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This Couple's Tuscan Wedding Was Set Against Endless Rows of Cypress Trees

This Couple's Tuscan Wedding Was Set Against Endless Rows of Cypress Trees

By Jillian Kramer

The duo kept the focus on their guests throughout their weekend-long destination soirée.

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After meeting online and dating for five years, Sudhir and Kseniya Gadh tied the knot in Tuscany, Italy, in what Kseniya says "was less a destination wedding than a journey to a place of comfort and seemingly effortless elegance." When you see the following images, you'll understand. Understated, classic elegance defined every detail of this duo's celebration; each accent was carefully selected by the couple and their planner Natalia Sorokina-Music. An epic venue, the Conti di San Bonifacio, served as a perfect backdrop. Even the weather was picture-perfect: Their August 2, 2018, wedding date brought plenty of sunshine and even a rainbow.

"We knew right away we wanted to get married in Italy," Kseniya says of their choice to host a destination event. "Sudhir has been coming there for years, and our trip together to Italy was one of [our] best memories." But when it came to locating their ideal venue, "the key was to find a place where all our friends and family could stay at one place and experience Italian hospitality in the best possible way," Kseniya says. "My husband and I love to host, and we wanted our guests to feel like they were at home—just on the other side of the ocean."

The couple's theme also echoed that sentiment: "[Our] theme was to make our guests feel loved and create an intimate experience," Kseniya explains. "The area we chose is beautiful, [and] so I only wanted to enhance the beauty of it." The couple did so by using a green-and-white color palette that let the rest of the cypress-lined setting speak for itself.

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The Venue

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"After we saw Conti di San Bonifacio, I knew right away it was the place," the bride says. It provided enough space and amenities for the couple and their 66 guests to enjoy the whole weekend, not just the wedding day. As Kseniya says, "We spent time swimming in the pool, sharing lunches, and watching beautiful sunsets."

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The Invitations

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Aleksa Calligraphy created the couple's custom invitations, a full suite that included calligraphy and a custom hand-drawn map that spanned from Florence to Rome.

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Wedding Dress

After having trouble finding the perfect wedding dress in stores, Kseniya ordered an airy, lace appliqué gown by Jane Hill—then turned to a tailor to design a custom back-up gown. But on the big day, she turned back to her first choice.

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Bride's Shoes

Kseniya paired her gown with strappy gold Altuzarra heels. She also wore a veil that her mother handmade and jewelry she borrowed from a close friend.

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Groom's Attire

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Sudhir surprised Kseniya by wearing his Navy whites for the ceremony. (He later changed into a bespoke midnight-blue tuxedo.) "It looked spectacular," she says.

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Bridesmaids' Dresses

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Kseniya allowed her bridesmaids to select their own dresses. "All my bridesmaids have amazing taste, so I let them choose their own dresses; the only request was that [they] had to be white," she explains.

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The Ceremony Site

According to Kseniya, it rained every day leading up to their wedding. But on the big day, the rain magically stopped—and the couple enjoyed perfect weather for their outdoor ceremony, which was held on the lawn of Conti di San Bonifacio, overlooking the Tuscan hills.

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Ceremony Décor

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Chiara Sperti Floral Events created the floral décor for the wedding, including a green-and-white ground arch for the ceremony.

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Petal Cones

Guests pick up paper cones filled with flower petals at the beginning of the service; they later tossed them on the couple as they walked back up the aisle.

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Flower Girl

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The couple's flower girl wore a white dress from Eveliina Vintage.

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Personal Ceremony

While the couple kept their ceremony short, it was very special, they say: Sudhir's brother officiated it. "We asked him to include some religious moments that were important to us, but he made it so personal since he knows us so well—touching, funny, and so us," says Kseniya. The couple also wrote and exchanged their own vows.

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Special Guest

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But one part of the ceremony stands out above all the rest, Kseniya says. "Having our nine-month-old daughter at our wedding was the best part of it," she says.

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The Recessional

As the couple recessed up the aisle, they were met with a pretty petal shower.

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Vintage Getaway Car

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Kseniya and Sudhir left the ceremony in a vintage black car from Classic Drives.

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Cocktail Hour

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The couple hosted their extended cocktail hour by the pool. Just in time to say "cheers," a rainbow appeared in the sky. "Our cocktail was long and we wanted it to be that way because it allowed our guests to relax and become closer," she says.

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Escort Cards

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Guests found their escort cards on a wooden table covered in greenery and candles.

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The Reception

At the reception, guests sat at two long tables. "We wanted dinner to feel like a family gathering and have as little separation as possible," Kseniya explains.

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The Décor

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The couple kept the décor simple and opted for low centerpieces, "so guests could see each other and have a conversation," says Kseniya. The tabletop's design incorporated flowers, greenery, and taper candles; gauzy runners were draped romantically over the tables' short edges and looked lovely billowing in the soft breeze.

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The Cake

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For their wedding cake, the couple chose a traditional Italian cake, which is typically made with butter, vanilla, and cream cheese. "It was so delicious," Kseniya says.

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First Dance

Kseniya and Sudhir enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife to "I've Had the Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. "My husband and I love dancing, and that song began our romance years ago on our first date," Kseniya says, on which "we danced to it on the street and kissed for the first time."

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Sources

Photography, Slava Mishura

Venue, Catering, and Cake, Conti di San Bonifacio

Event planning, Natalia Sorokina-Music

Flowers, Chiara Sperti Floral Events

Stationery, Aleksa Calligraphy

Music, Glissaudo Music

Rentals, Preludio Noleggi

Bride's gown, Jane Hill

Bride's shoes, Altuzarra

Hair and Makeup, Total Beauty Cafe

Flower girl dress, Eveliina Vintage

Transportation, Classic Drives

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