A Timeless Tuscan Wedding at Villa Gamberaia

Softened by the surrounding hills above Florence, Villa Gamberaia offered Brenna and Wyatt the perfect confluence of history, beauty, and intimacy for their wedding. The ceremony unfolded in the estate’s dramatic Nymphaeum — an enclosed garden ringed by cypresses and crowned by a stone statue. Their florist designed a gradient floral wave installation, blooming from soft pink to deep blue, rising from the earth like a mythic garden.

The design language played with contrast — soft ivory silks and oyster “pearls” for aperitivo, then velvet drapery and candlelight for dinner in the second Nymphaeum. Rich burgundy florals framed an imperial table, and four imposing banners bearing the couple’s love notes hung from the arches as a surprise from Wyatt.

The bride wore an ethereal lace gown from Netta Benshabu.

Our Story

Names / Brenna Clare Fromayan & Wyatt Thomas Hnatiw

Location / Villa Gamberaia, Settignano, Florence, Italy

Wedding Date / September 15th, 2024

Guest Numbers / 60

Budget / $250,000

How We Met

We met on Bumble in 2021. While we had done the dating app game before, downloading Bumble was something of a whim for both of us — a distraction and maybe a way to meet people while managing a demanding schedule.

I was drawn to Wyatt initially by his mention of a skincare regimen. Amongst the men on New York City dating apps, knowing what retinols are and using moisturizer already put him head and shoulders above.

I lied to Brenna about my height. As a man of 5’11 and 7/8″, I felt like it was reasonable enough to put “6’0,” not knowing that Brenna stands 6’0″ herself and had set a hard filter for six feet tall. Had I not told a white lie, I would never have met my wife.

Our Engagement Story

I proposed to Brenna on the water in Central Park, New York. Both of us have always loved the park, and years ago it was where we went the night we decided we were a couple — a foot of snow had just fallen and we had the entire park to ourselves. It’s memories like that one that made Central Park the perfect setting for us to make this leap together.

What we love most about each other…

I love so many things about Brenna, but to keep it brief: I love her tenacity, I love how she chooses what of herself to share with the world and what is reserved for those closest to her. I love her comedic timing, the way she pronounces words, and her constant drive to build our future together.

I love Wyatt’s warm heart — everyone who knows him can attest to how much they adore his presence, his commitment to doing right by others, and his patience. I’m also a big fan of his tattoos, freckles that grow more by the day, and our shared life we are building in New York.

The Setting

Wedding Location

When choosing a wedding venue, you have so many different competing priorities: location, capacity, flexibility, lodging, architecture, natural beauty, etc.

For us, Villa Gamberaia was the perfect nexus of everything we needed. A Renaissance estate, it was steeped in history that made us feel part of a long line of people who found love there. Just outside Florence, it provided breathtaking views of the city from the gardens without sacrificing the beauty of the hills of Tuscany. The grounds also offered a number of amazing options for each event. Ultimately, we selected the Nymphaeum as our ceremony location — an enclosed garden surrounded by cypresses and stone pines. It gave us a perfect balance of the natural beauty of the trees and landscape with the Renaissance masonry backdrop to create our ceremony.

Aesthetic

The team did an amazing job working with the natural environment in a way that felt current, luxe, organic, playful, and a little sexy. Silky white fabrics with fluid floral installations that felt exotic and verdant, lots of amaranth and delphiniums, and a natural white, green, and blue color palette that maintained the traditional feel to otherwise non-traditional settings.

We made sure to have fun touches — our sneaky and creative wedding planner filled oyster shells with mozzarella ball “pearls” as a nod to the aquatic motifs found throughout the venue and matched the pearl embellishments on my dress and accessories. The Lane inspired another favorite design moment — the extra tall drapery that adorned the entrance to the imperial dinner table in a rich velvety red. The transition from daytime blues and greens to sumptuous reds for dinner was executed so beautifully, and our planner and florist outdid themselves to create such gorgeous and distinct spaces that flowed and felt like us.

Preparation

On the morning of, I got ready by myself and then with my bridesmaids in one of the (many) large lounge rooms in the villa. It was one of the most peaceful days of my life — getting primped while looking at the view of Florence and seeing all our vendors scuttling around bringing our vision to life. When the photographers arrived and positioned us for our first group getting ready shots, I kept crying thinking how lucky I was to be surrounded by my closest friends that morning!

Wyatt got ready with his groomsmen in the library — there were some very cute shots of them all trying to figure out how to put suspenders on. The groomsmen relaxed, put on some eye masks, and shared a few beers. His wedding party surprised Wyatt with a recipe box filled with recipes from their respective families.

Photography

We chose Louise Brotherton (and her amazing team) from Taylor & Porter to photograph our wedding. When reviewing our options for photographers, we were drawn to Louise for her ability to capture the energy of each organic moment while also delivering curated editorial-style shots.

Louise is never posing you or forcing you to be something you’re not — she feels like she is discovering you within each moment. She has an uncanny talent to find the shots where your energy is natural, where you’re relaxed and enjoying the day rather than worrying about what you “need” to do.

The result is that our photographs both remind us of the joy of our wedding day, the laughs we shared with friends and the emotions we felt, while also representing the aesthetic ideal we dreamt of and were seeking. For us, it was the perfect example of a photographer who can do everything you ask for but brings her artistic eye to the work to elevate your vision.

Videography

Our wedding was shot by Les Vaques, a videography team based in Madrid.

We were drawn to Les Vaques for their ability to produce videos that felt full of life and stylish without being overly stylized. Their videos are gorgeously edited, contain such striking imagery, and convey the authenticity of the moment while also elevating it.

In working with them, we knew we had a number of specific tableaux and moments we wanted captured, but we were struck by how easy the process was. Raul flowed naturally around our photographers, so we never had to do anything twice, and their cues and instructions were simple and easy to execute, and made for an amazing video.

Viewing their catalog, you’d think it’s a multi-day professional shoot with a dozen support staff, but truly Les Vaques captures you as you are and elevates the memory with their peerless cinematography that finds the story in the lens.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

Our ceremony space was what sold me on the venue — it felt like a hidden garden in a forest. The long grassy aisle was flanked by towering Cypress trees and ended at Villa Gamberaia’s dramatic Nymphaeum statue (affectionately nicknamed Mr. Trident). Our florist designed a stunning floral wave installation that looked like it was growing from the earth — lush, exotic blooms in a gradient from pink to deep blue. Our planner Chiara also pulled off a custom stage last minute, giving us presence against the towering backdrop. I’m so glad we carved out a moment to admire the setup alone — it was truly breathtaking.

Reception Décor

We held the aperitivo on a terrace overlooking Florence at sunset — fiery skies, perfect weather, and spritzes flowing. For the cocktail hour, we kept a neutral palette with textured ivory silks and a creative take on the champagne tower — six mini towers at varied heights draped in silk. Dinner followed in the second Nymphaeum, where deep red, burgundy, and blue florals set a romantic tone. Dramatic drapery revealed a long imperial table lit by candlelight. As a surprise, Wyatt and our planner secretly printed four massive paper banners with our love notes and hung them from the arches — totally unexpected and so intimate. The night ended with cold sparklers, cake, and Louis Prima playing — a tribute to Wyatt’s dad. Pure magic.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

Our planner was Chiara Raine of Avenue Cipresso, and she was phenomenal. From our first meeting, her process stood out — she had a week-by-week plan, vendor options ready, and had already started negotiating rates. Beyond her logistical brilliance, Chiara brought an incredible creative vision. She took the time to understand us deeply, offering ideas that felt entirely personal and unique. Every detail was thoughtful and meaningful — never cookie-cutter. She was collaborative, honest, and so invested in making the day truly ours. We couldn’t imagine the wedding without her and now consider her a friend for life.

Flowers

Our planner introduced us to Fluida, and we instantly clicked. I wanted mostly white and green florals with a twist, so she mixed in exotic species like sea squills, rare palms, ferns, moss, and more. At the last minute, we added blue — my favorite color — which ended up tying everything together beautifully. The ceremony install was a towering wave of florals that wrapped around us and down the aisle. Dinner florals shifted to deep reds and burgundies for a dramatic contrast. I even had a second, oversized bouquet of red roses and hydrangeas, which our planner later cheekily stashed in the bidet to save it for me. My favorite gift? A list of every flower used.

Stationery

Our stationery was from Alexandra Drinkwater of “One Mimosa Please.”

Our goal in collaborating with Alexandra was for our stationery to reflect the mood of the weekend. The whimsical calligraphy added a playful spin, the illustrations set the tone and visual cues for the weekend, and the florals connected the stationery to the wedding décor.

We created a suite of six pieces of stationery: invites to the wedding itself, invites to the rehearsal dinner, a map/itinerary for the weekend, RSVP cards, an art insert showing the ceremony location, and the ceremony program itself.

Cake

We chose a traditional Italian Millefoglie cake for our wedding — it allowed us to lean further into the setting of our wedding by focusing on Italian cuisine. Beyond that, the live preparation of the Millefoglie cake created another meaningful moment for us. We love to cook (Wyatt especially), so helping to prepare the wedding cake at the end of dinner was a very “us” moment. It also gave us the opportunity for cold sparkler fireworks and a kiss outside — a moment we’ll treasure forever.

Food & Beverages

At cocktail hour, hors d’oeuvres were served along with a banquet table of cheeses, cured meats, and other appetizers.

To begin cocktail hour, the bride and groom poured a Prosecco tower, and guests were served from an open bar with five specialty cocktails we selected with our caterers. The bride’s drink was a “Clare de Lune” (bourbon, pink grapefruit, egg white, and lime), and the groom’s was a Boulevardier.

Dinner was a classic Italian meal served family style at a beautifully designed banquet table in the grotto. Guests were served a salad, a pasta course, and a main course. Red and white wine were served alongside dinner.

“Set on a Renaissance estate, it was steeped in history that made us feel part of a long line of people who found love there.”

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

Being from Georgia, I just couldn’t imagine getting married in anything other than lace — but many lace gowns fell flat for me. Netta Benshabu’s Diana gown checked so many boxes I didn’t think were possible in one dress. The sheerness made it feel modern and sexy, the glittery tulle lining added a bit of dazzle without being over the top, and the one-of-a-kind lace pattern felt special alongside the long sleeves and straight neckline. It balanced so many competing elements but made them work beautifully together. I almost got cold feet at the last minute, nervous about wearing the dress without the lining — but I loved how the lace contrasted against my tan skin, so I committed, and I’m so glad I did!

Bridesmaids’ Dress & Shoes

Keeping with our blue theme, we chose silky, floor-length gowns in a soft blue. Each bridesmaid was able to pick the silhouette that made her feel most confident.

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

Our rings were classic and meaningful — Brenna’s Tiffany solitaire engagement ring and diamond eternity band both set in platinum, and Wyatt’s platinum Tiffany band. For accessories, Brenna wore gold Schiaparelli sunshine/evil eye earrings to the welcome party, a longtime favorite she now wears often. She paired them with a Vivienne Westwood pearl choker and Lelet hair ornaments.

Hair & Makeup

I opted for a simple updo since my dress was heavily embellished. We kept my makeup nude with pinky hues. I was new to full coverage makeup, but the artist did a great job making sure I still felt like myself on the day.

Groom’s Attire

I wore a midnight blue tuxedo with a black shawl collar from Michael Andrews Bespoke, paired with black formal slippers and a Tom Ford bow tie. My watch was my late father’s Rolex, passed down to him by his father. The groomsmen wore black tuxedos, and the groomswoman wore a black floor-length gown. Our dress code was “Festive Black Tie,” aiming for the aesthetic of a formal garden party.

The Details

Transport

Like most villas in Italy, we were able to rent our venue and its guest houses for the entire weekend. The wedding party and about 40 close family members stayed on site. We had breakfast each morning on the balcony overlooking the countryside — it was a really special experience.

Guests staying on site arrived by taxi from the airport and from Florence city center. (Ride-sharing apps are less reliable in Florence, so taxis are recommended.)

Offsite guests arrived via sprinter vans booked from a local transfer service. The small roads in the towns north of Florence can’t accommodate large buses, so vans were the best solution. Guests arrived in two waves, 30 and 15 minutes prior to the ceremony.

Honeymoon

We honeymooned for three days in Positano at Hotel Le Agavi. After five days in Florence for the wedding festivities, we wanted a short trip close to the wedding location focused on relaxation and beautiful views. Given how much energy (physical and emotional) you expend during the wedding, if you plan to travel immediately afterward, we recommend a relaxing vacation over an adventurous one. Think beaches and spas over walking tours. We plan to take a longer trip to Japan in the future.

Gift Registry 

We chose a cash registry, with individual “funds” tied to specific experiences (e.g., “Buy us a picnic in Central Park”). We loved the idea of friends and family contributing to moments in our life rather than purchasing traditional registry items.

In 2024, wedding gifts feel less about china cabinets, and we didn’t want the complexity of shipping and tracking dozens of boxes. By highlighting things we love — cooking, picnicking, travel, yoga — people could contribute meaningfully, or opt out, without pressure.

Wedding Songs

For our ceremony, the wedding party walked in to “Team” by Lorde, followed by the bridal procession to “Turning Page” by Sleeping at Last. After we said “I do,” we walked out together to “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra. Our first dance was to “Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, performed in a slower, more intimate arrangement by our friend Imran Mouna.

Entertainment

We had a DJ for the party, but Brenna curated the entire wedding playlist. Funny story — we got a very apologetic email from our planner a month before the wedding letting us know our original DJ had been banned from the venue after getting into a fight with staff! So we changed vendors last-minute, and DJ Betto ended up doing a great job.

The playlist was a mix of genres: 2000s “coming-of-age” hits (Brenna’s a ’95 baby, Wyatt’s a ’92), contemporary artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and The Weeknd, and singalongs like A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton and Wagon Wheel.

Celebrant

Our celebrant was my cousin Graham. Since we’re not religious, it was most important to us to have someone who knew our story and could speak from the heart. Having someone we trust prepare the remarks also meant we could be surprised during the ceremony, while feeling confident it would reflect our values.

Readings

During the ceremony, Brenna’s bridesmaid Edwidge read a Bible passage, and my groomsman Nathan recited a poem about the beauty of New York, where Brenna and I met and now live. We wrote our own vows and read them at the altar from custom folders, handwritten that morning. Brenna’s vows, transcribed by her bridesmaid Alexis while she was getting ready, reflected on our journey from our first date to the altar. Mine explored the idea that choosing each other every day is more meaningful than relying on fate or destiny.

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

We had planned a fireworks display to go off after we cut the cake, timed to “I Love You Baby.” But the sound system glitched and the timing was off, so Brenna and I just danced and vamped while we waited. Normally that would be mortifying — but being surrounded by all the people we love most took all the awkwardness out of it. Once the music returned and the fireworks launched, it was absolutely magical.

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

Some decisions are best made at the last minute. We spent nearly two years planning our wedding, but the most pivotal design decisions happened in the last four weeks — some even in the final four days! That sprint to the finish brought it all together, even though I was itching to lock everything in much earlier. We reached out to our dream drapery stylist just weeks before the wedding, and they came through. Our planner was an Olympic athlete who ran a marathon and somehow sprinted faster at the end.

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

Know that you’ll change your mind — and that’s okay. You’ll have 100 ideas that feel final, and then one day you’ll fall out of love with them. Give yourself space to explore and evolve. Until the final deadlines, it’s okay to shift your vision. That’s not being indecisive — that’s the process of planning something as personal and big as a wedding.

Sources of inspiration…

Mostly our vendors! Our planner Chiara, The Lane, our florist Fluida, our videographers Les Vaques, our photographers Taylor & Porter — and, of course, our whimsical inner children at heart.

Our Contacts

Wedding Venue / Villa Gamberaia

Wedding Stylist & Planner / Avenue Cipresso

Photography / Taylor & Porter

Videography / Les Vaques

Bride’s Dress / Netta Benshabu

Bride’s Shoes / Jimmy Choo

Groom’s Formal Wear / Michael Andrews Bespoke, Carmina  and Tom Ford

Wedding Rings / Tiffany & Co

Jewelry & Accessories / Tiffany & Co, Schiaparelli, Lelet NY and Rolex

Hair / Deborah Lola

Makeup / Yeye’s Brides

Stationery / One Mimosa Please and Palepress London

Textile Stylist / Mia Sylvia

Florist / Fluida Design

Catering / Delizia Ricevimenti, Brindapino and Mercury Events

Entertainment / Fratelli Marelli, Stephanie Jane Oliver and DJ Betto

Audio & Lights / JD Events