Aksel and Hayley were certain from the beginning that their wedding wouldn’t fit into a single day. They envisioned a full weekend experience, one that could shift moods, tempos, and energy while staying unmistakably cohesive. Planned by Roberta Pompeo of The Different Twins, the celebration unfolded at an Italian villa on an organic estate in Tuscany and delivered exactly what the couple set out to create: elegance without stiffness, structure without pressure, and a weekend that felt intentional from start to finish.
Location: Cerreto Guidi, Florence, Italy
Style: Elegant, Romantic, Joyful
Time of planning: 18 months
Number of guests: 120
Setting: Villa
Season: Summer
Aksel and Hayley met while studying at the University of British Columbia in Canada and officially started dating in 2014. Over the years, their relationship moved across borders and time zones, including two long-distance chapters, a period living in Hong Kong, and eventually settling in London.
When Aksel proposed in their London neighborhood, the setting was simple, a quiet mews street, but the planning behind it wasn’t accidental. Both families were secretly flown in, a photographer was waiting, and a lunch afterward brought their closest friends together. That same approach carried into their wedding weekend, which was documented with a focus on real moments and atmosphere by Aberrazioni Cromatiche.
Welcome Dinner
The weekend began with a welcome dinner that set the tone immediately. This was the most expressive chapter of the celebration, intentionally bold and vibrant. Color-blocking details, tropical fruits, and lively florals filled the space, signaling that this weekend would be playful as much as it was refined. As Hayley noted, the welcome dinner was about “bringing our worlds together,” blending cultural references from their home countries with local character. The following day, the pace shifted, making space for a calmer, more focused start to the wedding.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Hayley’s morning unfolded calmly, surrounded by close friends and family. The energy was light, anticipatory, and grounded. “I felt excited and giddy,” Hayley recalls, “and then overwhelmed with gratitude once I saw everyone together.”
She wore the Grayson gown with an overskirt and the Jack veil by Made with Love Bridal, choosing a silhouette that felt architectural yet effortless. Accessories were kept minimal yet deeply personal, including family diamond earrings passed down from her great-grandfather and delicate gold bracelets from Kinn and Lily & Roo, shared with her maid of honor.
Hair was styled in loose glam waves with a center part, front pieces softly pinned back. Makeup focused on dewy skin, neutral eyes, and a nude, glossy lip. The bouquet followed the same logic: white roses with long visible stems, tied with a light silk ribbon.
Groom’s Fashion
The groom’s morning carried a noticeably relaxed energy. While Aksel was finishing his look, the groomsmen were already dressed, gathered nearby with beers in hand, setting a tone that felt more celebratory. Dressed in light-toned suits that echoed the weekend’s soft palette, they brought an easy, unfussy charm to the morning.
For the ceremony, Aksel chose a classic black tuxedo: sharply tailored and understated. Customized cufflinks from his family, a necklace gifted by Hayley and meant to become a future heirloom, and a new jubilee bracelet watch completed the ensemble.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place outdoors, set against the rolling Tuscan hills at Villa di Petriolo. The location required very little intervention: the open landscape, cypress-lined views, and expansive sky became the main visual framework of the moment. Nature acted as the primary decorator, with soft greenery, distant hills, and striking, airy clouds moving slowly overhead.
The setup was intentionally restrained. Guests were seated facing the view, allowing the landscape to remain uninterrupted. Floral design stayed minimal and refined, complementing rather than competing with the surroundings. Everything was arranged to keep the focus on people, words, and connection.
The ceremony itself was symbolic and fully personalized. Aksel’s mother officiated, guiding the moment with warmth and familiarity, while Hayley’s father brought the rings and shared a few heartfelt words. Only the best man and maid of honor stood beside the couple, reinforcing the intimate structure of the ceremony despite the presence of 120 guests.
The couple chose not to do a first look, saving that moment for the ceremony itself. “Sharing our personal vows was the most memorable moment of the entire day,” they shared. “It allowed us to speak from our hearts and truly declare our love and commitment to each other, which is what it was all about.”
Cocktail Hour
The cocktail hour unfolded by the pool, turning the space into a relaxed, unmistakably Italian interlude. White parasols, crisp white lounge chairs, and open views over the Tuscan landscape created a setting that felt sun-warmed and effortless.
Music played a key role here, continuing the narrative set during the ceremony. What began with strings and piano transitioned into a more electric sound for the aperitif, subtly lifting the mood and signaling the move toward celebration. The atmosphere encouraged mingling, laughter, and unstructured moments, allowing guests to fully absorb the setting before heading into dinner.
Moments Together
Captured by Aberrazioni Cromatiche, this quiet window after the cocktail hour became a pause that the couple intentionally took for themselves. With guests settling into aperitivo by the pool, Aksel and Hayley stepped away to walk the grounds together, letting the pace drop and the moment breathe. The setting did most of the work, but it was the ease between them that shaped these frames.
The imagery from this part of the day feels fresh and unforced. The color palette stays soft and natural, creamy whites, deep greens, warm stone, with light handled gently rather than dramatically. Some frames lean into crisp contrast, others soften into movement, allowing emotion to guide composition over posing.
As the light shifted, Aksel changed into his cream dinner jacket for the reception, subtly changing the tone of the images as well. With golden hour settling over the vineyards, the atmosphere warmed noticeably. Shadows stretched, colors deepened, and the photographs took on a more cinematic quality, relaxed, glowing, and transitional.
Decor
Inspiration for the decor came from classic European villa aesthetics, timeless florals, cursive typography, and a shared love of storytelling. Pinterest boards and mood references set the direction, but the real shaping happened through close collaboration with their planner, Roberta Pompeo, translating ideas into a cohesive and well-paced flow.
The reception unfolded outdoors, with long tables set against the open Tuscan landscape. Crisp white linens, clear glassware, and soft candlelight created a clean foundation. Stationery details echoed the same language. Table numbers and seating elements featured elegant cursive typography, reinforcing the classic aesthetic without tipping into formality. Floral accents were woven subtly throughout, from centerpieces to smaller table details, keeping the look cohesive from ceremony to dinner.
Reception
By the time Aksel and Hayley arrived at the reception, the atmosphere was already charged. Guests were gathered, glasses raised, conversations flowing easily as daylight softened into evening. The transition felt natural, less like an entrance and more like joining a moment already in motion. Music set the rhythm early on, guiding the shift from dinner to celebration without forcing it.
Their first dance unfolded with the same understated confidence that defined the entire weekend. Unperformed, unhurried, focused on presence rather than spectacle. It was followed by dinner under the open sky, where long tables, candlelight, and the surrounding Tuscan landscape framed the evening. Dessert stayed true to place and tradition: tiramisu served in classic Italian style, simple, generous, and warmly received.
As the night deepened, the celebration loosened. A champagne tower marked the shift into a more playful tempo, glasses clinking as the energy lifted. Music grew louder, movement freer, and the reception gradually transformed into a full evening party, stretching comfortably into the dark.
The later hours were captured in a distinctly editorial way. Black-and-white images dominated this chapter, emphasizing contrast and form over color. The couple’s white evening looks stood out sharply against the night, creating a striking visual tension that felt cinematic rather than nostalgic. Flash photography, movement, and tight framing gave these moments a raw elegance, polished but alive.
Pool Party
After such a full and layered celebration, the morning that followed was intentionally relaxed and fun. The pool party became a natural extension of the weekend: unplanned, sunlit, and unapologetically easy. Guests gathered by the water in swimwear and sunglasses, drinks in hand, the Tuscan hills stretching quietly in the background.
Floating conversations, laughter echoing across the pool, music playing softly as people moved between water and loungers, this final chapter carried the same spirit as the rest of the weekend: presence over performance.
Advice from the couple:
• Prioritise what matters: Our main priority was making the weekend fun, memorable, and personalized for ourselves and our guests.
• Use a planner: Their expertise is invaluable in bringing your vision to life, keeping everything organized, and helping you incorporate meaningful touches that make the day uniquely yours. You don’t know what you don’t know, and they help to remove this stress!
• Don’t focus on just the one day — enjoy the whole journey: Make every step of the wedding experience part of the celebration. This not only reduces the pressure on the big day but also allows the joy to last longer and include everyone you love.
WEDDING PLANNER The Different Twins | PHOTO & VIDEO Aberrazioni Cromatiche Studio | VENUE Villa Petriolo | FLORAL DESIGN Happy Flowers Tuscany | MUAH Samantha Pretto | BRIDAL GOWN Made with Love Bridal | BRIDAL VEIL Made with Love Bridal | BRIDAL SHOES Emmy London | FIREWORKS Fuochi Show | RENTALS Nolo Party | CEREMONY & APERITIF MUSIC Lorenzo Zanobetti | WELCOME DINNER MUSIC Bellissimo Duo | WELCOME DINNER GAMES Italian Wedding Games | GELATO CART Rogers Project | LIGHTING Mixar SRL | POOL PARTY MUSIC Tasten Sax | DJ Andrea Paci DJ
