A Super Fashionable Destination Wedding in Italy

Alexis and Zach

Alexis Corry and Zach Kappel met during their high school days in Florida, but reconnected in Pittsburgh when Zach was going to law school and Lex was working on opening a store. They met up for coffee and the rest is history. A few years later, and now an attorney and boutique owner, the couple got engaged while on a getaway to one of their favorite resorts in the Pennsylvania woodlands. The travel-loving duo set off to the rolling hills of Tuscany for an Italian adventure and wedding on May 28, 2017. One which the twosome calls a "magical fairytale where dreams came true."

The wedding was everything they wanted—an intimate ceremony (just 50 guests), a reception full of delicious food and wine (courtesy of the award-winning chef at their venue, Borgo Santo Pietro), the captivating energy of their live jazz band, and being surrounded by lots of love. Of course it was also a fashionable affair, which was to be expected considering Lex's background and her job as a stylist. The ensembles she put together for herself, her husband-to-be, and the wedding party were the finishing touch at this charming Italian fête.

The Stationery

Written Word Calligraphy designed the invitation suite, which fused hand-penned script and a capitalized font. Matte ink added a masculine touch to the Tuscan-inspired stationery, which was further showcased on the handmade paper. The finishing touch was an illustration of the reception venue, featured on the response card.

The Venue

Lex has long dreamed of getting married under the Tuscan sun. Inspired by their love of travel and adventure, Lex and Zach decided to have an intimate wedding in the town of Chiusdino, Italy. After a visit to Borgo Santo Pietro and the local church, it was clear that they had found the perfect location for their intimate, destination wedding.

Say Cheese

The groom wanted to do something relaxing before the wedding and all the celebrating that followed. He tapped into his passion of food and wine and worked with the hotel's sommelier to have a tasting for himself and his groomsmen. "It was wonderful," Zach says. "He handpicked the cheese selection to pair with the wines and discussed them from start to finish. Looking out at the rolling hiss as we tasted was a slice of heaven and a great way for the guys to catch their breath before the big night."

Handmade with Love

The bride made bracelets for her bridesmaids using seed beads and pearls. She gifted each woman her handmade surprise in gilded, hand-crafted porcelain heart dishes by Jan Burtz.

The Attire

Zach went tie-free and stuck to a neutral palette, wearing a beige blazer, pale blue shirt, white slacks, and smoking shoes made of sumac carpets from Turkey. "The style and colors felt very relaxed and Tuscan," Lex says of the ensemble's worn by the groom and his attendants.

Lex's search for her wedding dress was a long one, and one with a multifaceted outcome. After meeting with fashion designer friend Maria Korovilas—who was in the midst of designing a bridal collection—Lex decided to expand her boutique from just womenswear and menswear, opening Lex & Lynne Bridal. In working with designer through her store, she was able to curate a wedding ensemble that was her exact vision. In the end, she chose a stunning wedding dress from Maria's collection. The "Theodora" gown boasts 3D embroidery and antique brass accents, all in an easy, elegant silhouette. "The gown was a bit sheer and I love the way the Tuscan sun illuminated it," Lex says. A veil worn as a train added extra drama.

Delicate Details

Instead of actual bouquets, the beaded flowers on Lex's gown (and her bridesmaids' similarly ornate frocks, all by Maria Korovilas) served as the days' flowers.

The Bridal Party

Lex's attendants (and her mom to her left) wore dresses made by the same designer, Maria Korovilas, as a way of further accentuating the day's whimsical aesthetic. "I wanted us to wear white, ivory, and brass tones that were really bold," Lex explains. "Each dress had its own character—lively and full of spirit." The bride loved the dresses so much she decided to carry the entire collection (plus a few other designers and items like accessories and gifts) at her shop.

Topped Off

The bride and her bridal party wore hand-crafted head crowns.

One Little Lady

Even the youngest guest (Alexis's cousin) was fashionably dressed, sporting a floral headband.

The Processional

"When I saw Lex walk down the aisle I was filled with excitement and indescribably emotion," Zach recalls. "The chapel was the absolute perfect setting for us, and seeing her walk through the stone archway at its entrance, with the light beaming in behind her was angelic. Once reality set in it was just excitement as I couldn't wait for her to be standing by my side for the ceremony!"

She had entered on the arm of her father, to the sound of "Moon River," as played by musician Brian Newman on the trumpet. The song was composed in the bride's hometown and was one of her grandfather's favorite songs. So it nodded to her roots and honored the memory of her beloved grandpa.

The Ceremony

The Catholic ceremony included two readings (Song of Solomon 8:6 and St. Paul to the Corinthians 12:31-13:8), the couple exchanged traditional vows, and the bride's cousin sang and acapella rendition of "The Prayer" in Italian. As the service concluded, Brian Newman took to his trumpet again, this time to perform "La Vie en Rose."

"Kneeling at the altar in front of all our close friends and family, just before we said our vows to one another, was such a quiet and special moment together before the celebrations began," Zach recalls.

After the couple became husband and wife, they gathered with their guests at The Abbey of San Galgano (an old, roofless church) for some photos before heading to the reception.

Love Some Bunny

Lex discovered these bunny door stops shortly before the wedding and fell in love. So in love that she decided to stock them in her store and tell her mom about them. Her mother then surprised her by using them in lieu of place cards at the reception, even adding black bow ties to the hares for the male guests. At the end of the night, guests took them home as a memento.

The Reception

The five-course dinner by the Michelin-starred chef of the hotel included wine pairings chosen by the bride's parents on a previous visit to the venue. A spelt salad with poppy seeds kicked off the meal, followed by sea bass agnolotti with cuttlefish ink and lemon; sea bass gratin with black olives and wild herbs; veal in red wine sauce with potatoes and black truffles; and the dessert course.

During the reception, guests passed around a beautiful notebook Lex brought from London, writing sweet notes to the couple inside.

A Table for Two

The couple's sweetheart table was in the middle of the reception, with farm tables at either side for their siblings. The picturesque landscaping of the lawn provided added décor as the party was kept simple and flower-free. Lush vineyards were visible in the distance.

The Wedding Cake

Fresh berries decorated the simple two-tier lemon wedding cake, which was served with the chef's housemade pistachio gelato.

The Sounds of a Celebration

The Brian Newman Band played jazz standards by Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday as well as some of their originals, including "Take Me Back to Brooklyn," during the reception.

Changing it Up

Lex swapped into this effortless and expressive Maria Korovilas "Georgia" gown for the reception. The ruffles added movement to the bride's look, particularly as she and Zach took to the dance floor when her cousin surprised the duo by singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Sources

Photography, Kyle John Photography

Locations, Montesiepi Chapel, 39-0577-756700; Abbey of San Galgano, 39-0577-756700

Reception location, Catering, Cake, and Bride's makeup, Borgo Santo Pietro

Stationery and Calligraphy, Written Word Calligraphy

Music, The Brian Newman Band

Bride's and bridesmaids' dresses, Maria Korovilas from Lex & Lynne Bridal

Bride's accessories, Lex & Lynne Bridal jewelry and head crown; Stuart Weitzman shoes

Bridesmaids' head crowns, Lex & Lynne Bridal