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A Joyful Celebration in the Golden Rolling Hills of Tuscany

A Joyful Celebration in the Golden Rolling Hills of Tuscany

Sunset vows, Italian feasts, and dancing under the Tuscan sun

Tuscany – a land where time seems to stand still, and every sunset is painted with the hues of a masterpiece. It was here that Lauren and Travis brought their dream wedding to life at the stunning, 500-year-old Villa Cozzano. As the golden light filtered through the towering pine trees, the couple exchanged their vows at sunset. Each detail was a testament to their vision of authenticity and warmth – from the vintage-inspired menus to the towering Italian berry millefoglie. Lauren’s bridal look was a vision of its own. She walked down the aisle in a breathtakingly embroidered gown, paired with a vintage-inspired silk headscarf – a stylish touch that evoked whispers of old-world romance. Every moment of this day was more than just a wedding – it was an embodiment of pure love, a sun-drenched, heartwarming experience.

A Joyful Celebration in the Golden Rolling Hills of Tuscany

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

In 2019, I had sworn off men and was gearing up for my Eat, Pray, Love moment—a month-long solo trip to Peru to reset after a bad breakup and career uncertainty. Naturally, that’s when my neighbor in LA decided to introduce me to her friend Travis—three days before I left. We had our first official date the night before my trip, and I like to joke that I made Travis in a petri dish with my shamans in Peru. I even saw him in my visions as my future husband and the father of my children—surprisingly, that didn’t scare him away. We talked the entire month I was gone, and I ended the trip early to spend New Year’s Eve with him. We’ve been inseparable ever since.

^{The Proposal}

It was right before the holidays, and we were about to head to Florida to visit Lauren’s family. I wanted to sneak it in before we left, so I chose a night she would never suspect—one she had planned. Lauren had booked us a festive evening at The Beverly Hills Hotel, which always feels like magic around the holidays. When we arrived at the Polo Lounge, I had a little surprise waiting: photos of our dogs on the table (they’re such a huge part of our lives), her two favorites—hot cocoa and wine—and a slightly clueless waiter lingering just a bit too long. As I nearly fell out of the booth trying to get down on one knee, Lauren figured out what was happening. Luckily, I recovered, and she said yes. We celebrated that night at Sunset Tower with our closest friends.

A Joyful Celebration in the Golden Rolling Hills of Tuscany

^{The Engagement Ring}

Lauren has impeccable taste—her style is so uniquely her—and I knew her engagement ring would need to reflect that. I did my homework, enlisting her friends for ideas, but with feedback pulling me in a million different directions, I realized there was only one solution: Lauren had to be part of the design process. The idea struck me during a group sound bath ceremony (as one does): start with the basics—gold and a diamond. I sourced a beautiful stone and a bar of gold, and Lauren eventually teamed up with her favorite jewelry designer, Jean of Prounis, to create her dream ring.

Prounis has been one of my favorite jewelry designers for some time—I am obsessed with the vintage-inspired pieces. I particularly love how she uses 22-carat gold for her jewelry. Because it’s so soft, a lot of jewelers stay away from that gold due to how easily it shows wear and tear, but for me, that was something I was particularly drawn to. I am this way in my interior design practice—I like things that show signs of life. I brought Jean the 4-carat round stone that Travis had gifted me, and together, Jean and I came up with the perfect setting. It was derived from an existing ring in her collection—a thick bezel-set stone with two raised rings flanking the stone—a detail that I find to be so unique and special. I love my ring so much!

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

Our goal was to create an experience that felt approachable and relaxed, much like my personal design style. Since our guests were traveling far to celebrate with us, we wanted the weekend to feel like a true vacation—intimate, laid-back, and abundant. The vibe was inspired by the warmth of a gathering in your nonna’s backyard, and Daniel at Alimentari Flâneur brought that vision to life flawlessly. We find beauty in imperfection, so I focused on details that felt organic and authentic. Rustic linens, mismatched plates, and an effortlessly undone aesthetic set the tone. It was less about perfection and more about sharing a delicious meal, enjoying overflowing wine, and dancing under the Tuscan sun with the people we love most.

^{The Ceremony}

Joyous—it was honestly just such a happy ceremony. Our ceremony took place at sunset, beneath pine trees overlooking the Tuscan hills, just outside the centuries-old villa. The chuppah, beautifully decorated with foraged flowers from the villa grounds, felt natural and unpretentious—exactly the vibe I wanted. I didn’t want anything to “feel like a wedding,” and Laura, our florist, brought that vision to life with an organic, comfortable, and inviting design. The chairs were arranged in a slightly off-centered, winding layout, and the music set a lighthearted tone.

Travis walked down the aisle to UGK and Outkast’s “Int’l Players Anthem,” while I chose The Rolling Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow.” Our officiants, Hannah and Micah, entered to Tina Turner’s “The Best,” a song that holds a special place in my heart after a sunrise party at Burning Man. Having our best friends officiate made it so personal. Hannah shared the story of how Travis and I met, highlighting how much we’ve grown together, and even threw in a hilarious rundown of all our dogs’ nicknames (there are many, and she couldn't even get through half of them). Micah added meaningful elements of Jewish tradition in his what we liked to call “Rabbi Adjacent” role. When Hannah pronounced us husband and wife, we walked out to Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend”—a perfect ending to a ceremony full of laughter, love, and joy.

A Joyful Celebration in the Golden Rolling Hills of Tuscany

^{The Reception}

It went by in a flash! Travis and I made our entrance down a grand staircase to “That’s Amore,” immediately launching into the Horah—it was high energy from the start. After dancing, we enjoyed an abundant family-style meal with more food than anyone could imagine, giving everyone a chance to relax and recharge for the night ahead.

For the cake cutting, we embraced tradition with a giant Italian berry millefoglie, which we hilariously assembled ourselves by layering cream and berries. Just as we finished, Travis popped a bottle of champagne, and fireworks lit up the sky—it was such a magical moment. The DJ kept the energy alive, and the dance floor stayed packed all night. Cannolis were served right on the dance floor, followed by late-night pizza. It was pure fun and a celebration we’ll never forget!

^{The Special Touches}

We really wanted our guests to leave with something special from the weekend. Travis kind of led the charge on making these shirts—while we were both so thrilled to be having a wedding in Italy, the hardest part of making that decision was knowing we would be leaving our beloved dogs at home. We decided to bring a little part of them to the wedding. I had one of my designers hand-draw their portraits, and we made these hilarious shirts with their faces on them that read, “We Weren't Invited.” Everyone received them in their very special welcome baskets that Alimentari Flâneur curated.

It was important to us that we set the tone of the weekend the moment our guests arrived. They were greeted by the most beautiful welcome baskets—Daniel and his team went to the local markets and filled them to the brim with fresh fruits and treats our guests could enjoy over the weekend. They weren’t your average wedding welcome baskets—they felt so authentic to the location, and I absolutely loved them. We included our shirts, a handwritten welcome note, and the itinerary for the weekend.

Early in the planning process, a friend sent me photos of a wedding they had attended in Italy where Paolo Parisi had cooked, and they said it was the highlight of the weekend. I immediately found him and hired him on the spot. Paolo is kind of like the Francis Mallmann of Tuscany—he does incredible outdoor Italian BBQ and open-fire cooking, mixing pasta in huge bowls right in front of everyone. It was such a special way to serve our Friday night dinner, and our guests loved it.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

Probably the cake cutting—it was such a playful and perfectly imperfect moment. The caterers called on us to start making the cake, and we literally had no idea what we were doing—it was a cacophony of cream and berries. Our DJ was one of our friends, so he had been enjoying dinner and wasn’t on at the time, meaning we were just playing a playlist. For some reason, there was no music playing, and my mom was having a mental breakdown—she was screaming to have ABBA put on.

They started playing Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, which was definitely not on our list of songs to play, but it was kind of amazing nonetheless. I was throwing berries, Trav was squeezing cream onto the cake form, and all our guests were circled around us. Someone handed Trav a bottle of champagne, which he shook and then popped—the second he popped it, fireworks started going off as if it was planned. The DJ went full blast, the villa started passing out the famous olive oil gelato, and everyone rushed the dance floor. It was such a crazy, dreamlike moment.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

In the months leading up to the wedding, I found myself spending a lot of time in the Bode store. I knew from the start that I didn’t want to wear white. When I stumbled upon this black tulle dress adorned with delicate embroidered daisies, it felt serendipitous. Despite the deep hue, the dress had an airy, almost whimsical quality with its sheer fabric and dramatic neckline. I paired it with a Bode bag featuring Emily’s wire-haired Pointing Griffon—which happens to be the same breed as our beloved dog, Grandpa. Carrying a little reminder of him with me that evening made me smile.

For hair and makeup, I wanted everything to feel understated and natural. I’m not someone who spends much time on glam day to day, so I was a little nervous about this part. Jessica nailed it with the most effortlessly perfect long, undone braid, letting the sheer back of the dress shine. My makeup was fresh, subtle, and radiant—exactly what I envisioned. I accessorized with gold Prounis earrings, a nod to Jean Prounis, who also designed my engagement ring and both of our wedding bands.

I had a clear idea of the silhouette I felt my best in for the ceremony—an easy, straight neckline, flowing shape, and absolutely no fuss. I wanted a dress that allowed me to move freely and feel like me all night long. The simplicity of the shape gave way to the most intricate details: the gown was embroidered with stunning whitework floral patterns, fine pleats, and a delicate row of ivory buttons trailing down the back. For a touch of something unexpected, we added 1920s-inspired geometric sequin straps that shimmered subtly. I skipped a necklace and let those straps be the star.

The veil ended up being an unexpected favorite. At one of our early meetings, the Bode team showed me vintage-inspired veils and antique trims. One piece reminded me of a silk headscarf I’d wear on a European vacation—cool, a bit retro, and entirely unique. We extended its length, added matching embroidery, and created something magical. I wore it until the reception, when I swapped it for a soft Bode bow—another signature touch. Jessica styled my hair into a loose, low ponytail that felt very me but elevated, while my Prounis emerald earrings added just the right amount of color.

My after-party look might be one of my all-time favorite outfits, and yet it was something I never would have dreamed up myself. It was a stunning Bode two-piece set: a 1930s-inspired sequin-embellished bra paired with a full tulle skirt edged with matching sparkle. I had the skirt customized slightly for the perfect fit and wore simple satin peep-toe flats from Le Monde Meryl. Jessica gave me a quick makeup refresh with a bolder lip, let my hair down, and I was ready to dance the night away.

Sunday was all about ease. I wore a classic white Eres bikini under (of course) a Bode poplin striped button-down. I paired this with Jacques Marie Mage sunnies. The standout, though, was a fringe wrap skirt designed by my best friend and stylist, Kelly Klein. Kelly and I collaborate on everything—from major moments to what I wear to grab coffee. When she visited New York for my last dress fitting, we discovered a colorful fringe scarf at Desert Vintage. With a little magic (and a fish buckle we found on Etsy), Kelly transformed it into the perfect wrap skirt that I’ll cherish forever.

^{The Groom Looks}

Lauren made it clear we were going head-to-toe Bode. Luis, Emily, and the team at Bode made the process seamless, crafting perfect outfits for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They even pushed my style boundaries—I didn’t expect to love the shoes they chose, but now they’re my daily go-to. The standout moment was discovering the custom embroidery inside my Saturday suit jacket, featuring mine and Lauren’s initials. It was such a special surprise.

Our Advice

^{For The Planning Process}

This one is easier said than done, but really try not to sweat the small stuff. A lot of things went wrong at our wedding. For example, this place card table that I had big dreams about never came to be, and the paper we had planned to print our menus on never happened. It caused so much stress during the planning, but when it was all said and done, no one noticed.

^{For On The Day}

Our friends passed this advice on to us—they said to make sure we took a few moments on the wedding day to step away and just look at the party, at all of our guests, and take it all in together. They knew how fast it was all going to go. That visual—seeing all of our favorite people in the world, in the most beautiful place in the world, celebrating our love—was just so special.

_{For Post-Wedding}

A friends-moon!! After the wedding, we drove to a nearby hotel in Tuscany to enjoy three quiet days as newlyweds—just enjoying being husband and wife and taking in the events of the weekend. After that, we decided to regroup with a bunch of our friends in Ibiza and keep the party going. It was honestly the best—I highly recommend a friends-moon.