#AnnaliseRealBride Marissa described her destination wedding in Tuscany as magical, romantic, intimate, and indimenicable (which means unforgettable in Italian), and we agree! When deciding on where their wedding should be, Marissa said, “We love to cook pizza and travel, so we decided ‘why not Italy!’”
Top Intimate Wedding Venue in Tuscany
Relais Villa Olmo is a beautiful little wine and food resort tucked right into the Tuscan hillside. What could be more romantic? Marissa and Dylan wanted their guests to have the best experiences. They planned activities like wine and olive oil tastings as well as going to the incredible restaurant at the villa.
Their top wedding venue in Tuscany also had incredible views! Overlooking the olive groves and vineyard, “it seemed like the perfect place to share our love and enjoy a special time with family and friends.”
Elegant Wedding Dress for Destination Wedding
When shopping for her wedding dress, Marissa knew she wanted something that matched the feeling of her wedding. “I knew that dress was the one when I tried it on; It screamed classy, elegant, timeless, and romantic all in one. But- it didn’t 100% feel like me.”
The dress Marissa was wearing was ‘Naomi’ by Blue Willow by Anne Barge. Luckily, Blue Willow by Anne Barge allows customizations. Hearing Marissa’s feedback, we knew exactly what to change to make!
“When Kennedy suggested the customizations – removing the draped sleeves and adding a slit – that was it. It gave me the sexiness I wanted with the slit and felt custom to ME.”
Favorite Wedding Day Moments
There are so many amazing memories to come from the big day, but some that really stood out to Marissa was having her best friend of 20 years who is a hair stylist do her hair. Other favorite moments included getting to spending the morning getting ready with her mom, mother in law and sister-in-law, seeing her dad in Italy and having him walk her down the aisle, and of course the biggest one of all; “Marrying my absolute best friend <3.”
Luxury Wedding Photographer in Italy
We asked Marissa what were some things that were definitely worth the splurge on their big day, and her number one was the photographer, Stefano Cassati.
“The beauty of Italy is hard to capture unless you’re actually there. But when I saw his work, I knew he’d bring our day to life and would give us memories to look back on for years to come.”
Traditional Italian Wedding Cake and Wedding Food
Marissa and Dylan’s second splurge was their incredible Italian wedding food! “We wanted to give our guests the dinner of a lifetime. So we went for a big 5-course meal complete with wine pairings and a Millefoglie traditional Italian wedding cake.”
Destination Wedding Ideas on a Budget
Marissa’s advice to future brides is to “get creative!”
Having a destination wedding doesn’t have to break the bank. “We chose Italy because it was uniquely us, but it was also affordable; you can have the wedding of your dreams without having to spend an arm and a leg. If you pick a great location, you don’t need expensive flowers or decorations because the location will do it all for you. Splurge on a few things, but not everything.”
Wedding Advice from a Destination Bride
Marissa’s final piece of advice for brides planning a destination wedding in Tuscany is to “Let sh*t go. There will be blunders but it won’t matter.” It’s so easy to get distracted by the excitement of the big day.
Marissa says “Focus on creating memories for you and your partner as you begin your new life together. I’ll never forget how I felt throughout this trip and experience and how much love I felt from Dylan, and from our family and friends.”
Blog Written By: Kennedy Williams
Couple: Marissa & Dylan / Dress Designer: Blue Willow by Anne Barge / Accessory Designer: Untamed Petals / Photography: Stefano Cassati / Venue & Planning: Relais Villa Olmo / Florals: Jardin Divers / Hair: Jill Gallagher / Makeup: Mani Di Forbice / Music: Gianluca Baroncelli / Seamstress: Seams Alterations / Shoes: Jimmy Choo
