Location: Orvieto, Umbria, Italy
Setting: Abbey, Hotel courtyard
Season: Summer
How long did the couple plan the event: 20 months
The number of guests: 88
Wedding theme/style: Formal and elegant.
At Washington State University, Brieanna from California and Tyler from Washington crossed paths in 2013. It took them three years to start a conversation, and eventually, they began dating during a school trip to New York. Despite the challenges of long-distance romance after graduation, their love story culminated in a magical proposal in New York on their 5th anniversary celebrated in the restaurant of their first date.
A destination has always been Brieanna’s dream. When she was 15 years old, designing her ‘dream wedding’ Pinterest board, it was always somewhere abroad, in Italy, France, or Ireland, in some dilapidated or ruined building. Many years later, when the couple decided to go abroad to celebrate their wedding, they decided on Italy, as they loved the scenery, the people, and the culture. The couple researched many venues in Tuscany, but they were different from what they envisioned. Both were in architecture and wanted the venue they chose to have a strong architectural presence. They stumbled upon the Arch at La Badia and saw the Abbey chapel, but it looked surprisingly familiar to Brieanna. She opened her dusty Pinterest board, and behold, the Abbey was a picture she had pinned nearly ten years ago…it was ‘meant to be.’ They immediately emailed La Badia to book.
The couple ensured their arrival was delightful since the wedding guests were traveling from the U.S. and Ireland. They prepared welcome baskets filled with a custom newspaper detailing their story, miniature bottles of Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, strawberry and black currant jams, olive oil, a cherished silver knife, some Santucci, a lace handkerchief, and notably, a gigantic loaf of bread baked locally—accidentally double the size of a human head, becoming a hilarious highlight of the evening.
Brieanna didn’t just want to go out and buy a dress; she aimed for something extraordinary for her big day. She fell in love with her mom’s 90s wedding dress, a stunning piece adorned with lace and sparkling jewels featuring puffy sleeves and a form-fitting silhouette. With her mom’s blessing, Brieanna tweaked it to showcase open shoulders with lace sleeves, a long mermaid train, and a dramatic cathedral-length veil, achieving a Venetian bride look. She completed her ensemble with lace shoes from Manolo Blahnik, which perfectly complement her bridal attire.
For her hairstyle, Brieanna opted for an elegant updo with makeup that highlighted her eyes, making her look radiant and beautiful.
Brieanna chose green for her bridesmaids’ dresses but didn’t insist on a specific style. She allowed them to pick whatever design they liked best. Their perfect green gowns beautifully complemented the bride’s dress, creating a vibrant summer vibe.
A poignant moment was Brieanna’s first look at her father, profoundly moving him to tears. This touching scene was beautifully captured by the talented photographer Maria Francesca Nitti, who documented the entire wedding.
Meanwhile, Tyler looked dapper in his wedding attire, choosing a classic tuxedo with a white jacket and black trousers, accented with a bow tie. He spent the morning in good company, surrounded by friends.
The abbey where the ceremony took place was mesmerizing. The ancient building, decorated with gentle floral arrangements against its historic walls, created a magically beautiful setting for the wedding. The altar and aisle were adorned with flowers and candles in clear glass holders, enhancing the enchanting atmosphere.
As the ceremony began with a solemn, beautiful melody, Brieanna, escorted by her father, walked down the aisle toward Tyler, who gazed at her lovingly. The emotional ceremony moved many to tears, and as the newlyweds exited the church, joyful guests showered them with white rose petals.
Afterward, Maria Francesca Nitti took stunning portraits of the couple, capturing the love and beauty of their special day. The photos, filled with classic elegance and timeless charm, beautifully conveyed the emotions of this Italian summer day.
As the couple took their photo session, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the courtyard, with beautiful music by talented musicians, sipping cocktails and mingling.
The reception in the enchanting courtyard was a testament to romance. Dark wooden tables adorned with lush floral arrangements and flickering candles created a mesmerizing and incredibly romantic atmosphere. The tables were also graced with the vibrant hues of berries and fruits, a sweet reminder of the bountiful Italian summer.
Tyler and Brieanna have a date-night tradition of starting with a shot of tequila to unwind and truly engage in the evening. So, at the wedding, guests found a small table with tequila shots in the seating area, inviting them to “take a shot and take a seat.”
The day was a whirlwind of magic and surprises, and even a sudden rain couldn’t dampen the spirits. The couple embraced the unpredictability and found joy in these unexpected moments, reflecting on the beauty of their outdoor celebration.
After the rain subsided, everyone eagerly returned outside for the cake-cutting ceremony, a delightful surprise orchestrated by a pastry chef on the spot.
As soft music filled the air, the couple shared their first dance, a moment filled with love and anticipation. This was followed by heartfelt dances between Brieanna and her father and Tyler and his mother, each step a testament to their deep bond and shared joy.
After these beautiful dances, the dance floor opened, and guests danced the night away, enjoying the music, company, and the shared joy of Brieanna and Tyler’s wedding day.
Advice from couple:
• Don’t let surprises ruin your day. It will not be a perfect event. We fell in love with the Arch as a place to eat dinner and were excited for everyone to experience it as we had imagined, but it thunderstormed throughout the first course. We were forced to move inside for the remainder of dinner, even after our planner warned us this would happen.
But we try to think positively in everything we do. We looked around; everyone was still looking glamorous, happy, and smiling large, and we were back outside in no time for the cake-cutting. We embraced the memories of the beautiful tablescapes (that we got pictures with), soupy risottos, and people using tuxedo jackets as umbrellas instead of being upset that it didn’t go as planned. We told our planner if we were to do it again, we’d still choose to sit outside; it was that memorable.
PHOTOGRAPHY Maria Francesca Nitti | PLANNING, DESIGN AND PRODUCTION EBC Events | LOCATION La Badia di Orvieto | CATERING Apollinare Catering & Banqueting | BAR Pour Events Bar Catering | FLOWERS Nina e i Fiori | AUDIO, LIGHT, DJ NEUMA | MUSIC La Semicroma | MUAH Giulia Luciani | BRIDE SHOES Manolo Blahnik
