Dreamy Dolce Vita Wedding In A Tuscan Villa

Bride and groom walking together on their wedding day

The one-year wait was well worth it when these two finally got to tie the knot in this epic Tuscan villa. From the outdoor ceremony to the garden portrait session, they really made the most of the entire location. The original pastel frescos added a special touch to the getting-ready photos as well! This beautifully styled wedding truly captured the essence of la dolce vita.

When it started to rain the morning of the wedding, Magnolia Wedding Planner was already set to activate "Plan B". Luckily, Villa Pazzi al Parugiano has plenty of space and a perfect covered outdoor location that gave the couple the best of both worlds. Thanks to their forward-thinking, the wedding went just as planned and the guests were none the wiser. Le Petit Jardin created a multi-tiered floral installation for the ceremony and lovely voluminous arrangements for the reception. These gorgeous photos by Andreas K. Georgiou and Tomas Dolejsi truly capture the romance of the day and the grandeur of the venue. To see more from this wedding, check out the full gallery. Keep reading to hear more from the bride, Kelsey Nwaka, about this beautiful day.

Elegant bridal accessories on a pink background, detail shot

Elegant wedding shoes with sparkling details, ready for the aisle

Mother and daughter sharing a special moment before the wedding Elegant white wedding dress and sequin top hanging ready

Elegant bride in white wedding dress holding bouquet

Groom awaits as bride descends grand wooden staircase

Elegant flat lay with cigar, tie, and stylish accessories Groom adjusting cufflinks and bow tie before the wedding ceremony

Groom in white suit posing next to statue for a photoshoot

Stylish groomsmen in tuxedos pose with a vintage red car

UNSTOPPABLE

Elegant floral wedding archway with wooden door backdrop

A couple with hope is unstoppable. One pandemic wedding postponement was not enough to convince Kelsey Thomas and Alex Nwaka to pull the plug on their dreamy dolce vita wedding in Tuscany, Italy. The wedding day began by shuttling the bridal party from Florence to Villa Pazzi al Parugiano at 9:30 am in the rain for rehearsal. Kelsey picked Villa Pazzi for its plethora of indoor and outdoor options on a trip to Tuscany in February 2020, at the peak of the COVID outbreak in Milan.

Elegant wedding ceremony setup with rows of chairs and floral decor

ACTIVATE PLAN B

Father walks bride down the aisle at elegant wedding ceremony

Needless to say, when "Plan B" for rain was activated, it was an easy decision. While the girls started their wedding preparation with the beauty team, the boys headed into town for a proper Tuscan meal. Shuttles with guests started arriving at Villa Pazzi at 4 pm for a pre-ceremony glass of prosecco. The ceremony was held in Villa Pazzi's open-air altana. It was a symbolic ceremony with a religious tone officiated by retired Father Thomas. "Ave Maria" was played by the string quartet before the couple said their vows. During their vows, the rain began again as if their loved ones in heaven were crying tears of happiness. The rain slowed once the traditional vows had finished. The strings played "Cello Suite No. 1 in G" as the newlyweds departed the altana.

Elegant wedding ceremony with bride and groom at the altar

Happy couple holding hands at the altar on their wedding day

Groom putting ring on bride during wedding ceremony

Elegant couple shares a kiss at a beautiful wedding ceremony

Joyous newlyweds walk down the aisle after exchanging vows

A TOAST TO LA DOLCE VITA

Villa entrance with a red car and lush garden scenery

From the altana, guests were directed to the three frescoed lounge rooms for aperitifs while the couple and the wedding party finished photographs in the Italian garden. After pictures, the beauty team changed Kelsey's look into something less angelic and sleeker for the dinner. When Kelsey returned, all guests were gathered into the smallest lounge room for Kelsey's father's toast to la dolce vita. The toast led to the crescendo, which was entering the Galleria (modeled after the Uffizi Gallery), to Dua Lipa's "Levitating" played by strings. In the Galleria, there was a 55-person candlelit imperial table and 2015 Bovio Barolo waiting. The dinner was a perfect mix of contemporary music on strings, renaissance artwork, and traditional Tuscan cuisine.

Elegant banquet table set for a luxurious wedding reception

Elegant dining table setting with candles and floral decor

A FAMILY RECIPE

The couple did their first dance to Elton John's "Your Song" in the Galleria during dinner under a spotlight. All the lights were dimmed when the singer and guitar player appeared. Two cakes were cut and served immediately. The coconut cake was made from Alex's mom's recipe and the pavlova was sweet honey and peach. Once Kelsey changed into her sequin Retrofete mini-dress, the party began in the Orangerie and guests danced all night long.

Bride cutting the wedding cake, celebrating a happy wedding day

BUDGET BREAKDOWN

The budget for this wedding was $100,000. Please note that prices do change, and this budget breakdown gives you an idea of how much a wedding like this might cost you.

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