Long dining table set for an outdoor event, with white flowers and candles, placed in front of a rustic stone building.

Tuscany Destination Wedding at Villa Olimpia

CATEGORIES

January 29, 2025
Words by Zameenah Mckoy
Photos courtesy of Carolina Serafini

Devon and Jeffrey were deeply affected after learning that Devon’s stepdad had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. It was a tragic reminder that growing old together is a privilege, not a guarantee, which prompted the couple to embrace a “why wait?” mentality. This heartfelt realization inspired them to take a six-month adventure exploring the world. That’s when they unexpectedly found themselves in Tuscany

“We spent the day drinking amazing wines under the beautiful Tuscan sun. As the sun set and we prepared to leave, we promised each other we’d bring our moms back one day,” says Devon.

Top image: Six women in matching silk robes drink from glasses outdoors. Bottom left: Close-up of wedding invitation, rings, and embellished shoes. Bottom right: Five men in suits walking outside.

Two years later, while planning their destination wedding and recalling that promise, the couple set out to find the right venue in Tuscany. A quick search led them right to the perfect place to say “I do.” Villa Olimpia, an 8-bedroom Italian architectural dreamscape with panoramic green mountain views, became a relaxing home base for their families. With its stone exterior and olive trees planted throughout the property, the timeless charm of Villa Olimpia was irresistible to Devon and Jeffrey.

“We wouldn’t even need to decorate too much,” says Devon. “The place in itself was the decoration!”

Aerial view of a rustic stone house with a red-tiled roof, surrounded by trees. In the foreground, a rectangular swimming pool is bordered by lounge chairs and a small lawn.

The couple’s attentiveness gave their guests peace of mind and a worry-free experience. Their wedding website covered all travel logistics and accommodations, offering two hotel options to suit different preferences for guests. For transportation, they hired a shuttle bus to run between the hotels and the venue.

With loved ones traveling from both California for Devon and Canada for Jeffrey, many guests had never met before. The bride and groom broke the ice by hosting pre-wedding events at the villa, including bachelor and bachelorette parties and a lively welcome pool party. 

“Everyone had become friends by the wedding day,” says Jeffrey.

Outdoor wedding setting with wooden chairs arranged in rows facing a stone building. Floral arrangements and white ribbons decorate the chairs. Path adorned with scattered white petals.A couple getting married outdoors, exchanging vows. Guests are seated along the aisle. Bride and groom are walking down the aisle together, smiling.

Embracing the Tuscan setting, the couple incorporated local culture into their celebration. They hosted a pasta-making class led by a 90-year-old Italian grandmother and her grandson, where guests made gnocchi from scratch and dined together outside at sunset.

Devon and Jeffrey’s wedding day was filled with personal touches, showcasing their laid-back, adventurous nature. They selected the color scheme while trusting their wedding planners, Romina Carbonai and Aurora Bergami, to create the magic. The neutral tones, white, green, and gold color choices beautifully complemented the villa and scenery. 

Bride and groom joyfully walk down a petal-strewn aisle outdoors, as guests cheer and toss flower petals in a wooded setting.A couple walks on a tree-lined path; a bride holds a bouquet; an outdoor table is set with flowers and lights.

In keeping with the easygoing approach, bridesmaids were given a color scheme as a guideline but had the freedom to choose dresses that suited their personal styles. The couple also embraced a flexible approach to their flower arrangements, entrusting their planners to capture the essence of their day.

“Our priority was to have a stress-free celebration of our love in Tuscany,” says Devon. “So we just let things flow, and it worked out better than if we would have chosen every detail!”

The ceremony was an intimate and heartfelt affair, made even more meaningful by the couple’s personalized vows.

“We have them framed as art in our bedroom now and plan to read them to each other every year on our anniversary,” says Jeffrey. 

Long dining table set for an outdoor event, featuring white flowers, candles, and wooden chairs, against a stone building with string lights overhead.Wedding reception scene with Aperol Spritz and Prosecco bar, a couple walking, welcome sign, and vintage yellow car with DJ setup outdoors.

The reception decor further highlighted the villa’s natural beauty, with a communal table bringing guests together for a family-style meal of Tuscan dishes paired with local wines. A DJ setup inside a vintage VW Bug added a creative touch and a nod to the Tuscan tradition of transporting the bride and groom in an old-fashioned car. The night ended on a sweet note with a traditional Italian wedding cake, a recommendation from their planners.

The newlyweds credit a piece of budgeting advice for making their wedding day even sweeter. 

“Save an additional 10 percent,” says Jeffrey. “Our wedding stayed exactly on budget, but because we had saved, we were able to splurge on a few personalized aprons for our pasta-making class and a gelato cart at our welcome pool party.”

A couple embraces while dancing at a wedding reception. Guests sit at a long table adorned with flowers and string lights, set against a brick wall with large windows.

When reminiscing about their special day in Tuscany, the couple couldn’t have been more grateful for their unwavering commitment to staying true to their vision. 

“I think it’s important for all couples to make sure their wedding is about them rather than pleasing everyone else,” Devon advises. “We had an idea of our perfect wedding, and we kept bringing ourselves back to it: a stress-free, laid-back, intimate party in Tuscany, with vows from the heart, read in front of the 30 most important people in our lives. And that’s what it was!”

A wedding reception with a long table, guests toasting, a bride and groom kissing, and people laughing under string lights in a stone-walled venue.

Vendors: Photographer: Carolina Serafini; Wedding Planner: Romina Carbonai and Aurora Bergami; Venue: Villa Olimpia; Florist: Stiatti Fiori; Stationery: Beyond Design; Hair & Makeup: Giulia Di Terlizzi; Gown Designer: Grace Loves Lace; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Indochino

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