An Extravagant and Intimate Great Gatsby Inspired Wedding in Tuscany

A sophisticated Fall celebration filled with love, laughter and excitement

This year has been a challenging one for us all, and it has affected each of us in so many different ways. As wedding planners in Italy it has hit us especially hard, as our diary is usually filled and our hearts are normally full of excitement for our upcoming bride arrivals.

But in 2020, things were very different. And so when Maria and Matus got in touch with us back in February of last year, we were overjoyed to be planning another wedding again! This couple wanted a celebration, in the truest sense of the word. For two nights they did not want to think of anything else but each other and their festivities. And so we planned the most fantastical wedding in one of the most beautiful wedding venues in Tuscany for them, filled with rousing music, vintage cars and dancing girls!

As wedding planners in Tuscany, we have the privilege of working with some of the most incredible wedding venues in the region. One such place is the Abbazia di San Galgano, a Cistercian Monastery founded in the valley of the river Merse between the towns of Chiusdino and Monticiano in the Tuscan countryside. Its hallmark is its huge gothic style church walls that stand defiantly without a roof. Open to the elements, this 13th-century Abbey is uniquely beautiful and a masterpiece of ancient engineering. The lovely people at the Abbazia di San Galgano have worked with us before and when they received a booking from our bride & groom Maria and Matus, they immediately recommended that they contact us to put together their special day. With good fortune they did, and at the beginning of 2020 we started to plan their Gatsby inspired wedding in Tuscany.

Relais Borgo Santo Pietro, a Hidden Gem in the Tuscan Countryside

Maria and Matus are a very special couple, so full of energy and vitality. Upon our first connection with them, we were so inspired by their generosity of spirit and love for one another. Hailing from Bratislava in Slovakia, this special pair got together in high school and have been inseparable ever since. Unitedly they share a passion for travel, and together they have toured the world with their little boy and Luigi, their adorable dog.

While on their family vacations, they discovered their love for Tuscany, and in particular the relaxed sophistication of Relais Borgo Santo Pietro. An intimate yet grand villa situated in the very heart of the Tuscan countryside. They became frequent visitors to this luxurious and historic hotel. As they began to dream up their perfect wedding, they soon realised that Relais Borgo Santo Pietro would make the ultimate location.

An Extravagant Soirée in a Villa in Tuscany, after a Cozy Wedding in an Abbey.

We knew early on that Maria & Matus wanted a two-day wedding in Tuscany, because one day was not enough for all the celebrating they had in mind! On the first day the couple wanted to hold their ceremony in the abbey, and then host a small reception dinner after at Relais Borgo Santo Pietro. And on the second day they wanted to throw a Gatsby inspired wedding and party for their nearest and dearest. As 2020 was such a difficult year for weddings & travel, they were forced to invite only their closest friends and family, so they wanted to make sure the celebration was truly special.

As experienced wedding planners in Italy we start most of our projects, by first looking at the color palette of the big day. Ancient wedding venues in Tuscany tend to have their own very rustic coloring, and the Abbazia di San Galgano is no different. The natural stones that form its walled arches have been elegantly weathered with age, giving them an unpolished quality that juxtaposes so well with any naturally refined elements that we place within its walls. So to balance the colour scheme with the abbey, the couple chose a selection of ivories and golds with touches of dusty green and pink. They really wanted to enchant their guests with the elegance of the space and then elevate it to another level with their choices of color.

Gatsby Inspired Wedding Ideas

A Sunny Day in Fall Filled with Cocktails & Fireworks

On the day of the wedding we were blessed with a bright Fall day, with only a sprinkling of showers during the first day. And luckily not during the ceremony! Moving, emotional and fortuitous were our emotions as we watched their nuptials took place. In distanced rows, the friends and family of Maria and Matus witnessed the happy couple say their vows to each other, before they all walked jubilantly out of the abbey to watch the newly-weds drive off into the distance. A lover of vintage cars, Matus was very excited to have 3 of his favorites to drive around the scenic hillside roads of Tuscany.

Following the intimate ceremony was the evening cocktails and reception. A softly lit and opulent meal under the arches of the Relais Borgo Santo Pietro, was preceded by drinks outside.

It being Fall in northern Italy, rain is always a possibility and unfortunately we did see a light shower during their cocktail reception. But we pride ourselves on being wedding planners in Italy who act fast and prepare early, so we quickly set up a marquee for their guests to shelter in, away from the rain and the cold. The result was better than we could have hoped, as in the end we created a chic winter garden, that did not obstruct the natural beauty of the surroundings. This tent was situated close to the evening meal, and so once dinner preparations had been made, the wedding party was easily able to find their seats at the long table. This flamboyant meal and the sound tracked fireworks that followed only served to wet the guests’ appetite for the next day’s celebrations!

The Roaring 20s Comes to Rural Tuscany in Extravagant Style

One of the most special wedding venues in Tuscany, Relais Borgo Santo Pietro is adept at satisfying their guests desires, in surroundings that are beyond luxurious. What Maria & Matus wanted was to throw a Gatsby inspired wedding dinner and circus show, and that’s exactly what they got! Using a color scheme of dark blues, golds, pinks and a touch of burgundy – we created a 1920s Parisian extravaganza in the heart of rural Tuscany! Following an opulent evening meal with bespoke decorations, the guests, all dressed in outfits matching the theme, were individually led from their seats to the party by a procession of performers. From flappers and fire-eaters to jugglers and Hula-Hoop girls, the guests truly became part of the party and lost within another world, another time. It was a proud moment for us to savour and a magical touch felt by the newly-weds. The perfect end to a fantastical two-day wedding in beautiful Tuscany.

Gatsby Inspired Wedding Ideas

We hope this has inspired your own destination wedding in Italy, or even Tuscany specifically as your location of choice. As wedding planners in Italy we have specialist knowledge of the wedding venues and vendors not just in Tuscany, but across the country. From the jaw-dropping destinations of Florence, Portofino, Capri, the Italian Lakes and the Amalfi Coast along with Rome, Venice, Puglia and Sardinia. Wherever you choose to tie the knot in Italy we have the knowledge to make it unforgettable. If you would like to book Sposiamovi as your wedding planners in Italy then please feel free to get in touch via our contact page, and in the meantime please browse our other real weddings in Tuscany and beyond!