An Inimitable Italian Wedding at Castello di Celsa

With the undulating Tuscan hills and a historic ivy-ensconced castle as a backdrop, the wedding of Daniella and Ivan unfolded like an otherworldly dream.

Bistro chairs dotted the garden alongside organic blooms that appeared at home in their natural setting, all overlooking the stunning Tuscan terrain for the ceremony. For the reception, wicker chairs flanked a linen covered table adorned with crystal, assorted antique candle holders, and rambling florals in greens and ivory. Every detail was an elegant addition to the natural landscape, lending the evening an air of untouched beauty and poetic harmony.

The bride wore a Danielle Frankel gown with Prada heels.

Our Story

Names / Daniella Aguilera & Ivan Aguilera

Location / Sovicille, Italy

Wedding Date / September 24, 2024

Guest Numbers / 80

Budget / $90,000

How We Met

Ivan and I went to the same high school, but he was two grades ahead of me. After high school, we started hanging out more because one of my close friends was dating his friend. We flirted for years — he was always ‘that’ guy I swore I’d never date, yet I kept flirting with him anyway. Little did I know, he would become the greatest love of my life. When the timing was right for both of us, our relationship unfolded naturally. From the moment we started dating, I knew it was forever.

Our Engagement Story

We were on our way to what I thought was a friend’s 40th birthday party in Malibu. When we arrived at the house, it was quiet. As we walked toward the backyard, overlooking the beautiful Malibu hills with an ocean view in the distance, I saw a stunning flower-lined aisle.

We walked down the aisle, and Ivan proposed. My best friend, who’s also a photographer, had helped orchestrate the entire proposal and captured the moment beautifully. She even snuck into our house after we left to bring our sweet dog, Amigo, so he could be part of the occasion. After Ivan proposed, Amigo came running out with a handkerchief around his neck that read, “I do too.”

But the surprises didn’t end there. Ivan told me we were heading to dinner with our parents. When we arrived, I was surprised to find not only our parents but also my sisters and nieces, who had traveled from out of state to celebrate. It was such a special evening — having both of our families together to mark the moment was unforgettable.

What we love most about each other…

What I love about Ivan is how thoughtful and funny he is — always striving to make my dreams come true. The way he loves me is the most special feeling.

Ivan says what he loves most about me is that I’m incredibly loving and giving, and that I appreciate the little things in life.

The Setting

Wedding Location

Our venue struck the perfect balance between rustic charm and elegance. What we loved most were the multiple locations that allowed us to host different parts of the evening in unique settings, making each moment feel special.

The ceremony was held in the Italian garden, with the stunning Tuscan hills as our backdrop. The natural beauty of the rolling hills and the castle behind me as I walked down the aisle created a magical atmosphere.

Our reception unfolded in two spaces: dinner on the lawn next to the chapel, surrounded by breathtaking views on all sides, and the dancing in the castle courtyard. It was such a unique experience — how often do you get to dance in a castle courtyard for your wedding reception?

Aesthetic

The aesthetic of our wedding was timeless and elegant. We leaned into the natural beauty of the venue, avoiding trends to ensure everything would feel classic for years to come.

Preparation

I wanted the morning of the wedding to be calm and intimate, spent with my mom, my two sisters, my nieces (who were also our flower girls), and my best friend.

We arrived at the castle at 10 a.m., turned on the wedding morning playlist I’d created, and started getting ready. Ivan arrived later in the afternoon and got ready with his dad, my dad, the officiant, his brother, and brother-in-law. We chose not to have a bridal party, so we both spent the morning with just our immediate family members.

The castle provided a buffet of small bites, champagne, and coffee to keep us fueled throughout the day.

I gave my mom a purse with a photo of us inside from when she held me as a baby. For my dad, I gifted a handkerchief embroidered with the words: “I will always be your lil peps, Love, Daniella,” written in my handwriting. I also sewed in a piece of my grandmother’s shirt (my dad’s mother), who had recently passed away. Both gift exchanges were incredibly emotional.

Photography

Matteo Crescentini photographed both our welcome dinner and wedding day. We loved his ability to naturally capture timeless, editorial, and lifestyle moments while blending in some flash photography. He truly brought our vision to life.

Videography

Mirco and Anisa created a stunning editorial-style video of our day, which we’ll treasure for years to come.

We also hired Wedding Raw Memories, a content creator who captured candid, raw footage with an iPhone. It’s been so fun reliving those special, unscripted moments through their work.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

We wanted the ceremony décor to feel organic and natural, in harmony with the Italian garden setting. The aisle was lined with lush greenery and white flowers arranged to look as though they’d grown naturally in the space. French bistro chairs with white cushions completed the look.

At the end of the aisle, a low floral installation complemented the arrangements without obstructing the breathtaking views of the rolling Tuscan hills.

Reception Décor

For dinner, we created the ambiance of an intimate dinner party with one long table adorned with a wildflower garland running down the center. The floral arrangements featured Queen Anne’s lace, greenery, and moss for a natural, garden-inspired look.

Brass candle holders and tea lights added warmth and romance. Although a last-minute tent was added as a precaution against rain, it ended up creating a cozy atmosphere on the chilly evening.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

Our wedding planner, Serena Ricci from Tuscan Tours and Weddings, played a pivotal role in bringing my vision to life. I had a strong sense of what I wanted for our wedding aesthetic, and Serena exceeded all expectations, ensuring each vendor she brought on board aligned perfectly with my ideas. Thanks to her meticulous planning and collaboration with Klajdi, our wedding day was absolutely flawless.

Flowers

For our floral arrangements, I envisioned something organic, as if they were gathered straight from a blooming garden. This approach harmonized beautifully with the natural charm of our venue. My bouquet was intentionally unstructured, with a wild and organic design to complement the relaxed elegance of my wedding gown.

To ensure consistency across all florals, we used green hydrangeas, Queen Anne’s lace, garden roses, white corncockles, and white Monte Casino flowers.

Stationery

Our save-the-dates were simple yet elegant, featuring a black-and-white photo from our engagement shoot, created through Minted. The design was minimalist, paving the way for an intricately customized wedding suite and day-of details by Mahsa Zo of Sound of Script.

Mahsa used old-world letterpress techniques to design invitations that embodied the rustic charm of our venue. The envelopes resembled oil paintings, and we added a letterpress illustration of our wedding venue with personalized details like our dog hidden in the corner of the details card through blind letterpress.

For the day-of details, we opted for double-sided menus with guest names on one side and the dinner menu on the other. A delicate white and blue floral motif tied in Ivan’s favorite color while doubling as our “something blue.”

Favors

Our favors were small bottles of olive oil, handmade from our wedding planner’s olive trees, as a nod to Italian tradition. Each bottle was tagged with “Con Amore, Love, The Aguileras 9.24.24,” offering guests a heartfelt thank-you and a taste of Tuscany.

Cake

We embraced tradition with an Italian millefoglie cake, an interactive and memorable experience where we helped prepare it in front of our guests. It was a huge hit, with many saying it was the best cake they’d ever tasted.

Food & Beverages

Food was a top priority for us as foodies, so we worked with our caterer to create a memorable experience. Highlights included live cooking stations with focaccia, tempura, and omelets during cocktail hour, and a farmers market-style charcuterie table under vine-covered arches.

Our three-course sit-down dinner featured a burrata bundle with cherry flan, mezzelune pasta with zucchini flowers and bacon, and Chianina filet with truffle and seasonal vegetables. To complement the meal, we offered signature cocktails like espresso martinis and Limoncello Spritz, along with a full bar to keep the celebration lively.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

My bridal gown was the Noa Gown by Danielle Frankel, paired with patent leather Prada bow kitten heels. The Noa Gown was perfect for me in every way, with its long sleeves, off-the-shoulder design, and draping detail across the low back. I loved that it was timeless, elegant, and a unique dress you don’t see every bride wearing.

For the reception, I decided to change into the Katherine Tash Lilou mini dress. My party dress had a U-neck corset and hand-pressed fabric flowers sewn along the dress. To make it more personalized, I customized it by removing the straps that came with the dress and transformed it into a strapless mini dress. The floral details of the dress remind me so much of the overall aesthetic of our wedding and couldn’t be more fitting for an Italian wedding, in my opinion. I paired my party dress with Jimmy Choo Azia 95 heels.

Flowergirls

I wanted the flower girl dresses to stand out from typical styles. They perfectly captured the overall vibe of our wedding and venue with their pleated high-low skirts, bow-accented waists, and delicate flower imprints, striking the perfect balance between timeless and rustic.

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

My engagement ring is an elongated cushion set on a whisper-thin gold band with platinum prongs, custom made by Ring Concierge. For added sparkle, I chose a radiant eternity wedding band designed by Lucy Malika. Ivan’s wedding band, also designed by Lucy Malika, is a satin white gold band with hammered detailing and our wedding date, 9.24.24, engraved in the center.

I wanted my wedding earrings to have a vintage feel, so I went with a baguette diamond huggie earring made by Lucy Malika. They were minimal yet paired beautifully with my dress. I chose this style because I knew it would be timeless, and something I would wear for years to come.

Hair & Makeup

For the ceremony and dinner, I chose to wear my hair down and curled, and my makeup was neutral with warm brown tones. I wanted to look and feel like myself on my wedding day, so I stayed close to my usual style while ensuring it felt elegant and modern.

When I changed into my mini dress for the reception, I decided at the last minute to go for a low ponytail. My sisters and best friend quickly helped me with my hair, and then we headed out to celebrate with our friends and family.

Groom’s Attire

Ivan’s tuxedo was rented from The Black Tux.

The Details

Transport

Since Tuscany is a large region, we arranged for all our guests to stay in the closest town to our wedding venue, Siena, which is about 45 minutes away. We set up three shuttles to pick everyone up on the day of the wedding and drop them back off at the hotel at the end of the night. Additionally, we had a smaller shuttle at the wedding venue for anyone who wanted to leave a bit earlier in the evening.

Honeymoon

We decided to stay in Italy for our honeymoon because there really is no better place than Italy! We started with a night in Sorrento, followed by two nights in Ischia, two nights in Capri, and six nights in Positano, which we used as a home base to explore neighboring coastal towns like Amalfi, Atrani, and Ravello.

The highlight of our trip was Ischia. It was the first few days after our wedding, and it was incredibly relaxing. We stayed at the beautiful Mezzatorre Hotel and truly didn’t want to leave. Our days were spent lounging, swimming in the ocean and pool, enjoying the thermal spas, and indulging in delicious food while sipping Aperol Spritz. We can’t wait to go back one day!

Gift Registry

Ivan and I have been living together for a few years, so we didn’t feel the need to create a traditional registry. Instead, we set up a honeymoon fund for anyone who wanted to contribute.

Wedding Songs

I walked down the aisle to “At Last” by Etta James, while Ivan walked down to “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King. Our recessional song was “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Jubel featuring NEIMY. For our first dance, we chose a mix of the Frankie Valli and Lauryn Hill versions of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” We started with a slow dance to Frankie Valli and transitioned to Lauryn Hill’s version during the chorus, with cold sparklers going off behind us.

Entertainment

We had live musicians for our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour, featuring a cellist, violinist, and guitarist. For cocktail hour, the cello was swapped out for a double bass to play jazz. During dinner, we curated a playlist for our DJ to set the tone, and for the reception, we had our DJ along with a saxophonist and a conga player, creating a fun atmosphere for dancing. We included a mix of Latin songs and top dance hits to get the party going.

Celebrant

Our officiant was my brother-in-law, with whom I share a close relationship, and whom Ivan has grown close to over the years. We chose a family member because we wanted our ceremony to feel personal. We didn’t want to select a random celebrant who didn’t know us or our love story. Having my brother-in-law officiate was such a special moment for us!

Readings

We decided to write our own vows and share them in front of all our friends and family. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

From day one of wedding planning, I tried to convince Ivan how amazing it would be to have fireworks on our wedding day. He always said no, but I would pitch the idea every few months, hoping his mind would change. Fast forward to our wedding day: as we stood in front of all our friends and family giving our thank-you speech, Ivan said, “I’m so happy we had an opportunity to make your dreams come true here tonight with all of our friends and family,” and then the fireworks went off. He pulled off a surprise I never thought would happen! My family also knew how much I wanted fireworks, but Ivan decided to keep this surprise from them as well. Only he and our wedding planners knew they were coming. We all cried happy tears as we watched the fireworks, and this is a moment I want to relive forever.

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

One thing I would worry less about is whether I chose the right wedding dress. I selected mine a year before the wedding, and as new bridal collections were released, I found myself re-watching videos of me in my dress, second-guessing my choice. Just remember, you chose that dress for a reason, and when you put it on for your wedding day, you’ll remember exactly why you fell in love with it in the first place.

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

My advice is to truly enjoy every moment and not to worry about the little things. The day goes by so quickly, so be present and soak in every moment with your husband; it will be the best day of your life.

Sources of inspiration…

I drew inspiration for our wedding from Pinterest and took notes over the years from attending other people’s weddings, focusing on what was worth spending time and money on and what wasn’t. Our wedding planner was amazing and connected us with all our vendors. Everything went perfectly and exceeded our expectations!