Soaked in late-summer light, this Italian wedding at Casa Olivi felt like a weekend getaway with friends where every hour stretched a little longer. In the hills of Marche, it carried that easy Tuscan rhythm: sun on the skin, music in the air, color all around. The celebration blended modern design with wildflowers and emotion, relaxed yet full of energy. Captured on film and digital by Lynn Shapiro, it told a story of warmth and the effortless joy only Italy can bring.
Location: Marche, Italy
Style: Vibrant, Romantic, Modern
Time of planning: 2 years
Number of guests: 60
Setting: Villa
Season: Summer
Eva and Alex met nearly nine years ago while working in London. What started as persistence on Alex’s side — “it took him twelve months of asking,” Eva laughs — turned into a partnership filled with shared adventures and a deep love for Italy. That love shaped everything about their wedding day. Alex proposed during a wine tasting at Banfi, their favorite Tuscan vineyard. When it came time to plan the wedding, the decision felt instant. “Italy can do no wrong in our eyes,” says Eva. “We knew immediately we wanted to get married there too.”
Concept & Location
The couple spent almost two years bringing their vision to life, starting with a ten-month search for the perfect venue. When they found Casa Olivi, a minimalist Tuscan-style villa overlooking the hills that stretch down to the sea, everything fell into place. “We found the venue first and worked backward from there,” Eva explains. “It was so modern and clean that we wanted to balance it with color, something vibrant and timeless.”
Working with the planner Andrea from Chefaway Ice and La Bottega di Paola, they created a floral story of wild beauty and joyful energy. The arrangements were loose, multicolored, and textured, echoing the villa’s natural surroundings. Guests were greeted with bursts of yellow, lilac, blush, and green. Each shade chosen to complement the golden light of the season.
Eva and Alex kept the planning grounded in what they valued most: good food, music, and atmosphere. Their approach was simple and genuine: build a day that feels like everyone’s best summer night.
"Everything was designed to be relaxed and fun and keep everyone extremely well fed and with a drink in hand at all times.”
Wedding Day
Bridal Morning & Fashion
The morning unfolded quietly in the villa’s stone-walled rooms as sunlight spilled through the windows. Eva and her bridesmaids wore satin robes in soft pastel shades, each hue reflecting the floral palette that would later line the aisle. Hair and makeup by Beauty Concierge Service embraced fresh skin, soft waves, and a naturally romantic feel.
Eva’s gown, the Nathalia by Grace Loves Lace, combined intricate crochet lace with a bohemian silhouette that felt entirely her. The off-shoulder neckline and fitted shape complemented the relaxed Tuscan landscape. Her bouquet, designed by La Bottega di Paola, echoed the same natural charm — an airy mix of white roses, calla lilies, zinnias, and green hydrangeas tied with soft ribbon.
She paired the look with Stuart Weitzman heels and pearl drop earrings by Lily & Roo, finishing with a simple tennis bracelet and a veil that caught the wind in the ceremony. Her scent of choice was Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford, a warm note that lingered through the evening. Later, she changed into a sleek mini by Amanda Uprichard and Amina Muaddi heels for the dance floor.
Groom’s Fashion
Alex wanted a look that felt timeless yet relaxed. He chose a cream double-breasted jacket and navy trousers from Suit Supply, paired with Loro Piana loafers. Forgoing a tie kept the outfit easy and modern, while one personal touch made it unforgettable: a white pocket square embroidered in Eva’s handwriting with the words I love you, E x. That quiet detail said everything about the day’s tone. Simple gestures, deeply felt.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place in the garden under the estate’s central olive tree. Guests faced the rolling hills, framed by white pedestals overflowing with wildflowers in tones of yellow, cream, and soft pastels
Eva walked down the aisle on her brother’s arm to a string quartet booked via Fix the Music, with her mother officiating. “We wrote our own vows and wanted it short and sweet,” Eva recalls. “There wasn’t a dry eye.”
Halfway through, strong winds swept across the hilltop, sending petals and veils dancing through the air. “It made for some incredible photos,” she says, laughing. What could have been a disruption turned into a moment of cinematic beauty, perfectly in line with the couple’s easygoing spirit.
Between Vows and Sunset
"Our photographer Lynn was outstanding — we’re absolutely obsessed with the way she captured our day.”
Cocktail Hour by the Pool
As the sun dipped lower, the celebration shifted effortlessly into cocktail hour. Guests mingled by the turquoise pool, their glasses catching the last rays of light. A Tuscan band with accordion and guitar played upbeat classics, bringing spontaneous dancing and laughter. The bar, run by Lorenzo Castricini, served generous pours of Aperol Spritz, Negronis, and Palomas.
Friends chatted over the sounds of clinking ice and Italian melodies, and the setting felt like a postcard: colorful dresses, linen suits, and the scent of citrus in the air. The relaxed, sun-soaked vibe perfectly captured what Eva and Alex had envisioned — a day that felt as much about friendship as it was about love.
Decor & Flowers
The floral design carried the same joyful tone from day into evening. Aisle arrangements of hydrangeas, delphiniums, and zinnias were later repurposed around the pool and dinner tables, creating continuity throughout the setting. Long tables were dressed in crisp white linen, adorned with simple glass vases filled with single-stem blooms and taper candles in sage, lilac, and honey tones. The effect was light, modern, and full of life.
Lighting by Air Lighting added warmth as the sun set, while Preludio Catering provided the elegant table setup, from glassware to linens. Every detail felt intentional but never overdone.
Reception
Dinner took place by the pool, where one long table brought all sixty guests together. Champagne flowed freely for toasts, followed by a generous cocktail list. The music transitioned seamlessly from the live band to a DJ with sax accompaniment booked via Alessandro Barboni, turning the night into a vibrant dance party under the stars. “We didn’t stop dancing for more than thirty seconds,” Eva admits. “The energy was incredible.”
Instead of a traditional cake, the couple surprised guests with a cannoli station and a champagne tower, followed by a firework display by Necchi Fireworks that lit up the valley. It was the perfect Italian finale: celebratory, beautiful, and slightly unexpected.
"For us, the speeches and the fireworks after dinner were just such special moments I wish we could relive over and over.”
Advice from the couple:
• Expect the stress to really ramp up 4-6 weeks before the big day – we felt very under control until this point!! Keep a list of all the small details and last-minute things you want to add, and sort these all in the final weeks.
• My advice is to spreadsheet EVERYTHING: budget, vendors, guest list, timelines, etc. The easier it is to track, the easier it is to hand over to other people closer to the time, so you can relax and be present.
• Also, expect a few things to go wrong, but know that it genuinely doesn’t affect the day in the slightest, and no one notices.
PHOTOGRAPHER Lynn Shapiro | VENUE Casa Olivi | PLANNER Andrea from Chefaway Ice | FLORALS La Bottega di Paola | DRESS Grace Loves Lace | HEELS Stuart Weitzman & Amina Muaddi | JEWELRY Lily & Roo | MUAH Beauty Concierge Service | SUIT Suit Supply | SHOES Loro Piana | STRING QUARTET Fix the Music, Florence String Quartet | BAND Fix the Music, Tuscany Folk Band | DJ Alessandro Barboni | BAR Lorenzo Castricini | CATERING & TABLE SETUP Preludio Catering | LIGHTING Air Lighting | FIREWORKS Necchi Fireworks | WELCOME PARTY VENUE Tenuta di Tavignano
