Utterly Romantic Italy Villa Wedding with Twinkling Festoon Lights

I am so happy to be dreaming of warm weather and beautiful destinations courtesy of this utterly romantic Italy villa wedding this fine Friday. Andriana and Austin were married on the 8^th May 2019 at Villa Vignalunga in the Province of Siena, Italy. They decided on a destination wedding and what an amazing and relaxed celebration they had. They kept wedding planning really simple and the results were so beautiful.

I welled up with emotion reading their wedding ceremony, the hand ceremony is just so special, I urge you to read it. It must have made for a wonderful moment and set against those magnificent views too, wow. They also held their party outdoors, beneath twinkling festoon lights which looked ever so magical. I adore the whimsical flower arrangements too, Andriana’s bouquet was so pretty.

Huge thanks goes to The Springles today for sharing these totally exquisite images of a spectacular wedding celebration.

The Proposal

We went to Belize in February 2018. Austin purchased the ring 5 months before and had planned a proposal at the top of a pyramidal ruin from which you can see into Guatemala. Andri is a big traveller and so the proposal would mention all the travels ahead. The day came and the ruins were closed for rain. Austin was panicking, sipping coffee on the patio and trying to come up with another plan.

He went up to get refills for their coffees and came back to the hut. He walked in to find Andri sitting on the hammock looking out on the valley, taking in the view. He realized that this was her happy place and a great time to propose. He ducked inside, grabbed the ring, and asked. Neither of us remember the speech but it was perfect for us in every way.

The Vision

Our hope was to bring family and close friends together on a grand vacation. Andri’s grandfather had a tradition of doing this for the family and we wanted to continue his legacy.

The Planning Process

In the end we did very little planning. After deciding on a destination wedding in Italy, we found a villa on AirBnB. The owner was also a wedding planner and after hiring her she brought all the vendors to us. We were provided options by all of vendors and we made all of our choices of those.

We are very easy going and didn’t have strong feelings about most things. We describe our style to our various vendors and they all made it come together.

Budget

Like all couples planning we expected we could do this on a smaller budget…but ya know weddings.

We were super lucky to have had our parents pay for this wedding.

The Venue

Poderi Vignalunga

Castiglione d’Orcia, Province of Siena, Italy

Our immediate families stayed in the Villas leading up to our wedding day.

Your Outfits & Accessories

Austin had a bespoke suit made while traveling in DC. They were able to mail the suit home after it was completed. He took it into a tailor after receiving it and had the pants altered very slightly. Beyond that it was a perfect fit.

Andriana purchased her dress at Bella Lilly Bridals in Phoenix, AZ with the help of her mom and sister. She also wore polka dots Keds.

We made our own wedding rings from raw silver with the help of the Wedding Ring Experience and Johanna the owner of a Harold Studios helped us craft our rings from scratch one Sunday.

Beauty

My sister, Mia and my friend Lo did my hair and added in a few flowers from the florist. @lo_glo and @miajoycette

My best friend, Reanna, did my make-up @reannaanner

The Readings & Music

We did a ring warming ceremony.

Andri and Austin will exchange rings as a physical symbol of their vows they are making to one another. As the ceremony proceeds will the family and friends please warm these rings by passing them to one another. As you hold them in your hands, pause for a moment, make your wishes for the couple and their future together before you pass them on to the next person. These rings were crafted by the couple for one another and with your help will now contain the love, support, and wisdom of their family and friends.

Throughout time countless millions of people from many cultures, religions, and societies have gathered among friends and families to celebrate their love for one and other and their commitment to each other. Each culture has symbols and rituals to celebrate marriage, from the Chinese tea ceremony to the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass, a rich tapestry of traditions from around the world combine to symbolize the meaning of marriage. Today we should try to remember that a wedding is a symbol, a heartfelt and meaningful symbol but a symbol nonetheless. This ceremony is not magic, it will not create a relationship that does not already exist and has not already been celebrated in all the commitments Andriana and Austin have made to each other, both large and small, in the days since they first met. What we are celebrating today is not the beginning of a marriage, but a marriage-already-in-progress. This ceremony is a symbol of how far they have come together and a symbol of the promises that they will continue to make to each other throughout live their lives together.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed? Well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remember this moment in time.

Before this moment you have been many things to one another, stranger, friend, fiancé(e), But now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this—is my husband; this—is my wife.

Nothing is easier than standing here and saying these words, and nothing is more difficult than living them day to day. When you love someone, you do not love them all the time in exactly the same way. That is impossible. Yet that is what most of us expect. We forget the ebb and flow of life and of love and of relationships. We insist on permanence, on duration, on continuity. But in love, as in life, the only stability is in change, in growth, and in freedom. Therefore what you promise today must be renewed and reaffirmed tomorrow and all the tomorrows to come.

Having considered all of these things, please declare your wedding vows to each other.

Hand Ceremony

Andri and Austin, Please turn to one another and take each other’s hands, so that you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes your way. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Mattia Mattei – sang at our cocktail hour and was a DJ for the rest of the night

Andriana walked down the aisle to a cover of Hall and Oates – You Make My Dream Come True – by Pamplemousse

We left the ceremony to George Ezra’s – Paradise

Our first dance was to James Arthurs – Say You Wont Let Go

Groomsmen

Brenton, Austin’s best friend.

Bridesmaids

My sister, Mia, was my Maid of Honour, she picked her own dress from Birdy Grey.

The Flowers

Luca Cozza @lucacozza_flowersspecialevents

The Cake

No cake – we had cannolis provided by our caterer – Massimilano Capelli Catering.

Your Photographer

The Springles, we also did a pre-wedding shoot with them!

Your Filmmaker

Vertigo Wedding – film here.

The Honeymoon

We were lucky to spend 3 weeks travelling around Europe after our wedding. We started our honeymoon in Lake Como in an incredible AirBnB, next we went to Venice. We flew to Naxos in Greece and spent a week there. We spent a few days in Paris and Amsterdam before spending a long layover in London and heading home.

Memorable Moments

We unexpectedly had our legal wedding in the local mayors office the day before, we were not sure we would be able to make it happen legally in Italy but much to our surprise the Mayor agreed we had enough of the paperwork and we got married with our two witnesses.

Advice For Other Couples

We did not stress about the details and left the incredible people we hired to do what they did best. It was an awesome surprise and great experience!

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Does it get any more romantic? And all the outfits were just so stylish too. Swoon.

Andriana and Austin, thank you both ever so much for sharing your incredible wedding with us xo Lou