Last Updated on February 10, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford
Planning a destination wedding in Italy will easily go down as one of the most exhilarating things I have done (and will likely ever do) in my lifetime. There’s something incredibly special about seeing everything come together and being in your chosen destination with your nearest and dearest, celebrating an endlessly special milestone. For us, it was even better when it’s paired with something we love: travel. It made those sleepless nights of worrying about all the details, florals, guest lists, and color palettes worth it.
But beyond the “typical” wedding planning activities, like researching the best wedding venues, finding the one, and working with our incredible wedding planner and vendors to make it all happen, there were a few intentional decisions I made as a destination bride, and we made as a couple, that truly made those three days in the Italian countryside memorable for us and our guests.
If any of our friends and family are reading this (hello!), you may have noticed a few of these things on our big day, but maybe didn’t know the intention behind them. So here’s a deep dive into those choices, and why they were so important to us.
All photos by Courtney Linden Photography (and her associate, Kenz Rempel).
Picked a New & Special Destination
I know that choosing to get married somewhere you’ve never been might sound a little crazy to some, but for us, it was deeply intentional.
Long before we were planning a wedding, Italy had already left its mark on both of us: the slow rhythm of daily life, the food that somehow tastes better than anywhere else, the culture rooted in beauty and human connection. So when it came time to imagine where we’d say our “I do’s,” it felt like the most natural place in the world.
At first, we considered all the usual (and beautiful) suspects — Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome — all destinations we had experienced before, either together or on our own. But the more we talked about it, the more we realized we weren’t looking to recreate the trips we had already taken.
We wanted something new. Something different. Somewhere unexplored.
Then came the moment that felt less like an intentional decision and more like fate. Back in high school, as a teen with big dreams naturally does, I kept a travel bucket list inside the Notes app on my phone. Written in that list, before I even knew anything about it, was Ostuni, Italy. And as if that weren’t serendipitous enough, I had saved a photo of our wedding venue, Masseria Grieco, on Pinterest long before I ever imagined getting married there.
Some things just find their way into your heart long before you see them or understand why.
Looking back now, it was one of the best, most intentional decisions we made. And Puglia is no longer just a place we have visited; it has been stamped into our hearts forever as one of our all-time favorite destinations. A place we know we’ll come back to time and time again.
Chose a Wedding Date Rich in Meaning
When it came time to secure our wedding weekend, only two sets of dates remained for the 2025 wedding season at Masseria Grieco — and one immediately stood out. It was the anniversary my grandparents once shared, and the same day my cousin and his wife chose for their own wedding just a couple of years earlier.
As my last living grandparent, the significance wasn’t lost on me. It felt less like a coincidence and more like a sign — a “God wink,” if you will. Although my grandpa wasn’t able to travel to Italy, choosing a date that held meaning for our family made him feel woven into the day in a deeply personal way.
Kept Our Bridal Party Small
Growing up, I was surrounded by a beautiful, large village of extended family, lifelong friends, and the kind of people who blur the line between the two. Max and I are naturally drawn toward smaller, deeply rooted relationships, so we were intentional about keeping our group small. In a world where bridal parties can sometimes feel larger than the guest list itself, intimacy mattered more to us than numbers ever could.
We originally decided on having an equal count of bridesmaids and groomsmen — five and five — but as it usually goes, life had its own plans. Family circumstances, unexpected challenges, and the arrival of a new baby meant that our group became even smaller than we originally envisioned. Of course, we deeply missed those who couldn’t be there in person, but it was still unexpectedly perfect. Choosing intimacy over scale is a decision I would make again in a heartbeat.
Curated Intentionally Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
I’ve always believed that the smallest details often make the biggest difference, so naturally, my bridesmaid dresses were something I approached with a great deal of attention and care. Rather than choosing a single style or color for my girls, I was drawn to the layered, romantic look of intentionally mismatched bridesmaid dresses.
Beyond the aesthetic, what mattered most to me was giving each of my bridesmaids the space to feel like themselves. Weddings ask a lot of the people in your bridal party, and I wanted those closest to me — my two sisters and two dear friends — to wear something that felt comfortable, flattering, and true to their personalities.
Each dress brought its own character, yet together they complemented the setting and enhanced the overall visual palette of the day. Looking back, it’s one of the simple choices that elevated everything.
(I’ll be sharing exactly how I curated the mix in a separate post for anyone considering a similar approach.)
Gathered Around the Table
From the very beginning, we knew we wanted our reception to feel less like a production and more like a dinner party (with speeches). Rather than separating ourselves at a sweetheart or head table, we chose to sit among our guests at three long tables — sharing conversation, laughter, and those special moments that became the ones we remember most fondly.
There is something undeniably special about gathering around a table for a multi-course meal, the Italian way. And that closeness shaped the entire energy of the evening. Instead of watching the celebration from a distance, we were in it — passing wine bottles, clinking glasses, and leaning into conversations that might have otherwise been missed.
Seated Our Bridal Party During the Ceremony
During the ceremony, we chose to have our bridal party seated rather than standing beside us. Rather than forming a traditional lineup at the altar, they sat alongside our immediate families in the front row. Glancing over and seeing their faces — relaxed, present, and experiencing the moment alongside us — was very special. And from their perspective, it offered a gift as well: the chance to fully witness the ceremony, instead of staring at the back of our heads while trying very hard not to lock their knees beneath the hot Italian sun.
Designed the Ceremony for Our Families, Too
Our immediate families were seated in the front row, naturally, but when it came to this sacred moment, we wanted to be even more thoughtful about their experience.
Rather than following a traditional seating arrangement, we chose to seat our parents and siblings directly opposite us. It was a subtle shift, yet a meaningful one: instead of watching the ceremony from behind, they were able to witness every expression, smile, and emotion as it happened.
For us, it felt only right. These were the people who had guided us to this moment, and giving them a clear view of it was a small gesture of gratitude — and one that made the ceremony feel even more personal.
Honored Our Loved Ones Every Chance We Could
Throughout our engagement season and wedding day, it felt only natural to create space for the family who had helped shape both our lives and our relationship.
Extended Family Members
All of the girl cousins and aunts on my mom’s side gathered to host the most thoughtful Italian-inspired bridal shower — Max’s mom and aunt even flew up to the Pacific Northwest for the weekend! We also made a point to spend time with extended family on both sides whenever possible in the seventeen or so months that we were engaged — to celebrate with those who couldn’t make the trip, and those traveling great distances to be with us.
On the big day itself, my uncle beautifully officiated our symbolic ceremony — a role that made the moment feel deeply special. In the months leading up to the wedding, he and my aunt also walked alongside us in a form of premarital guidance, offering wisdom from a marriage we have long admired.
In another deeply meaningful touch, my cousin Linnea, who works under Hutcherson Goldsmithing in Portland, Oregon, was the mastermind behind the design of both my engagement ring and wedding band — pieces I now wear daily, made all the more special by the hands that created them.
And I can’t forget my “Something Blue Crew!” I’m not typically drawn to the color blue (unless it’s a window-seat view or the different hues of the sea), so I knew that I wanted to find meaninful way to incorporate my “something blue” into the wedding through…people!
Even before I knew who would be able to be there in Italy with us or not, I asked all the girl cousins in my family, biological cousins and married-in, if they would be my “something blue.” They were asked to wear a blue dress if they were to be in attendance at our big day. Only two of the five were able to be there in Puglia with us, but they both wore blue, and it was a very special, meaningful touch!
Those With Us in Spirit
In the ceremony itself were the loved ones who could only be there in spirit. We reserved a chair draped with a banner including the names of our grandparents who are no longer with us — a small but deeply meaningful way to honor them. At one point, my aunt, seated beside the chair, noticed it and later told me it brought tears to her eyes. Knowing that such a subtle gesture could be so deeply felt remains one of the moments I treasure most.
This is what it said, followed by their names:
We feel you in every sunrise, every painted sunset, and every shimmering star. On this special day, you hold the best seat of all. We love you and still wish you were here.
Our “Anniversary Twins”
Because we now share this anniversary with my cousin, Jordan, and his wife, we asked them during our welcome party if they would serve as our ring bearers. Their surprise quickly turned into joy, and having them play even a small role in the ceremony made the moment feel even more complete.
My Mom
I wanted to honor my mom in some way. Traditionally, the father of the groom has his moment with a speech at the rehearsal or welcome event, the mother of the groom typically gets a mother-son dance, the father of the bride gets to walk his daughter down the aisle, make a speech, and gets a father-daughter dance (and rightfully so). But the mother of the bride really only gets to spend the morning getting ready with the girls. She doesn’t always get recognized in a way that feels meaningful. That’s why my dad and I intentionally decided to surprise my mom by inviting her to join us toward the end of our father-daughter dance. It was a special moment for all of us, but especially my amazing mom.
Our Furry Friend, Todd
There’s nothing like a twenty-something-year-old’s love for their pet. Max and I are no different. Since our fluffy family member, our sweet Persian cat, Todd, couldn’t come with us to Italy, we knew we had to include him in our wedding details, even if it was something small. We opted for a custom green cocktail napkin that I designed using a special sketch of Todd from an artist I found on Etsy. Simple, but perfect. Plus, spoiler alert: he was most definitely mentioned in Max, and my private vows (shocker!).
Because we chose to exchange our personal vows privately during our first look, we still wanted the ceremony itself to reflect our personalities in a way that felt authentic. So, with my uncle officiating, we created custom repeat-after-me vows — thoughtfully written with just enough sincerity, humor, and quirk to feel like us.
For two people who don’t naturally gravitate toward the spotlight, it struck the perfect balance: meaningful without feeling overly heavy, personal without the pressure of performing. There may or may not have been mentions of pasta, gelato, and tequila in them…
Left “Love Notes” at Every Seat
Once we knew we were having a plated dinner, I knew I wanted our place cards to feel more personal than a simple name on a tiny piece of paper. So Max and I spent a few quietly emotional evenings writing individual “love notes” to each of our guests — sharing one thing we deeply appreciated about them and the role they’ve played in our lives.
It was a small undertaking, but it felt important to put those words into their hands. We hoped that each person might feel even a fraction of the love we have received from them over the years. Max and I even wrote one for each other!
Welcomed Guests with a Taste of Puglia
Rather than traditional favors given on the wedding night, we chose to welcome our guests with a small taste of Puglia as they arrived at Masseria Grieco. We gifted them house-made limoncello and taralli, crafted on-site from the property’s own lemon trees and surrounding fields — a gesture that felt both personal and rooted in local culture.
It was our simple way of saying, we’re so glad you’re here, while offering something guests could enjoy during the weekend or tuck into their bags to savor later.
Tables Named for Places We Love
In place of traditional table numbers, we named each table after Italian cities that have captured our hearts — a subtle nod to the country that brought everyone together in the first place.
Although we had just three long tables, we thoughtfully arranged seating in smaller groupings, creating a layout that allowed us to have a fuller seating chart display. It was a simple detail, but one that added even more personality to our day — and a reminder of the places we love throughout Italy.
Looking back, it wasn’t any single detail that made our wedding weekend feel so unforgettable — it was the intention behind each choice we made. From the place we gathered to the people who stood beside us, we found ourselves returning to the same question again and again: How do we want this to feel?
The answer was never about perfection. It was about creating an experience. A place for connection, laughter, and for the kind of magical moments that stay with you long after the weekend ends.
If there’s one thing this experience taught me, it’s that the most meaningful weddings aren’t defined by tradition or expectation, but by the thoughtful decisions that reflect who you are — both individually and together.
Long after the petals fall and the music fades, those are the things that remain. And if we had the chance to do it all again, these are still the choices we would make in a heartbeat.