Inside: An Enchanting Tuscany Wedding

Join The Wedding Edition as we sit down with Isabelle and Edward, to discover the elegant details of their enchanting Tuscany wedding celebration.

The Story So Far

Edward and I were aware of each other at university, but first properly met at our friend Sandy’s Christmas party over a decade later. Edward proposed to me in June 2023, with an elegant art-deco oval diamond ring framed by two tapered baguettes. I vividly remember walking into our sitting room and seeing our cat Whisky in his bow tie on the sofa and asking why he was so dressed up – before Edward took the ring off his collar and popped the question.

The Venue

We have always loved Italian food and culture, and decided we would do an intimate church wedding in London, followed by a party in Italy. After extensive research, we chose Villa Barberino in the picturesque Tuscan hills near Florence. On the Friday we threw a casual welcome pizza party with aperol spritzes and a gelato cart. The Sunday after the wedding we had a traditional Tuscan barbecue feast, alongside homemade pasta and tiramisu.

The Fashion

For my dress, I knew I wanted something elegant but a bit different, and fell for a halter-neck number by Eva Lendel with a detachable train. For shoes comfort was my top priority and I opted for white mules with a chunky heel; my ‘something blue’ were crystal details on the soles spelling out “I do”. Edward chose a midnight blue tuxedo by Charles Tyrwhitt.

The Jewellery

I kept my jewellery minimal and meaningful. My earrings were my ‘something borrowed’, gold drop earrings gifted by my father to my mother back in the 80s. My bracelet was a Tiffany T rose gold and diamond piece, gifted to me by my grandmother who had sadly passed away shortly before our wedding.

The Bridal Party

My bridesmaids wore rose dresses by Six Stories, the colour of which matched the venue’s villa. As a small thank you I bought them embroidered makeup bags with some of my favourite beauty products, and personalised cards with a sketch of us on the front. The best man wore a matching Charles Tyrwhitt suit and got an engraved silver cigarette case and lighter.

The Tablescape

We opted for simple, elegant table settings, with crisp white tablecloths and napkins, hydrangeas and candles.

Food & Drinks

Scarred by past experiences of chasing down wedding canapés, we chose a buffet style aperitivo, with copious corners for charcuterie, cheese, fritti and prosciutto sliced in front of you. At dinner, the primi was a homemade pasta with pesto, tomatoes and courgette flowers, followed by beef tagliata and rosemary potatoes for secondi. We were pleasantly surprised when our servers came round offering seconds – you never go hungry at an Italian wedding! Our dessert was a traditional millefoglie cake with chocolate pieces and fresh berries. The wines served were sourced from our venue’s vineyard, while our open bar featured all the classic cocktails.

Entertainment

For the ceremony we chose a string duet playing some pieces by Boccherini and Corelli which meant a lot to us. And then our party music was unashamedly made up of our favourite songs with a lot of 90s and 2000s classic hits, and we opted for a DJ with saxophone and bongos to keep the energy high and dance floor full. Our first dance was to I Say a Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin.

Beauty Regime & Wellness

My hair and makeup were done by the amazing Valentina, who used all of my favourite Charlotte Tilbury products. My pre-wedding regime was relatively light touch and focused on fitness, although I did go for monthly microneedling facials.

Favourite Wedding Gifts

Instead of material gifts we opted for a honeymoon fund where guests could contribute to specific experiences – from a private boat trip to massages – which we were so grateful for. We also received some incredibly touching gifts including a hand-drawn portrait of our beloved cat, some stunning silver trays and an olive tree.

The Honeymoon

We went on our first safari together, choosing Ruaha in Tanzania for its more wild, private feel. This was followed by a few days of indulgent relaxation by the beach in Zanzibar.

Advice

1. Focus on what really matters to you. Spend your money and time on the things that you care most about.

2. Spend the day together. This is your special day to celebrate your love, and try to spend as much of it as you can as a couple when socialising, instead of trying to “divide and conquer”.

3. Get a wedding planner. They will help to select the right suppliers for your style/budget, secure the best deals and ensure everything on the day goes smoothly so you can just enjoy yourselves.