Chris and Tina kicked off their three days of Italian destination wedding events with a wonderful Tuscan dinner with loved ones who had traveled from across the globe to celebrate. We’re going to be sharing with you all three special events and how they came to be all this week. Tina starts by telling us about this special spot they selected for all of the weekend events.
“When the excitement of the engagement had settled, we were faced with the decision of where our American/Indian/English love story would be celebrated. My mother was visiting venues in New York and New Jersey, we were scouting out London and the countryside, and we had contacted destination wedding planners for information on destination weddings – everywhere from Cape Cod to the Caribbean to Italy. I knew that we would have family and friends traveling from all over the world to attend our wedding, so I wanted a celebration that would last several days and one where we could celebrate both our Indian and English heritages.”
“We had visited Tuscany before and fell in love with the gorgeous landscape, delicious food and wonderful wine. So we went on a trip to tour several venues – we saw castles, villas and hotels, both near cities and deep in the country, large and small.
I remember what it felt like when we first visited Castello di Meleto. There were so many beautiful spaces where we could hold a multi day event, and I was struck by how incredibly peaceful it was. We were nestled in between Radda and Gaoile, deep in the countryside. Rolling green hills, vineyards, and starry night skies. There were also two pools, a villa, and an enoteca – it felt like a dream.”
“When we arrived in Tuscany a few days before the wedding events were to begin, it was raining. In fact it rained all week, hailed even, up until the day the guests were supposed to arrive. That day, finally, the rain clouds cleared and it was beautiful blue skies. We had spent so much time thinking about the wedding and planning for it, every day for over a year. We couldn’t believe that this special place that we loved, our special place in the middle of the Tuscan countryside, would soon be filled with the laughter and faces of our family and friends. We couldn’t wait to share the magic with them.”
“The wedding weekend began with a series of castle tours and wine tastings for the guests. Afterwards we held a welcome Tuscan dinner party in the Picnic area of the castle grounds. It was a secluded space that overlooked the vineyards.”
“I wanted a very rustic feel for this night, so we rented long wooden tables with lace table runners and had potted plants filled with aromatic herbs, lavender and lemons.”
“We also had bowls of pasta and pizza served family style and of course local wine made from the Meleto vineyards. We hired a guitar player and piano player to play classic favorites and a traditional gelato cart for desert.”
“I remember when Chris and I stood at the top of the stairs that led down to the picnic area – the fairy lights and herbs mixed with the softness of lace and lemons to create the perfect rustic atmosphere. The musician was singing “Over the Rainbow” and our family and friends were mingling and laughing below. It was a magical moment. That night went beyond our expectations – everyone was so excited to start the weekend that we danced until 3:30am!”
Stay tuned for day two of this magical Italian destination wedding up next!
Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Destination Wedding Photographer: David Bastianoni
Wedding Vendors: Videographer: Screenshot Productions, Stationery: Nooney Art, Wedding Coordinator: Katia Mastrandrea, Lighting: Marco from Audio Visual, Tuscan Dinner Catering: Castello di Meleto, Location: Castello di Meleto, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, Tuscan Dinner Entertainment: Fabry Music, Floral Design: Il Bouquet
