READING TIME: 4 min 6 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/03/2026
UPDATED: 01/03/2026
For many wedding planners, entering the industry is about artistry. For Dashiell, it was about people. Long before The Wedding Knot came to life, she was working as an Event Coordinator at a luxury hotel nestled in the rolling hills of Chianti—a place defined by romance, rustic beauty, and authentic Italian hospitality.
“I built strong, genuine connections with the couples celebrating their weddings there,” she remembers. “Many of them told me that my passion went far beyond my role as an internal coordinator—I was deeply involved, proactive, and always ready to support them in ways that often extended beyond what their own planners provided.”
These early experiences shaped not just her career, but her philosophy: weddings are more than events. They are meaningful moments, punctuated by connection, intention, and joy.
Looking back, she reflects on the mentors who honed instincts—General Managers, Food & Beverage leads, Housekeeping teams—each teaching her that meticulous teamwork and heartfelt service are the invisible threads that hold exceptional weddings together.
Dashiell’s professional journey spans over a decade. She began in 2014 coordinating events at that Chianti hotel. By 2019, with a growing desire to craft experiences shaped by her own vision, she launched The Wedding Knot, serving couples planning weddings across Tuscany and Umbria.
When asked what she loves most about her work, her answer is deeply personal: “Witnessing genuine happiness and knowing I’ve played a role in making it happen is incredibly meaningful to me.”
She explains that what she does is not just a job—it’s become her “vocazione,” a calling she hopes will be part of her legacy: “being remembered as the person who helped turn a dream into reality.”
Every wedding journey with The Wedding Knot begins the same way: with an introductory call. For Dashiell, this is more than a consultation. It’s about understanding a couple’s priorities, personalities, and vision.
This first conversation allows her to offer “a realistic and honest overview of what is truly feasible,” so expectations are aligned from day one.
The planning then progresses in a thoughtful order:
Venue selection
Key vendor bookings
Décor and styling
Final timeline creation (about a month before the wedding)
Couples are given access to a personalized planning dashboard with practical tools and a clear calendar designed to bring structure, clarity, and peace of mind. And once the timeline is finalized, the planning work shifts from logistics to joy—allowing couples to truly savor their final days before celebration.
She always suggests arriving in Italy a few days early
to recover from jet lag and enjoy some quiet, meaningful time together before the celebrations begin.
The Wedding Knot offers a suite of planning options designed to meet couples at every stage:
Legal paperwork assistance
Partial planning
Full planning
Beyond logistics, Dashiell also serves as a symbolic officiant and Master of Ceremonies, allowing her to support couples not only in preparation, but in the emotional storytelling of the day itself.
Unlike many planners who work repeatedly in the same venues, Dashiell deliberately avoids limiting her canvas.
“I don’t work exclusively with specific venues,” she explains. “I love diversifying each experience and staying constantly inspired by discovering new places.”
From historic villas perched on hillsides to hidden countryside gems, Tuscany and Umbria offer an incredible variety of stunning venues—and for Dashiell, each wedding deserves to be shaped by its own unique setting.
When it comes to contracts with vendors, Dashiell is unambiguous: “Never sign a contract without reading it carefully.”
She encourages couples to understand every clause, from pricing and included services to cancellation terms and responsibilities. If anything is unclear, she says, “never be afraid to ask questions or request clarification.”
Similarly, she believes a strong backup plan for bad weather isn’t optional—it’s essential. Weather is unpredictable, but discomfort and disruption are not. “A good backup plan protects everyone—both the couple and their guests,” she explains. Weddings, in her view, shouldn’t be left to chance.
In a world shaped by Pinterest and social media, expectations can easily outrun reality. That’s why Dashiell’s approach always begins with clarity.
Helping couples stay on budget means defining priorities early and identifying what they truly care about. Styling and décor often carry the biggest costs, so these conversations happen early and honestly.
“If a vision doesn’t align with the budget,” she says, “either the budget needs to increase, or we adjust the plan and make thoughtful compromises.”
With trusted vendors and real-time budgeting tools, The Wedding Knot keeps finances transparent, manageable, and stress-free.
A wedding’s timeline defines its rhythm. And especially for Italian weddings—many held in summer heat—timing can change everything.
Dashiell personally crafts each schedule, beginning with the ceremony start time and working backward and forward from there. This professional structure balances vendor needs, guest experience, and the couple’s desires.
“A well-built timeline is essential not only for the guest experience but also for vendors,” she explains. When everyone knows their role and time, the day flows effortlessly.
For couples deep in early planning, her advice is simple and powerful: slow down.
“My first and most important advice is this: slow down,” he urges. Too often, couples dive straight into online inspiration and overwhelm themselves before the foundation is set.
She suggests a dedicated “meeting dinner” for the couple—not about décor, but about alignment. Before choosing a planner or a venue, he encourages them to explore five key questions together: where, why, what, how, and who.
Having those answers lays a foundation of clarity that strengthens every subsequent choice.
One insight Dashiell wishes couples talked about more? The true value of working with local professionals.
Planning a destination wedding involves countless details—site visits, vendor coordination, language nuances, cultural intricacies. A local planner doesn’t just manage logistics—they understand the rhythm of the place.
It’s an approach that leads to better decisions, fewer surprises, and a wedding that feels authentic, well-managed, and genuinely connected to the destination.
