An Elegant Italian Wedding at Villa Piaggia

Set against the rambling hills of Tuscany, Alex and Jacob’s wedding at Villa Piaggia unfolded with understated beauty and heartfelt intention. 

They exchanged vows beneath the sweeping branches of an ancient cedar, with panoramic views of the countryside unfolding behind them. Vibrant, organic florals added color to the ceremony, arranged to echo the unruly charm of the surrounding landscape.

The celebration that followed was designed as an elevated dinner party: less formality, more feeling. Guests gathered on the terrace to savor a four-course meal prepared on-site with local ingredients, while tables were decorated with linen napkins, scattered bud vases, and ambient candlelight.

The bride wore a Jenny Yoo gown with blue satin heels.

Our Story

Names / Alexandra Gazzolo & Jacob Ryall

Location / Montaione, Italy

Wedding Date / September 4th, 2023

Guest Numbers / 10

How We Met

In 2015, Jacob and Alex met on Hinge while living in Chicago. They hit it off after one date, and the rest is history!

Our Engagement Story

Jacob proposed to Alex at her family’s cabin on the shores of Lake Michigan. While they looked at rings together, Alex left the final decision on the ring design to Jacob. Even though they had many discussions about this next step, Jacob was still nervous to pop the question, and Alex immediately burst into tears. It was perfect.

What we love most about each other…

Alex is fiercely independent, intelligent, and cares deeply about everyone around her. Jacob is exceptionally funny and wildly smart. To make it onto his list of loved ones is to be lucky. Also, he’s a phenomenal cat dad.

The Setting

Wedding Location

When Alex and Jacob got engaged, Alex’s sister was working abroad and couldn’t return to the U.S. It served as the perfect excuse to look into destination weddings. The couple doesn’t love being the center of attention, so they wanted to keep it really small. Ultimately, they decided to invite just their immediate families and treat it as a wedding-slash-family vacation. Italy — Tuscany in particular — was a clear frontrunner for its incredible beauty and abundance of venues and vendors with experience hosting destination weddings.

Alex and Jacob didn’t have the budget to visit venues ahead of time, so they spent weeks researching and reaching out to venues online. In choosing a location, the couple had a few goals in mind. First, they wanted to rent a house that could fit both of their families comfortably, with enough bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, and shared spaces.

Second, they wanted a place with expansive natural beauty to reduce the need for extra décor or expense. Finally, they wanted to be close to nearby towns and villages for pre-wedding activities. Ultimately, they found Villa Piaggia — it delivered on all these points and more. As a bonus, the villa’s owners also run a local hotel, so they had extensive hospitality experience and helped connect the couple with vendors.

Aesthetic

Because it was such a small group, the vision was more of a dinner party than a traditional wedding. With a transatlantic flight and no planner, Alex and Jacob kept décor and prep simple. They leaned into the natural beauty of the Tuscan countryside and let the location shine. Villa Piaggia was spectacular — the views, architecture, and antique-filled home exceeded expectations.

Preparation

Since everyone stayed at the venue, Alex and Jacob’s day began like any other on the trip. Everyone woke up at their own pace and had coffee on the patio. Jacob and his sister hung out at the pool while Alex began getting ready with her mom and sisters. Alex’s dad coordinated with the musicians, florist, and caterers as they arrived. Jacob’s parents set up for the cocktail hour and made a last-minute trip to the ATM when the couple realized they needed more cash for vendors (oops!). It was low-key and lovely.

Photography

Melody Joy photographed the wedding. While venue and food were top priorities, photography was also very important. Alex and Jacob interviewed several photographers in search of someone who could capture candid, family-centered moments and travel to Italy. They wanted direction but also a documentary-style approach. Melody was the perfect fit. She had an eye for authentic, beautiful moments and a calm demeanor that made Alex and Jacob feel at ease.

Though Melody now lives in Edinburgh, she’s originally from Chicago, so they met up before the wedding. Melody and her husband Ross even stayed at the villa, which made the experience even more special. She went above and beyond.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

Alex and Jacob scoured photos of other weddings at Villa Piaggia to choose a ceremony location. They settled on a spot on the front lawn, shaded by a towering cedar and overlooking the rolling hills. The landscape was so dramatic that they opted for minimal florals with bright colors and organic arrangements to frame the space.

Reception Décor

With a small guest list and no planner, the couple treated the evening as a family dinner party rather than a formal reception. They wanted to minimize stress and workload on the day. The existing landscape provided plenty of ambiance. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour by the pool with wine from the venue’s vineyard and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner on the patio overlooked olive groves at sunset. Small bud vases dotted the tables, paired with linen napkins and menus that Alex brought. The venue’s own dinnerware was used.

Flowers

Alex wanted colorful, organic arrangements. They prioritized floral designs that could be reused between ceremony and dinner areas. Bud vases were used at the cocktail hour and on dinner tables. Alex shared inspiration with the florist and gave them creative freedom.

Cake

A tower of tiramisu! When planning the menu, Alex and Jacob requested tiramisu for dessert. Chef Alessio surprised them with individual jars of tiramisu, arranged in a tower and adorned with flowers. Perfect.

Food & Beverages

The cocktail hour featured charcuterie and various hors d’oeuvres, accompanied by wine produced on-site. The seated dinner on the patio was one of the couple’s favorite parts of the day.

Alex and Jacob love food, so they collaborated with Chef Alessio to create a four-course menu using local, seasonal ingredients. The meal included a salad and bread course with house olive oil, followed by fresh ravioli, risotto with parmesan and pear, and filet mignon. Everything was made from scratch by the chef that evening. It was the perfect way to begin their marriage — surrounded by loved ones, enjoying fantastic food and wine.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

Alex wore the Marnie dress by Jenny Yoo, a bias-cut satin gown with a simple, packable silhouette. She paired it with blue satin heeled sandals by Sam Edelman and a ruffle-edged chapel-length veil from Etsy.

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

For their wedding rings, Jacob wore a rose gold band by Anna Sheffield, who also designed Alex’s engagement ring. Alex chose a gold band set with black diamonds from Lindsay Lewis, a Chicago-based designer. On the wedding day, Alex completed her look with magnolia drop earrings from A.B. Ellie.

“They leaned into the natural beauty of the Tuscan countryside and let the location shine.”

The Details

Honeymoon

After the wedding, the couple had a few days left for a honeymoon. They wanted a beach town within driving or train distance. Though unsure about the cost, they took a chance on Hotel Miramalfi on the Amalfi Coast. The private beach access and cliffside pool sealed the deal.

Hotel Miramalfi exceeded expectations. After busy days with family, the couple enjoyed quiet, laid-back days by the sea and walked into town for dinner and gelato each evening. It was magical.

Wedding Songs

The couple carefully selected meaningful songs for their wedding day. The processional featured “Suzanne” by Leonard Cohen, setting a heartfelt tone for the ceremony. As they walked back down the aisle, “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles played as their recessional. For their first dance, Alex and Jacob chose “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” by Talking Heads. The mother and son dance was set to “In My Life” by The Beatles, while the father and daughter dance was accompanied by “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers.

Entertainment

Live music for the ceremony and cocktail hour was performed by the Florence String Quartet (booked as a duet). For the evening, the couple created a playlist and used a speaker.

Celebrant

Jacob’s sister’s then-fiancé (now husband) officiated the symbolic ceremony. Jacob and Alex were legally married in the U.S. before traveling. Having someone who knew them well made the moment even more meaningful.

Readings

Alex and Jacob wrote the ceremony script together. Each of their sisters shared a reading.

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

The night before the wedding, the AC broke in Alex and Jacob’s room. The only available room with AC had twin beds — but they were close enough to hold hands. Romantic!

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

Wedding planning is a lot of work, with countless decisions. It’s easy to get bogged down in the details — but having everyone you love in one place is incredibly rare and special.

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

People love you and want to show up for you!

Our Contacts

Wedding Venue / Villa Piaggia

Photography / Melody Joy

Bride’s Dress / Jenny Yoo

Bride’s Shoes / Sam Edelman

Grooms Formal Wear / Suit Supply

Wedding Rings / Anna Sheffield & Lindsay Lewis

Florist / Exo-Usia

Cake & Catering / Chef Alessio Bagnoli of Villa Dianella

Entertainment / Florence String Quartet

Honeymoon Destination / Hotel Miramalfi