The main point of this Tuscan wedding was the vibe, not the agenda. Set at Villa Catignano, Leila and Mikhail’s celebration played out as a long Italian weekend with just 22 guests, slow mornings, candlelit dinners, and zero rush. Captured by Polina Yarmush, the visual story leans into what modern editorials are obsessed with right now: imperfect horizons, soft chaos composition, handwritten notes, and fashion moments we live for.
Location: Tuscany, Italy
Style: Elegant, Intimate, Slow-luxury
Time of planning: 1 year
Number of guests: 22
Setting: Villa
Season: Summer
Both working in IT risk management at one of the Big Four firms, Leila and Mikhail’s love story began quietly with a simple motorcycle ride home. Now, they live in a small village in the Netherlands, where life moves gently with local markets, cycling through the countryside, long dinners with wine, and travel.
Having explored more than 50 countries together, they learned early on that what mattered most was not the destination, but how they experienced it. So marriage entered the conversation calmly and naturally. Mikhail proposed in Belgium, where they chose Leila’s engagement ring together. That same sense of ease carried into their wedding in Tuscany, a feeling fully captured in motion by Alex Movies.
Vision of the Celebration
From the start, the lovebirds knew they wanted a journey, one that unfolded slowly and allowed guests to truly settle into the experience. Villa Catignano, located near Siena, became the obvious choice for a long weekend in Italy, with countryside views and wine-fueled dinners. A pre-wedding stay in Umbria, complete with poolside afternoons, olive grove walks, old-town strolls, and even Leila’s birthday, set the tone.
The wedding itself became the centerpiece of a three-day celebration that never felt rushed. Styling leaned into what was already there. Ivory and white tones, subtle yellow accents echoing the Tuscan sun, candlelight everywhere.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Leila’s morning began surrounded by the villa’s Tuscan interiors. Frescoed walls, soft patina, arched doorways, and rooms filled with depth and history became the natural backdrop for the first moments of the day. A small yellow bouquet appeared like a deliberate flash of color, cutting through the muted stone and ivory tones and instantly lifting the frame.
For her morning looks, Leila leaned into a relaxed, fashion-forward approach. The first outfit was a soft two-piece by La Petra set that echoed the lingerie-inspired trend. It felt personal rather than performative, perfectly suited to a slow morning inside a historic villa.
She later changed into a kimono by Pache Swimwear, understated in color yet elevated by its delicate pattern. The look felt quietly luxurious, refined without trying too hard, a subtle nod to craftsmanship and detail.
Throughout the morning, personal touches were everywhere. Lace napkins embroidered with their initials, handwritten letters prepared for guests, small details that spoke to intention rather than excess. These elements deepened the visuals, adding emotional weight to already intimate moments.
One of the most touching scenes unfolded when Leila’s father saw her in her wedding dress for the first time. The moment was unguarded and emotional, grounding the elegance of the morning in something deeply human and real.
For the ceremony, Leila wore a gown by Anastasiya Boksha that felt timeless without slipping into anything museum-like. The fabric caught and reflected the light beautifully, creating a soft glow that shifted with every movement. A dropped waist elongated the silhouette, while delicate pleating across the bodice added texture and dimension. Satin gloves completed the look, reinforcing its classic tone.
She paired the gown with jewelry by MonBal Jewelry and Jimmy Choo heels complemented the outfit. It looked composed, thoughtful, and perfectly in sync with the setting.
Groom’s Fashion
Mikhail kept his look clean and precise. He wore a tailored tuxedo by SuitSupply, and polished shoes from the same house completed the look, keeping everything cohesive and unfussy. The most meaningful detail was hidden. Inside his shirt collar, their wedding date was embroidered as a cute reminder worn close to the skin.
Ceremony
The ceremony unfolded in the manicured gardens of villa, where symmetry, greenery, and timeworn stone created stunning setting. The design leaned into the villa’s natural geometry with sculpted hedges, soft pathways, and a sense of order that still felt organic.
The vision was carefully brought to life by FarNiente Agency, with floral design by Olga Kolos, who approached the ceremony decor with restraint and intention. Florals were used as accents to echo the ambience. One of the strongest visual moments was Leila’s bouquet, a cascading waterfall of white orchids that felt sculptural and fluid. It added movement to the ceremony look and became a focal point in the frames, softening the clean lines of the dress while reinforcing the overall sense of aestetic.
The ceremony itself was symbolic and deeply personal. Set against rolling Tuscan hills with Siena in the distance, it avoided long speeches in favor of brief, meaningful words. Mikhail’s brother officiated, instantly shifting the tone from formal to intimate.
After the vows, guests moved seamlessly into an aperitivo accompanied by live jazz from The Happy Quartet. The music floated through the garden, blending with soft conversation, clinking glasses, and late-afternoon light.
Throughout it all, the atmosphere stayed calm and emotionally present. Guests later described the ceremony as natural, joyful, and deeply moving, a reflection of Leila and Mikhail themselves. Modern, personal, and unforced, it captured the essence of their approach to the entire weekend: intentional, intimate, and unforgettable.
Moments Together
This part of the day was about slowing down and simply being together. Through the lens of Polina Yarmush, these moments feel natural, calm, and visually confident. Polina’s photography leans into subtle imperfections. Slightly tilted horizon lines appear again and again, adding movement and a lived-in feeling to the frames. Black-and-white shots bring another layer to the story. The poses remain relaxed, almost instinctive, but still read as fashion.
“For us, the first preview of our images brought tears to our eyes, perfectly capturing the romantic, golden, and almost surreal feeling we had envisioned years earlier.”
One of the moments the couple especially highlights as a lasting memory was the sunset over Tuscany. That soft evening light naturally became part of their moments together, when they stepped away and focused only on each other.
Reception
The evening unfolded on the villa’s open-air terrace at Villa Catignano, softly lit by string lights and warmed by the glow of candles. Italian music, generous cuisine, long toasts, and unhurried conversations shaped the atmosphere of a true family-style celebration, relaxed, emotional, and deeply connected.
The table decor added warmth and elegance. White calla lilies accented with soft yellow blooms echoed the floral palette of the day, while tall candles and a long flowing tablecloth created a sense of continuity and ease. Each guest found a handwritten letter waiting at their place, a small but meaningful gesture that made the evening feel deeply personal. A curated playlist of songs collected from Mikhail and Leila’s travels became the soundtrack of the night.
Entertainment was never about spectacle. Instead of traditional shows or elaborate performances, the couple focused on creating atmosphere. Live music filled the terrace throughout the evening, blending seamlessly with candlelight and the surrounding Tuscan landscape. The result felt immersive rather than staged, cinematic yet intimate.
Guests surprised the couple with a recorded song written especially for them, a moment that brought the terrace to tears. Another standout moment followed when Leila and Mikhail prepared a classic mille-feuille with fresh berries together with the chef, assembling the dessert live in front of their guests. What could have been a simple course became an interactive, joyful highlight of the evening.
As the night progressed, the mood shifted naturally. There were dances, laughter, a few tears, and plenty of wine. Leila and Mikhail changed outfits, exchanged glances and jokes, and at times it felt as if the evening slowed just enough to let everyone fully sink into it.
For the reception, Leila changed into her second look, a princess-style gown by Rara Avis Group. Light, expressive, and made for movement, the dress carried her effortlessly from dinner into dancing, marking the transition from ceremony to celebration while keeping the tone playful and romantic.
Custom gifts added a final layer of personality. Ceramic plates engraved with the couple’s initials and wedding date, Italian-themed T-shirts, tote bags, and 3D-printed stickers created specifically for the celebration felt playful, thoughtful, and entirely in sync with the spirit of the weekend.
Later that night, under a canopy of stars, Leila and Mikhail paused hand in hand, watching their guests laugh, dance, and raise glasses. The moment felt almost unreal in its beauty, yet completely genuine. For the couple, the day unfolded exactly as they had hoped, effortless, sincere, and deeply memorable.
Advice from the couple:
• We both emphasize the importance of investing in photography. Long after the music fades and the flowers wilt, the wedding photos will carry the magic forward.
• We also recommend starting planning early, especially for a destination wedding. Sending invitations a year in advance allowed our friends and family traveling from abroad to treat the wedding as a full holiday.
• We encourage others to relinquish perfectionism. Inevitably, something will go off-plan — and that’s okay. Guests remember the feeling of love, the laughter during speeches, and the warm, personal welcome, rather than the exact shade of flowers or the precise arrangement of table decorations.
PHOTOGRAPHER Polina Yarmush | PLANNER FarNiente Agency | VIDEOGRAPHER Alex Movies | VENUE Villa Catignano | FLORAL DESIGN & DECOR Olga Kolos | MUAH Karina Zadorozhna | BRIDAL GOWN Anastasiya Boksha | CATERING Class Ricevimenti | DJ & LIGHTING Salvo Falcone | LIVE MUSIC The Happy Quartet | BRIDE Leila Kildigazieva
