ITALY TRAVEL VLOG: OUR WEDDING IN TUSCANY!

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Photo by Arash Moallemi taken at Villa Podernovo in Tuscany, Italy

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Our Wedding In Italy!

This past September my fiancé Adam and I finally tied the knot in Italy. After 11 years together, we exchanged rings in one of the most romantic settings in the world surrounded by friends and family. All the hard work and wedding planning my mom and I put into creating the perfect destination wedding finally paid off and the look of wonderment and delight on everyone’s faces (especially Adam’s) made it totally worth the while.

One of Adam and I’s favourite part of the entire experience was relishing in such a magical setting alongside our friends and family. It not only prolonged the celebrations (which otherwise felt like they flew by) but made the payoff and memories 10x more abundant. To this day, our guests are still sending us photos from their time in Italy and remarking on how amazing their experiences were. We never tire of hearing stories from everyone's perspective and enjoy remembering all the funny and heartfelt moments that made the wedding such a special occasion.

I also feel so lucky to live in a time where everyone has cameras on their phones so we can document each moment and capture memories to reflect on later. Even though the ‘lead up’, ‘day of’ and ‘post wedding’ celebrations lasted nearly a week, it still felt like it went by in a blink of an eye and making these travel vlogs have actually helped me delight in each moment all over again. I feel that as a bride it’s hard to be present on your big day and you become so over stimulated with the activities, tasks, and conversations that it’s hard to remember all the little details. I feel so lucky to have these memories captured on video so I can look back on them for years to come. I really hope you enjoy my wedding travel vlogs (it was too long to make into one video so I had to split it up into two parts) and get inspired to plan a trip (or wedding) to Italy. We really had such a blast, loved our accommodations and ate at some amazing restaurants so feel free to take notes and follow in our footsteps next time you find yourself in Italy!

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Drone views of Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery and Duomo Firenze from our Florence accommodations - Palazzo San Niccolo

Florence Accommodations

Finding reasonably priced accommodations in Florence can be quite challenging and coupled with the fact that we were going to Croatia for our honeymoon right after the wedding, we wanted to save our luxury experiences for then. Enter, Your Place In Florence’s Palazzo San Niccolo, an apartment style hotel located in what once was a 13th century monastery. Today the hotel boasts a contemporary design with a retro spirit and features a beautiful courtyard garden which makes for the perfect refuge from the bustle of a busy, high-tourist city like Florence. Perfectly situated in one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Florence, Oltraro, you are surrounded by artisan workshops, wine bars and charming cafes, while only being 5 minutes from Piazza Michelangelo and 8 minutes from Ponte Vecchio. Our room ended up costing us around $440 CAD a night (in September) which we thought was great value given it had a little kitchenette/dining space and living room area. The hotel also has laundry machines you can use (which could come in handy if you’re in-between destinations) as well as offers laundry service so you get those customized upgrades should you wish. Complimentary sparkling and filtered natural water fountains can be found in the basement as well and rooms come with free wifi, air conditioning, iron and ironing boards, hairdryers etc. If you need anything additional like grocery delivery, a private driver, or a place to park your car, the front desk can arrange it for you as well as cooking classes, private tours and luggage storage. Lastly, in addition to the communal courtyard they also have a lounge where breakfast and coffee is offered in the morning.

Adam and I especially loved how the communal courtyard in our Florence accommodations allowed us to friends and invite family to join us for a drink and nibbles before our planned Sunday dinner. We had asked for permission from the concierge beforehand and given we had another group of friends staying at the same accommodations I think it helped persuade them to allow it. We of course were mindful of our noise level and left just after sunset to ensure we didn’t disturb other guests . We also made sure to clean up after ourselves. Definitely another great reason why it’s one of the best places to stay in Florence Italy.

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The flambé tagliatelle truffle pasta we had at Osteria Pastelle in Florence, Italy.

Restaurants in Florence Italy

Knowing we would only be in Florence for two nights, we made sure to make reservations at some of the best restaurants!

Known for having the best pasta in Florence Osteria Pastella was one of those restaurants I had been dying to try for awhile. Their flambé tagliatelle truffle pasta made table side in a large Grana Padano wheel and finished off with freshly saved black truffle first caught my eye while perusing on IG and let me tell you, this experience was even better and more delicious than I could have imagined! I absolutely loved our meal here and the casual atmosphere of the restaurant. It definitely won’t be Adam and I’s last visit!

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The Favaloso (Sbriciolona salami, cream of pecorino cheese, cream of artichokes and spicy eggplants) from All’ Antico Vinaio in Florence Italy!

Crowned as ‘the best sandwich shop in Florence’ by my (then) fiancé, All’Antico Vinaio is one spot we always visit every time we are in Florence and it never disappoints. There is always a line but it goes fast and since the first time we came here in 2017 they have now expanded to four storefronts within 50 feet of the original, which just attests to how awesome they are! We like to order the FAVOLOSA (Sbriciolona salami, cream of pecorino cheese, cream of artichokes and spicy eggplants) when we go and always add a spicy chilli spread for a little extra spice.

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Our pre-wedding group dinner at La Giostra Firenze! What a turn out!

For our group dinner on the Sunday Adam and I made a reservation two months in advance at our favourite restaurant in Florence, La Giostra. A hot spot for celebrities this restaurant features traditional Tuscan style cooking and has one of the best steak Florentine’s in the city! Our group dinner here was a total success and had everyone feasting on seafood, steak and delicious pasta dishes. As expected, it was a total crowd pleaser.

Florence Photo Dump

Some extra photos from our time in Florence including our visit to the Duomo di Firenze and shopping for wedding shoes at Gucci for Adam.


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Our Visit to the Designer Outlet Mall in Florence

If you love designer clothes and are okay with purchasing last seasons overstock you have to check out ‘The Mall Firenze’, Florence’s luxury outlet mall. Located about 30 minutes outside Florence off the highway, Adam and I stopped in at The Mall on our way to our wedding villa to see if we could score any cool finds. From Prada to Fendi, Gucci, Bottega, Balenciaga and more, The Mall is a large promenade style shopping centre (meaning its outdoors so you may want to go on a nice day) with over 35 designer stores to explore. Even though no purchases were made this time, it was still a lot of fun to peruse the stores and discounts.

After our visit at the designer outlet mall in Florence we headed to Monticiano where we stayed at aunt Linda’s rented farmhouse for one night before we could check into our Tuscan wedding villa. We spent the rest of the day relaxing poolside with Adam’s west coast cousins, drinking and laughing well into the evening.

The following day Adam and I got up early and headed to the the municipality office in Chiusdino to meet with our legal paperwork coordinator. Introduced to us through our wedding planner, our wedding paperwork coordinator Antonella had been such a great help guiding us through the documentation requirements we needed to obtain our marriage license in Italy. Since she is fluent in English and Italian, she became such a great asset to Adam and I as we planned our wedding in Italy and really helped us though the legal process of getting married in Italy. Now, having all the paperwork in order, there were still a few documents we needed to sign and submit to the local municipality before our big day.

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The outside of Abbazia Di San Galgano, our wedding ceremony venue in Tuscany, Italy

Our Wedding Venue - Abbazia Di San Galgano

After a quick visit to the municipality office, Adam and I picked up our wedding photographer Arash Moallemi and headed to Abbazia Di San Galgano, our wedding ceremony venue, for a site visit. I had been to the abbey before in April with my mom during our planning trip, but this was Adam’s first time and I think he was pretty blown away by how beautiful it was in person.

Located in the Tuscan countryside of Italy, San Galgano Abbey is one of the most unique and breathtaking destinations in Tuscany. Built in the 13th century, the abbey is a stunning example of Gothic architecture and is regarded as one of the most important church ruins in Italy. The abbey's remote location adds to its otherworldly beauty, making it a popular destination for both national and international visitors. While the San Galgano Abbey is not currently used for religious services it is one of the most beautiful wedding venues in Italy and features an open air cathedral!

italian wedding venue - abbazia di san galgano - tuscany wedding

Inside Abbazia Di San Galgano, our wedding ceremony venue in Tuscany, Italy

Fun facts about Abbazia San Galgano & the legend of the Sword in the Stone:


The abbey's most iconic feature is the sword in the stone. Legend has it that the man who was later to become San Galgano was a knight who thrusted his sword into a rock and declared that he would give up his life as a soldier to serve God. The sword still stands in the chapel, serving as a potent symbol of San Galgano's legendary story and the power of faith.

Once we wrapped up at the abbey it was time for us to check into our wedding villa.


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Villa Podernovo - wedding villas in italy - our wedding venue in tuscany

Villa Podernovo an 18th century Tuscany holiday villa we rented for the wedding

Our Tuscany Wedding Villa

Villa Podernovo is an 18th century Tuscany holiday villa located just outside the town of Monticiano, 45 minutes from Siena. It is here where we would be hosting our welcome dinner, wedding reception and post wedding brunch, and where we and our immediate family would be staying for the next three days.

Only 8km from Abbazia Di San Galgano, Villa Podernovo features sprawling lawns, courtyards, and even a pool. The villa itself features 5 apartments with a total of 9 spacious bedrooms (many with en suite bathrooms) that can sleep about 18 adults. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, a stunning living room with a fireplace, and comes with access to a beautiful outdoor terrace where you can soak up the Tuscan sun and enjoy an al fresco meal with friends and family.

By the time we arrived our wedding planner Diana (who also owns Villa Podernovo) was setting up and getting things ready for our first event, the Welcome Pizza Party!

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Our Italian wedding planner Diana Grandii setting up for the Pizza Welcome Party at Villa Podernovo

Our Italian Wedding Planner!

Diana Grandi, has been organizing weddings at the villa for several years and offers her wedding planner and coordination services to guests who rent the entire villa for their wedding. Over the past few months leading up to the wedding she had become such a great asset, providing me with a list of vendors she recommended and helping us organize all our wedding events, decorations, transportation to the Abbey, layouts for the reception, and coordinating our wholesale liquor deliveries. Hiring a wedding planner in Italy was one of the best decisions my mom and I made during the planning process and I can’t imagine what it would be like to do it all without her now.

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Villa Podernovo staff preparing the wood burning pizza oven for our welcome dinner.

Our welcome pizza party was incredible. Diana organized all the decorations and brought in a master pizza chef and additional staff to make sure everything went off without a hitch. The only thing we were in charge of (by choice as we could have paid to bring in a bar service) was putting out the wine and beer and mixing cocktails. In the end it was a great way to kick off the celebrations and get everyone mingling.

Montalcino Winery - Casa Raia - Bevilo Red Wine

The red wine served at our wedding events was from our family friend’s winery in Montalcino, a beautiful Tuscan Bevilo from Casa Raia winery!

Our Wedding In Tuscany - The Day Of

Too excited to sleep, I got up early and went down to breakfast. Diana and her staff had already began to set up a large buffet table full or cold cuts, cheese, juices, cereals & muesli and homemade cakes, and soon everyone in the villa trickled in for coffee and breakfast before wedding preparations began.

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Getting ready for my wedding at San Galgano Abbey and Villa Podernovo

The girls and I got ready in a private room in the day time villa while Adam and his groomsman got ready in the night time villa. Each group had a few bottles of cold Prosecco waiting for us to enjoy as we got ready. I had chosen to do my own makeup and my lovely little sister (who had been practising with me over the last two months) did my Hollywood waves! She did such a great job!

BTS of Us Getting Ready For The Wedding

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The beautiful bouquets my Italian wedding florist made for my bridesmaids!

Tuscany Wedding Florist

Mid wedding prep we got the most wonderful delivery from our Italian wedding florists Marta and Patrizia.

Highly recommended by Diana, the Italian wedding florists did a wonderful job encapsulating my vision and bringing it to life. I love the pastel colours of a sunset and the flower arrangements, bouquets, boutonnières and the flower crowns they made for the flower girls mimicked just that. Even after the ceremony they brought the flowers back from the abbey and rearranged them to use during the cocktail reception and sit down dinner which was amazing and totally added additional beauty to the ambience of both events.

Photos of the Florals and Tablescape Setup

Our Italian Wedding Caterers

During this time our catering company Roland Social and Business Catering was also setting up. Although their lack of communication leading up to the big day was very nerve wracking, I have to say their execution on the day of was outstanding. They came early and started setting up all the tables for both the cocktail reception and the sit down dinner. They brought lots of wait staff with them and their event manager ran his team with military precision. The tablescapes complimented the florals perfectly and the mise en place presentation was impeccable.

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Adam and I got married at a 13th Century Gothic, roofless abbey in Tuscany, Italy called Abbazia Di San Galgano

Once ready the girls and I headed to the abbey for the ceremony. Adams cousin Nashlyn and her husband Louise are both musicians so they played the most beautiful acoustic rendition of ‘Is This Love’ for my entrance. My mom who had been by my side for this entire planning process honoured me by walking me down the aisle to Adam’s side. The mayor of the municipality was the officiant of the ceremony while Diana, our Italy wedding planner, translated.

Following the ceremony everyone headed back to the villa for the cocktail reception. Rolands had set up multiple tables around the oak tree and upper courtyard where guests could help themselves to cheese bouvettes, fresh cold cuts, and finger food like bruschetta, beef tartare with quail egg and truffle; wafer cone with burrata cheese and candied tomato. The waiters handed out warm finger foods of mini eggplants Parmigiana millefeuille; medallion of cornmeal with burrata cheese and caramelized onion; while the bartenders mixed our signature drink, a Cocktail Hugo made of elderflower syrup, Prosecco, mint and lime.

Photos from our Cocktail Reception

After about an hour and a half, our guests were encouraged to make their way up to the dinner reception and find their seat. Adam’s brother and best man Patrick was our MC and welcomed guests before dinner began and the first course, a risotto with zucchini and saffron was served. Following the risotto came a pappardelle with wild boar ragout which was definitely my favourite dish and tasted even better then it did at our April tasting. For the mains, guests had a choice between a seabass fillet with thyme and lemon, millefeuille of parmesan eggplants, and beef tagliata with rosemary olive oil.


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Guests finding their seat at our wedding reception at Villa podernovo

The food was plentiful with waiters coming by to offer additional servings to guests after each course. To finish off the dinner Rolands began the preparation of the wedding cake in front of guests, lopping in Adam and I to assist in its construction part way through. Once Adam and I cut the cake they served it with a shot of Limoncello and mini olive oil cakes to end off an already amazing meal.

Photos of Our Dinner Reception

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We were blessed with the most amazing sunset the evening of our wedding!

Following the dinner it was time to dance! To get things started we kicked off the next part of the celebrations with some traditional Macedonia Oros which included a bread dance before transitioning into a ‘father-of-the-bride and bride' dance and ‘mother-of-the-groom and groom’ dance. After that it was a free for all on the dance floor and things got pretty wild the further into the night we partied.

Photos of Our Dance Party

Villa Podernovo - wedding villas in italy - our wedding venue in tuscany - post wedding pool party brunch

The pool at Villa Podernovo all ready to welcome our guests for the pool party brunch!

Following the wedding day Adam and I had planned to host everyone for a ‘Hangover Pool Party Brunch’ at the Villa. Starting at eleven the majority of our guests returned to the villa for a few hours of relaxing drinks and nibbles poolside before we dispersed once again to get ready for the final wedding event - dinner at a Michelin star restaurant in Siena.

Photos of Our Post-Wedding Pool Party

Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico in Siena Italy - Tuscany

A photo of Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico in Siena Tuscany, Italy I snapped on the walk to dinner.

Our final wedding event was dinner at a historic restaurant in Siena with deep roots in Tuscan cuisine. Situated just a stone’s throw from Piazza del Campo, Ristorante Mugolone serves elevated Tuscan cuisine using locally sourced ingredients and modern approaches. Professional yet friendly service, we booked both dining rooms for our 56 person private dinner and feasted on a delicious prix fix menu of beef tartare with black truffle and pecorino cheese, brioches bread with chicken liver patè and vinsanto sauce, tagliatelle lamb ragù with coffee, risotto saffron with crunchy bacon and gorgonzola, veal check with chocolate sauce, potatoes and leeks; and cheesecake with wild strawberries for dessert. Overall the dinner was exquisite and presentation was immaculate. It was also really nice to spend an evening in Siena with everyone as it is such a beautiful city to explore (even more beautiful than Florence in my opinion) and a place with rich history that I had yet to enjoy.

Photos From Our Dinner at Ristorante Mugolone Siena

Overall our wedding in Tuscany was a dream come true. Everything was perfect and we loved every minute. I feel so blessed to have so many great people in my life willing to travel halfway around the world to see us tie the know and for all the help we received from our amazing Italian wedding planner Diana Grandi, Antonella for helping us with the paperwork, and Patricia and Martha for the amazing job with the floral decoration. We would also like to thank Casa Raia for offering to supply the red wine for our wedding, a beautiful Bevilo from their Montalcino winery. Adam and I managed to bring a few bottles of it back to Toronto which we have set aside for our future anniversaries as a memento of this wonderful journey.

Thank you so much for listening to Adam and I’s story about our experience getting married in Tuscany, Italy. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comment section below, otherwise don’t forget to subscribe as I’ll be back with more honeymoon and travel content soon! CIAO!

- Soheila

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ITALY TRAVEL VLOG: PLANNING MY WEDDING IN TUSCANY!

Planning my wedding in Italy, Abbazia di San Galgano Abbey - my wedding venue in tuscany italy

Visiting Abbazia di San Galgano - My wedding venue in Tuscany!

Planning My Wedding In Italy!

When I was five years old my mom and her friend rented a villa just outside the picturesque Tuscan hilltop town of Montalcino. Little did I know then, that summer would become the most magical summer of my life! I have vivid memories of chasing my older brother through vineyards, eating peaches so ripe the juices would run down our arms, and feeding our neighbours goat. Looking back, it was one of the most carefree and happy summers of my life and it’s where my love for Italy really bloomed.

Now at thirty five my love for Italy only continues to grow and over the years I have had the good fortune of returning several times. One of my most recent trips was in 2017 with Adam after 5 years of dating. We started in Florence, spent a night in Cinque Terre, and then drove through Tuscany to Montalcino for a few days before ending in Rome. It was Adam’s second time in Italy but only his first time experiencing the beauty of the Italian countryside. Of course I knew he enjoyed our trip, but It wasn’t until a few months ago when he suggested we get married there that I realized how much he also loved Italy.

So this past winter, my mom and I decided to plan a trip to Italy for the end of April to start planning my wedding!

A luxury boutique hotel in rome - Hotel De'Ricci Roma

The Small Luxury Boutique Hotel we stayed at while in Rome - Hotel De’Ricci Roma

One Day In Rome

Since we were flying into Rome we decided the best way to manage our jet lag was to spend our first day and night there. After 10 hours of travel we checked into the cutest luxury boutique hotel in Rome called Hotel De’Ricci. Located near some of our favourite Rome attractions, Hotel De’Ricci is a boutique hotel with 8 spacious and luxurious contemporary suites. Its cozy bed and chic decor couldn’t keep us from heading out to explore the city though and we kicked off our arrival with celebratory Aperol Spritz in Piazza Navona! Having both visited Rome many times before we didn’t feel the need to rush around to see everything but we did make sure to visit a few of our favourites including Chiesa Sant'Agnese, the Trevi Fountain, where I threw in a coin for good luck, and the beautiful Spanish Steps! After walking around for hours, we ended the evening with dinner in Trastevere followed by a good nights rest at our hotel.

P.s. If you are looking for some good restaurants to try out in Rome, check out my Rome food guide.

Rome attractions - Mom and I at Piazza Navona

My mom and I in Piazza Navona - one of the Rome’s attractions that we walked to from our hotel on our first day in Italy!


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Planning my wedding in tuscany Italy, Abbazia San Galgano Abbey - my wedding venue in italy

Adam and I’s wedding venue in Italy - Abbazia San Galgano Abbey

Planning My Wedding in Tuscany - San Galgano Abbey

After a great first day and a good nights rest, my mom and I checked out of our hotel in Rome and took a bus to Siena before grabbing our rental car and heading straight to Abbazia Di San Galgano.

Located in the Tuscan countryside of Italy, San Galgano Abbey is one of the most unique and breathtaking destinations in Tuscany and where Adam and I are planning to tie the knot. Built in the 13th century, the abbey is a stunning example of Gothic architecture and is regarded as one of the most important church ruins in Italy. The abbey's remote location adds to its otherworldly beauty, making it a popular destination for both national and international visitors. While the abbey is not currently used for religious services it is one of the most beautiful wedding venues in Italy and features an open air cathedral!

I first learned about San Galgano Abbey a few years ago while scrolling Instagram. I thought it was one of the most beautiful wedding venues in the world and had saved it to one of my folders without much thought. It wasn’t until Adam suggested we get married in Tuscany that I remembered the photos of San Galgano and searched to find them. Once I showed Adam the photos of the Abbey it was pretty much a done deal as he too was taken by its beauty.

Fun facts about Abbazia San Galgano & the legend of the Sword in the Stone:


The abbey's most iconic feature is the sword in the stone. Legend has it that the man who was later to become San Galgano was a knight who thrusted his sword into a rock and declared that he would give up his life as a soldier to serve God. The sword still stands in the chapel, serving as a potent symbol of San Galgano's legendary story and the power of faith.

Villa Podernovo in Monticiano, the heart of Tuscany, Italy - an18th century Tuscan holiday villa that we are renting for the wedding

Our Wedding Villa in Tuscany


After spending about an hour at San Galgano Abbey taking photos and droning, my mom and I headed towards the villa we would be renting for the wedding. Located 8km from Abbazia Di San Galgano and just outside the small town of Monticiano, Villa Podernovo is an18th century Tuscan holiday villa with sprawling lawns, courtyards, and even a pool. The villa itself features 5 apartments with a total of 9 spacious bedrooms (many with en suite bathrooms) that can sleep about 18 adults. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, a stunning living room with a fireplace, and comes with access to a beautiful outdoor terrace where you can soak up the Tuscan sun and enjoy an al fresco meal with friends and family.

Adam and I will be staying at Villa Podernovo for a few days before and after the wedding as well as hosting all our other wedding festivities there, but for the purpose of this trip my mom and I had planned to stay at the villa for only one night so that we can meet with our wedding planner, legal paperwork coordinator and florist. Since our meetings weren’t until the following day I spent the majority of that first afternoon running around taking photos and droning while I still had some beautiful afternoon light and once the sun had set, we enjoyed dinner at a restaurant in a nearby town.

Getting Married in Italy

To excited to sleep, I woke up early the next day and went down to breakfast to meet with our wedding paperwork coordinator.

Originally, Adam and I had planned to get legally married in Canada before our wedding. When we went to book the Abbey for our ceremony however, we learned that the local municipality only permits two symbolic marriage ceremonies at the Abbey a month. Unfortunately for us, both spots had already been filled for the month of September so if Adam and I wanted to still get married at San Galgano, we would need to legally get married in Italy.

Introduced to us through our wedding planner, Antonella will be our wedding paperwork coordinator. She will be guiding us through all the documentation requirements, coordinating with the embassy in Rome, organizing appointments and helping with anything else we may need to obtain our marriage license in Italy. Since she speaks fluent English and Italian, I know she is going to be such an asset to Adam and I as we plan our wedding in Italy and has already eased any worries I was feeling around what legally getting married in Italy would entail.


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Our Wedding Planner in Italy

The next meeting my mom and I had scheduled was with our Italian wedding planner who also happens to be the owner of Villa Podernovo. Diana Grandi, has been organizing weddings at the villa for several years and offers her wedding organization and coordination services to guests who rent the entire villa for their wedding.

During our meeting we discussed transportation to the Abbey, planned out the room chart for those who would be staying at the villa, did a walk through of the grounds, discussed how we envisioned each day playing out, talked about decorations and possible layouts for the reception, and addressed any outstanding questions we had.

Prior to meeting in person she had also provided me with a list of vendors she recommended so I could select people I would like to meet while in Italy as well as arrange our tasting menu. Having a wedding planner in Italy has been so helpful and is something I would definitely recommend. Not only has she made sure my ‘wedding vision’ doesn’t get lost in translation but she has also saved me hours of research and time spent going back and forth with unknown vendors.

Tuscany Wedding Florist

Our last meeting of the day was with the local florist Martha who came highly recommended by Diana. Prior to the meeting I had shared my wedding Pinterest board with Diana and Martha which I think was very helpful in giving both ladies a visual idea of what I would like my bouquet to look like and the overall colour palette. Having Diana present at the meeting also proved to be very helpful as she made sure to translate any questions I may of had and relay answers to my concerns.

It was so nice to meet everyone in person and get to know them more intimately. It honestly made any anxiety melt away and gave me the confidence to let go and not worry about micromanaging everything.

My mom and I enjoying an afternoon in Montalcino, Tuscany at Casa Raia Winery in Italy

Montalcino, Tuscany

After our last meeting my mom and I packed up our bags, got in the car ,and headed to Montalcino. My mom had not been back in 30 years so I was excited to show her how much it had changed.

While in Montalcino, my mom and I would be staying at the same quaint hotel Adam and I stayed at back in 2017 called Si Montalcino. Located less than a kilometre from the town centre, it offers comfortable and renovated rooms with either a terrace to enjoy a glass of wine on or a small stone garden area. Although very charming, my mom and I didn’t have any intention of spending a lot of time at the hotel so we quickly dropped off our bags and headed to our friends villa and winery, Casa Raia, for afternoon drinks outside and dinner.

Tasting Menu for Our Wedding In Tuscany

Once again the beauty and allure of Montalcino had captured our hearts, but we still had a few more items to check off our list before we could completely finish with the wedding planning, so we jumped back in the car once again and headed towards Florence.

Truth be told, this entire trip to Italy was planned around doing our tasting with the wedding caterers. When Adam and I showed my mom the extensive menu we had to choose from for the wedding, my mom suggested we plan this trip around the tasting. Recommended by Diana, our tasting appointment at Roland Social and Business Catering was held at their facility 30 minutes outside Florence. Over the course of 5 hours we drank Prosecco, tried five different signature cocktail options, went through all the cold and hot appetizers Adam and I selected, and enjoyed first, main and side dishes (all paired with wine) before ending with a mini version of our traditional Italian wedding cake.

Overall, the tasting went well and in addition to our original selection, Roland’s also provided a few more menu suggestions to try like their risotto with zucchini and saffron, which ended up being my favourite dish of the whole meal. We were also able to spend some time with one of their coordinators after the tasting who guided us through their ‘mise en place’ selection and I ended up finding the perfect table setting to fit the wedding palette.

Planning my wedding in Italy - hair and makeup trial in Florence

Planning my wedding in Italy - Doing my hair and makeup trial while in Florence, Italy

One Day In Florence, Italy

Following our tasting my mom and I dropped off the rental car and checked into our hotel in Florence. Since we were absolutely stuffed from eating all day and tired from all the moving around, we decided to take it easy and have an early night. The following day would be our last day in Italy and I had one last appointment for hair and makeup before all our wedding planning duties were over.

It was really only during my hair and makeup trial that the gravity of this whole experience really began to hit me. The week leading up to this point had been go-go-go with a lot of moving around and meetings. It was only then when I got to take a break, breath and process that I began to realize how incredible of an experience this all was. I had the best time planning my wedding in Italy with my mom and am so grateful for this special time we got to spend together.

Since it was our last afternoon in Italy, my mom and I decided to grab a panini from a Florence landmark a ‘whole in the wall’ sandwich bar called L’Fratellini, before walking around the city on foot to some of our favourite spots like Piazza Del Duomo, Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio!

Restaurants in Florence, Italy

Florence was surprisingly packed despite it being only April and thankfully I had the foresight to book our dinner reservation in Florence weeks before our trip. Regina Bistecca Al Duomo is one of the best steak restaurants in Florence and where my mom and I splurged on a nice bottle of wine and feasted on steak tartar, bone marrow and of course their famous steak Florentine. It was an epic evening to end our trip to Italy and both the service and food were excellent. I’ll definitely be taking Adam here when we return for our wedding in September and look forward to spending more time with him in one of my favourite regions of Italy.

Thank you so much for joining me on my wedding planning trip to Italy. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them in the comments below, otherwise don’t forget to subscribe as I’ll be back with more wedding content soon! CIAO!

- Soheila

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MY MONTALCINO, TUSCANY TRAVEL GUIDE

When I was 5-6 years old my family rented a villa in Montalcino, Italy. Montalcino, if you are not familiar, is a small walled medieval town in the heart of the Tuscany Brunello wine region - an absolute paradise for children and adults alike. The villa we rented was smack in the middle of a vineyard and although I was very little, I still have vivid memories of that summer. When I think back to that summer, I can remember running through the vineyards, stomping on grapes, eating fruit right off the trees, playing in the small square in town, and hearing the church bells ring. I also remember how right before the end of the trip, on the first weekend in September, my mom took us to a medieval festival where the city splits into 4 quarters and competes to win the ‘Gold Lance’. They joust, have archery competitions, have a parade in historical costumes, and at the end of the day lots of culinary meet ups. It was paradise!

Fast forward 20+ years to the present and after coming back from a recent trip down memory lane, I had such a fabulous time re-experiencing Montalcino as an adult. This is why I had to promote this destination and write a little travel guide for anyone going so they can make the most out of their stay. Are you ready for it?!


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STAY

Si Montalcino - this beautiful boutique style villa is the perfect place to stay if you are visiting the region. A less then 5 minute drive to town, the property offers free parking and free breakfast with your stay, a pool, and verandas that look over the Tuscan countryside. Our room was lovely and definitely had some Tuscan charm. The bathroom had been newly renovated in a very clean and modern style. We also had a private terrace where we enjoyed our morning coffee while planning the day’s activities. The staff were very helpful and answered questions to whatever we couldn’t look up using the hotel internet which was one of the best we experienced in Italy. The hotel also has a very friendly, beautiful dog that likes to welcome you back - very quiet and can often be found sunbathing. I highly recommend this place for the location, price, and what it includes. It is well worth every penny. The only thing that I was sad about was that I couldn’t stay longer.

EAT

Drogheria Franci (In Montalcino) - One of the best meals of our entire trip. The carbonara here was unbelievable but I was very satisfied with every dish that was served. The chef puts a modern twist on classic Italian dishes and his deep knowledge of the cuisine and inventive new approaches were executed perfectly. The wait staff is very friendly, speaks english and is very helpful and knowledgable about the menu. There is a wine store that is attached/part of the restaurant so they also have a very deep understanding of wineries in the region. Instead of ordering a bottle for our meal, my boyfriend and I asked our waiter to split us a glass with each plate so we could do parings which ended up working out so much better and came to about the same price as a bottle. You definitely have to eat here so make a reservation ahead of time!

Il Pozzo in San Angelo (15mins drive from Montalcino) - Traditional Tuscan cuisine at its finest! This restaurant was recommended to us by many people including the wait staff at Drogheria Franci. This rustic restaurant was super busy (even for when we went on a Sunday evening) and after tasting their food I could tell why. Tucked into a small corner of the little hilltop town of San Angelo, this restaurant offers a variety of fresh pasta dishes, and is famous for their excellent Steak Florentine. Come hungry because you will want to try everything on the menu and I’m positive you won’t be disappointed.

Latta de Luna in La Pienza (20mins drive from Montalcino) - If you are willing to drive a little further away from Montalcino, you have to visit the town of Pienza. This cute Tuscan town is bigger in size then Montalcino but offers the same kind of medieval charm and architecture with more stores to peruse and restaurants to try. When in town, after enjoying the sites I definitely recommend going to Latta de Luna for a bite. Their menu consists of traditional Tuscan cooking and they are known for their suckling pig which we had and was cooked to perfection. Since we went in September they also had some seasonal offerings including a squash soup which I was in heaven over. Definitely a nice little spot to grab a bite if you are willing to make the trip.

Bruno Dalmazio Wine Store (2mins outside Montalcino) - Montalcino has some of the most amazing sunsets and for us sunset lovers, we wanted to take full advantage. In order to do just that we always made sure to book our dinners 15 minutes after the sunset and arrive 45 minutes early with a bottle of wine we purchased at Bruno Dalmazio so we could enjoy it overlooking the sunset no matter what village/town we were in. With that being said, Bruno Dalmazio has a vast variety of wine at all different price ranges. The staff was very helpful at helping us find a perfect wine for the occasion and within our budget. They also gave us some really nice wine glasses to enhance our experience and a drip stopper so it stays good to the last drop. The best!


HEADING TO EUROPE? CHECK OUT THESE OTHER TRAVEL GUIDES!


PLAY

Locanda Demetra - This little hill top restaurant that overlooks the vineyards of Montalcino is a local hotspot. They offer lunch and dinner for small groups of max 20 people so if you want to get in, I recommend booking it in advance. Since the restaurant isn’t really in town, you would only really find out about it if it was recommend to you by a local - but its great! The reason why it’s in my ‘play’ vs. ‘eat’ section is because they also offer traditional tuscan cooking classes! For €120 per person, we had a 5 hour class which included a walk around the garden, lessons on pasta making (which included both a with and without egg dough making demo and a lesson on how to make different styles of pasta), a traditional tomato sauce, a tiramisu dessert demo, and a bottle of wine with our meal. After we finished cooking we were then led outside and served the pasta and food we we made while overlooking the countryside and enjoying our bottle of wine. An afternoon well spent and definitely a fun activity to do while on vacation.

Podere La Ripi Winery - Little did we know but going wine tasting in Tuscany is not like going to wineries in Canada. Most tastings are done by appointment only and are often booked weeks, sometimes months in advance. Lucky for us, Podere La Ripi had an opening which we quickly snatched up with excitement. The tasting included a walk through the property and the wine cellar, interesting historic information about the region, and of course a tasting which comes in 3, 5 or 6 tastings. Tasting fees are waived if you spend over €100. The experience was lovely and I learned a lot about what makes a Brunello wine, the region and how it became popular for growing wine, different techniques in planting and growing quality grapes and why everyone is transitioning their properties into biodynamic vineyards.
 
Abbazia Di Sant'Antimo (Abbey) - This former Benedictine Monastery is really close to Podere La Ripi Winery so if you are going there for a tasting this is definitely a beautiful well maintained church and property to check out and take photos on the way. The abbey was original built as a place of refuge for pilgrims on their way to Rome and has since been very well maintained making it a beautiful piece of history to observe


Bon Di Santi Winery - The only reason why this winery is on my list is because it is absolutely stunning. Although this winery is famous for their wine and I would of loved to try them, the €450 price tag for a tasting was way out of my price range not to mention it has to be booked way in advance. It is really close to Montalcino however and you are able to walk around the grounds a little bit which is why I am recommending it. The Cyprus trees that line the entrance driveway make for a beautiful shot and the grounds are so beautifully manicured its worth going for just the photo opportunities.


If you are going to Montalcino, I hope you have a great time and enjoy your stay. If you come back with some of your own recommendations I’d love to hear them so feel free to pop those in the comments below!! If you have any feedback on any of my recommendations as well, I’m interested to hear about other people’s experiences and what they enjoyed/didn’t enjoy. Until next time - Arrivederci!


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