Fly to Italy for One Couple’s Ethereal Destination Micro Wedding at Villa Montanare in Tuscany
Any recent bride or groom will agree that planning a wedding during a global pandemic is, to put it mildly, a challenge. After Sarah Pisano and Alexis Maliksi got engaged, they selected a wedding planner and reviewed their options—which were seemingly limited at the time. “When we first connected with our planner in early 2021, travel still didn’t seem entirely plausible,” shares the bride. “We considered having our wedding locally in Vancouver for around 30 guests, but once we toyed with the idea of eloping in Italy or France, we changed our plans completely. We ended up having only six guests at our micro wedding in Tuscany!”
Leaving much of their design in their planner’s hands, Sarah and Alexis planned their big day from across the Pacific. While the couple trusted their planner’s judgment, they offered an overarching guide for the day’s vibe. “Our ceremony and reception design were elegant and romantic but still felt natural and organic, never competing with the beauty of our surroundings,” Sarah says.
Before departing, Sarah selected a gown fit for the elegant Italian countryside. “I wore an elegant dress from Pronovias with a timeless mermaid silhouette and a plunging neckline that served up the perfect amount of drama,” she reveals. “I adore the 3-D flowers that were embroidered into the neckline of my dress: they added a beautiful sparkle and dimension to the gown.” Meanwhile, Alexis purchased his own stylish ensemble. “Alexis wore a white tuxedo from Harry Rosen accessorized with a black bow—it doesn’t get more classic than that combination!”
Once the couple and their small circle of friends and family arrived on a gorgeous Tuscany weekend in May, the festivities kicked off immediately. With help from their planner, the bride and groom gathered local items to create thoughtful welcome bags for their guests, which included a custom-made map illustration of the area. “It was an incredible wedding weekend filled with so much joy and laughter, and we are beyond grateful for the precious memories we were able to create with our parents. After everything they have sacrificed for us, it was humbling to share such a special experience with them.”
The lovebirds exchanged vows outdoors amongst the verdant olive trees surrounding their venue, with vistas of the rolling hills of Siena as the backdrop. An acoustic guitarist set the tone as Sarah and Alexis said, “I do,” in front of their nearest and dearest. “Because our ceremony was so intimate, we loved our planner’s suggestion to have our seating arranged in a semi-circle surrounded by flowers,” the bride notes. “The talented floral team designed beautiful arrangements with the perfect blend of height and organic movement.”
After the two were officially made Mr. and Mrs., the group adjourned to the patio for cocktails, conversation and delicious Italian bites. During this interim, attendees grabbed small bottles of locally made balsamic vinegar featuring tiny glass feet as personalized favors.
Staff repurposed the flowers from the ceremony as reception décor on the ethereal tablescape. “Neutral hues and walnut accents paired beautifully with crystal glassware that perfectly caught the Tuscan light,” Sarah describes. “We hoped to dine in the olive garden sans tent, and we’re so thankful that the rain held off on our wedding day so we could do so. Once the sun started to set, it was beyond magical to dine under the twinkling lights in the olive trees, overlooking the breathtaking landscape of Siena.”
The newlyweds presented their loved ones with a traditional Italian dessert after dinner. “Although our catering package included a large wedding cake, we requested just the small top tier since we had such few guests,” recalls the bride. “To our surprise, the caterers still prepared a massive, three-tier, traditional Italian sponge cake that was far from pretty… but we definitely had no shortage of cake that night!”
Sarah and Alexis shared a valuable piece of advice for any future destination couples: “if you are having a destination wedding and bringing your attire onto the flight, ask the crew if they can hang your garments in the closet. Most airplanes have a dedicated space for this very purpose and are happy to accommodate!”