Some weddings take your breath away with grandeur. Others stay with you because of the feeling. Selena and Max’s wedding at Relais Villa Olmo in the Tuscan countryside fell into the latter. Photographed by their close friend Tiana Michele Photo, it was a quiet, deeply intentional celebration rooted in intimacy and light. Every detail, from the couple’s wardrobe to the smallest piece of decor, felt like an honest extension of who they are. A wedding where style came naturally, and nothing was added just for show.
Location: Impruneta, Italy
Style: Romantic, Organic, Timeless
Time of planning: 1 years
Number of guests: 34
Setting: Boutique Hotel
Season: Summer
Selena and Max first met in Venice, California, on a warm October evening in 2021. She was nearing the end of a work trip from New York. He was local. After an impromptu drink at The Brig, they spent hours talking, dancing in a friend’sliving room long after everyone else had left. “We both share the notion that this was the moment we knew we could have something special,” Selena shared.
They got engaged in Aspen, Colorado, in April 2024. Just the two of them, in a quiet snowy field with the mountains behind them. Later, they explored a ghost town, keeping the news just for themselves for the rest of the weekend. It was simple, private, and meaningful — the same values that shaped their wedding.
Inspiration
After the proposal, Selena immediately felt drawn to the idea of a small, soulful celebration. With European roots on both sides, they knew they wanted a destination setting that brought everyone together in one place. After months of searching, Selena found Relais Villa Olmo, a boutique property in Impruneta, Italy, just outside Florence. Every guest stayed on site, turning the experience into a true retreat.
The theme was Paradiso in Terra or “heaven on earth”. “I truly wanted each detail to feel intentional and not performative, layered in light and love,” Selena explained. The vision was organic, old-world, ethereal, and romantic. Selena personally sourced most vendors, building the day piece by piece around that essence.
Welcome Party & Rehearsal Dinner
Selena and Max’s wedding weekend began with the welcome party. A relaxed, sun-drenched afternoon with guests lounging on the lawn, sipping cocktails, and enjoying gelato under wide umbrellas. A live trio played softly nearby as everyone eased into the celebration.
Selena wore a ruffled vintage Blumarine skirt paired with the CINQ “Essie” corset, her look romantic and undone in the best way. Max wore an embroidered Perte D’ego blazer over a Todd Snyder tank and relaxed linen trousers, paired with woven huarache loafers he and Selma found on a trip to Todos Santos. He looked like he’d stepped out of a 1960s Italian film.
That evening, the couple hosted an intimate rehearsal dinner indoors. The table was set in rich tones: clusters of red fruit, brass candlesticks, and dark florals created a sense of warmth and old-world texture. Selena’s look for the night, the CINQ “Cornelia Duster,” glowed in the candlelight, while Max wore a deep olive Armani suit with classic Gucci loafers that balanced perfectly against the setting. It was an evening of connection, toasts, and anticipation.
Pool Party
The following day brought a playful shift in mood with a lively pool party that felt like a slice of summer in the Tuscan hills. Guests cooled off in the water, lounged with drinks in hand, and soaked up the final calm before the main event. Everything, from the atmosphere to the outfits, felt thoughtful without trying too hard.
"Dancing barefoot in the grass, hand in hand with each other and our families... it was truly one of the most beautiful and carefree parts of our wedding"
Wedding Day
Bridal Fashion
Selena’s looks across the weekend reflected her love for timeless fashion with a personal twist. After experimenting with vintage pieces, she ultimately turned to CINQ, working closely with Macye and Madelyn on multiple outfits. For the wedding day, she wore an unreleased gown from CINQ Collection V, styled with a striking hooded veil that added a modern, poetic edge.
“I had admired that gown since the moment Macye sketched it,” she said. “I tried it on the day before we left for Italy. When it fit perfectly, we all immediately knew it was the one.”
She paired the gown with vintage Jimmy Choos, a delicate diamond bezel necklace by Roberto Coin, and Ode to Rose by Alexandre J. as her wedding scent. She did her own makeup for all three days, staying true to herself.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place on a terracotta balcony overlooking the olive trees, just above the hills of Impruneta. As couple described, “it truly feels like stepping into a painting.” From the start, they imagined their vows exchanged there, bathed in sunlight, with guests seated close together.
They kept the ceremony intentionally simple. No bridal party. No dramatic processional. Just heartfelt vows, handwritten in matching leather journals bought in Montepulciano. Selena’s father officiated. It was a personal decision that added warmth, humor, and a sense of spiritual grounding.
A harpist played softly before the ceremony and during Selena’s walk down the aisle. The couple exchanged rings, kissed, and stepped into married life with a deep sense of clarity.
Cocktail Hour
After the ceremony, guests gathered for a relaxed cocktail hour under the late afternoon sun. The mood was elegant but unforced: light dresses, sunglasses, Italian cocktails, and joyful conversation.
Private Moment
One of the most tender parts of the day happened quietly, away from the guests. Selena and Max wandered into the olive grove in the late afternoon, just the two of them. The sun was low, the hills soft in the background. They didn’t pose. They just walked.
Tiana Michele captured that stillness with grace. The photos from this moment are full of breath and space, giving a window into something unspoken between the two.
"I changed into the original dress I had purchased nearly a year earlier. A two-piece Halfpenny London gown. It was the perfect second look to run through the olive groves after the ceremony and dance the night away at our reception!"
Reception & Decor
Dinner took place in the garden under open sky, framed by lush hedges and softly flickering candlelight. The table was long and elegant, draped in ivory with florals spilling across its length. Everything felt layered but light: a mix of vintage glassware, crystal candleholders, and natural textures.
The floral design by Harvesia Floral stood out for its unstructured elegance. Each arrangement felt like it had grown organically, echoing the countryside without overpowering it. The blooms spilled over onto the table in subtle waves, creating a feeling of abundance and softness.
As the sun began to set, Selena and Max cut their millefoglie cake — a delicate stack of pastry, fruit, and cream. Then, under string lights and with Frank Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night playing, they shared their first dance.
Afterwards, the celebration moved indoors. The restaurant on the property had been transformed into a dance floor, complete with a disco ball and moody lighting. The energy shifted from glow to full celebration, with music by Davide Landini DJ and Joint Sax keeping everyone on their feet until late into the night.
For Selena and Max, their wedding wasn’t about the most elaborate setup or the most picture-perfect details. It was about creating something that felt true. And in doing so, they built something lasting. A weekend that was more than a wedding. It was, in every way, their own Paradiso in Terra.
Advice from the couple:
• Take the time to really think about what you want out of your wedding, don’t just go with trends, what is “typical” or what you may think will “look” the best. The days will go by so fast and you want to be able to look back and know that everything you did, and invested in, felt authentic to you both and who you are as a couple. <3
PHOTOGRAPHER Tiana Michele Photo | VENUE Relais Villa Olmo | FLORIST Harvesia Floral | COORDINATOR Silvana Pepe Events | HAIR Katy Wedding Hair | VIDEO The Film Blanc | RENTALS Preludio Divisione, NoleggioNoloparty | SIGNAGE Esthetic Bride | ENTERTAINMENT Davide Landini DJ, Joint Sax Entertainment
