Geordie & Emily in the Rosa Gown

effortless, romantic, and natural. No fuss, timeless. I loved GLL because their designs follow a “less is more” aesthetic. Nothing is overdone or over-structed, the fabric and design speaks for itself and doesn’t distract from the woman wearing it.

We got married at a medieval castle in Castelnuovo Berardenga outside of Siena in Tuscany. We wanted a fun and relaxed, ethereal, classic romantic outdoor vibe for the ceremony, cocktail, dinner, and reception. The entire event took place on the grounds. The ceremony was on the front lawn with the castle and an arc of roses as the backdrop, the cocktail hour was in the intimate upper courtyard, and the dinner was held in the main courtyard area with long candlelit tables under a starry, string-lit sky.

I bought my dress through the Venice, CA showroom. I was a little anti the “say yes to the dress” stereotypical bridal shopping experience. I went alone! Best decision ever. The vibe was much more my speed. The showroom was lovely and open, with an earthy, serene feel. I drank rose tea and relaxed. All of the dresses were gorgeous and my style. I had options – the decision making was the toughest part. For my second fitting, I had narrowed it down to two dresses (The Rosa and Verdelle). I brought my mom along to weigh, in and after much deliberation, we agreed the Rosa was the one.

I wanted a classic glamorous look with an ethereal twist (just like the theme of our wedding). I knew I wanted to wear my hair down with waves and flowers. For makeup, I chose to accentuate my eyes but keep everything else fresh and natural. I kept the accessories simple. I wore these fun statement gold flower earrings from Anthropologie (a gift from my husband’s grandmother) that matched the floral theme and my grandmother’s vintage diamond watch. I am not a fan of heels, so I opted for some basic white block heels for the ceremony and quickly replaced them with these gorgeous (and comfortable) handmade Greek sandals from Etsy.

The intimacy and the location. Our 45 guests all stayed in different wings on the castle grounds. We had the entire place to ourselves. We shared meals together in the dining hall, went on walks around the estate, and explored nearby towns. It was surreal getting to spend quality time with our loved ones in that incredible setting.

Do what feels right to you. Don’t feel pressured to follow rules, trends, and traditions when it comes to planning your wedding. Make decisions based on what resonates with you as a couple. On the day -- let go, be present, and enjoy the moment together with the ones you love.