Sometimes you get an idea in your head that, over time, becomes a full-on dream. In Katie and Josh’s case, a destination wedding in Italy sounded fairytale-like. That, plus their love for wine and Katie being half Italian, guided the couple to wed in the elegant region of Tuscany, Italy. 

“Although neither of us had ever been there in person, we knew the scenic countryside would provide the perfect backdrop for our wedding,” the couple says.

The first hurdle for Katie and Josh was finding a venue that could house all of their guests (the couple wanted to host everyone under the same roof.)  “We had to adjust our dates to secure our favorite location on the list, a beautiful 17th-century villa and vineyard in Chianti,” Katie says.

Another issue was finding a church near the reception venue with wedding availability since many were full as native Italians get first dibs. Luckily, a local priest came through for the couple so they could host their ceremony at the stunning Chiesa di Santa Maria in the nearby town of Panzano.

Once the main items were crossed off the list, Katie worked closely with their Italian planner, Rosanna with The Knot in Italy. Rosanna provided the framework, sharing ideas for Italian traditions and connecting the couple with her network of trusted vendors. Katie took the reins on many creative projects, curating her vision with inspiration from Pinterest boards and other people’s destination wedding videos.

When the time came around for the couple to enjoy the fruits of their labor, everything came together beautifully. Although the couple reports, “once in Italy, some [guests] were afraid to drive the narrow hillside roads of Tuscany.  Renting a car was really the best option for traveling from Florence Airport to the venue, but admittedly, it was an experience.” 

Just as they’d dreamt, stunning vistas provided the perfect backdrop for Katie and Josh’s event. Small things added extra Italian flavoring to their destination wedding, like when a local tuk-tuk taxi happened to pass by, giving the couple an opportunity for a most iconic photo session. 

In the end, Katie and Josh think their alternative location of Cape Cod would have paled in comparison to the unforgettable experience they had under the Tuscan sun. They urge all searching for an ideal destination wedding location to “dream big.” As big as the Tuscan sun.

Vendors: Photographer: Michelle Dunham Photography; Event Planner: The Knot In Italy; Ceremony Location: Chiesa di Santa Maria; Event Venue: Villa Vistarenni; Hair & Makeup: Karina Franco & Tuscany Bridal Styling Team; Videography: Diego Perrini; Caterer: Galateo Ricevimenti; Band: Brightlights; Floral Designer: Flowers Living; Dress Store: Chantilly’s Bridal; Ring Designer: E.B. Horn; Invitation Designer: Lady Slipper Stationery