Photos // Zonzo

Virginia's Tuscan wedding might have had some unexpected showers, but that didn't stop her and Aiden from celebrating with their community. Plus, Virginia's colorful Escada dress from HINY added plenty of sunshine to the Italian affair. 💛

Tell us about your wedding day and surrounding events! Where did it all go down? Did you have any particular inspiration or musts when choosing the location?

We got married at Villa di Monaciano in Siena, Tuscany. We knew we wanted our ceremony to take place outdoors and were looking for a venue that integrated nature and design. The Chianti region is breathtaking - endless rolling vineyards and olive orchards, with historic castles, villas, and farmhouses sprawled throughout the region. The villa has a Greek amphitheater, surrounded by an assortment of local and exotic trees, that felt like the perfect setting for exchanging our vows.

It was really important to us to have a venue where our guests could stay onsite since it was a destination wedding - Monaciano was unique in that the main villa could house 28 guests, while the nearby farmhouses amongst the vineyards could accommodate the rest! We had a welcome party the evening before the wedding and a brunch the day after. Cheryl, Aiden's mom, is an amazing art teacher, so she hosted an art class after our brunch!

How did you and your partner meet? What was the proposal like?

Aiden and I met on Bumble, and we talked for hours and hours on our first date! My friends thought something had happened to me because I told them it'd be quick, but there was no stopping the conversation that night.

Last October, I was the Maid of Honor at my best friend's wedding in Upstate New York, and after that wedding, we decided to take a road trip to New Hampshire and Maine. Aiden usually wakes up to catch the sunrise while we're traveling, and he asked me to go with him to the Portland Head lighthouse while we were in Portland, Maine. I didn't think anything of it because he always wakes up for sunrise. While I was looking out into the ocean, he asked me to pose for a film photo and set his camera on a timer. Right before the camera clicked, he got down on one knee and proposed! It was a complete surprise!!

"The craftsmanship and beadwork on the Escada dress were phenomenal, and I loved the colors - it felt like the perfect intro to an Italian wedding. "

Describe your Happy Isles dress and/or dresses! When did you know it was the one?

I actually found two dresses at Happy Isles! I wore an Escada Couture gown for our welcome party and an unbranded hand-beaded dress for our cake-cutting and after-party! I knew they were both the ones because they fit me perfectly. The craftsmanship and beadwork on the Escada dress were phenomenal, and I loved the colors - it felt like the perfect intro to an Italian wedding. The second dress fit me like a glove, and I loved the embroidery on the bodice.

What did your partner wear down the aisle, and did you share outfit pics before the big day?

He got an Italian wool, custom tux from The Grotto Menswear. I went with him to his appointment, but he didn't see my wedding dress until I walked down the aisle. Although I'll admit, I showed him both my Happy Isles dresses because I was very excited when they arrived! We live in Los Angeles, but I actually found both of these dresses in the New York salon!

How did your guests respond to your outfit/s? Were there any standout reactions?

I think everyone's favorite dress that week was the Escada gown (and I have to agree!) It was just so unique - other than my close family and friends, no one had seen the dress and I'm sure everyone else was expecting me to wear white the whole week. The dress was very vibrant, featuring yellow and light blue stripes on the skirt.

Where did you shop for accessories and how did you style your look/s?

With the Escada gown, I wanted to keep things really simple since the piece was so outstanding. My mom really wanted me to wear her sapphire and diamond ring, and I paired it with her diamond pendant necklace. It felt so special to wear her jewelry for our welcome party. For my wedding day, she also got a pair of custom-made diamond earrings, and as a wedding gift, she gave me a tennis bracelet.

What was the most memorable aspect of your dress shopping experience? Is there anything you would like to highlight or share with other brides considering an appointment at Happy Isles?

It's so special to be in the boutique and see all these unique, one-of-a-kind dresses. I knew I wanted vintage for all my other looks, and going to Happy Isles was a no-brainer. No advice, but if you're on the fence, just do it. Everyone was incredibly helpful, and you could tell how much they loved all the pieces in the store. 

Okay. Your HI wedding dress is a person. What is their name and describe their perfect date!

For the Escada - Penelope loves a picnic in a sprawling garden surrounded by flowers.

For my After Party Dress - Bridgette. She's classy and timeless. A fancy dinner will suffice, and you can expect her to smoke her cigarettes with a cigarette holder like Audrey Hepburn.

"The most important thing to us about our wedding was having a sense of community."

Getting serious for a second. Did you ever feel like you were breaking the mold or challenging expectations while wedding planning? What were some ways you stayed true to yourself during what can be an emotionally complex experience?

We were really lucky that both our families were super supportive throughout the entire planning process. They never put any pressure on us and were really encouraging and helpful. The most important thing to us about our wedding was having a sense of community. We wanted anything we poured our money into to elevate the experience for our guests.

"...the Italians told us that the rain is washing you for your new life together. I loved that."

They say every wedding has a “wild card” moment. Did anything unexpected happen or surprise you during planning or the day of?

Well... It rained during our welcome dinner and wedding day... Completely unexpected weather for Tuscany in September. We were expecting 80 degrees and sunny, but it drizzled on and off for the first two days. Our amazing wedding coordinator, Danila from Dama Wedding, spent hours the day before our wedding, contacting countless companies to secure a tent. We were feeling pretty bummed about it at first, but the Italians told us that the rain is washing you for your new life together. I loved that. The drizzle miraculously stopped right before our ceremony in the amphitheater, and we had a clear "crystal" tent that provided shelter during our reception. It really all came together perfectly and the rain just added to the romance of getting married in an 18th century villa.

HOT TAKES: Do you have any wedding planning or dress shopping advice? Please pay it forward to our future brides!

Make choices that represent you and your partner. This isn't wedding planning advice, but more of a wedding day one - It all happens so fast. You spend months and months planning and coordinating, so just enjoy it! Soak it all up. Bask in it. Be present.

Regarding dress shopping advice - choose something that makes you feel beautiful! Trends come and go, but your wedding day is remembered for your whole life. So choose something that expresses YOU rather than the current fad.

If you had to choose your single best wedding day memory, what would it be?

Exchanging our vows in front of our beloved community.

Now that the wedding chapter has come to a close, what are some dreams you have for your future, both personally and as a couple?

I still dream of being on a network show as an actress. I'd also love to continue to perform in feature films, hopefully of increasingly impactful substance. I started in theatre and could see a return to the stage in my future. I also launched a custom flower arrangement business, huabyma, during the recent SAG strike, and I enjoy adding beauty to other peoples' weddings, anniversaries, and daily lives through that endeavor. It would be a dream to design a sculptural flower installation for a major fashion event or hotel down the line.

As a couple, we dream of having a family and buying a home (maybe abroad, maybe Italy!) We both love kids and can't wait to have our own.

And finally - shout out your vendors!

Photography: Zonzo

Planning: Danila Minetto at Dama Wedding

Venue: Villa di Monaciano

Catering: Italian Taste Lodovichi

Floral: Le Petit Jardin

Hair + Makeup: Jessica Bérullier

Music: Welcome Party // The Folk Trio from fixthemusic

Wedding Day // LessJazz Quartet

Harpist, Folk Quartet, and DJ from PB Wedding Music in Tuscany

Brunch // Harpist - The Siena Harpist & Singer, Antonella from fixthemusic

Stationary: Aiden's mom, Cheryl Steiger, is an amazing artist who painted all the artwork for our invitations and table settings!