Elegant Wedding in Tuscany – Diana + Ziad

An intimate escape under the Tuscan sun

They live in Dubai, their families are scattered across the globe, and yet, it was in Tuscany that Diana and Ziad chose to say "I do." Europe was the obvious choice, bringing with it the warmth of an Italian summer, the golden light of the hills, and the simple elegance of the Tuscan countryside.

Conceived as a true Mediterranean escape, their wedding took the form of an intimate, warm, and deeply sincere celebration. Surrounded by their closest friends and family, the newlyweds imagined and organized three days of festivities themselves, in an atmosphere that was both refined and relaxed, where every detail told their story.

Through the luminous gaze of Dall'kDiana and Ziad open the doors to their wedding in Tuscany and share the story of a radiant, intimate and resolutely personal "yes".

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

The initial meeting

We work together at Dubai For several years now. After some time as colleagues, we became friends. And, after some time as friends, we became more…!

The marriage proposal

Diana and Ziad wanted to plan a vacation. Ziad knew he wanted to propose to her during this trip, so he let Diana handle all the planning so she wouldn't suspect a thing. Diana organized a 130 km trek in Italy (called "La Via degli Dei"), starting in Bologna and ending six days later in one of her favorite cities, Florence.

On the morning of the second day of the trek, after climbing to the summit of Monte Adone in Emilia-Romagna, Ziad fell to his knees!

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Villa La Selva Wine Resort in Tuscany

We live in Dubai, Ziad's family lives in Lebanon, Diana's family is originally from Italy but lives in Canada, and our friends are scattered all over the world… so choosing where to celebrate our wedding was a challenge! We loved the idea of ​​an intimate country wedding and were drawn to the greenery of Tuscany… and of course, the cypress trees!

As for the venue itself, we visited many vineyards and villas – there is no shortage of beautiful venues in Tuscany! One of our main requirements was to find a place that can accommodate around thirty of our loved ones, because we wanted to create a holiday experience. It was equally important to find a large location with different and diverse spaces as we wanted the three days of wedding events to take place on-site to create a meeting place for everyone each day, adding to the intimate, family atmosphere we were looking to create. The expansive grounds from Villa La Selva and its rustic yet elegant accommodation won us over.

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Wedding planning

We knew it would be difficult to organize a wedding abroad and we wanted have a “stress-free” wedding planning experienceSo we started by hiring a wedding planner based in Italy. We quickly realized that we needed to be more involved to create the wedding we wanted (and within our budget) and that no one would care as much about our wedding as we did. So we amicably parted ways with our planner and planned everything ourselves.

Needless to say, it wasn't the stress-free experience we'd hoped for, but we finally made it! The entire planning process took just under a year. In the final stretch, we hired a wedding coordinator to help with the final logistics and on-site coordination.

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Wedding decoration 

We wanted to create an elegant and romantic atmosphere, inspired by the Tuscan countryside. We wanted our guests to feel an intimate, warm and family atmosphere.

The color palette consisted of earthy, sand, and blush tones. Pampas featured in our floral arrangements for both the ceremony and dinner.

The wedding dinner took place in a tree-lined avenue, under a string of lights. Candles in metal urns and blush and sand-colored flowers adorned the tables.

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Choosing the wedding dress

I had no idea what I wanted for a wedding dress. When I started shopping, a vision of simple elegance began to take shape in the form of a fitted dress with a low back.

Nothing I tried on made me feel wow so I decided to order a custom dress. 6 weeks before the wedding. At the time of discovery the dress did not meet the specifications we had agreed upon. So I gave up on that dress and was back to square one with my wedding in six weeks!

I tried to stay calm as I panicked inside. I stumbled upon a picture of a dress byAnna CampbellI contacted Anna Campbell in Australia and they were able to make the dress and send it to me in time, even with international shipping. So yes… I ended up ordering a dress online that I had never tried on 5 weeks before my wedding… and I absolutely loved it!« 

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

The wedding budget

90K€ for 70 guests over 3 days

Their most moving memory

The intimate wedding ceremony in the Italian gardens of Villa La Selva, lined with cypress trees…

In particular, Diana walking down the aisle towards a smiling Ziad (Ziad never smiles!) and exchanging sincere and humorous vows.

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Intimate wedding in Tuscany © Dall'k

Their best choice in wedding planning 

Organizing the wedding ourselves allowed us to carefully select all our suppliers, which was extremely advantageous.

Some providers may have amazing websites or social media accounts, but it really comes down to connection. We made sure toorganize meetings (whether in person or via Zoom) with several providers before making our selection. If we didn't have a good feeling (for example, if they rushed the call or didn't answer our questions), it was a no for us.

You'll be spending a lot of time with these professionals, and they play a vital role in bringing your vision to life… so it's important to choose wisely. Throughout the planning process and on our wedding day, we felt very comfortable with each of our vendors, and they all went above and beyond to make our day special..

Advice from the newlyweds 

Make your wedding your personalityDon't get caught up in planning a wedding for someone else. It's your day and it should really be focused on what you want as a couple.