This dreamy wedding story will make you want to hop on a plane and tie the knot in Italy! Since they’d planned a destination wedding in Tuscany, Tiziana and Erik decided not to go big on a theme and instead, let the venue and location speak for itself.
Couple: Tiziana Coppola & Erik Ross
Engagement length: 2 years
Wedding date: 2023-10-08
Wedding location: Villa Medicea di Lilliano, Florence, Italy
Photo and video: Nicola Genati
Planner: Best Wedding Italy
Tiziana and Erik met in medical school. A mutual friend sat next to Erik during their white coat ceremony (where they get coats as student doctors). He reminded her of her own brother with similar qualities of being kind, curious and reserved. She thought he would be a great fit for Tiziana. They were introduced, and as they say, the rest is history.
During Tiziana’s fellowship training, they took a trip to Panama.
“Erik was in charge of the entire vacation. We both share a love of sloths and had seen plenty while at the Gamboa Rainforest. The next day, we were supposed to go to a beach for “windsurfing lessons”, which turned into a surprise proposal involving a sloth stuffed animal holding the ring.”
“Our wedding colours were deep purple and a blush pink, with sage accents around the venue. Since this was a destination wedding in Tuscany, we felt like a wedding theme would just distract from the experience of our guests. Instead, we just wanted to celebrate the beauty of the venue and the region with accenting fall colors and lots of in-season fruits.”
Erik wore a Brooks Brothers Suit with a blush tie from Revelry, while Tiziana wore a Justin Alexander gown.
The bridesmaids wore wineberry dresses from Revelry in their personally chosen styles, while the groomsmen wore simple black suits with wineberry ties and pocket squares from Revelry.
“We had a short, simple civil/legal ceremony on the terrace of the Villa. The villa is licensed by the Italian state to perform official weddings via the Commune of Bagno a Ripoli. It was done in Italian and translated into English, so that all of our guests could follow along. We chose to write our own shared vows, which was done toward the end of the ceremony prior to exchanging rings.”
“Villa Medicea di Lilliano was absolutely gorgeous. Nestled in the Tuscan countryside, there were immaculate views of the Chianti landscape and the city of Florence, while the lingering smells of olive and lemon from the groves and orchards permeated the whole venue. It was like being in a fairy tale.”
The Big Day was beautifully captured by Nicola Genati and his team!
“Their goal was to blend in and be part of the wedding, and the beautiful and candid photos really proved that to be the case! Nicola made sure to get photos of us with each guest, and indulged us with countless beautiful photos of us, our guests, and the venue. We give them the highest recommendation possible!”
For wedding favours, they gave guests small, travel-size bottles of rosemary olive oil. They love cooking together and sharing it with friends. They also wanted to give a practical gift to their guests, something they could use and appreciate at home. Since they were at a villa with olive groves, giving olive oil felt like the perfect way to remember the day.
Erik’s favorite moment was seeing his bride during the First Look. In his words, he still can’t believe how blessed he is to be married to such an intelligent, beautiful and elegant woman like Tiziana.
“Another memorable moment was during our wedding speeches. Erik’s niece Laila (the flower girl during the ceremony) decided to give her own spontaneous speech. She said that she loved weddings, she was happy to celebrate with everyone, and that she was happy to be the flower girl. It was hilarious, innocent and beautiful.”
We asked Tiziana and Erik for their best wedding planning advice:
“There will always be some hiccups during the planning and the actual day. No matter how much you plan, something won’t go according to plan. And that’s okay! Don’t worry about it—things will get sorted out. Don’t sweat the minor details as those will drift away from your memories. Instead, try your best to be in the moment, celebrate your journey and embrace the moment.
Oh, and definitely plan out food during wedding day preparation! Simple, clean sandwiches will make everyone’s stomachs settled and happy for the ceremony.”
Recommended suppliers
Planner: Claudia, Best Wedding Italy
Other suppliers
Photo and video: Nicola Genati | Venue: Villa Medicea di Lilliano | Band: Music&Co String Duet | DJ: Massimo Pillon | Hair and makeup: Giulia Papke | Couple’s outfits: Brooks Brothers Suit, Blush Bridal (Cincinnati, Ohio)- Justin Alexander Gown | Wedding party outfits: Revelry (dresses, ties, pocket squares) | Caterer and cake: Ciabatti Catering | Celebrant/solemniser: Legal representative from Comune of Bagno a Ripoli | Stationery: The Knot | Jewellery/rings: Genesis Diamonds (Cincinnati, OH) | Accessories: Dareth Colburn, Tiffany’s, Diamonds Direct | Flowers: Asso Di Fiori | Interpreter: Chiara Frezza
