Set against the rolling Tuscan hills, Jess and Bobby’s elegant Italian wedding unfolded at the breathtaking Relais La Corte Dei Papi in Cortona – a setting full of old-world charm, golden light and romance. With just 24 of their closest loved ones in attendance, their day was a true celebration of intimacy, beauty and heartfelt connection.
Jess wore a silk Peter Langner gown that felt timeless yet modern, its delicate soutache embroidery echoing the soft refinement of the venue. The couple entrusted Love My Dress recommended photographer Stefano Santucci to document their day – and his signature poetic, filmic style captured every glance, every emotion, with extraordinary sensitivity. This destination wedding is an exquisite example of effortless elegance, where every detail felt meaningful, and the Italian setting truly came into its own.
Getting married in Italy influenced the style of our wedding because we wanted to embrace our venue’s beautiful Tuscan setting. At the same time, it was important that our wedding felt natural and true to who we are as a couple.
Hiring a Planner
Aside from saying ‘yes’ to marrying my amazing husband, Bobby, one of the best decisions I made was partnering with Lindeman Events. Erin Lindeman and her team of professionals transformed my chaotic Pinterest board into the wedding of our dreams.
They recommended vendors who exceeded my expectations and made the planning process both stress-free and enjoyable.
Erin and her team stayed on-site during the wedding weekend, making sure everything ran smoothly each day. I have seen and heard brides complain about the stress of their weddings, and I felt like a guest at my own wedding weekend because the Lindeman Event team managed every event flawlessly – allowing me to enjoy myself!
For our rehearsal dinner night, I wore the Kaia dress by Ulla Johnson and Ferragamo Vara pumps by Ferragamo. The dress’ floral lace matched the gardens on the property, and the silk material felt perfect for an Italian evening. I loved the contrast between my rehearsal dinner dress and my wedding dress.
It is hard to choose a favourite part of the day because the whole day felt like an amazing dream! One of the best moments was our couple’s photo session with Stefano. After our first look, we went to take some couples photos, which allowed Bobby and I to pause and focus on each other. Stefano played our first dance song for us, and we danced in the ballroom in a private moment – one I will always remember! (Thank you, Stefano!)
The Ceremony
My parents walked me down the aisle together. I would not be here without their support, so I wanted both of them by my side.
I walked down the aisle to “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel. This has always been a special song to me, ever since I learned to play it on the piano. Bobby played this song on the viola when he was younger, so we were excited to use this song during the ceremony.
One of Bobby’s best men, Matt Casieri, officiated our ceremony. Having a close friend officiate our wedding was a special experience, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!
We tailored our own vows for the ceremony, and we decided to both read the same vows. We worked together to customise vows that spoke to our love, relationship, and future together.
During our ceremony, we included a short reading about the lessons of love, loyalty, and companionship that we can learn from dogs. It was both fun and meaningful.
Photography
Our wedding planner shared different photographers with us, and Stefano Santucci stood out immediately. He took the time to connect with us and learn about our story before the wedding, and he cares deeply for his work. Stefano’s presence during our wedding weekend was calming and never disruptive.
Stefano’s film and documentary photography speaks for how talented he is, but he really goes above and beyond to make sure the couple is comfortable on their wedding day. We had a wonderful experience working with Stefano and could not be happier with the photos he captured of our day! We HIGHLY recommend him!
Bobby and I met in 2016 when we were in college. We instantly connected and knew our bond was something special. In 2022, Bobby proposed to me in Boston, MA, before taking me to our favourite Italian restaurant to celebrate with our families. We were engaged for about two and a half years to ensure we were able to plan the wedding of our dreams. Our longer engagement was a wonderful time to enjoy and take our time with the wedding planning process.
Bobby wore a bespoke suit that he purchased from a shop near our home, Custom Clothiers, and he chose an Italian fabric for the suit. His shoes were black leather Oxfords from Velasca. As a pre-wedding gift, I got Bobby a pair of Bean cuff links from the Elsa Peretti Bean collection at Tiffany & Co. Since our dog, Bean, could not be in Italy on our wedding day, Bobby wore his Bean cufflinks, and I wore my Bean necklace to feel his presence.
Being at such a beautiful venue in Tuscany, we did not need much additional decor because the property itself was so beautiful. Our dinners had wonderful tablescapes with florals and candles, which added to the celebration of the night!
Erin our planner recommended Stiatti Fiori for florals, and they created works of art using flowers! The florals contributed a different personality to each of our meals. We held our rehearsal dinner in the the venue’s refurbished wine cellar, and we wanted a vivid, colourful tablescape that felt autumnal.
On the wedding day, our colours were white and green, with pops of blue and pink, and hydrangeas along the wedding table. Our florists provided us with proposals of how the florals would look, but seeing the flowers in person blew me away!
We provided welcome bags in our guests’ rooms, which our wedding planners put together for us! The bags included sweet and salty Italian snacks, Aperol spritz, and a copy of Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. We got married in Cortona, which is the town in Tuscany where Under the Tuscan Sun takes place, so I thought the book would be a fun read for our guests.
We worked with Momental Designs for all custom stationery. The team was incredible from start to finish. We highly recommend them for any custom stationary needs!
Since we were in Tuscany, we wanted to have a millefoglie as our wedding cake! After a four-course dinner, the Corte Dei Papi chef served our millefoglie, and it was was the perfect way to end the meal because it was lighter than a dense cake.
Our first dance song was ‘You & You Alone’, by Umphrey’s McGee. We chose this song because we love the band and have gone to concerts together, and this song has impactful lyrics about love and family and resonate with us.
Words of Wedded Wisdom
Some advice that I had to take myself was to stop worrying about every little thing and enjoy the moment! The amazing vendors that you work with are experts at their craft, and your job is to cherish your wedding day with your partner.
A few other tips that I found helpful were creating a joint email for all wedding-related communications; always wearing comfortable shoes; and bringing a crochet hook because it makes quick work of buttons.
Looking back, I would not have done anything differently. It was an amazing celebration with our loved ones, and if anything went wrong, I don’t even remember it by now!
Planning an Italian Wedding?
These Love My Dress recommended vendors would love to hear from you! You’ll find more recommended vendors in our wedding directory.
