Ellen and Jake first glimpsed this Tuscan villa on Succession, and it haunted their imagination. Built in the 17th century, with gardens laid out around a dramatic axis of cypress and stone, a “holy stair” leading to a hermitage, this villa is a living legacy. The lovebirds’ wedding weekend immersed everyone fully in that Italian essence with a welcome dinner, vows in the garden, and a relaxed brunch under the trees. This celebration is best entered through its imagery. Photography by Beatrice and film by Jeremie from The Quirky shape the weekend into a wonderful narrative.
Location: Tuscany, Italy
Style: Romantic, Timeless, Cinematic
Time of planning: 16 months
Number of guests: 70
Setting: Villa
Season: Spring
Initially, Ellen and Jake were classmates, but they grew close over a shared course. A quick catch-up at a Japanese restaurant became a three-hour conversation and the quiet start of something certain. After graduating, they moved to Hong Kong and built a life that turned the city into home. In 2023, Jake proposed on a mountaintop in New Zealand after a helicopter ride; this was an unforgettable “yes” above the clouds. For the wedding, they imagined a place as timeless as their love, shared over a long weekend with the people who shaped them. In 2025, Tuscany answered.
Vision of the Weekend
Italy remains one of the world’s top wedding destinations precisely because of its harmony between landscape, architecture, and gastronomy. More and more, international weddings embrace the villa buy-out model: renting the entire estate for several days to create a private weekend experience that allows guests to settle into the rhythm of Tuscan life.
The north star was a feeling: elegant, classic, immersive. Villa Cetinale’s geometry and sculptural gardens set a grand yet serene tone. Beyond aesthetics, Ellen & Jake prioritized experience: music that swells at the right moments, food and wine that celebrate place, and photography and film that capture not only beauty but laughter and connection among guests.
Pre-Wedding Gathering
The wedding weekend opened with an alfresco welcome dinner that immediately set the tone for what was to come. Guests arrived at the villa’s gardens as musicians played live, filling the courtyard with warmth and ease. The couple entered hand in hand: Ellen in a blush tulle gown, light and romantic, and Jake in a tailored beige suit that struck the perfect balance between formal and relaxed.
Food and drink were central to the experience. Aperol spritzes and local wines were served alongside wood-fired pizzas, Tuscan charcuterie, and vibrant antipasti spreads of tomatoes, cheeses, and olives. Each table carried not just a meal, but an introduction to Tuscany itself, proof of why Italy remains a top destination for weddings, where gastronomy, landscape, and architecture harmonize effortlessly.
Tables were dressed in a language of soft luxury: white linens, glass cylinders with candles, and linen napkins folded with sprigs of rosemary. Bright yellow florals mixed with fresh lemons created a Mediterranean accent that felt both curated and organic. This design choice reflects a wider Italian wedding trend: florals styled as if they belong to the garden itself, an overgrown, organic aesthetic that looks natural rather than staged. Drapery overhead added texture and intimacy, another trend dominating destination weddings this season.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
The villa’s historic interiors: frescoed ceilings, gilded mirrors, and the play of Tuscan light through tall windows, gave Ellen’s bridal morning a cinematic quietness. Details were styled carefully: rings, silk ribbons, and shoes that echoed the gown’s timeless lines.
For the ceremony, Ellen chose a silk ballgown from Shine Moda. With a structured bodice, architectural pleats, and a sweeping train, the dress mirrored the villa’s symmetry, pure classicism made modern. Accessories were kept deliberate: a veil of fine tulle, pearl earrings, and understated heels. Her hair and makeup, styled by Jiyoung Yang Beauty, embraced natural luminosity: polished skin, softly defined eyes, and a graceful low bun that balanced tradition with freshness.
The bridesmaids wore floor-length gowns in muted sage green, a palette chosen to harmonize with Villa Cetinale’s gardens rather than compete with them. Their styling emphasized cohesion without uniformity, each dress echoing the overall softness of the day. The moment when they helped Ellen into her gown, against frescoed walls, felt like a living painting.
Groom's Fashion
Groom’s attire for the ceremony was a custom black tuxedo tailored by Clarance Wong. The fit was impeccable: structured shoulders, slim silhouette, and a bow tie that underscored timeless elegance. Polished black shoes rested against the bookshelves before he slipped them on, a quiet ritual captured in photographs. Beauty was refined with natural grooming by Giulia Cresci, ensuring a sharp but effortless finish.
Stationery by Pluma Creativa, vow books in muted tones, wax-sealed envelopes, and illustrated invitations tied the groom’s details back into the couple’s shared aesthetic. Styled together with his cufflinks and boutonniere, they underscored the theme of intention: every object was chosen not just to look beautiful, but to tell part of the story.
Ceremony
The ceremony unfolded in villa’s most iconic setting: the cypress alley framed by statues and Tuscan light. Rows of wooden chairs faced the stone arches, while organic floral arrangements by Flowers Living softened the geometry with blush, nude, and white tones. The design was intentionally minimal, allowing the grandeur of the landscape to lead.
Ellen walked down the aisle to Canon in D, her silk ballgown catching the sunlight with every step. Guests described a silence that felt sacred, broken only by the notes of the string quartet.
The vows were the heart of the moment. Both had written their own, and without comparing drafts, their words mirrored one another. After the exchange of rings, they sealed a bottle of wine with handwritten letters, a ritual they will open on their first anniversary. This touch reflects a broader 2025 wedding trend: experience-first symbolism, where meaning and memory take precedence over decoration.
Production and sound were handled by Wedding Music and Lights, ensuring every note and word carried clearly down the long garden axis. When Ellen & Jake walked back down the aisle together, the joy was palpable. Their ceremony had held the rare balance of cinematic grandeur and intimate sincerity.
Cocktail Hour
After the ceremony, guests moved into the villa’s gardens for an unhurried cocktail hour. Aperol spritzes glowed in the golden light, paired with Tuscan wines and a spread of antipasti curated by Delizia Ricevimenti: bruschetta, charcuterie, local cheeses, olives, and seasonal produce. Drinks were served elegantly over ice, with service balanced between sophistication and ease — the essence of Italian hospitality.
Moments Together
Meanwhile, Ellen changed into her second gown: a lace mermaid silhouette by Shine Moda, fitted yet soft, with long sleeves and a sweeping train. Jake complemented her look in a white tuxedo jacket, black bow tie, and patent shoes, an ensemble tailored by Clarance Wong. Together they walked the villa’s stone staircases, hand in hand, captured against wisteria in bloom and the Tuscan hills beyond.
Portraits by Beatrice and film by Jeremie made full use of the villa’s cinematic geometry. These quieter moments gave balance to the celebration, allowing Ellen and Jake to breathe together before the reception began, building intentional breaks for the couple to connect amidst the grandeur, so the day belongs not only to the guests but also to the two at its center.
Reception & Decor
Dinner unfolded under a canopy draped in ivory fabric, soft light pooling over long tables. The design was refined but intentionally understated: natural wood chairs, crystal stemware, and classic linens set the stage for an evening that was both elegant and welcoming. Florals by Flowers Living brought depth through pale pinks, creams, and subtle greenery, echoing the villa’s natural surroundings.
Guests were served a seasonal Tuscan menu by Delizia Ricevimenti, pairing local wines with handmade pasta, roasted vegetables, and farm-to-table mains. Toasts followed each course, balancing humor and tenderness, with stories of Ellen and Jake’s years together.
As dusk fell, the facade of the villa became a canvas. The couple’s initials, projected in light, framed the transition into the night. Soon after, the couple cut their cake, a millefoglie layered with cream and berries, surrounded by sparklers that turned the courtyard into a stage.
For their first dance, Ellen changed into a shimmering lavender gown that shifted in tone under the lights. Later in the night, she surprised guests again by switching into a short white party dress: playful, easy to move in, and perfect for the high-energy dancing that followed. This reflected the rising multi-dress trend, where brides move through the day with wardrobe changes that echo different moods: formal, cinematic, and finally, celebratory.
The party was powered by Wedding Music and Lights, filling the dance floor with international hits and beats that carried well past midnight. Friends and family joined the couple in sunglasses, laughter, and uninhibited joy, a true finale to a weekend designed not just to be remembered but lived fully in the moment.
The Brunch
The morning after carried an entirely different rhythm: light, playful, and refreshingly relaxed. Guests gathered on the villa’s lawn in linen and neutrals, a gentle contrast to the formality of the night before. Ellen wore a strapless lace dress from Shine Moda, paired with oversized sunglasses that gave her look a chic, effortless edge. Jake echoed the mood in a beige linen suit, unbuttoned collar, and sunglasses, perfectly Tuscan casual.
Tables were set under the cypress trees with woven chairs and white linen. Brunch was served buffet-style, overflowing with fresh pastries, croissants, fruit, sandwiches topped with olives, and rustic Italian breads. It felt like an alfresco family table, where conversations drifted easily between plates of food and glasses of prosecco.
The atmosphere was pure dolce vita. This farewell brunch extended the celebration. It was less about formality and more about presence, a final gathering that sent guests home not only with memories of grandeur but also of closeness.
Advice from the couple:
• Be True to Yourself:
Incorporate personal touches that reflect your story as a couple. It’s these details—no matter how small—that make the day uniquely yours.
• Trust Your Vendors:
Choose vendors whose work you admire and trust them to bring your vision to life. Their expertise can make all the difference.
• Take Moments to Pause:
The day goes by so quickly, so take moments to step back, take it all in, and appreciate the love and effort surrounding you.
• Plan for Comfort:
Think about your guests’ experience, from welcome gifts to the flow of the event. Little details, like a hangover kit or farewell gift, go a long way in making them feel appreciated.
PHOTOGRAPHER Beatrice of The Quirky | VIDEOGRAPHER Jeremie of The Quirky | SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER Salomé Levy Wedding | VENUE Villa Cetinale | PLANNING Italian Wedding Planners by Sposiamovi | CONTENT CREATOR Sparkly Content Creator | FLORAL DESIGN Flowers Living | STATIONERY Pluma Creativa | BRIDAL ATTIRE Shine Moda | GROOM’S TAILOR Clarance Wong | BRIDE’S MUAH Jiyoung Yang Beauty | GROOM’S MUAH Giulia Cresci | CATERING Delizia Ricevimenti | GELATO Miss 500 Exclusive Party | DJ Stefano Nannicini | MUSIC, SOUND & LIGHTING Wedding Music and Lights | PRODUCTION Mixar | TRANSPORT Arno Travel
