1. Real Weddings

An Elegant Tuscan Wedding at Castello di Vincigliata in Florence, Italy

Erin Phillips (27 and a former recruiter) and Winston Bennet (36 and an entrepreneur) had planned to say their “I dos” in their hometown of Toronto, O

Erin Phillips (27 and a former recruiter) and Winston Bennet (36 and an entrepreneur) had planned to say their “I dos” in their hometown of Toronto, Ontario. Then the pair, on a whim, visited Florence, Italy, where they connected with planner Sonia Galliana to visit potential wedding venues. “We are both passionate about Italian food, wine and culture, so it seemed like the perfect place to get married,” Erin says. Once the couple saw Castello di Vincigliata, they no longer wanted an at-home wedding. With its innate elegance and old-world opulence, the 13th-century Tuscan castle needed little in the way of decor. In keeping with the setting, the couple chose a rustic elegance theme, complete with lush greenery, natural wooden accents, an abundance of candlelight and a soft pink, white and dove-gray palette. Taking advantage of the site’s architecture and breathtaking scenery, Erin and Winston held the entire soiree outdoors. The ceremony took place on the terrace, overlooking acres of rolling hills dotted with Cyprus trees. The couple kept the decor simple, letting the natural beauty of the landscape take center stage. Rose petals lined the aisle leading to a romantic wedding arch adorned with full blush blooms. A string trio filled the air with the soft sound of classic and modern tunes. After saying “I do,” the couple led the way to the cocktail hour and reception to the beat of Lionel Ritchie’s “All Night Long.” The reception was an alfresco affair, complete with dinner and dancing under the stars. Guests gathered around a long U-shaped table draped in ivory linens, green garlands and warm candlelight for a decadent Italian dinner, which included dishes such as truffle arancini, veal and sage skewers, zucchini pasta and steak in a Brunello wine sauce. “One of the many benefits of throwing a wedding in Italy is the access to incredible food,” Erin says. “Our caterer, Guidi Lenci, did not disappoint with delicious and gorgeous Tuscan dishes.” After dinner, the newlyweds ushered their guests onto the dance floor for a full-blown dance party that went straight into the wee hours. A tip from Erin: “Try to enjoy the experience. If you stay on top of things, there's really no need to be stressed. If you're planning a wedding abroad, make sure you employ an amazing wedding planner who gets your vision. Sonia was incredible for that.” —Libby MacCarthy

“I waited until our venue was decided before looking at dresses because I think the venue can really dictate the look and feel,” Erin says. “I wanted a simple and elegant dress, and that’s exactly what I found.” With its sophisticated column silhouette, strapless neckline and dramatic train, Erin’s Romona Keveza gown was the perfect fit. She paired the look with a cathedral-length veil, art deco-inspired earrings and shimmery champagne-colored Michael Kors pumps that offered just the right amount of glitz.
When Erin and Winston began planning their wedding, they had every intention of celebrating in Toronto, their hometown. But on a whim, the pair went to Italy, where they met with planner Sonia Galliana and began looking at venues. “We are both passionate about Italian food, wine and culture, so it seemed like the perfect place to get married,” Erin says. “Once we saw Castello di Vincigliata, we knew we had to get married there.”
The groomsmen followed Winston’s lead and donned traditional tuxedos with sharp white dress shirts, suspenders and sleek black dress shoes. Winston gave each of the guys a black bow tie personalized with their initials and the wedding date.
Winston put a modern twist on his duds by opting for a chic shade of midnight blue for his Isaia tuxedo instead of the traditional black. The tuxedo’s modern appeal perfectly complemented the sophisticated aesthetic of Erin’s streamlined Romona Keveza Collection gown.
Erin gave her girls free rein over their down-the-aisle duds, stipulating only that their dresses be long in length and in a shade of pink. The result was a subtle ombre look that mirrored the modernity and elegance of Erin and Winston’s own wedding day attire.
To set the tone for the ceremony, Erin and Winston hired a string trio to perform during the proceedings. In the lead-up to the ceremony, the trio played classical renditions of Natalie Cole’s “This Will Be,” Guns N' Roses’s “Sweet Child of Mine” and Ben E. King's “Stand by Me.”
Taking advantage of the natural setting, the couple hosted their ceremony outdoors, providing guests with the opportunity to take in views of Florence’s lush rolling hills. The terrace served as the perfect backdrop for the event, with its charming stone walls and intimate gardens that invited guests to explore before the couple said their “I dos.”
While the couple kept the ceremony short and sweet, it was nothing short on sentiment. “Neither of us are religious, so we had a dear friend officiate our wedding and we ensured that the ceremony was short but full of funny and lovely anecdotes,” Erin says.
To accessorize her Romona Keveza Collection column gown, Erin donned a cathedral-length blusher veil for the ceremony. Tucked neatly into her elegant updo, the accessory added a traditional touch to her bridal look.
“One of the many benefits of throwing your wedding in Italy is the access to incredible food. Our caterer, Guidi Lenci, did not disappoint, providing delicious and gorgeous Tuscan dishes,” Erin says. During cocktail hour, guests indulged in eats such as truffle arancini, cherry tomatoes with burrata mousse, veal and sage skewers and melon and prosciutto bites. Dinner was a decadent spread of Tuscan bread soup, zucchini pasta and steak in Brunello wine sauce, followed by slices of millefoglie for dessert.
The reception unfolded in Castello di Vincigliata’s indoor courtyard in Florence, Italy. Framed by stone walls, the space was rich in old-world charm, while an open ceiling that gave way to a night sky dotted with stars gave the space an element of romance and whimsy.
With the castle itself lending the decor an undeniably opulent feel, Erin and Winston kept the rest of the extras understated. Ivory pillar candles, olive-leaf garlands accented with pink blooms and sprigs of fresh rosemary wove in elements of romance and organic elegance, while a long U-shaped dining table established a sense of warmth and intimacy.
With their wedding falling on Winston’s father’s birthday, the couple knew they wanted to incorporate a special nod to the birthday boy in the evening’s celebrations. “Instead of a North American-style wedding cake, we had a traditional Italian millefoglie with birthday candles on it, and we all sang 'Happy Birthday.'” Erin says.