Old World Elegance Meets Espresso Martini Hour in a Timeless Black Tie Wedding at The Ringling Museum
Design / Vibe / Vision
From the very beginning, we envisioned a wedding that felt timeless, romantic, and elegant while still being intimate. The Ringling Museum already has such breathtaking architecture that we wanted the venue to speak for itself rather than compete with elaborate decor. We embraced a refined palette of white florals, candlelight, and clean, classic details that complemented the historic setting while creating a warm and intimate atmosphere after sunset. While the overall aesthetic leaned formal and editorial, it was equally important that the celebration reflected our personalities. Throughout the evening we incorporated meaningful late night surprises (like an espresso martini happy hour, a late night McDonald's food truck, and maybe even late night karaoke) that made the day feel authentic to us, our friends, and our families!
Proposal Story
Engagement story (coming from Tyler): One of the first big trips Alexandra and I took was when she visited me when I was studying abroad. We were 18/19 years old, didn't have a lot of money, and we were both experiencing Italy for the first time. No five star accommodations, no michelin star dinners, just two kids in love (although it was maybe 5 months into our relationship) adventuring through Italy together. The whole country encapsulated us, but Florence really stole our hearts.
So fast forward 10 years (I know...I dragged it out), and I knew I wanted our engagement to be special. We're both Italian, and while we would have loved to get married in Italy, my grandparents weren't going to be able to travel and thus it was a nonstarter for us. Having the people you love be there for your special day was paramount to us, so Italy was nixed, which left the door open to propose there.
We had a wedding in Italy that summer, and we planned an extended trip with a group of friends for after. While in Tuscany with the group, I was convinced by my boys that I had to fake out Alexandra otherwise she would know the proposal was coming when I surprised her with a trip through Tuscany to Castello di Vicarello the following day. Alas...the night before we left the group, I felt she was hinting that a proposal might be coming in the next few days, so I decided then and there to fully commit to the surprise. I told Alexandra "I know you're hoping there is a special surprise on this trip, but as I've told you it's not going to happen. Too many things are going on right now and I don't want you to be disappointed when it doesn't. I do have a surprise for you, but it's not that." Safe to say I ruined the night and tears may have followed. But I was committed to the game, and I needed it to be a surprise.
Fast forward to the next day, I surprised her by telling her we were spending a few nights at Castello di Vicarello, a hotel we always wanted to stay at. We get to the hotel, absolutely beautiful and one of our favorite hotels of all time by the way, and I had planned a private dinner that night with a photographer disguised as a hotel guest reading a book on a nearby bench. A few hours before, I texted each of her best friends and mine letting them know my plan and to not expect to hear from us until the next day as I was taking our phones and locking them away so we could fully enjoy the entire evening with no distractions.
It went off without a hitch, she was totally surprised (even if she denies it), and it was one of the most special nights of our lives. That night, we saw 20+ shooting stars from the hotel grounds and it was the most incredible evening.
