For a couple whose first date was over Aperol Spritzes, only Italy, specifically Villa Corsini in the Tuscan countryside, would do to celebrate their wedding properly. 

New Yorkers Peter and Sydney traveled together to Italy in 2023. They visited Rome and Florence, and with all its intrigue and romance, the couple began picturing what returning for their wedding might look like. 

“It was on this trip that our dream started to become a reality when we were engaged on a rooftop overlooking the sites of Florence. We spent the next few days celebrating over bowls of pasta and bottles of wine before we started reaching out to wedding planners in Italy on our travels home.”

Early on in the process, Sydney and Peter discovered the wedding planner who would make it all happen for them: Sandro Poli of The Couplers. That’s who directed them towards the majestic grounds of Villa Corsini, and who eased all their worries with extra contingency plans.

“Having a ‘Plan B’ for rain was also very important to us,” Sydney says, “so that no matter the weather that day we were providing our guests with beautiful surroundings inside or outside. What sold us on Villa Corsini is the Galleria Del Pandolfo Sacchi room, where the roof is frescoed by Pandolfo Sacchi and Passignano.”

On top of the stellar venue options on-property, hosting their wedding at Villa Corsini meant the couple could direct their guests to fly into and stay in Florence, the nearest city. 

“This location also made it easy to have our guests stay in the heart of Florence,” Peter says, “and we had buses to bring them to and from the city center to the venue during the wedding day.”

Right off the bat, Sydney and Peter understood that one of the biggest hurdles in the planning process would be the language and cultural differences. Sandro became invaluable to them, ensuring all of the elements, from the welcome party to the wedding reception, aligned with their vision.  

The hard work on behalf of Sandro and The Couplers team, along with a pre-wedding site visit to smooth out all the kinks helped Peter and Sydney truly relax into the moment by the time they touched down in Florence for the event. 

As an interfaith couple, it was of the utmost importance that both Jewish and Catholic traditions appeared and were woven in throughout the ceremony. As a result, Emma, a close family friend of the couple, led the ceremony.

“She is Jewish and Catholic and grew up in an interfaith household,” the bride says, “so beyond our close friendship with her, it also felt special to have her officiate as I am Jewish and Peter is Catholic.”

A chuppah featuring Sydney’s father’s tallit draped over the top covered the couple as they exchanged vows. Emma also read a verse from Corinthians 13 to honor Peter’s Catholic heritage, which was the same passage read at his brother and sister-in-law’s wedding. 

The reception that followed occurred in the “fresco room” of Villa Corsini. “We worked closely with Sandro and our florist, Lilla, to ensure the flowers complemented that setting and set the perfect mood for an elegant dinner,” Sydney adds. 

Since the villa is already covered in beautiful historic art and wallpaper in every room, the couple wanted that beauty to be on full display as well. Additionally, Peter and Sydney’s sister-in-law, Logan, does calligraphy, “so it was very special to have her design our menus and ceremony cards.”

After having the wedding of their dreams, Sydney and Peter desire future couples to experience the same ease with which they wed in Tuscany. They shared their best advice with us below:

“The schedule of the wedding day is very important! The day really flies by, and you need to build in buffer time in between each event of the day (ceremony, photos, dinner, etc). Especially with a destination wedding, it’s important to think of the best experience for your guests if they are flying in from near and far to give them the true experience of Italian culture, and Sandro helped us achieve that!”

Two faiths, two families, and one indelible celebration in Italy: Sydney and Peter’s love story came full circle with Aperol Spritzes, shared this time with family and friends across the pond.

Vendors: Wedding Planner: The Couplers; Photographer: Esme Film & Photography; Venue: Villa Corsini; Florist: Lilla Florals; Invitations: Hallie Schiff; Menus & Ceremony Cards: Lady Lo Design; Hair & Makeup: THE PORFIRIO; DJ: Remo Giugni; Catering: Alchimia; Ceremony Music: The Florence String Quartet; Cake: Rolands; Bridal Gown: Rita Vinieris; Bride’s Shoes: Loeffler Randall; Groom’s Attire: Enzo Custom & Ferragamo