Beijia, a hedge fund manager originally from Beijing, and Alex, a lawyer from Scotland, found love in the most unexpected place: a dating app during the height of the COVID lockdown in New York City. Their story, as Beijia tells it, is full of remarkable coincidences. They were even born exactly a year and a day apart, grew up just miles from each other in Beijing, and both lived in London for a time before their paths finally crossed in New York. “It just felt meant to be,” the bride writes.

Beijia, a long-time reader of Destination I Do, knew a wedding away from home sounded magical.  Now, she and Alex get to share their inspirational wedding in Tuscany, Italy with the world, in hopes of inspiring other couples.

A Castle Steeped in History

With the help of their fantastic wedding planner, Beatrice of Alfresco Wedding, Beijia and Alex discovered the spectacular Castello Di Celsa, a 13th-century castle overlooking the rolling hills of Siena, Tuscany.

“While we knew we wanted a destination wedding, likely in Italy, we actually didn’t know the exact type of settling until our wedding planner showed us the castle,” the bride says. “Once we saw it, we knew immediately that it was our dream venue.”

The castle’s history resonated deeply with Beijia, a successful woman in a male-dominated field. “The sheer beauty of this magical castle, and the knowledge it had been protected and lead by amazing women for so long held profound significance for me,” she writes. It was a powerful symbol of female empowerment. Not only that, but the castle once played the setting for a horror movie, a genre of which the bride is a massive enthusiast.

Three Stunning Dresses for a Global Celebration

The wedding itself was an intimate affair, with only 70 of Beijia and Alex’s closest friends – a truly international group representing 25 different countries. Beijia embraced her personal style throughout the celebration. She wore a neon yellow Bronx & Banco gown for the welcome dinner, then donned three more show-stopping dresses for the wedding day itself.

Her ceremony dress, a Mira Zwillinger creation, featured stunning 3D ferns that echoed the castle’s greenery and the overall green theme of the wedding. Finding this unique dress was no small feat – Beijia scoured eight bridal shops before finally securing the only copy available, a runway sample shipped from Israel. Alex complemented her perfectly in an ivory Tom Ford evening jacket and Ralph Lauren tuxedo trousers.

A Celebration of Love and Green

“Much of the décor and accessories in the wedding were chosen to have coherence to the bride’s main two wedding dresses, and the bride’s favorite color, green,” Beijia explains. The green and white floral theme, heavy on ferns and other greenery, mirrored the botanical elements of her ceremony dress and the lace details of her first reception dress. Even Beijia’s jewelry and hairpieces incorporated silver ferns and flowers, creating a cohesive and personal touch.

A Couple’s Best Planning Tool

For couples planning their own destination wedding, Beijia and Alex couldn’t recommend hiring a planner who is quite familiar with your chosen destination and the various venues, vendors and accommodations in that area. “Beatrice at Alfresco Wedding was fantastic, guiding us through the process and bringing it all together seamlessly on the big day.”

Vendors: Photographer: Lelia Scarfiotti; Wedding Planner: Alfresco Wedding; Venue: Castello Di Celsa; Florist & Stationery: Stiatti Fiori; Cake: Roland’s; Hair & Makeup: Consuelo Cardella; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Tom Ford; Bridesmaid Dresses: Birdy Grey