An Ethereal Garden Wedding in Tuscany

With the undulating hills of Tuscany as muse, Madeline and Daniel’s stunning summer wedding unfolded.

The historic estate of Borgo Stomennano, its stone walls dating back to the 1300s, became a backdrop of grandeur and untamed beauty. The ceremony took place by the pond, where unstructured floral pillars rose in asymmetrical elegance, echoing the natural whimsy of the gardens beyond. 

For the reception, long tables curved between the trees, dressed in layers of ivory and soft-toned florals. Silver and chrome accents added a note of formality, while handwritten place cards and Polaroids of each guest lent a sense of intimacy.

The bride wore a textured Vivienne Westwood gown with Loewe heels.

Our Story

Names / Madeline Joy Relph Vertiz, Daniel Enrique Vertiz

Location / Borgo Stomennano, Tuscany, Italy

Wedding Date / 17th June 2025

Guest Numbers / 65

How We Met

During the pandemic, Daniel had a few friends over at his house in Bali. A friend of Madeline’s brought her along to socialize, hoping to lift her up after a difficult breakup. Despite having lived in the same area for over a year, we had never met before. Daniel was the first to jump up and greet Madeline with a huge smile, offering to make her a margarita. We bonded and laughed over the fact that we had both bartended in our younger days. At the time, Madeline wanted little to do with men, but Daniel slowly broke down those walls through genuine friendship, constant laughter, and days spent surfing, dancing, and exploring. We were lucky to fall in love while honeymooning around quiet, peaceful Bali without mass tourism. It’s a way we’ll never see the island again.

Our Engagement Story

We were in Japan for Daniel’s 30th birthday. Madeline had planned days of activities and special dinners to celebrate him. Two days after his birthday, we were snowboarding in Niseko when Daniel veered off the run for a moment to film a video, something we often did to capture little snippets of our life, so Madeline didn’t think anything of it. Daniel pointed up to the chairlift behind Madeline and said, “Oh wow, look at those people!” We had been admiring the incredible style all over Japan throughout the trip, so Madeline looked up without hesitation. When she turned back around, he was down on one knee with tears in his eyes. He spoke a few sweet words and then popped the question. We were both laughing and crying, rolling around embracing each other in the snow.

As we returned to the run, a snowboarder went by with a speaker on his backpack playing a song that carries special meaning to Madeline and a dear friend who had passed. As if the moment wasn’t emotional enough, we teared up again, taking this synchronicity as a solidifying sign. It was the perfect, unexpected moment. Since we’re usually by the sea, proposing in the mountains made it even more special. It was a memory unlike any other, one we’ll cherish forever.

What we love most about each other…

Madeline: How much he adores his family and will do anything for them. His childlike nature makes everything fun and adventurous. His positive outlook on life and how he always strives to do and be better, physically and mentally. I love how he loves me and makes me feel more myself than anyone else.

Daniel: I love that she is my best friend, that we can do everything together and have fun doing it all. She cares deeply about people, not only her family and friends but mine as well, and will drop anything to help them. She has great morals and values that we both align on and is beyond beautiful inside and out.

The Setting

Wedding Location

We always knew we wanted to have our wedding in Italy. It was a place we had traveled to and fallen in love with together, and choosing a neutral location felt fair, as we didn’t want to favor one of our home countries over the other. With guests coming from Indonesia, Australia, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, the USA, and the UK, we hoped to create a celebration that also felt like a holiday for everyone, as travel is a huge part of who we are as a couple.

Our venue requirements were simple but specific: it needed to sleep at least 30 people to accommodate our immediate family and bridal party, have a pool, and be beautiful enough to host all three days of festivities. That quickly narrowed down the search, and once we discovered Borgo Stomennano, nothing else came close. The venue had multiple stunning areas to host each activity in a new way, so nothing felt repeated. When you arrive, you quickly realize that photos don’t do it justice. The character it brings and the energy it holds are truly special.

Aesthetic

We wanted to keep the aesthetic true to the surroundings, an elevated, formal event with a relaxed, fun tone, mixing vintage with the new. Hosted at Borgo Stomennano, the setting brought elegance and rich history through the grand villa that the family has owned and passed down since the 1700s, with the original building standing since the 1300s.

We are both playful people, sometimes jokingly referring to each other as fairies, and we wanted to bring a more wild and magical approach to our day. Our flower choices reflected this, with unique florals in earthy tones. We let the setting of Tuscany and the historical villa bring the rest of the magic. We opted for touches of silver and chrome wherever possible to keep a classic, timeless feel. Wherever we used fabrics, we wanted layers and texture to bring warmth and character.

A huge goal of ours was to make sure our friends and family had the best time. So much so that during the planning process it sometimes felt like we were planning the day more for them than for us. We couldn’t have asked for a better return on that intention, with many of our friends telling us it was the best day of their lives.

Preparation

We woke up together and joined all our family and bridal party for a communal breakfast. This is where we said our goodbyes as Madeline went off with her bridal party and Daniel with his to separate parts of the villa. Our bridal parties passed on personal gifts to each other, with Daniel organizing a scavenger hunt for my Cartier watch (a cute thing Madeline’s dad used to do on birthdays). Madeline’s bridal party also shared special gifts, including lingerie, perfume, and a charm for her bouquet with her grandparents’ photos (who had passed the year before).

Photography

We chose Nicole Plett. We came across her page after booking our videographers. Her natural approach caught our attention, and each image, mostly shot on film, looks like a piece of art that has had so much time and care put into it. She was so kind and calm on the day, blending in seamlessly with everyone through her documentary-style approach.

Videography

The second we saw one of Roma and Vera’s films, we fell in love. They are more than just videos; they feel like full movie productions, with incredible sound, editing, and color. They keep it fun and true to each couple’s personality. We are so excited to see our film.

“Hosted at Borgo Stomennano, the setting brought elegance and rich history through the grand villa that the family has owned and passed down since the 1700s, with the original building standing since the 1300s.”

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

We kept it simple, using the beautiful venue as our backdrop, with iron chairs on either side of the pond to complete the garden theme. We had two unstructured floral pillars at different heights to frame our altar.

Reception Décor

We didn’t want anything too structured. We’re drawn to soft textures inspired by our love of nature and a sense of organic flow. It was important that nothing felt out of place or overly styled. We loved mixing vintage pieces with the new, creating a soft, fairy-like garden where everyone could connect over dinner.

We designed the reception tables to flow seamlessly with the surrounding trees, enhancing the landscape and creating a magical, dreamlike atmosphere. Soft tones in our florals and fabrics complemented handwritten place cards with Polaroids of each guest, bundled together with their names engraved on silver clips.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

As wedding photographers, we had a strong sense of how weddings operate and which details require the most attention. We knew that securing a venue and date was our top priority, especially for a destination wedding. Once that was locked in, we quickly sent out save-the-dates to give guests plenty of time to plan.

Next on our list was booking our photo and video team, knowing that truly talented creatives get booked far in advance. We began and confirmed all of this about a year and a half before our wedding date, giving us the time and space to be intentional with every decision. We were lucky to then join forces with our lovely planners, Marie and Melina, who brought in the remaining vendors and spoke up for our vision. They were so efficient and kind every step of the way.

Flowers

Our florals followed the same philosophy, soft, natural tones with an undone, effortless feel, nothing too perfect.

Stationery

We custom-made all our stationery in Bali, with Madeline’s mom handwriting each design. We had an embroidered vintage welcome sign, and our seating chart, menus, and bar sign all featured fairy-like characters drawn by our friend Max-Kuro Neko.

Favors

Rather than gifts, we created fun activities. We had a name-tag game on the welcome day where guests picked a random name tag with a quirky description of a person and had to find them. This led to so many new friendships being formed throughout the three days.

On the wedding day, we had a tequila shot taped under every chair with an Alice in Wonderland label saying “Drink Me,” along with fun hats and glasses handed out on the dance floor.

Cake

We kept with the Italian theme and chose a large mille-feuille pastry cake topped with our favorite raspberries and pistachio cream.

Food & Beverages

Food was a major highlight for us. Vibrant, beautifully presented dishes were arranged throughout the garden during cocktail hour, creating a visual and sensory feast. We opted for a margarita toast (our first drink together) instead of champagne to celebrate with our bridal party. Dinner was a three-course meal with wine at the table and an open bar for the party.

“We wanted to bring a more wild and magical approach to our day – unique florals in earthy tones, layers of texture, and the Tuscan setting doing the rest of the magic.”

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

I first spotted my dress not long after Daniel proposed. I loved it immediately but wanted to try on newer styles in stores to get a feel for what suited me best. Over time, I visited three stores and tried on many designs. At the last store, I was by myself and FaceTimed family overseas. Two of my sisters finally picked up just as I was about to try on my last dress, which happened to be the very first one I’d seen online.

As soon as I put it on, it felt right and unlike anything else I had tried. My sisters went silent, then teary. My Vivienne Westwood dress wasn’t the classic sleek design I thought I’d choose. It was a playful, textured gown with a removable tulle skirt for a second look (which I took off for our first dance). I can wear sleek minimal pieces anytime, but when else would I have the chance to wear a stunning gown like this? I paired it with Loewe Toy Pump heels.

My afterparty dress was custom-made by Harta, free and playful for dancing into the night. It featured a corset-laced back with a textured layered skirt. I wish I had more time to play in it.

For my other looks, I wanted pieces that couldn’t be repeated, vintage finds that felt special. For day one, I found a 1920s Art Deco flapper-style dress. I fell in love with its intricate beading, loose silhouette, and sheer detailing.

My recovery day dress was another vintage find with a high neck and long sleeves. To suit the relaxed pool day, I had it altered into a strappy style and wore my swimsuit underneath.

Bridesmaids’ Dresses & Shoes

I didn’t want the bridesmaids to match, so I mixed textures and colors so each girl loved how she looked while keeping in line with the flowy elegance of the day. One bridesmaid dress and the flower girl dress were custom-made in Bali.

• Elly wore Magda Butrym

• Jess wore House of CB

• Madi wore Free People

• Ellidy wore Arcinaori

• Lara wore a custom Bali-made dress

• Flower girl Lottie wore a custom Bali-made dress

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

Daniel did so well with the Logan Hollowell engagement ring. Madeline always knew she liked raw styles with a clean-cut diamond but had never found one she truly loved. Daniel had seen this one years before and immediately thought of it when he wanted to propose. It was perfect.

We then had our wedding bands custom-made with Bario Neal. Daniel wanted a stone too, so we added a yellow diamond inlaid in his band. Madeline’s band has a gap that fits the engagement ring perfectly.

Jewelry & Accessories

Since the dress was the statement piece, I kept accessories simple, raw gold pearl earrings and sleek, comfortable Loewe shoes.

Hair & Makeup

I wanted to stay true to myself with a natural, effortless look, nothing too overdone or polished. My makeup was soft and fresh, enhancing rather than covering. My hair was worn loose with a half-up style to keep it relaxed but neat enough to last all day.

Groom’s Attire

Daniel wore Giorgio Armani every day. For day one, he wore a relaxed gray suit with Common Projects shoes. On the wedding day, he wore a tuxedo with Louis Vuitton shoes, with all the groomsmen also in tuxedos.

The Details

Transport

We had shuttles for everyone outside the venue. Guests staying on-site could walk, and we drove ourselves to and from the villa.

Honeymoon

We had a “friendmoon” first (which we’re so glad we did!). We would have been so sad saying goodbye to everyone after the wedding. Twenty-five of us went to Sardinia, shared houses, and hired a boat for the day to keep the celebrations going. Afterward, we wound down at Naturhotel Forsthofgut in Austria, the absolute bliss honeymoon, spending days in natural pools, saunas, reading, hiking, and enjoying incredible food.

Wedding Songs

Ceremony song: “In Memory of a Dream,” Ludovico Einaudi
After-ceremony song: “Beyond,” Leon Bridges (performed live for our flower toss)
First dance: “Too Much,” Tora

Entertainment

We had a live band for our cocktail hour and part of the reception. Between sets, we played our favorite classic playlists. For the dance floor, Madeline’s primary school friend, DJ Jake Smith, kept everyone dancing all night.

Celebrant

As we were legally married in the US, Daniel’s college friend Nate led our ceremony. It was so nice having someone who knew us personally share sweet details about our relationship.

Readings

We both wrote our own vows and touched on small stories about our relationship. We didn’t compare them beforehand, but somehow, they worked together seamlessly.

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

Madeline: Seeing Daniel tear up at the altar as I walked toward him, and later on the dance floor, when my sister hugged me, then Daniel, then my mom. Soon it was a huge group hug of family and friends, pure happiness exploding all around us.

Daniel: Just after we got married, we walked off alone for a moment and could hear the band singing “Beyond,” a song we’d seen live the year before. That brief moment together before our flower toss was so special. On the final pool day, as one of the buses was about to leave, I played one last song (“Lost” by Frank Ocean, remixed by Vintage Culture). My 81-year-old dad ended up in the middle of the dance floor surrounded by our friends. It was super emotional and the best ending imaginable.

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

We wish we’d booked our photo and video team for all three days. We tried to save money, but preserving memories should always be a priority. We also didn’t expect to feel so nervous, even after being around so many weddings. Having a planner or bridal party member up to date on the schedule and your photo goals is so important; your brain can turn to mush on the day.

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

Take it all in as slowly as you can. Hand off all responsibilities so you can truly be present and go with the flow of the day. You might never have all these people in the same space again.

Sources of inspiration…

As wedding photographers, we were lucky to have seen so many weddings before planning our own. It helped us identify what we did and didn’t want. Pinterest was helpful too, but be realistic about your surroundings and what’s accessible to you. It’s easy to get lost in picture-perfect moments.

Our Contacts

Wedding Venue / Borgo Stomennano

Wedding Stylist & Planner / Marie Alsleben

Photography / Nicole Plett

Videography / ROMAVERA

Bride’s Dress / Vivienne Westwood

Bride’s Shoes / Loewe Toy Pump Heel

Bridesmaids’ Dresses / Magda Butrym, House of CB, Free People & Arcinaori

Grooms Formal Wear / Giorgio Armani

Wedding Rings / Bario Neal

Jewelry / Pacharee Mabe Dhin Pearl Earrings

Hair & Makeup / Karina Zadorozhna

Stationery / Made in Bali with Madeline’s mom’s handwriting

Florist / Le Petit Jardin

Cake & Catering / Preludio Divisione Noleggio

Entertainment / Blossom Duo & Jake Smith

Honeymoon Destination / Naturhotel Forsthofgut in Austria