Set against the dramatic ruins of San Galgano Abbey, Sydney and Schyler’s Tuscan wedding leaned fully into contrast: old-world stone and mossy arches paired with a crisp, contemporary couple who felt completely at ease within it all. There was, however, one additional guest everyone quietly welcomed that day. Unplanned, slightly mischievous, and impossible to ignore.
The rain arrived as part of the story, deepening the colors, catching on umbrellas, and the curves of a vintage car, and turning the entire day into something cinematic. Both the celebration and its most atmospheric guest were captured by Lato Photography, whose lens embraced every reflection, rain-kissed frame, and fleeting moment with a calm, editorial restraint.
Location: Tuscany, Italy
Style: Timeless, Intimate, Tuscan
Time of planning: 6 months
Number of guests: 60
Setting: Abbey & Villa
Season: Summer
Sydney and Schyler’s story begins casually, the way most good ones do. They met through mutual friends, with Sydney unexpectedly showing up at a barbecue Schyler was hosting. Their second date turned into a weekend in Baja, Mexico, and from there the rhythm of their relationship became defined by movement, curiosity, and shared experiences.
Over the next two years, they traveled extensively together, surfing in Nicaragua, racing Ironmans in Canada, exploring Brazil, going on safari in South Africa, summiting mountains in Ecuador, and returning again to Baja, where Schyler eventually proposed. That sense of adventure, of choosing presence over performance, runs quietly through the entire wedding.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
The morning unfolded quietly, bathed in warm indoor light that softened everything it touched. Sydney’s bridal look felt deeply personal. She wore her Nana’s silk wedding dress from 1957, later worn by her mother in 1991, a piece layered with history and meaning.
Styled simply with a French twist and long-stem white roses, the gown felt timeless rather than nostalgic. Against the villa’s old stone walls, it perfectly embodied that balance of old-world heritage and modern polish, understated, confident, and completely unforced.
Groom’s Fashion
Schyler’s look followed the same vibe. Classic black tie, but with character. He wore a traditional tuxedo, finished with white silk pocket squares sourced in Florence for himself and his groomsmen, a quiet detail that added depth without demanding attention.
Photographically, this section leans editorial rather than documentary. Calm compositions, thoughtful framing, and a distinct sense of pause define the imagery. It carries a subtle Wes Anderson energy, but make it black tie.
First Look
The lovebirds chose to share their first look at the villa, away from the crowds. They exchanged private vows, grounding the day in something deeply personal before stepping into its public moments. Schyler surprised Sydney with a poem he had written after one of their early dates. Set against ivy-covered stone, the scene reads like a European postcard.
Ceremony
San Galgano Abbey set the tone from the moment guests arrived. The 13th-century ruins, open to the sky and defined by soaring arches, created a setting that felt both monumental and intimate. The ceremony took place beneath stone archways, with natural greenery and soft floral arrangements that respected the architecture.
Instead of a traditional aisle or floral arch, the ceremony design leaned into one of the Abbey’s most powerful elements. The aisle was framed by the Abbey’s own massive wooden door, left fully open, revealing the inner courtyard beyond. Its sculptural, arched form, heavy wood, and timeworn surface became the focal point, an architectural gesture so simple and so strong it felt almost radical. Flanking the doorway, airy, cloud-like floral installations softened the structure, creating a quiet contrast between weight and lightness, stone and air.
Following the ceremony, guests gathered outside as Sydney and Schyler exited beneath a shower of white rose petals. From there, they slipped into a vintage Alfa Romeo Duetto in a warm, buttercream hue and drove off toward Villa Podernovo, where the celebration continued into the evening.
Moments Together
Moments together unfolded under the rain, and instead of stealing the spotlight, it gave the images a quiet cinematic charge. A single black umbrella, the groom’s tailored coat, the curve of the vintage car, all of it carried a subtle James Bond aura, that restrained English gentleman energy.
The photography by Lato Photography leaned into warm, muted tones throughout the day. Moments were wrapped in honeyed indoor light and a calm, neutral overcast. That warmth spilled naturally onto the greenery, trees, and moss, giving the entire visual story a cohesive, almost glowing undertone.
Scale and symmetry played a defining role in the portraits. In several frames, light poured in from behind through the Abbey’s openings, creating a soft diffusion, a hazy glow where highlights gently bloom and edges blur just enough to feel atmospheric.
Black-and-white imagery brought another layer of structure. Rich, contrast-heavy, often paired with flash, these frames emphasized form, tailoring, posture, and movement.
Laughter caught mid-motion, guests crossing the frame, fabric moving, moments that feel slightly unpolished sit comfortably alongside directed compositions, sculptural silhouettes, and strikingly unusual framing choices. Laura and Tommaso of Lato played with cropping and perspective in a way that feels editorial rather than traditional, creating images that surprise in a nice way.
Reception
The evening began with a relaxed cocktail hour on the patio. A roaming string quartet moved through the space, playing lively modern covers. Guests sipped Hugo spritzes and whisky on the rocks, sampling small regional bites as the light slowly softened.
As dinner approached, the tables revealed one of the most thoughtfully layered design moments of the day. Styled by Alfio Flower, the tablescape leaned into organic restraint, pairing white and green hydrangeas with unexpected produce accents. Grapes appeared naturally, but the more surprising detail was the use of kiwi, adding texture and a slightly playful edge.
Stationery by Verygraphy added a refined finishing layer. Minimal table cards and menus were placed directly on crisp white plates. White minimalist candles ran through the tables, their soft glow warming the stone surroundings.
As glasses filled with sparkling wine and the last light faded, the evening naturally picked up pace. Toasts from the bride’s parents, her sister, and the groom’s brother set a heartfelt tone before the night shifted fully into celebration. Sydney and Schyler shared their first dance to You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne. Shortly after, the father-daughter dance brought a burst of energy, with swing moves to Walk of Life by Dire Straits drawing smiles and applause.
Then came the transition everyone felt. The saxophone player led the wedding party from the dinner tables to the dance floor with ABBA, instantly changing the rhythm of the night. At that point, Sydney changed into her second look, a sharp, playful set featuring a corset paired with a short skirt.
An Italian millefoglie was decorated by the couple themselves, dusted with powdered sugar and berries. Cigars were passed around, waiters wove through the crowd with trays of tequila shots and espresso, and the DJ and saxophonist kept the energy high well into the night. The entire wedding was about embracing the place, the people, and the unexpected, trusting that if the atmosphere was right, everything else would follow.
Advice from the couple:
• We highly recommend prewedding events. The week together allowed our guests to soak in Italy, get to know each other, and for us to really get to spend time with everyone who came.
• Rolling with the unexpected twists of the day and trusting the team you picked. Our wedding planner and crew were adaptable and creative in dealing with the unexpected rain. It became a reminder that while a lot of planning goes into a wedding, it’s really about celebrating the start of your life together.
PHOTOGRAPHER Lato Photography | PLANNING & STYLING Brilliant Wedding Simona Parisi | VENUE Abbazia San Galgano, Villa Podernovo | CATERING Olivia Catering & Events | FLORAL DESIGN Alfio Flower | STATIONERY Verygraphy | VINTAGE CAR Slow Hills | DJ Remo Giugni | BRIDE Sydney Hemphill | GROOM Schyler Ruhland
