Location: Chianti, Italy
Style: Vintage, Dreamlike, Fresh
Time of planning: 1,5 years
Number of guests: 55
Setting: Vineyard
Season: Early Summer
Taylor and Jason met in 2018 in City Park in New Orleans by pure chance. She was walking her dog, he was out for a run, and he paused to say hello, still in his college T-shirt. They exchanged names and went on their way, but the moment stayed with her. “I thought he was so handsome and charming,” Taylor admits, and with only a first name and a college to go on, she searched for him on social media and sent the message that would eventually lead to their beautiful wedding.
When it came time to plan their celebration, Taylor didn’t follow a specific theme or reference. Instead, she focused on how she wanted her guests to feel, shaping every decision through her own taste and intuition.
Taylor has always loved vintage clothing and natural fabrics, and she knew her wedding look needed to reflect that deeply personal style. “I really love vintage clothes, and I love natural fabrics. Rarely do I wear anything other than that.” Finding nothing that felt quite right, she decided early on that her dress would need to be custom, created with care and deeply personal meaning.
Years earlier, Taylor had fallen in love with a Krikor Jabotian Chapter III dress, and when the wedding came, she chose to bring that vision to life. She worked closely with a dressmaker to create a gown inspired by the original design, using only natural materials. “All fabrics were natural – down to the ostrich feather, and was dyed in black tea to give it that beautiful ivory glow.” The result was a dress that felt soft, organic, and timeless, perfectly aligned with her aesthetic.
The day was filled with meaningful, personal touches: writing their own vows, Jason surprising Taylor with a letter on the morning of the wedding, and incorporating beautiful antique family heirlooms throughout the celebration. Most of all, what made it truly special was sharing those moments with a small group of people they love deeply, gathered together to celebrate in such an intimate way.
She wore the gown with Stuart Weitzman shoes, choosing a pointed-toe kitten heel, and kept accessories meaningful and restrained. Taylor wore vintage Givenchy chandelier earrings and an antique gold-and-pearl bracelet gifted by her mother-in-law. Jason added an especially sentimental touch by giving her two rings that once belonged to his grandmothers, one diamond and one topaz, which she wore in place of a veil, completing a look that felt intimate, intentional, and entirely her own.
Jason loves classic fashion, and the decision between an ivory and a black tux involved plenty of back and forth. In the end, he chose a black Tom Ford tuxedo, a choice that felt timeless and entirely right. The look was intentionally simple, finished with a single orchid boutonnière and no additional accessories. As Taylor shared, “He’s a classic guy,” and the styling reflected that perfectly.
Taylor and Jason were married in the amphitheater at Monaciano, a place that felt like an untouched, enchanted forest. Tucked away from the vastness of the surrounding vineyard, it felt like a dreamland of its own, quiet, intimate, and deeply atmospheric, which is exactly what drew them to it.
The ceremony décor was intentionally kept simple. They used a chuppah, covered with an antique textile that once belonged to Jason’s grandmother, adding a layer of family history and meaning. They also chose to write and deliver their own vows, making the moment feel deeply personal and heartfelt
"It was more than we could’ve expected, an absolute dream. After, we were euphoric but also sad it was over!”
“I didn’t want to look at the wedding through the lens of modern weddings,” Taylor shared, explaining that traditional rules felt limiting rather than inspiring. Instead, she focused on flow, music, lighting, and creating an experience where guests truly felt considered from beginning to end.
Throughout the day, Ginger’s Eyes Photography captured Taylor and Jason’s story using both digital and film, blending her signature editorial approach with candid, emotional moments that felt natural and authentic, preserving the atmosphere exactly as it unfolded.
All of the wedding day events took place at Monaciano, allowing the celebration to unfold seamlessly in one setting. After the ceremony, guests gathered for cocktails beneath a massive oak tree overlooking the vineyard, soaking in the golden Tuscan landscape.
For the drinks, the couple served something deeply personal. One summer in the Tuscan mountains, when stores were closed and options were limited, a spontaneous mix of limoncello and milk turned into what they now call an “Amazon Lemon Russian,” finished with rosemary and cinnamon. “It was surprisingly delightful,” and over time it became a tradition, one they were excited to share with their guests on their wedding day.
Planning the wedding from the U.S. meant “a ton of back and forth, which was hard,” but it allowed Taylor to be deeply intentional with every decision. “I really love warm tones, and my favorite color combination is pink and green,” Taylor shared, naturally leaning into that palette for the florals and décor throughout the weekend.
For the dinner, Taylor reimagined the traditional setup. “I wanted one long line of tables, but didn’t want a rectangle,” she explained, feeling it limited conversation. Instead, she chose large round tables placed close together so guests could engage with more people around them. That same philosophy shaped the entire celebration: “I didn’t want a lot of waiting around for events, and I wanted everyone to feel considered.”
Keeping the flow of the day light and energetic was important to them, so there were no performances and no toasts during the wedding itself. Instead, all speeches took place at the rehearsal dinner the night before, allowing the celebration to unfold without pauses and keeping the focus on connection, movement, and atmosphere.
For their first dance, they chose Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac, a song that felt timeless, romantic, and deeply personal to them. As the celebration continued, Thinking of You by Sister Sludge played as they walked out, bringing a lighter, joyful energy that perfectly reflected the mood of the evening. They also embraced Italian tradition for dessert with a classic millefoglie cake.
"It was the most euphoric we’d ever felt. To have 55 people there, all of whom we love so so dearly, was absolutely magical.”
Advice from the couple:
• Think less about planning a wedding and more about planning a special celebration. I say this because weddings are just celebrations – they don’t have to be limited in style to “wedding.” I think that stepping outside of that really lends itself to amazing parties.
PHOTOGRAPHY Ginger’s Eyes Photography | PLANNING SBPsEvents | FLORALS Fioribri | VIDEOGRAPHY Vadim Starling | VENUE Tenuta di Monaciano | CATERING Class Ricevimenti
