Cathryn + Nick Welcome Dinner by Sarbo Studio

We wanted our wedding to feel authentically Italian, not like an American wedding set in Italy.

CATHRYN —— Nick is the funniest person you’ll ever meet. He has such a positive outlook on life and always brings humour to every situation because he knows everything will work out in the end. He’s a great communicator, extremely patient, and goes with the flow. He’s a night owl who loves staying up late playing video games with his friends.

NICK —— Cathryn, on the other hand, is type-A to a tee. She has a plan for everything and will do whatever it takes to ensure things go as planned. She’s hard-working, ambitious, and full of caffeine-free energy. She’s an early bird who prefers to get her HIIT workouts done before sunrise. Together, we balance each other perfectly, building on one another’s strengths and compensating for any weaknesses.

CATHRYN —— We’re both from St. Charles, Illinois, a small town about 65km west of Chicago. We met when we were 13, introduced by mutual friends while we attended different middle schools. Our friendship blossomed through the years and by the time we started high school together, we were best friends. At 16, that friendship deepened into something more, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Looking back, it’s funny to think of how young we were — just two awkward teenagers, madly in love and trying to figure out life. We’ve grown up together, and now we get to grow old together too.

We wanted our wedding to feel authentically Italian, not like an American wedding set in Italy. This meant focusing on what Italians do best: amazing food, even better wine, and late-night fun and dancing. Many of our guests arrived early, so we planned a week of events around Orvieto.

We were fortunate to have our amazing planner, Giada from GBR Events, bring our vision to life. She and Federica from The Blonde Flower really shaped the aesthetic, creating a country-chic twist on a traditional Italian pizza party for our welcome event, complete with checkered tablecloths and quirky centrepieces of dried pasta, local produce, and flowers spilling out of Roman busts.

On our wedding day, despite the 40°C heat, Giada, Federica, and the villa’s owner, Greta, worked tirelessly to create the most stunning Umbrian garden party. They used fragrant Sicilian roses for the ceremony and dressed our al fresco dinner with green French toile tablecloths and crystal chandeliers.

Torre Collevento, our villa venue, sits on a mountain surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, with views of Orvieto. Dating back to the 15th century, it’s steeped in Italian charm, and Greta and Giacomo, the owners, have done a beautiful job restoring it.

For my bridal look, I wanted to mirror the villa’s mix of timeless elegance and modern flair. My Renhue gown had a corseted top, a delicate lace neckline, and soft draping. My mantilla-style veil by Sarah Seven tied everything together.

Nick went classic with a shawl-collar tuxedo but made it his own with Italian-made loafers instead of formal shoes. Because of the heat, we opted for second looks. I changed into a beaded Rosie Etienne mini dress, and Nick wore a custom blue linen suit from Indochino, with our names (and our dog’s!) embroidered inside.

WELCOME PARTY LOCATION Pietra Campana, Orvieto Italy, @pietracampanaorvieto PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER Sarbo Studio, @sarbostudio CEREMONY LOCATION & CATERING Torre Collevento, @torrecollevento PLANNER GBR Events, @gbrevents FLORIST The Blonde Flower, @theblondeflower_ ENTERTAINMENT Gerry Gennarelli, @gerry.gennarelli HIRE Nolo Party, @noloparty GELATO Vivoli Gelateria, @vivoli_il_gelato STATIONERY Evviva Press, @evvivapress WEDDING BANDS RW Fine Jewelry, @rwfine BRIDE’S MAIN DRESS House of Renhue, @houseofrenhue BRIDE’S SHOES Lulus, @lulus BRIDE’S VEIL Sarah Seven, @sarahseven BRIDE’S MAKEUP & HAIR Madeline Baucia Bridal, @madelinebauciabridal BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Chloe by Chloe, @chloe BRIDE’S SECOND DRESS Rosie Etienne, @rosieetiennebridal GROOM’S TUX The Black Tux, @theblacktux GROOM’S SHOES Local Orvieto leather maker GROOM’S SECOND LOOK SUIT Indochino, @indochino MAID OF HONOUR’S DRESS Hello Molly, @hellomolly SISTER OF GROOM’S DRESS Abercrombie, @abercrombie ALL MEN’S TUXES The Black Tux, @theblacktux