Garden Party Wedding at Tuscany's Villa Valentini Bonaparte

A bride and groom stand together in a grassy field at sunset, with rolling hills, trees, and distant buildings in the background.

Garden Party Wedding at Tuscany’s Villa Valentini Bonaparte

July 11, 2025
Words by Lauren Ertl
Photos courtesy of Jules Bower

Emma and Eric first met in NYC just before the world shut down. Emma puts it best: “On date #3 I met Eric’s whole family, by date #4 we were planning to buy a van and work remotely across the U.S., and by date #5, we were basically roommates.” Iconic behavior.

Fast forward to June 2024, and these two lovebirds were saying “I do” at Villa Valentini Bonaparte, a ridiculously stunning countryside estate in Tuscany that they booked without even seeing it in person. “We trusted our planner, Sabrina, completely,” says Emma. “She showed us a few options and when this one came up, we just went for it.”

Aerial view of an estate with gardens, a groom in a tuxedo at a bar, and a bride in a white dress standing by a mirror in an ornate room. Top: A bride faces bridesmaids in pink dresses indoors. Bottom: Groomsmen in suits walk with the groom outdoors on grass under trees.

The Vibe: Whimsical Garden Party Meets Italian Countryside Romance

This wasn’t your cookie-cutter wedding setup. Think: white florals, breezy greenery, and bunches of grapes as table décor. Yes, grapes. And it worked.

“I was really into mixing traditional touches with unexpected ones,” Emma says. “We added fruits and veggies into the floral arrangements, used a whimsical handwritten font on the paper goods, and gave out welcome bags with local olive oil and cantucci cookies. People loved it.”

The whole weekend had a relaxed, “we’re on vacation but also witnessing a love story” kind of feel. Guests were greeted with fans and umbrellas at the outdoor ceremony (bless), danced into the night with a DJ spinning under the stars, and even got to watch live fireworks and a live painter capturing the magic as it unfolded.

A bride and groom pose in various wedding scenes, including outdoors under an arch, the bride on a balcony, a bouquet arrangement, and the groom standing in front of a building. An outdoor wedding setup with white chairs, floral arrangements, a ceremony arch, baskets with fans, and a scenic countryside backdrop. The couple stands with the officiant under the arch.

The Ceremony: Personal, Heartfelt, and 100% Them

Forget stiff formalities. Emma and Eric walked down the aisle with both sets of parents, said personal vows in front of everyone, and had one of their best friends officiate.

“We wanted the ceremony to feel like us—fun, special, but not too serious,” Emma says. “We didn’t feel the need to follow every tradition. Just the ones that actually meant something to us.”

A wedding ceremony held outdoors in a garden, with guests seated, a floral arch, and a couple exchanging vows; additional close-ups show the bride and groom. A bride and groom celebrate outdoors with guests, posing together and surrounded by flowers and petals; a long, decorated table is set up nearby.

How They Pulled It Off Without Losing Their Minds

Planning a wedding from thousands of miles away? Not exactly a breeze—but these two made it work with the help of their wedding planner, a solid planning trip, and zero micromanaging.

“We visited once before the wedding and got all the big stuff locked in—venue layout, tastings, flower choices, hair and makeup trials,” says Emma. “Then we trusted our team. That was the key.”

Her best advice for other destination couples? “Don’t overthink every single detail. Just make a decision and move on. Seriously.”

Formal event setup with long dining tables covered in white linens, elegant place settings, floral centerpieces, and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. A bride and groom walk into their wedding reception smiling and waving; guests sit at a long table, waving napkins in celebration.

Would They Do It All Again?

In a heartbeat. “Having a multi-day wedding meant we got so much quality time with our guests,” Emma says. “For a lot of them, it was their first time in Italy—and we got to share that with them. It felt like a mini vacation for everyone, not just a wedding.”

A bride and groom in formal attire cut a large, round cake decorated with various berries at a wedding reception, surrounded by smiling guests.

Oh, and pro tip from Emma: “Choose vendors you like as humans. If you’re going to stress about something, make sure it’s not whether your cake person is going to ghost you.”

A couple in formal attire stands arm in arm outdoors at night, watching a large pink fireworks display in the sky. A bride in a short white dress dances and smiles with guests in formal attire at an indoor wedding reception with purple lighting.