“We both met at a time that we personally weren’t expecting. Busy growing our careers and traveling with friends, we didn’t think we’d be swept off our feet one Saturday afternoon,” muses Daniela Paladino of the fateful day she met her future husband, Andrew Buonauro. A mutual friend had separately invited each of them to an indoor beach-themed party in Brooklyn. “We were inseparable from that day forward,” she smiles. 

Nearly three years later, Andrew proposed to his beloved in one of the couple’s favorite cities: Paris, France. “We were strolling along the Seine when we stopped to take a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower,” Daniela remembers. “Andrew surprised me when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him mid-photo.” Of course, she said yes. 

Wanting to marry within the year, the pair desired a destination wedding in Italy and hired an incredible wedding planner to orchestrate their perfect day. “We fell in love with Tuscany on prior vacations together,” affirms the bride of their location choice. “We were in awe of its beauty, exquisite wine, and delicious food. We knew it would be the perfect setting for a beautiful wedding.” 

They selected a gorgeous castle venue in Siena that allowed them to host various wedding events across the grounds, including an alfresco ceremony in the gardens, a formal dinner in a tent on the great lawn, and a fun party in the courtyard. The castle’s beautiful rooms offered perfect accommodations for the couple's family and friends during the weekend celebrations. “It was a way to host our guests in a one-of-a-kind way, creating a unique experience during their trip to Italy,” shares Daniela. 

“It was a way to host our guests in a one-of-a-kind way, creating a unique experience during their trip to Italy.”

Overlooking the hills of Siena, the ceremony took place in the beautiful castle gardens. “The perfect backdrop to say ‘I do,’” confirms the bride. She processed down the aisle lined with roses to the sounds of a string quartet. A heartfelt vow exchange commenced, and Andrew’s aunt and uncle even honored the couple by singing two beautiful songs during the proceedings. “The ceremony felt so personal and beautiful… something we will remember forever,” she adds. 

Loved ones then gathered beneath a clear-top tent erected on the lawn for the dinner service. They were seated atop cane-back chairs surrounding long wooden tables decorated with towering candelabras and taper candles as well as low floral centerpieces in a warm, romantic color palette of soft neutrals including ivory and pale pink. “Contrary to most American weddings, we loved having a formal sit-down dinner followed by a party. We felt it was more personable for our guests,” adds Daniela of the conscious choice that fit their vision. 

For the party, attendees moved into the courtyard, which showcased vibrant lighting that illuminated the stone castle walls. Guests enjoyed slices of a traditional millefeuille Italian wedding cake with chantilly cream and mixed berries, and later, they took home engraved cheese boards handmade in Tuscany to bring a taste of Italy back home. To liven up the dance floor, a drummer and saxophonist played alongside the DJ. “Turning the castle’s courtyard into a club brought a piece of New York City to Tuscany,” shares the bride of the perfect ending to their dream wedding day.