A Secret Fairy Garden and Tuscan Romance: Ksenia & Stefano's Wedding at Villa Barberino

Author: Natali Grace Levine
Wedding date: 07/05/2025
City: Florence

Love Story

It was 2022, at a work cocktail hour, when Ksenia and Stefano first met. The world was just emerging from Covid, and neither of them could have predicted what would happen next. "Stefano likes to say that I stalked him, since I was the first to add him on Instagram," Ksenia laughs. The playful teasing clearly continues to this day. Things moved quickly—really quickly. "It turned out to be the fastest relationship ever — after just six months, we were already living together," Ksenia shares. When you know, you know.

Two years later in Madrid, on their second anniversary, Stefano made his move. "I had just finished a call with one of my couples in our hotel room, and when I closed my computer and turned around, I found him down on one knee," Ksenia recalls. For a wedding planner who spends her days orchestrating perfect proposals for others, this surprise was the most beautiful gift imaginable.

About Your Wedding

Villa Barberino in the heart of Tuscany set the stage for 130 guests and a weekend that brought together two big families under one stunning roof. The journey started 16 months before the wedding date of May 7, 2025, when they secured the venue, followed by three intense months of detailed planning.

As a wedding planner herself, Ksenia brought a unique perspective to her own celebration. "I'm a wedding planner—as a wedding planner, organizing my own wedding after so many years in the industry was the most incredible and fun experience ever. Now I can truly say that I understand every single aspect of a wedding," she reflects. But even the most experienced planner needs to let go. "The most important and biggest step, in my opinion, is to trust the person who's managing the day. There are so many details to keep in mind, and if you're not completely confident in your planner, the wedding can easily turn into a control-freak's nightmare. I was lucky to know that my team is made up of incredibly diligent people who would take care of every single detail just as I asked — even the “no songs” on the DJ’s list were strictly monitored (haha)!"

Her initial vision? "I just wanted to be able to relax and enjoy my signature drinks—that was my first thought. Like every bride at the beginning, I wanted 'a very simple wedding.' Then you realize you want it to be fun for all the guests, you want it to be beautiful, with delicious food, and so on."

The couple designed two completely different experiences across their wedding weekend. Day one embraced a "Secret Fairy Garden" concept—inspired by Gucci events that had long captivated Ksenia's imagination. Guests arrived dressed in white while the bride made a statement in a colorful dress. "Initially I wanted to wear white as well, but it was a right choice to feel a bit different as a bride that day," she notes.

Day two shifted to something more "Classic and Natural." "I wanted something timeless yet organic: lots of greenery, draped tablecloths on waved tables, candles — a look that matched perfectly with the villa and the Tuscan landscape," Ksenia explains.

Morning Details

The couple's save-the-date set the tone early. They commissioned a custom electronic design featuring hand-drawn caricatures of themselves alongside Villa Barberino—a personal touch that Ksenia always recommends to her own couples. Even the wedding rings came with a story. "It was a present from our best man and a complete surprise to me—I love it," Ksenia shares.

The stationery game was strong across both days. Day one featured a seating chart integrated as signatures on plant vases, custom napkins bearing each guest's name, and elegant buffet menus. Day two brought personalized fans for the Tuscan heat, cones for the traditional rice toss, prayer books for the church ceremony, individual menus, a seating chart, and guest cards.

Bride Getting Ready

Last November, during a trip home, Ksenia found her dream dress in just two hours. “It took me just two hours to choose it,” the bride shares. She paired her gown with a robe for the getting-ready moments.

The morning unfolded in her suite at Villa Barberino, surrounded by her bridesmaids in their mismatched designer dresses. The getting-ready photoshoot captured moments both in her suite and in the villa's garden,where ancient trees filtered the morning light.

For her bouquet, Ksenia chose delicate sweetpeas, arranged by G&G Florist with styling by Fiorigraphia—romantic, fragrant, and perfect.

Groom Getting Ready

Stefano dressed in an Italian boutique tuxedo, surrounded by his groomsmen in the villa. Here's where things got interesting. "Fun fact: the groom didn't want to take pictures before the wedding, but on the wedding day, he ended up enjoying the process the most—and he was even more excited to see the pictures than I was," Ksenia reveals.

Those spontaneous moments of joy? They're what make weddings so beautifully unpredictable.

Ceremony

The Pieve di San Romolo in Gaville, a stunning Romanesque parish church, has witnessed centuries of love stories. The ancient stone walls and sacred atmosphere created the perfect setting for Ksenia and Stefano to exchange their vows.

Choosing the processional music took time. "It was a very hard decision for me—at the end I chose 'I will always love you' by Whitney Houston," Ksenia shares. Those iconic, soaring notes filled every corner of the church as Ksenia walked toward her future.

Little Cleo, Stefano's nephew, charmed everyone as the flower girl, while Ksenia's nephew Gregorio took on ring bearer duties—both children adding sweetness and family connection to the ceremony.

"First time I saw Stefano," Ksenia says simply of her most special ceremony moment. In those few words, everything is there—the overwhelming love, the culmination of their journey, the promise of forever.

Photoshoot After The Ceremony

After the ceremony, the newlyweds captured their joy against the breathtaking Tuscan backdrop. They brought in a historic car for the session, creating images that felt both timeless and cinematic. The rolling hills, cypress trees, and golden Italian light provided a backdrop no studio could replicate.

Wedding Venue & Decor

Finding Villa Barberino was an adventure in itself. "We scouted more than 20 venues in 2 weeks," Ksenia remembers. But they had specific requirements. "One of the most important for us was to accommodate our big families in one place and create this escape weekend for everyone. Villa Barberino matched with this requests."

The color palette stayed elegantly simple: white and green. "Very natural," as Ksenia describes it—a choice that let the villa and the Tuscan landscape do the talking.

The decor embraced organic luxury. Draped tablecloths cascaded over undulating tables, greenery filled every space, and candles created an intimate glow as day melted into evening. Everything felt both intentional and effortless.

Reception

Ksenia and Stefano's first dance was to "Can We Kiss Forever"—their song since they started dating. Surrounded by 130 of their closest friends and family, they danced in their own world.

The food was a showstopper. The couple engaged a food designer for both days—"one of the best decisions!" Ksenia says—who brought creative perspectives to food service that delighted guests. Day one featured a "tiramisu factory" where guests watched as individual portions of the beloved Italian dessert were made fresh before their eyes.

Signature drinks flowed throughout the celebration. Small gelato chops served in large silver bowls filled with ice added a refreshing, elegant touch perfect for a Tuscan summer evening. Villa Barberino created the wedding cake, closing out an unforgettable culinary experience.

Asked about her most memorable moment, Ksenia admits with characteristic honesty and humor: "I'd say, less romantically—the fear of the Plan B, haha! But then, the first time you see all your guests there for you, surrounded by so much love—it's something so special that I think you can only experience on your wedding day." Maybe that's what Ksenia learned, both as a wedding planner and as a bride: perfection isn't about flawless execution. It's about being present in the love that surrounds you, trusting your team, and letting yourself get swept away in the joy of the moment.