There are places in Tuscany where the atmosphere itself shapes the story. La Pescaia Resort is one of them: stone walls, endless green, and a sense of intimate calm. This is where Laken and Chad celebrated their wedding, a day built on warmth, authenticity, and the feeling that every guest was part of the family. Photographer Miks Sels captured it all through light, movement, and small, unforced details that turned the celebration into a narrative of closeness and rhythm that was uniquely theirs.
Location: Sticciano Scalo, Grosseto, Italy
Style: Timeless, Intimate, Joyful
Time of planning: 13 months
Number of guests: 36
Setting: Resort
Season: Fall
Their story began at work, where friendship turned into a first kiss on New Year’s Eve. “I had never been before, and Chad was so excited to show me Wyoming. At sunset, in a field with the mountains behind us, he set up his tripod for photos and asked me to marry him, it was magical! We spent the week hiking, horseback riding, and celebrating this new chapter,” Laken recalled. Their shared love of travel then led to an intimate wedding in Italy.
Vision of the Day
Rather than a mood board, the couple wrote a list of what brought them joy: candles, linen, ribbons, green, oldies music, animals, good food, and wine. “We thought, if we love it and it’s part of the wedding, how could it go wrong? That list became our guide, and with Jacob Martinez of Harper Events we shaped it into something that felt warm, cozy, and very us.”
Photography and film were non-negotiables: Chad is a photographer himself, so capturing the blur of laughter, the movement of dancing, and the quiet in-between moments mattered most. Miks Sels and RomaVera Films became natural choices, bringing both artistry and authenticity.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Unlike traditional early starts, the couple began their preparations only at 1 PM. The morning was spent together: breakfast, a walk to see the animals, swimming in the pool, and even the bride playfully balancing on stacked chairs.
"We loved starting late, it gave us time to enjoy the morning instead of rushing. The guys swam, I laughed with champagne in hand, and it felt so fun and lighthearted before the big moments began."
Bridesmaids wore gowns in varied shades of green, from deep emerald to soft sage, creating a palette that felt both cohesive and organic, echoing the Tuscan setting. Laken explained: “I wanted each of them to choose their own style, no symmetry, just personality and realness. Some of my favorite photos are of those green dresses together, they feel authentic and full of life.”
For her daytime look, Laken wore a Jenny Yoo off-shoulder dress with a textured fabric and a white bouquet by Dome Flowers. Hair and makeup by Giulia Cresci kept it warm and glowy, a bronze tone in sync with Tuscany’s light. Her perfume was a personal blend: Burberry Goddess layered with a vintage Madagascar Vanilla purchased in Florence during her bachelorette trip.
Groom's Fashion
The groom’s party set a sleek tone in classic black suits, crisp white shirts, and black ties: a timeless choice that emphasized formality without distraction. Their coordinated look created a clean backdrop, ensuring that the groom’s details stood out in focus.
Chad chose a custom charcoal pinstripe three-piece suit from Nordstrom, paired with a white shirt, black tie, and Allen Edmonds loafers. His fragrance of choice, Burberry Hero Eau de Parfum, completed the look: understated yet distinctive, echoing the refined mood of the day.
Ceremony
The vows were exchanged beneath ancient cedar, a tree whose wide branches and deep roots made it feel like a meaningful symbol. “We wanted the tree to be the focal point, it was already so majestic. Standing under something that had existed for centuries gave us a sense of permanence as we made our promises,” the couple said. Florals by Dome Flowers were kept deliberately understated: a pair of white arrangements marking the aisle and a low arc at the base of the tree, leaving the scale and presence of the cedar to frame the moment.
Music gave the ceremony its rhythm. The Florence String Quartet played Somewhere Only We Know for the wedding party and Chad’s entrance, before shifting to Unchained Melody as the villa’s doors opened to reveal Laken.
She paused alone before being joined by her mother and stepfather: “It was important to me to have my mom involved in walking me down the aisle. Even though it’s not as traditional, it felt like us, authentic and right.” Their friend Ben officiated, weaving humor into the romance, so the twenty-minute ceremony felt light and full of laughter.
It was a pretty modern ceremony: about 20 minutes total, joyful, romantic, and lighthearted, without taking itself too seriously. The atmosphere felt less like formality and more like a gathering of friends and family, celebrating not just a wedding but the joy of being together.
Cocktail Hour
After the ceremony, guests moved to the poolside terrace where the Quartet continued to play as the sun dipped lower in the sky. A spritz bar set the tone: bright, refreshing, and perfectly Tuscan, while friends mingled under wide umbrellas with glasses in hand.
Laken and Chad rejoined everyone quickly, thanks to their earlier first look, sharing their first moments as newlyweds against the golden light and the gentle backdrop of music and water.
Reception & Decor
Dinner unfolded in front of La Pescaia, where a single long table stretched under a tunnel of fairy lights, creating the feeling of dining beneath a starry sky. The design leaned into simplicity and atmosphere: no flowers on the table, only rows of candles in glass cylinders glowing at different heights. The settings combined antique-inspired plates with delicate reliefs, gold flatware, and minimalist name cards illustrated with a small hand-drawn bow.
“We love candles — their warmth, their glow — and we wanted that to define dinner. Sitting under the lights, with only the glow and our people, felt so inviting and warm.”
The reception unfolded as one of the most heartfelt parts of the day. Speeches ranged from tender to hilarious, Laken’s best friend, and two of Chad’s closest friends who shared childhood stories that had everyone laughing.
A deeply personal touch came from Laken’s mother, an artist, who painted an oil portrait as her wedding gift. Professional prints of the painting were given to each guest with handwritten notes on the back.
"One of our friends gifted us a journal to take with us so we could write in it every day - which we did. This ended up being SUCH a thoughtful gift, and we ended up saving some of our wedding florals, confetti, menus, etc., very random things to add to our journal. Which is now in our bookcase at home. It is so special and something we’ll pass down one day, and we highly recommend doing this"
Into the Night
At night, celebration glowed under thousands of twinkling lights, turning the courtyard into a luminous canopy that felt nothing short of magical. Laken changed into a short satin dress by Oui the Label with voluminous sleeves, paired with a playful bow-veil that shimmered beneath the glow.
The evening reached its sweetest highlight with a classic Italian millefoglie cake, assembled live in front of the guests: the chef from Guidi Lenci Catering piped layers of cream while the couple topped it with fresh berries. It was not only the close of dinner but also one of the most unforgettable moments of the night.
Mini heart-shaped pizzas were passed around as a nod to the couple’s love of simple Italian comfort, keeping the energy high well past midnight. It all ended in laughter, music, and one daring guest jumping into the pool, the perfect exclamation point on an unforgettable celebration.
The night closed with a disco tucked into the vaulted stone bar, lit by spinning mirror balls and bursts of silver confetti. Guests poured onto the dance floor, fueled by the playful bar sign that read “Shots Without Fear” and a steady stream of celebratory toasts.
Advice from the couple:
• Don’t overthink it! Weddings are fun, and they’re meant to be full of joy, making each one unique to the couple. We genuinely had the best time, but also genuinely enjoyed the planning process too. It doesn’t have to be intimidating or stressful, just focus on the things you love, the things that bring you joy, and the rest will follow.
• We can’t recommend a smaller, intimate wedding enough. And having it spread across multiple nights, which is super common in Europe. It was an added bonus that everyone stayed at the villa too, so it felt like summer camp but for adults. Waking up in the morning, walking outside, and getting to have breakfast with family and friends together every day was so special. I will never forget it!
PHOTOGRAPHER Miks Sels | VIDEOGRAPHER RomaVera Films | PLANNING & DESIGN Harper Events (Jacob Martinez) | VENUE La Pescaia Resort | FLORALS Dome Flowers | CATERING Guidi Lenci Catering | DJ Fabio Mdj | MUAH Giulia Cresci | BRIDE’S DRESS Staud, Jenny Yoo, Oui the Label | BRIDE’S SHOES Journee Collection Shoes, Badgley Mischka | PARTY HAIR BOW Unbridled | GROOM’S SUIT Nordstrom | GROOM’S SHOES Allen Edmonds | STRING BAND The Florence String Quartet | LIGHTING & DECORATIONS Kalyedo
