A Luxurious Tuscan Wedding at Borgo Stomennano: Cindy & Charles's Italian Love Story
- Author: Natali Grace Levine
- Wedding date: 10/12/2024
- City: Siena
Love Story
Cindy and Charles's relationship started with genuine friendship. "Charles and I first met in 2016 through a mutual friend," Cindy shares. "We started out as friends. At the time, he was living in Los Angeles and I was in San Francisco."
What began as a cross-state friendship slowly blossomed into something deeper. "We stayed in touch and didn't start dating until two years later, in 2018," Cindy recalls. By then, life had taken them even further apart. "I was living in Madison, Wisconsin, while Charles was still in Los Angeles. We did long distance for six months before I moved to LA to be with him."
Their proposal happened during a two-week solo adventure Cindy was taking through Turkey. After exploring Istanbul and driving along the coast, she met Charles in Cappadocia. "We were planning to do a sunrise hot air balloon ride. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate and flights were canceled," she explains. But Charles had other plans. "Instead, we woke up early to watch the sunrise, and Charles proposed to me on a hilltop."
About Your Wedding
Planning this Italian affair took nearly two years. The couple enlisted wedding planner Dashiell in January 2023, giving themselves plenty of time to bring their vision to life.
"We wanted our wedding to be a weekend full of activities where all our friends could stay onsite," Cindy explains. "We also wanted it to be at a place where there were no sound restrictions or curfew so we could party all night. The weekend should be centered around our closest friends, with delicious food and wine,where we could party the entire weekend."
Their love for food and wine naturally drew them to Italy. "We were drawn to the idea of renting a castle or villa where our friends could stay together and enjoy the grounds," Cindy says. Borgo Stomennano in Monteriggioni fit perfectly—it could accommodate 40 overnight guests and had zero restrictions on how late they could celebrate.
The aesthetic was deliberately bold. "Our wedding featured rich colors, and we encouraged guests to dress in jewel tones and don't be afraid to be loud and flashy," she shares. "We told our florist we wanted the overall feel to be opulent and lush, complementing the historic venue."
Their inspiration? "The movie Saltburn, but without all the murder," Cindy says with a laugh.
Morning Details
Every detail was thoughtfully crafted, starting with the stationery. A designer friend created the invitations and all the wedding materials, incorporating a custom logo based on the couple's shared initials—CC. This personalized touch appeared everywhere, from the menu to the seating chart to Charles's cufflinks.
The most creative touch was the pre-wedding magazine. "We had a magazine that we mailed out before the wedding to get people excited and know what to expect when they got to Italy," Cindy explains. It built anticipation and helped their international guests prepare for the weekend ahead.
The rings came through another friend. "Our friend has a jewelry store so she helped us pick the rings that fit us," Cindy shares. For her other jewelry, she wanted something that reflected her personality. "I had a friend that custom made a necklace for me. My dress was feminine so I wanted jewelry that was a little different and more edgy which is more like me."
Bride Getting Ready
Cindy's dress shopping was remarkably efficient. "I had a Rita Viteri wedding dress. I only went dress shopping twice," she reveals. She found her gown at Lovella Bridal—a stunning piece that perfectly balanced femininity with sophistication, exactly what she envisioned for her opulent Italian celebration. She completed her look with a veil, her custom edgy necklace, and the perfect shoes.
The getting-ready photos took place at Borgo Stomennano,where the historic architecture and Tuscan light created the perfect backdrop. For her bouquet, Cindy trusted Criluflower completely. "I don't know the name of flowers," she admits honestly. "I used Criluflower." The result was stunning and perfectly matched the wedding's opulent aesthetic.
Groom Getting Ready
Charles prepared for his big day at Borgo Stomennano, surrounded by his closest friends. The historic castle's timeless Italian architecture offered countless photo opportunities as the groom and his party got ready to celebrate.
First Look
The first look happened among the olive trees at Borgo Stomennano. Charles's reaction was pure and unforgettable. "His exact words were 'wow wow whoa,'" Cindy recalls with a smile.
For Cindy, the moment was layered with emotion. "It was a sweet moment because I had a first look with my parents before the groom and my mom cried the moment she saw me and then I immediately had a first look with the groom," she shares. "I didn't cry but it was an emotional moment."
Ceremony
The ceremony location was breathtaking—in front of the castle's gate, flanked by dramatic lanes of Mediterranean cypress trees.
Music has always been central to their relationship (they met at a music festival), so their processional song was deeply personal. "'Sweet Disposition' by The Temper Trap and 'Innerbloom' by RÜFÜS DU SOL are both significant songs in our relationship," Cindy explains. "Charles even composed a remix that blended the two and created a special version for our string quartet."
The most special moments?: "Walking down the aisle and seeing all my friends dressed in their most beautiful outfits, surrounded by rich colors and flowers for the first time, and then seeing Charles waiting for me at the end of the aisle was unforgettable. In that moment, I felt nervous, joyful, and incredibly excited."
Photoshoot After The Ceremony
After the ceremony, the newlyweds continued exploring Borgo Stomennano for their portraits. The golden Italian light, historic architecture, and their obvious joy created frame after frame of beautiful wedding photography.
Wedding Venue & Decor
The color palette was deliberately dramatic. "Dark purples, burgundy, hints of white and black," Cindy lists. It created an atmosphere that was both opulent and romantic.
Borgo Stomennano checked every box. "It fit 40 people where half our guests could stay onsite. There were also no sound restrictions or curfew and the grounds looked beautiful," Cindy explains. The historic Tuscan castle was the perfect canvas for their vision of an intimate, immersive weekend celebration.
Throughout the venue, guests encountered the custom CC logo, incorporated into everything from the menu to the seating chart. These personalized touches, combined with the lush florals from Criluflower, created an environment that felt both grand and deeply personal.
Reception
Stilicius Catering & Banqueting provided the culinary experience, culminating in a traditional Millefoglie Italian Wedding Cake.
While the couple skipped a traditional first dance, the celebration was far from quiet. With music by Sara Ferrini and no curfew to worry about, guests danced well into the Italian night.
Looking back, Cindy is clear about who made it all possible. "We really couldn't have done this wedding without Dashiell. We still keep in contact with her and message her regularly," she says. The entire vendor team came through Dashiell's recommendations. "All the vendors were amazing, all a recommendation by our wedding planner which shows the caliber of people she works with."
From a music festival meeting to a hilltop proposal in Turkey to an opulent castle wedding in Tuscany, Cindy and Charles created not just a wedding day, but an entire weekend of memories surrounded by their 80 closest friends.
Wedding Team
- Planner The Wedding Knot by Dashiell
- Venue @borgostomennano
- Photographer @mariafrancescanitti_ph
- Videography @mario_albanese_pereira
- Catering @stilicius
- Music @saraferrinimusic
- Florist @criluflower
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