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

By Jillian Kramer
June 21, 2019
Slava Mishura

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

Start Slideshow

1 of 22

Slava Mishura

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 22

The Venue

Slava Mishura
What Your Venue Says About Your Wedding

"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."

3 of 22

The Invitations

Slava Mishura
20 Ways Adventurous Couples Can Use Maps and Globes Throughout Their Weddings

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.

Advertisement

4 of 22

Wedding Dress

Slava Mishura

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.

5 of 22

Bride's Shoes

Slava Mishura

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.

6 of 22

Groom's Attire

Slava Mishura
5 Ways to Honor Your Military Bride or Groom on Your Wedding Day

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 22

Bridesmaids' Dresses

Slava Mishura
26 Chic Bridal Parties Wearing All-White Dresses

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.

8 of 22

The Ceremony Site

Slava Mishura

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.

9 of 22

Ceremony Décor

Slava Mishura
59 Wedding Arches That Will Instantly Upgrade Your Ceremony

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 22

Petal Cones

Slava Mishura

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.

11 of 22

Flower Girl

Slava Mishura
The Best-Dressed Flower Girls from Real Weddings

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

12 of 22

Personal Ceremony

Slava Mishura

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 22

Special Guest

Slava Mishura
How to Include Your Children in Your Wedding

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.

14 of 22

The Recessional

Slava Mishura

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

15 of 22

Vintage Getaway Car

Slava Mishura
Wedding Getaway Car Ideas for Riding Away in Style

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 22

Cocktail Hour

Slava Mishura
The Pros and Cons of an Extended Cocktail Hour

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.

17 of 22

Escort Cards

Slava Mishura
25 Ideas for the Prettiest Calligraphed Escort Cards

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

18 of 22

The Reception

Slava Mishura

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 22

The Décor

Slava Mishura
23 Candle Centerpieces That Will Light Up Your Reception

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.

20 of 22

The Cake

Slava Mishura
24 Delicious Wedding Cake Alternatives

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.

21 of 22

First Dance

Slava Mishura

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."

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 22

Sources

Slava Mishura

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

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Jillian Kramer