Wedding at Villa La Selva: Katie & Nelson's Eight-Year Love Story Comes Full Circle
- Author: Natali Grace Levine
- Wedding date: 10/28/2025
- City: Florence
Love Story
Katie and Nelson met on Coffee Meets Bagel eight years ago. What started as a dating app connection turned into a relationship that would span continents and stand the test of time—including a year apart that only made them stronger.
The proposal came during a surprise getaway to the Maldives. As Katie walked toward the shimmering sea, Nelson suddenly gave me a shove. Katie was actually furious for a split second, but when she whipped around to confront him, her anger instantly evaporated. Nelson was already down on one knee. Nelson didn't even ask the question; instead, he simply reached out and slipped the engagement ring onto Katie's finger, sealing their promise right there on the sand.
With Katie working at Google and Nelson in finance, they've built a life around their shared passions. Katie's background in Archaeology and Anthropology means their travels often include historical sites—a love of the past that would shape every detail of their wedding.
About Your Wedding
One year of planning went into creating their Tuscan dream, but the location's significance stretched back much further. "After eight years with my partner, Nelson, we knew we wanted our celebration to be a journey—literally and metaphorically," Katie explains. "The vision was to transport our guests to Tuscany—Tuscany was the first stop we travelled together as a couple—creating an atmosphere that felt timeless, romantic, and steeped in history. We wanted a destination wedding that wasn't just an event, but an immersive experience that celebrated our shared history against the backdrop of the Italian countryside."
The Baroque theme wasn't chosen lightly. "We wanted to capture the opulence, drama, and artistic richness of that era, but with a modern execution," Katie shares. "The concept was about balancing the grandeur of the surroundings with intimate, thoughtful details—from the specific sapphire and diamond jewelry pieces to the structured elegance of the fashion. It was 'old world' charm meets modern precision."
Katie's approach to planning bridged centuries in an unexpected way. "Uniquely, I found a lot of inspiration in the intersection of technology and art," she reveals. "I actually utilized AI tools like Gemini and Nano Banana to help visualize and curate the wedding aesthetic. Using these tools allowed me to experiment with different Baroque elements and mood boards before finalizing decisions. It was inspiring to see how modern tech could help bring a very classical, historic vision to life."
Morning Details
Liberty Island designed all the stationery, from the welcome dinner menu on October 27th to every menu, name card, and table card for the ceremony day, plus the wedding invitations.
Nelson chose a round-shaped diamond for Katie's ring—a decision rooted in Chinese culture where the round shape symbolizes 'circle of completion' (Yuan Man), representing endless happiness, luck, and fulfillment.
The jewelry collection exceeded 100 carats and became the luminous centerpiece of their Baroque vision. An 18.57-carat vivid blue sapphire pendant hung from a 27.20-carat diamond necklace, paired with a 10.08-carat sapphire ring and 8.75-carat sapphire earrings. The effect was dazzling—a "blue fire" that echoed European royalty.
Katie wore heirlooms too. "The emerald, known as the 'stone of successful love,' acted as a profound, silent affirmation of eternal commitment—to my mother," she explains of her 5.03-carat emerald ring, worn alongside her mother's 9.08-carat emerald ring. A 20.80-carat Criss-Cut diamond bracelet—her father's gift on her 16th birthday—added personal history. "It's a powerful, shimmering reminder of my independence and the structural, enduring nature of his love."
The personalized touches showed their creativity. "We created a set of seven unique 'Prophecy Scratch Cards' for our guests," Katie explains. "Using Google Nano Banana, I input seven different prompts to generate illustrations of various Italian landscapes. In these scenes, we were reimagined as 'seers' or fortune tellers, with our wedding hashtag #ktgottamed displayed on the table before us. Each card revealed a whimsical 'prophecy' about the wedding day when scratched, transforming a simple gesture of gratitude into an interactive surprise."
Their dogs couldn't make the journey from Hong Kong, so Katie found another way. "Since our beloved dogs could not make the long journey for our destination wedding, we gently printed their faces onto every cocktail napkin. This way, whenever a guest raised a glass, they were greeted by the adorable silhouettes of our pups—ensuring they were there with us in spirit."
Bride Getting Ready
Katie wore five gowns across the celebration. "Each gown is chosen to represent a different facet of our journey," she explains.
The welcome dinner featured a Muse Marry gown in shimmering gold sequin with a fitted bodice and tiers of fine tulle. For the ceremony, she chose a Dylan Parienty ball gown—dramatic, voluminous, with layers of ethereal tulle and a strapless bodice accented by crystal and pearl embellishments. The dinner reception called for a regal Zuhair Murad A-line with a delicate illusion high neckline and intricate lace.
Late dinner brought a sleek Muse Marry mermaid silhouette covered in white sequins with a dramatic oversized bow at the back. Finally, the dance floor demanded a gold, mini-length Nicole + Felicia dress with cascading beaded fringe and a high halter neck.
"They were love at first sight," Katie says of finding her gowns in China and Hong Kong. Muse Marry designed her custom veil, while her shoes came from René Caovilla, Stuart Weitzman, and Cult Gaia.
We found Katie getting ready in the bridal suite at Villa La Selva with her mother and bridesmaids. Her bouquet of roses by Mainardi Fiori completed the look.
Groom Getting Ready
Nelson wore a tuxedo designed by Roger Concept Tailor, preparing for the ceremony at Villa La Selva with his groomsmen by his side.
First Look
Outside Villa Altaserra—their private villa within the Villa La Selva estate—Katie and Nelson saw each other for the first time as bride and groom.
Nelson described it as "the simultaneous rush of intense excitement and profound certainty. Standing there, every single shared milestone over the last eight years—from the dinner at Frantzén's to the defining Tuscany trip—flashed by. It was a private cinematic montage confirming the significance of the journey we took to get there."
Katie couldn't hold back. "I couldn't stop shedding tears when I saw Nelson! It was a moment of instant flashback."
Ceremony
Walking down the aisle with her father became one of the day's most emotional moments. "While we embraced a modern aesthetic, keeping the tradition of my father walking me down the aisle was non-negotiable," Katie reflects. "Because my dress was so voluminous, he gently whispered, ‘one, two, one, two,’ to guide our pace and keep us from tripping. That simple count instantly brought me back to being a little girl, reminded of him teaching me how to take my first steps."
Music by Kris Bowers—'I Love You' and 'Newlyweds'—accompanied the vows and recessional. "These tracks are modern compositions that feel regal and dramatic, amplifying the 'movie soundtrack' quality of the ceremony," Katie notes.
Then came the fireworks. "As the fireworks launched, the quartet played a classical cover of Katy Perry's 'Firework,'" Katie recalls. "It was a moment of pure, explosive joy—matching the visual spectacle in the sky with a high-energy, recognizable melody that everyone could smile at."
Katie's mother served as ring bearer, adding another layer of family meaning to the day.
Photoshoot After The Ceremony
At the entrance of Villa La Selva, by the cypress trees, photographers captured the newlyweds in golden hour light. "We timed it specifically for sunset," Katie explains. "The way the golden light hit the trees, creating dramatic shadows against my outfit, was magical. It was the best spot to capture the atmosphere; a perfect reflection of the day’s beauty and the serene, elegant mood we wanted."
Wedding Venue & Decor
Tuscany wasn't just a beautiful destination—it was their beginning. "Tuscany was the location of our very first trip together, eight years ago," Katie shares. "Returning here for the wedding completes the story we began there. This trip was the defining moment that launched our long-distance relationship. Tuscany is the true foundation where we committed to the distance, and the wedding is an elevated celebration of that initial promise."
The Italian Garden at Villa La Selva provided the backdrop, and the location meant everything. "We chose Villa La Selva, as it was love at first sight!" Katie remembers. "The striking cypress trees lining the ceremony lawn were the immediate, non-negotiable factor. They are a visual echo of our favorite memory: cruising the cypress-lined roads during our first Tuscany road trip eight years ago."
The color palette leaned into Baroque jewel tones—emerald, sapphire, burgundy, and gold. Velvet textures added richness and depth, capturing light and creating the dramatic atmosphere they envisioned. Mainardi Fiori brought the vision to life with lush florals, while their wedding hashtag #ktgottamed tied together the prophecy cards, signage, and every personalized detail.
Reception
For their first dance, Katie and Nelson chose 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley—but the song carried weight beyond its classic status.
"While it is a timeless classic, our connection to it is deeply personal and specific to our journey," Katie explains. "The 'Elvis' film from 2002 was actually the first movie Nelson and I watched together after we reconciled following our year apart. That film, and that song, marked the beginning of our new chapter. Dancing to it in Tuscany felt like a full-circle moment—acknowledging where we had been and celebrating the fact that we found our way back."
The menu honored Tuscan tradition. "Honoring the terroir was non-negotiable," Katie emphasizes. "The highlight was Cinta Senese, an ancient Tuscan breed. This wasn't just a menu choice; it was history on a plate—offering a distinct, prized flavor that made every bite feel deeply rooted in the land." Il Sorriso created their wedding cake.
Live music by Deb Jones filled the evening while Love Story Events Italy orchestrated every moment. Photographers Andrea Gallucci and Giovanni De Rosa captured it all with an effortless touch. "Andrea and Giovanni have an exquisite eye for detail," Katie reflects. "Their approach is incredibly organic; we never felt the need to intentionally pose. Instead, they allowed us to simply be present, vividly capturing our rawest emotions and the most natural moments as they unfolded."
Wedding Team
- Photography Andrea Gallucci
- Wedding Planning @lovestoryeventsitaly
- Venue @villalaselva
- Videography @gioderosavideographer
- Makeup @2wantyvonne
- Entertainment @deb_jones_livemusic
- Flower Design @mainardi_fiori
- Light @allexisevents
- Catering @ilsorrisoricevimenti
- Fireworks @pirotecnicasoldi
- Gowns @dylanparientyparis @zuhairmuradmariage @zuhairmuradofficial @nicolefeliciacouture @musemarry
- Bridal Shoes @renecaovilla @cultgaia @stuartweitzman
- Groom’s Attire @christianlouboutin @blancpain1735 @audemarspiguet
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