Dancing Through Time: Victoria and James' Magical Celebration at La Finestra Sul Fiume

Love Story

In the city that never sleeps,where dreams are born and love stories unfold, Victoria and James' journey began with a serendipitous swipe. Amidst the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets of New York City, two souls connected through the digital ether, their hearts resonating across the pixels of a dating app called Coffee Meets Bagel. "We dated for almost 3 years before we got engaged," Victoria reminisces. "And then got married after the pandemic."

But it was James' breathtaking proposal that truly set the stage for their enchanting journey. On Christmas morning, Victoria discovered a series of letters, each addressed to her at different ages of her life. "He wrote 5 Christmas letters to me at different ages: newborn, 8-year-old, 17-year-old, 28-year-old, and present day, 33-year-old with corresponding gifts based on stories I’ve shared, e.g. Tamagotchis, beanie babies, pogs, Christina Aguilera CD, The Alchemist," Victoria shares, her voice filled with emotion. He wanted for “all of me” to feel a part of this decision. His words rippled backward in time. I felt like I was reading each letter through the eyes and heart of Victoria at that age. Every letter brought laughter and tears. He wrote as if we’d already spent many lifetimes together, and that he was watching over me and excited to meet me soon in this life. He acknowledged who I was becoming, the gifts that were coming online for me, and all that I was here to be and do."

The final letter led Victoria to a 3-foot-tall present, filled with rose petals and a black velvet box. As James got down on one knee, his eyes brimming with tears, their forever began. "Our relationship is the greatest gift of our life," Victoria muses.

Victoria and James' wedding was a living, breathing fairytale, meticulously crafted to embody their unique love story. Set in the enchanting town of Borghetto, Italy, their celebration was a four-day extravaganza that transported their 75 guests into a world of romance, magic, and Italian charm.

"I wanted to bring people into our love story like they were entering into an enchanted dream," Victoria shares, her eyes gleaming with passion. "I wanted our vows to renew and re-inspire our friends' own commitment and sense of what's possible in Love."

Their wedding style was a perfect blend of magical, romantic, and enchanted elements. "It was bespoke, it was Us," the couple emphasizes.

The celebration spanned multiple locations, each chosen with care to showcase the best of Italy. From the picturesque Villa Cortine in Lake Garda for getting ready, to Villa Sigurta for the welcome night, and finally to La Finestra Sul Fiume for the main event, every venue was a chapter in their love story. "I wanted to give our friends the best Italy has to offer," Victoria explains, "from pizza, pasta, & prosecco to natural beauty, culture, & history. So we chose our venues accordingly."

The planning process, though only six months long, was infused with inspiration at every turn. James' proposal letters were a constant source of inspiration. The couple's search for the perfect venue took them across Italy, Portugal, and France. "We LOVED the natural beauty of La Finestra Sul Fiume, and how kind the people were in Borghetto," Victoria gushes. " It was the opposite vibe of a wedding factory.”

From the caterers to the venue owners to their wedding planners, Victoria and James experienced what they describe as "the best service ever." This attention to detail and commitment to excellence permeated every aspect of their celebration.

As the sun rose on June 4, 2023, it illuminated not just a wedding day, but the beginning of a new chapter in Victoria and James' epic love story. Their dream wedding, set against the backdrop of Italy's timeless beauty, was a testament to their love – bespoke, enchanting, and utterly unforgettable.

Morning details

As the Italian sun rose on their wedding day, Victoria and James' attention to detail shone through every aspect of their celebration. While they opted out of traditional paper invitations, they worked with Tuscan Lab to create beautiful menus, wedding programs, and name cards.

When it came to choosing their wedding rings, Victoria and James had a personal connection that made the process extra special. "Our friends own the main jewelry company in Portugal where we were living for 1.5 years before our wedding," Victoria explains. "They helped us curate the best ring options."

Victoria adorned herself with exquisite jewelry from Van Cleef, Piaget, and Cartier, each piece adding a touch of elegance to her bridal look.

Bride getting ready

Victoria's journey to find the perfect wedding dress was a unique and enchanting experience. "I tried on hundreds of white wedding dresses from every top designer and didn't like any of them," she confesses, a hint of amusement in her voice. "And then finally I tried a floral print dress from Monique and fell in love."

The bride's quest for the perfect gown led her to the Monique Lhuillier boutique on Melrose in LA,where she discovered her dream dress. But Victoria's bridal fashion story didn't end there. "Then I found a white wedding dress from Berta I loved afterward, and decided to wear it for my welcome dinner," she adds, showcasing her flair for style and celebration.

On the morning of her wedding day, Victoria prepared for her walk down the aisle at the breathtaking Villa Cortine. Surrounded by her closest friends, the atmosphere was charged with excitement and love.

To complete her bridal look, Victoria adorned herself with carefully chosen accessories. "Monique Lhuillier veil with pink florals was no longer in production so I acquired the store version," she shares. Her feet were clad in elegant pink shoes by Gianvito Rossi, adding a touch of whimsy to her ensemble.

The bride's bouquet was a work of art in itself, crafted by the talented florist Sara Cattaneo. It was a gorgeous mix of peonies, roses, and dahlias.

As the morning light filtered through the windows of Villa Cortine, Victoria transformed into a vision of bridal beauty. Her unique floral gown, paired with the pink-accented veil and shoes, created a look that was both timeless and distinctly her own. Surrounded by the love of her friends and the beauty of her carefully chosen details, Victoria prepared to step into her new life as a married woman, her heart full of joy and anticipation for the magical day ahead.

Groom getting ready

James opted for a classic and sophisticated look, choosing a tuxedo from Suit Supply. He too prepared at Villa Cortine, accompanied by his two best friends.

First Look

As the sun kissed the tranquil waters of Lake Garda, Victoria and James shared their first look at Villa Cortine—a moment where time stood still and their hearts beat as one, painting the beginning of their forever against the canvas of Italian beauty. When James first saw Victoria, all he could think was “Angel". Victoria's thoughts were a bit more playful: "I want to kiss him!" she laughs.

Photoshoot before the ceremony

The couple selected the enchanting Villa Cortine for their pre-ceremony photoshoot, collaborating with the artistic visionaries at Bottega53. "I wanted to take photos on Lake Garda," Victoria explains.

Ceremony

The ceremony at La Finestra Sul Fiume was a tapestry of love, woven with threads of past, present, and future. As the gentle melody of "Can't Help Falling in Love," performed live by Tess Amodeo-Vickery, filled the air, Victoria began her walk down the aisle. But this was no ordinary procession.

"James reading his proposal letters aloud as I walked down the aisle to him, moving from "past" timeline to arriving at the current timeline at the front of the aisle next to him to say "I do,”" Victoria shares, her voice soft with emotion.

The couple's ceremony was deeply personal, officiated by someone who knew them intimately. "We had a private soul union with our spiritual teacher before our ceremony so we could weave our souls together just the two of us before we did it publicly in front of our friends and family," Victoria explains. "We were married by someone who's done coaching work with me 1:1, James 1:1 and prepared us for our wedding day, so she knew us intimately years before."

This intimacy was palpable to their guests. "Our friends told us that it felt like it was just the two of us up there during our ceremony," Victoria recalls. "It felt like we were speaking just to one another privately, and nobody else was around."

Adding to the day's poignancy was a tribute to Victoria's beloved dog, Meeko, who had passed away just a month before the wedding. "James wrote his speech for him and read it to me," Victoria shares, her eyes glistening. "We had a table of his photos, and letters "he wrote" to us to celebrate with us."

The couple's nieces and nephews played special roles in the ceremony. James' nieces - Charlotte Vescovo and twins Molly and Libby Vescovo - served as flower girls, while his nephews - Matthew Vescovo, Quinn, and Ronan Cunningham - were the ring bearers.

As the couple stood together at La Finestra Sul Fiume, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the love of their friends and family, they weren't just exchanging vows - they were merging timelines, honoring the past, embracing the present, and stepping into their future as one. It was a ceremony that transcended the ordinary, capturing the essence of Victoria and James' extraordinary love story.

Photoshoot after the ceremony

Following their vows, the newlyweds wandered through La Finestra Sul Fiume for their post-ceremony photoshoot, captivated by its serene beauty. "La Finestra Sul Fiume, which translates to "window on a river" - the name says it all" Victoria gushes. "The most gorgeous natural beauty we saw across Portugal, Italy & France."

Wedding Venue & Decor

Victoria and James' wedding was a visual symphony of romance and personal touches, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Italian splendor.

The couple's dream materialized at La Finestra Sul Fiume, a venue that seemed plucked straight from Victoria's Pinterest board. "I wanted to wed along a running river with dragonflies and butterflies dancing around us," she explains. "I wanted to dine at one long table along a river, which is how I found our venue - it was literally the photo from my Pinterest board."

But their venue choices went beyond just the main event. "I wanted to share the best of Italy's biodynamic wines so I did a tasting tour months before the wedding to select the best vineyard, that was both gorgeous and offered incredible wines," Victoria explains. "I wanted to share a more historical site for our welcome night at Sigurta, so we spanned "historic, classical Italy to modern, new Italy."

The wedding's color palette was a reflection of Victoria's unique bridal gown. They used the colors found on her wedding dress. Soft pinks and creams dominated the decor, creating a romantic and dreamy atmosphere.

The result was a wedding that felt both grandiose and intimately personal. Every element, from the venue to the decor, was chosen with intention and love, creating an immersive experience that transported guests into Victoria and James' love story.

Cocktail hour

Reception

The reception at Victoria and James' wedding was a celebration that transcended the ordinary, weaving together elements of their unique love story with Italian culinary delights and unforgettable moments of joy.
"We had a table dedicated with James' proposal letters framed so people could read the full handwritten versions," Victoria shares, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "The table also included all the Christmas gifts he got me as part of his proposal so people could appreciate each age - what I was into that corresponded with each letter."

The couple's first dance was a testament to their creativity and passion. "I'm a dancer," Victoria explains, "We had a non traditional choreographed wedding dance to Unthinkable by Daniela Andrade." They followed this with a more traditional dance to "Fly Me to the Moon" by OrtoPilot, blending the unexpected with the classic.

The culinary experience was nothing short of extraordinary. "On welcome night, the best pizza in ALL of Italy, from Naples: Brindapino who also provided the prosecco and aperol spritz and gelato," Victoria gushes. "On wedding night, we had the local special to area: TORTELLINI OFI VALEGGIO, our guests were obsessed, and looking up recipes! We also had the most amazing lamb, that fell off the bone, you didn't even need a knife to cut it!"

Even the cake was a personal touch. "Our caterer made us a strawberry cheesecake because James only likes cheesecake! Paolo at La Creme," Victoria adds.

The couple's appreciation for their vendors was effusive. "THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!!" Victoria exclaims. "I gave our wedding planner a video testimonial unprompted because it was the best experience of my life working with a service provider. I have A+ standards because I went to Yale and Harvard Business School. I've been disappointed more often than not with other experiences (personal and professional) hiring service providers. But EVERY single person we worked with around our wedding was amazing, from the owners of La Finestra Sul Fiume to the caterers whose owner stayed through the whole evening and continued thanking us for weeks after our wedding to our planners who we love so so much, they were on their hands and knees drying the dance floor before we got on it. They cried during our ceremony, and truly love love.” She adds, “Bottega made me feel like a top model for Vogue which is exactly how ever Bride deserves to feel on her wedding day."

Victoria reserves special praise for their videographer, Gione. "Gione created the most extraordinary masterpiece of a video that I've watched at least 50 times (the long version). And I've seen the short 1 min version at least 100 times. I take baths and just hit play, reliving all the memories over and over again. I believe that if I repeated the day myself it would not compare to his capture of the weekend. Because when you're living the weekend, you have so many things on your mind, it's hard to stay present to enjoy every moment, but when I watch his videos, I can remember ALL OF IT without "being on" thinking about the next thing. I can sit back and take it all in."

The sacredness of the day was felt by all. "Our wedding was such a sacred experience for our friends that they each sent us voice memos of their favorite moments so we could capture them "in a bottle" and listen to them every year on our anniversary," the couple shares. "We created a treasure chest of all these little details from wedding mentioned from programs to letters to vows to our instant film photo album from the day."