The palette stayed soft and tonal with crisp white, gentle green, touches of blush, and deeper red accents.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We are both deeply curious and shaped by very different worlds. I work in beauty and content creation, building brands and storytelling through visuals, while he works in the crypto and real estate space, bringing a grounded and analytical perspective.
We live between New York City and Charleston with our two cat babies and love travel, long meals that turn into late nights, music that sets a mood, and experiences that bring people together. At the core of our relationship is a shared appreciation for culture, connection, and building a life that feels intentional, layered, and very much our own.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met in 2018 after I sent a DM that turned into our first date at Casa Mezcal in the Lower East Side. That first night quickly led to a long-distance relationship between New York and Berlin. The proposal was just as understated and personal. After a perfect night at Scarpetta, we stayed through dinner and dessert until close, then walked back through snowy New York together. As I was getting ready for bed in my big t-shirt + hair still wet, I turned around to find him sitting there with the ring. It was quiet, effortless, and completely us.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
Florals played an essential role in the décor, not through quantity but through intention. Every arrangement was carefully considered and designed to feel purposeful. For my bouquet, we chose a simple composition of long-stem calla lilies, loosely tied with white fabric as an ode to my mother, who carried them in her own wedding bouquet. For the ceremony, the steps were framed with white and green hydrangeas, white anthuriums, and cascading white amaranthus layered with candles. The tables were arranged in a serpentine layout and styled with ikebana-inspired florals, a continuous line of silver candlesticks, and mismatched silver platters. Calla lilies and anthuriums moved through the table at varying heights. The palette stayed soft and tonal with crisp white, gentle green, touches of blush, and deeper red accents, creating a sculptural, elevated atmosphere.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
We loved the parts of planning that felt hands-on and collaborative. Visiting our venue with our planner made everything feel real, and doing tastings with our vendors helped bring the vision to life. My husband was especially involved in choosing the table settings and cutlery, which made the details feel very personal.
Our biggest tip is to expect stress but stay present through it. The chaos is temporary, and once it’s over, you’ll miss it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime season, so try to enjoy it while it’s happening.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
We were incredibly lucky with our vendor team, and that was entirely due to our wedding planner. We trusted her completely to curate top-tier vendors, and every single one exceeded our expectations. From start to finish, the level of talent, care, and execution was exceptional.
A few moments truly stood out. Our welcome dinner at Terrazza del Chiostro was unforgettable, and the florals by Jardin Divers were beyond stunning. They transformed every space and felt thoughtful, elevated, and completely aligned with the setting.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
Fashion was a major focus for both of us, but always in conversation with the setting. We wanted the looks to feel modern and directional without feeling out of place. For the welcome dinner, Hichem wore a custom blue linen suit as my something blue for the evening. The choice felt relaxed but intentional and perfectly suited to the setting. I wore a MISHA dress with sculptural draping that immediately reminded me of a Roman statue. It struck the balance I was searching for. Modern yet formal, elegant without feeling precious. I styled it with mesh opera gloves, silver Gianvito Rossi slingbacks, vintage earrings from The RealReal, and a Cult Gaia clutch. On the wedding day, we were both in white. Hichem’s suit was custom-made by DUMAS & SONS, designed to feel romantic, tailored, and comfortable. We were inspired by Alexander McQueen Men’s Spring 2023 and Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 24/25. The result was a double-breasted silhouette with concealed buttons and clean lines, soft in structure but sharply cut. The only detail was our wedding date embroidered inside the jacket. Guests wore black, while my mom wore navy as my something blue for the day, creating a graphic, intentional palette. My ceremony dress was by KYHA Studios, chosen for its modern lines and subtle mesh panelling that added interest without overpowering the venue. I paired it with Tony Bianco heels for a clean finish. For the after-party, I changed into a custom LEI Studio dress styled with black Prada heels and a Cult Gaia bag, shifting the mood from ceremony to celebration while keeping the look sharp and fashion-forward.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
Our rings are deeply personal and tied to meaningful places. My husband is Tunisian, and my engagement ring and wedding band came from Tunis, which made them incredibly special to me.
His wedding band came from New York City. We were strolling through the Lower East Side one afternoon, popped into a small, woman-owned jewellery shop, fell in love with a simple, chic gold band, and bought it on the spot.
What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
It was hard to narrow it down, and our budget definitely went over. The guest experience was incredibly important to us since the weekend was about bringing together the people we love and blending their cultures.
If we had to choose, photography and food were the two areas we were happiest to invest more in. Our photographer, Janelle, exceeded every expectation and captured the weekend beautifully. Food and beverage were at the core of the celebration, from the buyout at Podere Le Ripi to the welcome dinner courses with paired cocktails, the wedding dinner, and late-night snacks. Those moments shaped the entire experience for our guests and us.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
There were two moments we will always treasure. During dinner, my parents surprised us with an opera singer, who completely transformed the courtyard. It amplified the energy in the room and turned into an incredibly emotional moment for everyone. There were tears everywhere.
The second was much quieter. The day before the welcome night dinner, we spent a few hours at the restaurant where our welcome dinner would be held. They set a table just for us overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany, walked us through the entire menu, prepared an aperitivo, and hosted a proper wine tasting. It was intimate and unhurried, and gave us the chance to pause and be fully present together before the weekend began.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
Being married means the joining of two very different worlds into a life we built intentionally through our own experiences, beliefs, and perspectives. Coming from polar opposite childhoods and cultures, it feels deeply sacred to create something that is entirely ours.
One ritual that reflected this was how we entered the ceremony. Instead of walking down the aisle traditionally, we met at the top of the stairs and walked hand in hand toward our guests. It felt like a quiet statement of partnership, equality, and choosing each other in every sense.
LOCATION Villa Borgo Sant’Ambrogio, Pienza, Italy, @borgosantambrogio BRIDE Haley, @haleyyrackliffe GROOM Hichem PHOTOGRAPHER Janelle Putrich, @janelleputrich VIDEOGRAPHER Diego Perrini, @diegoperrinivideo CONTENT CREATOR Silvia Noviello, @silvi_lubilubi PLANNER & STYLIST Olivia Sodi, @oliviasodi_wed FLORIST Jardin Divers, @jardindivers WELCOME DINNER FLORALS & DECOR Millefiori di Chiara & Laura @millefiori_di_chiara_e_laura_ CELEBRANT Mariangela Scalzi @theitalianaisle ENTERTAINMENT Wedding Day – Ceremony Strings & DJ – Alma Project 24/7, @almaproject247; Band – FixTheMusic, @fixthemusic HIRE Wedding Day – Lights & Audio – Alma Project 24/7, @almaproject247 CATERING Welcome Dinner – La Terrazza Del Chiostro, @laterrazzadelchiostro; Wedding Day – Roland’s Florence, @rolands_florence; Brunch Day – BBQ Catering – Pummarò, @pummaro_pienza CAKE Custom heart shaped tiramisu – Roland’s Florence, @rolands_florence STATIONERY & SIGNAGE By the bride RINGS From a small, family owned business in Tunisia BRIDE’S DRESS Wedding Day – KYHA Studios, @kyhastudios; Getting Ready – Vintage Fernando Sanchez Silk Nightgown; Reception – LEI Studio, @leistudiofficial; Welcome Dinner – MISHA, @mishacollection BRIDE’S SHOES Wedding Day – Tony Bianco, @tonybianco; Getting Ready – Black Ring Ballerina Flats – Jil Sander, @jilsander Reception – Black Slingbacks – Prada, @prada; Welcome Dinner – Silver Slingbacks – Gianvito Rossi, @gianvitorossi BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Wedding Day & Reception – Silk neck scarf; Bride’s mom’s diamond earrings; Bride’s godmother’s amethyst statement ring; Tennis bracelet – Gifted by the groom; Welcome Dinner – Mesh opera gloves; Vintage earrings – The RealReal, @therealreal; Clutch – Cult Gaia, @cultgaia HAIR & MAKEUP Elena Pugelli, @elenapugge_mua BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Corylus – Arte Profumi GROOM’S SUIT Wedding Day – Custom white suit by M. Dumas & Sons, @mdumasandsons; Double-breasted silhouette with concealed buttons; Wedding date embroidered inside the jacket; Welcome Dinner – Custom blue linen suit GROOM’S SHOES Wedding Day – Patent Leather Loafers – Peter Huber; Welcome Dinner – Black Loafers – AllSaints, @allsaints GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Datejust 41 Chocolate Oyster Watch – Rolex, @rolex; Vintage gold chain – Groom’s father’s GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Corylus – Arte Profumi PRIVATE WINE TASTING Podere Le Ripi, Montepulciano, @podereleripi
