Get ready for some serious wedding-envy. How would you feel about a weekend of celebrations in Tuscany at a sprawling, 1,000 acre private estate complete with stables, a vineyard and the perfect reception venue under the Tuscan sun (and stars)? Does it get much better? I really don’t know if it does. Thanks to the talent and knowledge of Italia Celebrations the couple was able to plan their overseas affair effortlessly, ending up with a weekend beautiful enough to make anyone envious. For even more lovely images by Joanne Dunn Photographers be sure to check out the full gallery.
Click here to see the entire gallery of images!
From the Groom… Elena and I met in Boston while studying for our MBAs. Both of us grew up in the countryside; Elena from a village in Eastern Europe and I in rural New England. It could be as a result of living in a big city, but we both suspect that we were both farmers in a former life, because we constantly crave fresh air, fresh food and the warmth of good company. After proposing to Elena in the back country of Washington, VA, I tossed out the idea of getting married in Italy. A friend of ours told us about a wedding she had attended in Tuscany where a dozen of the couple’s closest friends came the week before the wedding to cook, horseback ride, and drink wine. At the end of the week, additional family members flew in for the wedding. Elena loved the idea.
We met Brenda of Italia Celebrations by serendipity. Elena and I had just returned from Italy looking at villas and meeting with wedding planners we had discovered online. None fit us. While lamenting the results of the trip to friends, one friend mentioned that a co-worker had recently celebrated a wedding in Italy planned with Brenda. We connected with her instantly. She fit us.
We wanted our wedding to celebrate Italian traditions and for all of our guests to stay on the property with us. Our theme was vintage yet modern that celebrated the fresh Italian harvest. Brenda had a perfect, hidden gem location in Tuscany called Il Borro that could easily make our families feel at home. This sprawling 1,000 acre estate owned by the Ferragamo family featured a main villa and Medieval hamlet, newly built spa, horse stables, and vineyard. On the property they make their own wines, extra virgin olive oil and honey. It was also able to house everyone comfortably and within walking distance of each other, which was exactly what we wanted. In addition, we wanted the three days of our wedding celebration to be a lot of fun and so we arranged for different musical entertainment each of the three evenings.
The night of arrival we hosted a welcome dinner in the tiny piazza of the Medieval hamlet with the idea of it being a typical Italian Osteria, complete with Italian accordian players, where a selection of typical Tuscan salads and three pastas were served. Around the pool of the main house the following night, we had an Italian barbeque with meats from around Tuscany followed by an authentic Opera featuring a soprano and tenor from an opera company in Florence. The menu was written on a blackboard and the escort cards were made to be a copy of the tickets to the famous La Scala opera house with the guests name and table assignment at the bottom. The night wouldn’t be complete without dancing in the gardens with music from DJ Daniele.
In September the wedding fell right at the moment that they were harvesting the grapes. The ceremony was held right at the edge of a vineyard with the luscious, ripe grapes just waiting to be plucked and made into wine. A string quartet strummed “O Sole Mio” as Elena walked down the aisle in her stunning Lazaro dress. After the wedding we moved to the main villa where dinner was served on two 30 foot long tables and we sat as one big family for dinner. Afterward, we danced until 3:00 am outside on the veranda with music from the DJ once again. An amazing way to begin our lives together!
Wedding Photography: Joanne Dunn Photographers / Floral Design: Noosheen / Event Design & Planning: Italia Celebrations / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Il Borro / Wedding Dress: Lazaro
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What a perfect story! Dream wedding for sure and beautiful photos to prove it! :)
looooooooove the dress!!! Beautiful wedding!
What a stunning venue! A dream!
And how cute it is that the groom sent this in - i love when that happens!
Love it! Any chance I could find out where those white lanterns on the table are from? Thanks!
Just beautiful! I am just beginning to plan my wedding in Italy and this was very helpful! I was worried about the same thing described in this post about not finding a fit with a planner and being so far away:)
Beautiful! The details and appointments are wonderful in their design. So tastefully done!
What an incredible wedding! It seems like the wedding planner thought of every detail. The photographer nailed it! Jeez looking at these photos certainly makes me wish I was able to hear the music and taste the food.
This is my dream wedding! It doesn't get any more beautiful than this~ Well done!!!!
event, location and consequently atmosphere is simply stunning. Organisation was nothing but perfect, all pepole enjoyed the time and had great fun. It is a once-in-your-life event that actually deserves the effort. Whoever can do so, should not miss it!
This is another example of the brilliant creativity and artistic eye of Brenda Babcock. My wife and I have attended three of her planned weddings, and find ourselves continually wondering how she can possibly outdo each one----however, she never disappoints! Any couple would be fortunate to discover her firm when planning an Italian wedding.
Brenda this wedding looks simply fabulous: place, arrangements, atmosphere, flowers and colors... I hope I'll need your marvelous help one day!
So romantic! so simple yet stylish. Someone please invite me to a wedding like this in Tuscany ;-)
Though I've been married 37 years, these pictures had me dreaming and wishing to have such a wedding planned by Brenda. Such elegance, refinement and sheer unmatched beauty. Perhaps Brenda Babcock would consider planning a second wedding for us. It would be a long held dream!
It is so beautiful! So romantic and elegant like all the weddings you have planned! brava brenda!
Simply beautiful!!
As usual Brenda, a wedding studied in detail e very refined.
Your style is unmistakable.
Good.
Kate and Wills, eat your heart out !
The paparazzi went to the wrong country: should have been in Tuscany.
Congratulations to Elena and Steve.
Brenda and her team have outdone themselves again.
Beautiful delivery on all ends.
Makes all of us want to get married again.
I am Italian and although I knew several locations and attended lots of weddings in beautiful premises, still I remain amazed by perfection of all the stylish and elegant events Italia Celebrations has so far arranged.
I never attended to such a well organized wedding as Brenda Babcock's and her team always set up for their customers.
She can find the proper solution for each kind of couple!
A truely dreamlike wedding. I have read about Italia Celebrations before and they seem to be able to accomodate any size wedding and make it tailor made to the personalities of the bride and groom. Simply exquisite!
Oh my goodness! This is what I have always wanted! I cannot wait to show this to my boyfriend. I would think this would give him the push he needs to get going on our plans!
So glad to have this person to contact. She looks like she really knows what she is doing! Beautiful and dreamy!!!
Brenda and I grew up in the same small town in Minnesota. All thru high school I
knew she was destined for bigger excitement! Fashion was her every day way of life. When I heard
she went to New York, I smiled. Then when her mom told me she is now in Rome, it all fit. Brenda
brings that small town warmth to the big city and make you feel so at ease! You will be so glad you put your trust in her.
Brenda and her team of similarly talented specialists have put together another romantic, elegant, yet "unstuffy" event that is the dream of every bride--or mother-of-the-bride/groom!
Beautiful wedding. I am getting married in Italy next week and was excited to see that the photographer is the my photographer as well..
Once Upon a Time, were a Princess and her charming Prince; told us many years ago.
Now we have a Fairy come to grant us a wish. As soon as she heard that we decided to wish to make a prince and a princess. As soon the fairy left we turned into a handsome prince and a princess for a day.
Thank you Fairy Brenda "Italia Celebrations”
Simply Amazing!
I'm italian and I've been so impressed by the stunning class of this marvellous wedding!
Perfection without any form of ostentation....that's the most difficult...
I think that these newly-weds have been very very lucky to meet 'Italia Celebrations' and this marvellous wedding planner Brenda Babcock who really enabled them to realize a dream!!
I love how this wedding just invites you in to the loving warmth and European charm of Italy, without losing the fine attention to detail we all want on our wedding day! And how fun are those name placards? This wedding planner obviously has a whimsical sense of humor and an artist's eye for beauty. I know who to refer my friends to now!
There is no better location / decor in the world then Italy, and Brenda with Italia celebrations is the best.
This wedding is absolutely breathtaking! My fiancée and I got engaged in Florence, Italy and it was so magical. Check out my blog sometime to see more.http://luckyinlove2.blogspot.com/
This was beyond beautiful. A day that will last forever.
I’m glad to have known Brenda Babcock of Italia celebrations since her arrival in Italy. It’s impressive her ability to absorb the language and the Italian culture. Fascinated by my country, She went through far and wide searching the most beautiful and attractive locations of the peninsula and essaying local food. The result, driven by an all-American ability to organize events, is excellent ceremonies in beautiful places, particularly refined and meticulous in detail, in the name of Italian style. Thank you Brenda so well to enhance my country.
Having seen numerous examples of her work, it is clear that Brenda of Italia Celebrations has her finger on the pulse of how to compliment the styles and personalities of her clients. As so many others have stated before me, she's simply the best at what she does.
semplicemente favoloso, organizzazione perfetta! Mi ha lasciato senza parole =)
Wow, many compliments, marvellous wedding and perfect organization!
A perfect organization! Wonderful place! As usual, an impeccable job! Compliments fot your ability, Brenda.
Wonderful place and great organization! Check the pictures they are amazing!
When it comes to wedding in Italy Brenda and her team are the best choice.
The organization was perfect, which is not easy anywhere and properly more difficult in Rome. These days were full of lovely surprises.
So we are looking forward to celebrate silver, golden wedding or all kind of other events with Brenda...
wow! just amazing!
is it possible to get in touch with Elena and Steve?
I'm plannig to do my wedding in Tuscany and I'd just love to talk to them if it is not a problem!