significant life decision, rather than waiting and wondering when Sal might make that choice for us.

We designed a custom ring using purple sapphires, a decision made in spite of considerable pushback from family who felt strongly about sticking with tradition and going with a diamond. That decision—to tune out external pressure and do what felt right for us—set the tone for the rest of our wedding planning.”

Why Italy?

“We’d often heard people say their wedding day flew by in the blink of an eye, and we wanted something different—an intimate celebration with room to breathe. We envisioned three full days for our loved ones to talk and connect in a genuine way, and a destination wedding weekend felt like an amazing way to achieve that. Italy was a place we had both visited separately and loved before we met. The food is amazing, the landscapes are beautiful, the atmosphere is romantic and vibrant, and the people are warm and welcoming. We also loved the idea of an Italian-style wedding, which tends to be longer, more relaxed, and focused on enjoyment and connection.” 

What would you have changed?

“The weekend was more perfect than I could have imagined, even in my wildest dreams. But if I had to choose something to change, it would be the music on our welcome night. We had an awesome folk band for the first half of the evening, but once they wrapped up, we just plugged in a phone and played a Spotify playlist we had put together. The playlist wasn’t perfect, and there was some stress around picking the right songs. In hindsight, I think I would’ve hired the DJ for that night as well, just to give ourselves one less thing to manage and to keep the energy flowing more seamlessly.”

Style + Vibe

“Kirsten & Sal wanted to enjoy an Italian wedding full of local experiences and touches, striking the perfect balance between formal and party. From celebrating their love and marriage surrounded by nature and an abundance of contextual florals, through to a party that had to go OFF, together we created a seamless flow for the guests to enjoy that hit all the right notes. Music played a huge part in achieving this and signalling the right feelings for each part of the day.”

Lucy, wedding planner at Wiskow & White

Advice for future couples

“I have two pieces of advice for couples in the planning process. Firstly, make sure your outfit is comfortable. I wore a strapless dress that I had to keep tugging up all day, which got annoying. It occasionally pulled me out of the moment, so choose something you feel amazing in—but also something you can forget about once it’s on.

Second, always opt for a full bar over something like a specialty spritz bar. For our pool day, we thought everyone would be tired and wanting to take it easy, so we went with a spritz bar. But of course, it turned into a party, and guests kept trying to order shots—which we didn’t have. Never underestimate your guests’ capacity for partying. Go full bar, even for the “chill” events!”

Stand out supplier

“Our videographer - we met Paul Van for the first time on the day of our welcome party, and from that moment on, he became a huge part of making the entire weekend flow seamlessly. He brought such a grounded, positive energy—it was truly a pleasure and comfort to have him around. So far we have only seen tiny snippets of the video Paul captured, but those have been astonishing, and we have probably watched them 500 times now!

Our photographer - EmmyLou has an amazing energy–fun and warm–and a way of making people feel comfortable and confident having their pictures taken. Her photos captured the energy and the magic of the event in a way I didn’t know was possible.”

Stand out moment

“Our officiant invited us to pause during the ceremony and take it all in—to look out at the breathtaking scenery, and then at all the friends and family there to support us. That moment of slowing down and noticing has stayed with me as one of the most meaningful. Another highlight was the tenor, Maurizio, who performed during dinner. Sitting there, listening to his voice fill the space, felt almost spiritual. At one point, I looked around and saw every face completely awestruck. Having that shared moment, something words can’t fully capture, created a beautiful bond among all of us who were there.”