Kaitlyn + Mitchell’s vintage Tuscan wedding
Photo: ManiSol Wedding
Kaitlyn + Mitchell bravely planned their Italian wedding at Borgo Sant’Ambrogio without ever visiting the venue or meeting their supplier team in-person. Currently residing in San Francisco with their dog Hank, American-born Kaitlyn and Mitchell, originally from England fell in love with everything Italy has to offer and by having a vision of what their day would look like helped them prioritise certain elements, like having a live band. Even their overspend was forecasted, with the couple wisely moving money around to ensure their dreams were met - and what dreams they had!
ManiSol, their chosen photographer duo couldn’t have put it any better….
“This wedding truly embodies the beauty and slow-life vibe of the Tuscan countryside. It took place in a warm early-autumn afternoon and was filled with golden light and an autumn-colored palette of flowers, cloth and details. The vibe was very vintage-y, so we chose to match it with a mix of film and digital photography.”
SUPPLIER TEAM
Digital Photography: Selene from ManiSol Wedding | Film Photography: Nina from ManiSol Wedding | Venue: Borgo Sant’Ambrogio, Pienza (Siena) | Wedding Planner: Ben Singleton – ItalyWeddings | Hair & Makeup Artist: Giulia Cresci Makeup | Bride’s Wedding Dress: Alena Leena | Bride’s Shoes: Dolce Vita | Groom and Groomsmen’s Suits: Suitsupply | Floral Designer: Le Petit Jardin | Catering: Class Ricevimenti | Videography: Alessandro Pardi
The Dating
“Mitchell moved out to America to live with his father when he was 16. Our parents are neighbors, but we actually met through a mutual friend in high school.”
The Engagement
“We were planning to go to the UK on holiday and Mitchell suggested that we pop over to Paris for a couple of nights. We had talked about marriage before, but the proposal was a complete surprise. We went for a walk down by the river in front of the Eiffel Tower and came to a flower lined runway leading to giant letters saying “MARRY ME” (courtesy of @lesentremetteuses_paris). There was a violinist playing one of our favorite songs, “Fly Me to the Moon”, and a professional photographer. It was truly breathtaking. Needless to say, I said yes.”
Why did you choose Italy?
“Everyone asks us this and my typical response is: “Have you been to Italy?” Incredible food and drink, beautiful culture, great people, stunning landscapes, the list goes on and on!”
“ManiSol team were so much more than just our photographers! They were flexible, perceptive, skillful, creative, and so so fun. They were part of the party and everyone of our guests knew them by name at the end of the night!”
“Since we were unable to do a site visit beforehand, we put the fate of our wedding in the hands of all our suppliers! The Borgo staff were incredibly accommodating, patient, and helpful throughout our entire stay.”
Did anything go wrong?
“I wouldn’t say that anything went “wrong” necessarily, but a few things didn’t go exactly as planned. We tried to keep an open mind throughout the whole process and trust it was going to be a beautiful wedding (which it certainly was!)”
The Budget
“We set our budget at the start, knowing that we would likely go over. We kept on top of finances throughout the year but didn’t compromise on everything. Having a live band was really important to us, so we chose to cut back on spending in other areas. We did go over our budget, but not more than we expected.”
Best piece of advice
“I gave myself a goal to have everything in order (as much as possible) 2 weeks before our wedding date. There’s definitely an adjustment period of re-learning how to relax after months or years of rigorous planning, and this is something that really worked for me! Even if you aren’t planning a destination wedding, give yourself some time to stop planning, relax, and get excited.”
The styling
“We really enjoyed the table settings. We chose to have three dinner tables arranged in a horseshoe in the courtyard. The table décor was simple and perfect, a table runner, some candles and string lights above. It was so warm and welcoming and perfectly enhanced the natural setting!”
Stand out Moment
“After our photo session during golden hour, we rejoined our guests who were seated in the courtyard for dinner. “That’s Amore” was playing as we walked between the tables, and everyone was singing along. We were truly overwhelmed with emotion and have never felt so much love.”
Stand out supplier
“The food was impeccable, the band were rockstars, the décor perfectly aligned with our taste and personalities, the makeup artists: magicians, the videographers, the bartenders, and everyone else that I’m forgetting (this is starting to sound like an Oscars speech)…it is evident that these are people who love what they do and do it WELL. We are so grateful to the Italy Weddings team for bringing all of them into our lives and for orchestrating our dream wedding.”
SUPPLIER TEAM
Photography: Selene from ManiSol Wedding | Film Photography: Nina from ManiSol Wedding | Venue: Borgo Sant’Ambrogio, Pienza (Siena) | Wedding Planner: Ben Singleton – ItalyWeddings | Hair & Makeup Artist: Giulia Cresci Makeup | Bride’s Wedding Dress: Alena Leena | Bride’s Shoes: Dolce Vita | Groom and Groomsmen’s Suits: Suitsupply | Floral Designer: Le Petit Jardin | Catering: Class Ricevimenti | Videography: Alessandro Pardi
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