A Super Fashionable Destination Wedding in Italy
You'll want to wear all of the stunning dresses seen on the bride and her attendants.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography1 of 19
Alexis and Zach
Alexis Corry and Zach Kappel met during their high school days in Florida, but reconnected in Pittsburgh when Zach was going to law school and Lex was working on opening a store. They met up for coffee and the rest is history. A few years later, and now an attorney and boutique owner, the couple got engaged while on a getaway to one of their favorite resorts in the Pennsylvania woodlands. The travel-loving duo set off to the rolling hills of Tuscany for an Italian adventure and wedding on May 28, 2017. One which the twosome calls a "magical fairytale where dreams came true."
The wedding was everything they wanted—an intimate ceremony (just 50 guests), a reception full of delicious food and wine (courtesy of the award-winning chef at their venue, Borgo Santo Pietro), the captivating energy of their live jazz band, and being surrounded by lots of love. Of course it was also a fashionable affair, which was to be expected considering Lex's background and her job as a stylist. The ensembles she put together for herself, her husband-to-be, and the wedding party were the finishing touch at this charming Italian fête.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography2 of 19
The Stationery
Written Word Calligraphy designed the invitation suite, which fused hand-penned script and a capitalized font. Matte ink added a masculine touch to the Tuscan-inspired stationery, which was further showcased on the handmade paper. The finishing touch was an illustration of the reception venue, featured on the response card.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography3 of 19
The Venue
Lex has long dreamed of getting married under the Tuscan sun. Inspired by their love of travel and adventure, Lex and Zach decided to have an intimate wedding in the town of Chiusdino, Italy. After a visit to Borgo Santo Pietro and the local church, it was clear that they had found the perfect location for their intimate, destination wedding.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography4 of 19
Say Cheese
The groom wanted to do something relaxing before the wedding and all the celebrating that followed. He tapped into his passion of food and wine and worked with the hotel's sommelier to have a tasting for himself and his groomsmen. "It was wonderful," Zach says. "He handpicked the cheese selection to pair with the wines and discussed them from start to finish. Looking out at the rolling hiss as we tasted was a slice of heaven and a great way for the guys to catch their breath before the big night."
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Photography: Kyle John Photography5 of 19
Handmade with Love
The bride made bracelets for her bridesmaids using seed beads and pearls. She gifted each woman her handmade surprise in gilded, hand-crafted porcelain heart dishes by Jan Burtz.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography6 of 19
The Attire
Zach went tie-free and stuck to a neutral palette, wearing a beige blazer, pale blue shirt, white slacks, and smoking shoes made of sumac carpets from Turkey. "The style and colors felt very relaxed and Tuscan," Lex says of the ensemble's worn by the groom and his attendants.
Lex's search for her wedding dress was a long one, and one with a multifaceted outcome. After meeting with fashion designer friend Maria Korovilas—who was in the midst of designing a bridal collection—Lex decided to expand her boutique from just womenswear and menswear, opening Lex & Lynne Bridal. In working with designer through her store, she was able to curate a wedding ensemble that was her exact vision. In the end, she chose a stunning wedding dress from Maria's collection. The "Theodora" gown boasts 3D embroidery and antique brass accents, all in an easy, elegant silhouette. "The gown was a bit sheer and I love the way the Tuscan sun illuminated it," Lex says. A veil worn as a train added extra drama.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography
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Photography: Kyle John Photography8 of 19
The Bridal Party
Lex's attendants (and her mom to her left) wore dresses made by the same designer, Maria Korovilas, as a way of further accentuating the day's whimsical aesthetic. "I wanted us to wear white, ivory, and brass tones that were really bold," Lex explains. "Each dress had its own character—lively and full of spirit." The bride loved the dresses so much she decided to carry the entire collection (plus a few other designers and items like accessories and gifts) at her shop.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography9 of 19
Topped Off
The bride and her bridal party wore hand-crafted head crowns.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography10 of 19
One Little Lady
Even the youngest guest (Alexis's cousin) was fashionably dressed, sporting a floral headband.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography11 of 19
The Processional
"When I saw Lex walk down the aisle I was filled with excitement and indescribably emotion," Zach recalls. "The chapel was the absolute perfect setting for us, and seeing her walk through the stone archway at its entrance, with the light beaming in behind her was angelic. Once reality set in it was just excitement as I couldn't wait for her to be standing by my side for the ceremony!"
She had entered on the arm of her father, to the sound of "Moon River," as played by musician Brian Newman on the trumpet. The song was composed in the bride's hometown and was one of her grandfather's favorite songs. So it nodded to her roots and honored the memory of her beloved grandpa.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography12 of 19
The Ceremony
The Catholic ceremony included two readings (Song of Solomon 8:6 and St. Paul to the Corinthians 12:31-13:8), the couple exchanged traditional vows, and the bride's cousin sang and acapella rendition of "The Prayer" in Italian. As the service concluded, Brian Newman took to his trumpet again, this time to perform "La Vie en Rose."
"Kneeling at the altar in front of all our close friends and family, just before we said our vows to one another, was such a quiet and special moment together before the celebrations began," Zach recalls.
After the couple became husband and wife, they gathered with their guests at The Abbey of San Galgano (an old, roofless church) for some photos before heading to the reception.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography13 of 19
Love Some Bunny
Lex discovered these bunny door stops shortly before the wedding and fell in love. So in love that she decided to stock them in her store and tell her mom about them. Her mother then surprised her by using them in lieu of place cards at the reception, even adding black bow ties to the hares for the male guests. At the end of the night, guests took them home as a memento.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography14 of 19
The Reception
The five-course dinner by the Michelin-starred chef of the hotel included wine pairings chosen by the bride's parents on a previous visit to the venue. A spelt salad with poppy seeds kicked off the meal, followed by sea bass agnolotti with cuttlefish ink and lemon; sea bass gratin with black olives and wild herbs; veal in red wine sauce with potatoes and black truffles; and the dessert course.
During the reception, guests passed around a beautiful notebook Lex brought from London, writing sweet notes to the couple inside.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography15 of 19
A Table for Two
The couple's sweetheart table was in the middle of the reception, with farm tables at either side for their siblings. The picturesque landscaping of the lawn provided added décor as the party was kept simple and flower-free. Lush vineyards were visible in the distance.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography16 of 19
The Wedding Cake
Fresh berries decorated the simple two-tier lemon wedding cake, which was served with the chef's housemade pistachio gelato.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography17 of 19
The Sounds of a Celebration
The Brian Newman Band played jazz standards by Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday as well as some of their originals, including "Take Me Back to Brooklyn," during the reception.
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Photography: Kyle John Photography18 of 19
Changing it Up
Lex swapped into this effortless and expressive Maria Korovilas "Georgia" gown for the reception. The ruffles added movement to the bride's look, particularly as she and Zach took to the dance floor when her cousin surprised the duo by singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
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Photography: Kyle John Photography19 of 19
Sources
Photography, Kyle John Photography
Locations, Montesiepi Chapel, 39-0577-756700; Abbey of San Galgano, 39-0577-756700
Reception location, Catering, Cake, and Bride's makeup, Borgo Santo Pietro
Stationery and Calligraphy, Written Word Calligraphy
Music, The Brian Newman Band
Bride's and bridesmaids' dresses, Maria Korovilas from Lex & Lynne Bridal
Bride's accessories, Lex & Lynne Bridal jewelry and head crown; Stuart Weitzman shoes
Bridesmaids' head crowns, Lex & Lynne Bridal
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