Location: Lucca, Tuscany, Italy
Setting: A small public city park
The number of guests: 16
Wedding Season: Spring
How long did the couple plan the event: 6 months
Wedding theme/style: Enchanting, sentimental, simple and authentic.
Stephen and Rebekah met in college at Emory University through the school’s Christian fellowship club and quickly became close friends. They started dating a few months later, and after graduating, Rebekah moved to Stephen’s hometown of New Orleans, LA. A year later, they got engaged. Stephen works as a high school science teacher and football coach while also helping lead his church’s youth group. Rebekah owns her own business, offering design services such as photography, floral design, and event styling. With her background in the wedding industry, Rebekah wanted a unique and intimate wedding experience.
The couple wanted a wedding that was true to themselves and reflected the charm of the city. They aimed for a simple and authentic celebration that focused on their love and the presence of their families. It was simple, meaningful, sentimental, fresh, enchanting, and naturally beautiful. Their wedding was beautifully captured by videographer Matt Alt Films, who created a romantic film of their love story in Italy, including a special part of the day after the wedding for the couple to cherish.
On the morning of the wedding, Stephen, Rebekah, and their guests went for a bike ride around the city’s historic wall, built in the 14th century.
The morning of the wedding was absolutely enchanting. Rebekah is a florist, and she created her bouquet and Stephen’s boutonniere after their bike ride. She used fresh flowers from a local shop she had picked the day before, along with wildflowers she collected on their ride. She chose a simple gown from David’s Bridal, and her friend helped with her hair and makeup.
The wedding concept was created naturally, inspired by the 500-year-old frescoes that adorned the historic Airbnb, where the entire party stayed for the week, as well as the scenic rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside.
On the day before the wedding, the bride stumbled upon the perfect venue for the ceremony while exploring the city. Their family friend and church small group leader officiated the ceremony, which was short, sincere, and full of personal stories about the couple and inside jokes. The park provided a picturesque scene as Rebekah and Stephen exchanged their vows, surrounded by love and joy.
After the ceremony, they joyfully ran through the streets as passerby’s cheered and celebrated with them, congratulating them with glasses of champagne and gelato. Everything was beautifully captured by their photographer, Tess Schilke.
They ended the night with a magical and delicious dinner with their family at Buca di Sant’Antonio, after which the newlyweds made their way to their honeymoon suite at Palazzo Tucci.
Advice from the couple:
• Make the main thing the main thing & everything else will fall into place. Celebrating the genuine love and commitment you are making with your significant other and starting a life bound with theirs. Also, prioritize your photographer because the right one will make ART from anything they’re given. I think for an elopement style, less is often more when it comes to decor. If you want to add florals, make it look like they’ve been growing there forever; don’t add anything that detracts from the natural beauty of the environment.
VIDEOGRAPHY Matt Alt Films | PHOTOGRAPHY Tess Schilke
