From Roman Garden Romance to a Red-Lit Nightclub at This Villa Aurelia Wedding

Think Rome after dark, a villa steeped in history, and a wedding that combined tradition with a little rock 'n' roll. Katharine and Jesse began their big day beneath the olive trees, with handwritten vows and sweeping views of the Eternal City, before moving to an elongated dinner table on the villa's grounds. For the after-party, a red-lit, Etro-inspired nightclub atmosphere brought rich textures, dramatic fringe, and a sunset installation that completely shifted the mood from an intimate garden soirée to an after-party fantasy. With photographer Stas Moiseev, stationery designer Theresa Paperie, and wedding planner Maison FNC — all THE WED members — helping bring the vision to life, every detail felt intentional yet never overly polished. The result was a celebration with the soul of Rome, the attitude of a fashion show, and the vivid energy of a party no one wanted to leave.

Our Love Story

The Day We Met

We met through work, although we didn't start dating until a year later. One evening, we were supposed to attend a concert but ended up skipping it because we couldn't stop talking over dinner. That night marked the beginning of our relationship, and exactly eight years later, on our anniversary, we were married in Rome.

The Proposal

Jesse proposed in February 2025 at One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. He carefully timed everything around sunset, arranging for us to have the beach entirely to ourselves. As he proposed, whales were breaching in the ocean behind us. It was an incredibly intimate moment in a setting that felt almost surreal.

The Engagement Ring

Several years before our engagement, Katharine had shown Jesse a ring she loved: a classic emerald-cut diamond on a gold band. Without asking her friends or risking giving away the surprise, Jesse relied entirely on his memory of that conversation when choosing the ring. The result was a 4.25-carat emerald-cut diamond set on a yellow gold band with white gold prongs. Simple, timeless, and elegant, it felt perfectly suited to Katharine's personal style, where understated beauty speaks louder than elaborate details.

Our Wedding

The Vision

We wanted our wedding to feel less like a traditional celebration and more like an intimate party at Hôtel Costes after Paris Fashion Week: chic, romantic, unconventional, and effortlessly cool. Contrast was central to our vision: ancient Roman architecture against contemporary art, dark sculptural florals against romantic gardens, and impeccably dressed guests enjoying an uninhibited party. Above all, we wanted everyone to leave feeling they had experienced something unforgettable.

Our Team of Vendors

We were fortunate to work with creative partners who understood our vision and genuinely enjoyed bringing it to life. We wanted people who shared our aesthetic but also brought their own expertise and ideas. Many of our vendors became friends along the way, which made the experience much more personal.

The Location

We chose Rome because we've always been drawn to its extraordinary history, beauty, and permanence. Beyond its identity as a tourist destination, we see the Eternal City as a place where centuries of art, architecture, and culture coexist with modern life. Our welcome party was held at the ancient Horti Sallustiani, followed by a friends-only after-party at Soho House Rome. We married at Villa Aurelia, a 17th-century villa perched on a hill above the city, where its gardens and sweeping views of Rome provided the perfect setting.

The Ceremony

Our ceremony took place beneath a beautiful olive tree in Villa Aurelia's gardens, overlooking Rome, and was officiated by Jesse's close friend, Chris Horvatin. We wrote our own vows and chose not to hear each other's words or Chris's speech beforehand. Katharine surprised Jesse with embroidered vow books featuring our monogram, which we plan to write in on every anniversary. Jesse entered to Vitamin String Quartet's version of "Never Tear Us Apart," Katharine entered to their version of Billie Eilish's "Birds of a Feather," and we exited to the original Billie Eilish recording.

The Cocktail Hour

We wanted the evening's energy to build naturally, beginning with a relaxed 90-minute aperitivo in Villa Aurelia's gardens. A live band played jazz inspired by Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin as guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres. After taking some portraits, we joined everyone to celebrate together.

The Reception

Dinner took place in Villa Aurelia's lemon garden, at one continuous table designed to evoke a traditional Italian gathering where everyone felt connected. Dark wine-colored sculptural florals, metallic accents, and candlelight contrasted with the romantic architecture. The music moved deliberately from Sinatra, Leon Bridges, and Sade into Jamiroquai and Parcels, gradually raising the energy.

The Special Touches

At Horti Sallustiani, the monumental ancient setting was transformed by a James Turrell-inspired installation featuring immersive red lighting. Silver trays and reflective glassware caught the light, while 33 Giri provided catering and natural wines after we'd fallen in love with their private dining experience. At the wedding, we replaced a traditional seating chart with engraved mother-of-pearl spoons bearing each guest's name, served with caviar. Guests then used their spoons to find their seats and kept them as gifts.

Our Favorite Moments 

Katharine: One of my favorite moments was sneaking away with Jesse to an upper level of the villa and looking down at everyone enjoying dinner. After so much planning, seeing it all come together from that vantage point was incredibly special. Everyone was laughing and sharing the evening together, and we had a quiet moment to take it all in. Jesse: My favorite moment was being introduced for the first time as the Roths and walking out of Villa Aurelia to "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure. Seeing our friends and family gathered around the dinner setting, with the music playing and everyone celebrating, was an incredible feeling. It was our first entrance into the evening as husband and wife.

Our Style

The Bridal Looks

I initially wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take, but I fell in love with my Prea James gown because of its fabric: beautiful taffeta, structured seams, and a voluminous bubble hem that felt almost weightless as I walked. I paired it with a veil I designed with my tailor, Jenna (the_tailorette), Saint Laurent shoes, and custom Alexandra Mann jewelry. During dinner, I changed into a vintage Gemy Maalouf gown reworked by my tailor, followed by a Danielle Frankel lace mini dress with sheer, floor-length detailing for dancing. For the welcome party, I wore a Leto Bridal gown that Jenna (the_tailorette) extensively reworked. It was essentially custom-made, sewn on my body, and I loved it.

The Groom's Looks

Jesse's style drew on Parisian fashion and the rock stars of the 1970s and early 1980s. For the ceremony, he wore a ready-to-wear Saint Laurent Fall/Winter 2025 tuxedo, Saint Laurent Connor leather monk-strap shoes, an ivory Garrison Bespoke shirt, and a Saint Laurent bow tie. For aperitivo, he changed into a crisp white Garrison Bespoke shirt with a continental bow tie from La Boutique. By the cake cutting, he was wearing the tuxedo jacket without a shirt. For the welcome party, he wore a Saint Laurent Fall/Winter 2026 runway suit and Saint Laurent boots, paired with Jacques Marie Mage Jeff sunglasses. For the wedding, he switched to the Dealan model.

Our Wedding Party

They all wore matching black Arcina Ori gowns. We chose not to have a traditional wedding party. Instead, we asked guests to wear black tie, exclusively in black: a simple, timeless dress code that let everyone express their style while creating a cohesive, striking look against the Roman gardens and dramatic lighting.

Our Advice

For the Planning Process

Choose four words that mean something to you as a couple and let them guide your decisions. Create a shared wedding email address, and choose vendors who share your vision and make the process enjoyable. Trust your instincts, make choices that feel like you, and don't take everything too seriously; unexpected moments can turn out better than you imagined.

For On The Day

Allow yourself to be present. Trust the people you've chosen, embrace the unexpected, and find a few quiet moments together to appreciate what's happening. We loved keeping our vows and our officiant's speech a surprise so those emotions could unfold naturally in real time.

For Post-Wedding

Protect the little bubble you're in afterward. Before returning to real life, order takeout, stay in bed too long, scroll through everyone's blurry iPhone photos, and retell your favorite moments until you know them by heart. The wedding goes by in one beautiful blur, but being newly married is its own special chapter. Let yourself live in it for a while.