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This Intimate Tuscany Wedding at Villa Lenka Proves Less Is Always More

May 28, 2026 | justine

There was something effortless about Victoria and Zac’s wedding day at Villa Lenka. Maybe it was the way the villa’s staircases, gardens, and interiors all worked naturally with the design of the day. Maybe it was Victoria’s striking gown or the relaxed pace of celebrating with only 17 guests. Whatever it was, every part of the day seemed to fall into place naturally.

The Atlanta-based couple, who work as an airline pilot and flight attendant, chose to celebrate in Italy with a small group of family and friends, leaning into the slower pace and quiet elegance of the setting. According to Junebug vendor Federico Pannacci Photography, what made the day stand out most was how seamlessly everything came together. “Every element felt like a piece of a puzzle, perfectly in harmony with the rest.”

What We Love About This Villa Lenka Wedding:

  • The way the villa itself became part of the overall design
  • Victoria’s elegant gown paired with the timeless interiors
  • The calm but emotionally charged atmosphere throughout the day
  • A ceremony entrance that doubled as the couple’s first look
  • Portraits that felt polished without looking overly posed

Featured Vendor:
Federico Pannacci Photography

Saving the First Look for the Ceremony Instead

Victoria and Zac chose not to do a first look before the ceremony. Instead, they saw each other for the first time during Victoria’s entrance.

The decision worked especially well for the pace of the day. Without needing to build in extra transitions or photo moments beforehand, the morning stayed relaxed and unhurried. At the same time, the ceremony entrance carried even more anticipation because that first reaction happened in real time alongside their guests.

For couples trying to decide whether or not to do a first look, this wedding is a good reminder that the timeline should support the kind of experience you actually want. Some couples love having a quiet moment together beforehand, while others prefer saving that emotion for the ceremony itself.

 

When the Fashion and Venue Already Work Together

From the fashion to the florals to the villa itself, every detail worked well together without competing for attention. Victoria’s fitted lace gown with off-the-shoulder sleeves and a dramatic cathedral veil felt perfectly at home within the villa’s interiors, while Zac’s classic tuxedo complemented the style of the celebration without pulling focus.

The florals and overall setup complemented the villa instead of competing with it. Nothing felt distracting or overdone. Each detail added to the atmosphere that was already there.

Letting the Setting Shape the Atmosphere

With only 17 guests attending, the day moved at a noticeably slower pace. Nothing felt rushed, and there was room for everyone to simply settle into the experience of being there together.

The villa played a huge role in that atmosphere. Rather than transforming the space with layers of decor, Victoria and Zac leaned into what was already there: the architecture, the gardens, the soft interiors, and the quiet elegance of the property itself.

According to Federico, the wedding felt “both intense and relaxed” at the same time. Even during the portrait session, there was a sense of calm that carried through the day. “It didn’t last long, but it was just enough to capture every moment, every instant, with great attention to detail.”

Trusting Their Photographer From the Beginning

From the start, Victoria and Zac were very clear about wanting photography to be a priority. Federico shared that they cared deeply about having a high-quality gallery and wanted every moment documented thoughtfully.

There were no strict instructions or overly detailed shot lists. Instead, the couple and photographer spent time discussing the overall vision early on, which created an easy working dynamic throughout the wedding day.

“Right from the very first emails, there was an exchange about their vision, which aligned perfectly with mine and created a great synergy,” Federico explained.

A Wedding Where Everything Felt Connected

What stands out most about Victoria and Zac’s wedding isn’t one dramatic detail or elaborate production element. It’s the consistency of the atmosphere from beginning to end.

“The style of the villa, the interiors, the staircases, the garden, the bride’s dress, the groom’s look, the flowers, and the overall setup—this sense of alignment made everything feel incredibly fluid and seamless,” Federico shared.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Federicco Pannaci
Venue – Villa Lenka
Makeup Artist – Bezal Makeup
Hair Styling – Sova Marina
Wedding Dress – Berta + Bridals by Lori + Clio Peppiatt
Groom’s Apparel – Joseph Abboud

 

Sponsors
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This Whimsical Castle Lachlan Wedding Was Straight Out of a Fantasy Novel

May 26, 2026 | justine

From the beginning, Sydney and Joe knew they wanted their wedding to reflect the things they naturally gravitate toward as a couple: dramatic landscapes, meaningful traditions, and a celebration that felt more like a shared adventure with family and friends. 

Nearly ten years after first meeting at a party at 21, the Canadian couple brought their closest friends and family to Scotland for a wedding at Castle Lachlan inspired by fantasy novels, nature, and the people who mattered most to them.

Their story started at a party Sydney almost skipped altogether. Joe remembers thinking she was “pretty and goofy,” while Sydney remembers her friend practically dragging her out at the end of the night because she was “too busy kissing Joe to leave.” A few weeks later, Joe invited her to his nephew’s baptism, introducing her to most of his family almost immediately. Looking back now, they don’t point to one huge life-changing moment that convinced them they were meant to be together. Instead, they describe it as “a million teeny tiny moments of ‘it’s worth it.’”

What We Love About This Castle Lachlan Wedding:

  • The Lord of the Rings reading during the ceremony
  • Personalized guest letters paired with QR code songs
  • Joe’s green tweed suit and inherited vintage Stetson
  • Matching necklaces honoring their two dogs
  • Watercolor-painted place settings made by Sydney
  • Three desserts instead of a traditional wedding cake

Featured Vendor:
Sean Bell Photography

Wanting the Week to Feel Like Time Together, Not Just a Wedding

Since every guest traveling to Scotland was coming from Canada, Sydney and Joe wanted the trip to feel worthwhile beyond the wedding itself. Rather than planning one packed day surrounded by separate hotels and busy schedules, they built the week around staying together at Castle Lachlan, exploring the area, cooking meals together, and spending real time with the people they love. Part of the appeal was practical too. Renting a castle in Scotland ended up feeling surprisingly attainable compared to luxury wedding venues back home. 

The setting also fit the atmosphere they kept picturing from the beginning. They both love The Lord of the Rings, old architecture, giant moss-covered trees, and the kind of scenery that already feels slightly unreal before any wedding decor gets added to it.

Finding Vendors Who Understood the Mood They Were Trying to Create

Photography became one of the biggest priorities early on, especially because Sydney and Joe didn’t want the scenery to feel disconnected from the actual emotions of the day. They found Junebug vendor Sean Bell Photography and immediately connected with his darker, moodier style.

“He had this really dramatic style that paid homage to the couple but also to the landscape,” they said. “That was really important to us.” Without a planner, Sydney handled most of the logistics herself, though both Sean Bell and celebrant Annalese McDermott became huge sources of support throughout the process.

Realizing They Didn’t Need to Spend on Every Wedding Tradition

Instead of trying to stretch the budget across every possible wedding detail, Sydney and Joe kept returning to the same priorities: nature, photographs, experience, and sentimentality.

That meant spending money on the parts of the wedding they knew would still matter years later. Personal vows mattered more than elaborate decor. A meaningful ceremony mattered more than following traditions out of obligation. Creating memories with their guests mattered more than packing the timeline with activities.

The smaller details reflected that thinking too. Family history quietly appeared throughout the day without needing a big explanation attached to it.

Joe wore a vintage Stetson passed down from his great-grandfather, Grandpa Cooke, alongside a custom green tweed suit from Indochino that blended perfectly into the Scottish setting.

Sydney wore an Anthropologie gown she found during a spontaneous dress-shopping trip to Atlanta with her mom and younger brother. The sleeves were what convinced her initially, but the memories from that trip became part of the reason the dress mattered so much afterward.

They also wore matching necklaces engraved with their initials and two small paws in honor of their dogs, who stayed home in Canada. Joe’s sister even created a keepsake with photos of the dogs that he carried inside his jacket during the wedding. Sydney also carried photos of both grandmothers attached to her florals, along with a locket honoring two of her closest friends.

Choosing Traditions That Actually Meant Something to Them

The ceremony included several traditions that reflected their relationship without feeling overly formal or performative. One of the most meaningful details was the oathing stone, which they brought from their backyard garden in Canada. Gardening has long been connected to Sydney’s family memories and became a quiet way to include that part of her life in the ceremony.

They also included a Quaich ceremony using a cup Sydney had brought back from Scotland years earlier after a previous trip. Inside it, they served one of their favorite beers from a local brewery back in Edmonton.

Sydney’s younger brother read an excerpt from The Lord of the Rings during the ceremony, which became one of the emotional high points of the day. “The sun came out especially for that moment,” they said. “Or at least it felt like it.”

Their first look happened outside the entrance of Castle Lachlan, surrounded by ivy and greenery growing around the castle walls. Later, one of their favorite parts of the day ended up being riding around the Scottish countryside in Sean Bell’s camper van while taking portraits. “He’s so easy to talk to,” they shared. “Being able to sit and enjoy the countryside was such a treat.”

Replacing Speeches With Something That Felt More Personal

Sydney and Joe skipped traditional speeches altogether and replaced them with something far more personal. They wrote individual letters to every guest attending the wedding and attached QR codes linking to songs that reminded them of each person. That same energy carried into the reception details. Sydney hand-painted watercolor place settings for guests and made friendship bracelets inspired by Taylor Swift’s Lover era.

Instead of serving a wedding cake, they chose three desserts. “And they were all so so so so good,” Sydney joked.

Dinner was catered inside the dining room at Castle Lachlan, where everyone gathered together at the end of the night for a meal that felt far more like a family dinner party than a formal reception.

What stands out most about this Castle Lachlan wedding isn’t just the scenery or fantasy-inspired details. Nothing about the day felt like Sydney and Joe were trying to recreate someone else’s version of a wedding. Even the smallest choices pointed back to places, people, traditions, and memories that already mattered to them long before they ever booked a castle in Scotland.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Sean Bell Photography
Venue – Castle Lachlan
Floral Design – To a Mountain Daisy
Catering – Chatters Dunoon
Officiant – Annalese McDermott
Makeup + Hair Styling – Bonnys Wonderland

 

Sponsors
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A Sky Blue Summer Wedding Among the Red Rocks of Arrowhead Golf Course

May 24, 2026 | justine

Caroline and Ross wanted their wedding weekend to be like summer in Colorado at its absolute best. They filled their celebration at Arrowhead Golf Course with sky blue details, soft garden-inspired florals, and meaningful family traditions, all set against the venue’s dramatic red rock backdrop. Guests spent the weekend exploring Denver and the mountains, gathering for welcome drinks, dancing late into the night, and ending everything with a relaxed pool party the next day. Every part of the celebration reflected the things they care about most: family, good memories, and making people feel included.

Their story started thanks to Caroline’s grandmother, if you can believe it. She helped set them up on a blind date after both had moved to Denver. At first, neither of them even knew if it was supposed to be romantic or just networking. But after spending more time together, especially during the early days of the pandemic, they quickly realized they shared the same sense of humor and  values. Years later, those shared values became the foundation for a wedding day that felt unmistakably like them.

What We Love About This Wedding:

  • The soft sky blue color palette against the dramatic red rocks of Colorado
  • A wedding weekend designed around showing out-of-town guests the magic of summer in Denver
  • Handmade details and sustainable decor finds sourced from Facebook Marketplace
  • Family heirlooms woven into nearly every part of the day
  • “Signature Docktails” featuring their dog, Dock
  • Personalized Jewish traditions led by family members throughout the ceremony

Making the Wedding Feel Bigger Than Just One Day

Although Caroline is originally from Denver, many of their guests were traveling in for the wedding, so they wanted the entire weekend to feel welcoming and relaxed from the start. Choosing a July 4th weekend gave everyone extra time to explore Colorado before and after the festivities, which ended up becoming one of their favorite parts of the experience. “We thought having it on that weekend could use it as a launching point for people to go visit the mountains before or after, and many of our out-of-town guests did exactly that.”

The celebrations started with a rehearsal dinner for immediate family and close friends before moving into a laid-back welcome party at Great Divide Brewery in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood. Guests snacked on food from one of the couple’s favorite local spots, Sonny’s Mediterranean, along with Sweet Nola snoballs as a nod to Caroline’s time in New Orleans. Between the casual atmosphere, speeches from friends, and a slideshow playing throughout the evening, everyone had time to reconnect and settle in before the wedding day arrived.

Featured Vendor:
Katie Fletcher Photography

Finding Ways to Include Family in More Than Just Photos

The ceremony became one of the most emotional parts of the day because so many family traditions were woven naturally into it. Caroline’s sister officiated the wedding, while Ross’s father and brother helped guide several Jewish traditions throughout the ceremony. The couple used a kiddush cup that had been passed down through generations of Caroline’s family, previously used by her grandparents, parents, and sister on their wedding days. They also stood beneath a chuppah originally built by one of Caroline’s cousins for her sister’s wedding.

Even the music choices reflected personal memories and relationships rather than simply filling traditional ceremony moments.

One of the most emotional parts of the day centered around Caroline’s grandmother, who had introduced the couple but was unable to attend due to health issues. Even so, her presence remained deeply felt throughout the celebration. “Every touch was extremely personalized and felt very us, which was the most important part.”

Letting Everyone Dress and Feel Comfortable 

Caroline approached the wedding fashion the same way she approached the rest of the celebration: elegant, relaxed, and personal. Her look reflected the soft summer garden atmosphere of the wedding, while meaningful family pieces added another personal touch.

She wore her grandmother’s pearl watch, while Ross wore his late uncle’s watch. Caroline’s wedding ring also included stones from her great-grandmother, making the jewelry feel especially significant to the family history surrounding the day.

Her beauty team from Makeup By Taylor Olson helped create a polished but natural look that complemented the overall feel of the wedding.

For the wedding party, the couple focused less on uniformity and more on allowing everyone to feel comfortable and confident. “We wanted them all to be able to feel like themselves and express themselves and look good and feel good.” Instead of requiring identical looks, they gave everyone a shared color palette to work within, which kept everything cohesive without feeling overly coordinated.

Deciding What Was Worth the Spend and What Wasn’t

Like many couples planning a wedding, Caroline and Ross had to figure out where they wanted to invest and where they were comfortable pulling back. For them, the answer was easy: the guest experience mattered most. 

“One of our top priorities was having a band so that we could have the most fun dance floor with our family and friends.” Their band, Great Family Reunion, kept the dance floor full all night, and the couple never regretted prioritizing live music. At the same time, they found thoughtful ways to stay intentional with other parts of the budget.

Caroline created many of the paper goods and signage herself, including the escort display, ceremony programs, and drink signs featuring their dog Dock and his “Signature Docktails.” They also sourced several decor items from Facebook Marketplace, including chargers and table numbers, which helped the wedding feel more sustainable while keeping costs manageable.

One of the biggest lessons they learned was simply being transparent with vendors about budget realities. “Our amazing florist, Adriana at Floral Wild, was able to help us tweak things to make our vision a reality while sticking to our budget.”

Wanting Colorado Scenery Without Losing the Soft Garden Feel

Finding a venue that highlighted Colorado’s landscape while still fitting their romantic summer vision became one of the biggest priorities during planning. Arrowhead Golf Course ended up giving them both.

The dramatic red rock backdrop brought in the unique Colorado scenery Ross had never experienced growing up, while the greenery, florals, and airy tent reception softened the space and gave it the garden-inspired atmosphere Caroline envisioned. “We wanted a romantic, summer garden themed wedding. Caroline wanted it to be very light and summery featuring sky blue and greens to pop on the backdrop of the Arrowhead Golf Course rocks.”

The reception tent was filled with greenery and soft florals by Floral Wild, which helped the space feel light, romantic, and connected to the outdoor setting without going over the top.

Remembering to Actually Experience the Wedding While It’s Happening

One of the couple’s biggest pieces of advice for other couples came from realizing how quickly the day moves once it begins. “Be present! It’s hard but remember to take deep breaths and enjoy the day and have fun. Don’t take it too seriously.”

That mindset carried into the rest of the weekend too. The day after the wedding, Caroline and Ross invited guests to a casual pool party with grilling, swimming, and more time to hang out before everyone headed home. After such a full few days together, it gave people a chance to slow down and enjoy a little more time with each other.

In the end, Caroline and Ross created the kind of wedding people actually want to be at. Guests spent the weekend outdoors, exploring Colorado, catching up over drinks, dancing for hours, and taking part in traditions that genuinely meant something to the couple and their families. More than anything, the celebration felt comfortable, personal, and true to the way they wanted to spend time with the people they love.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Katie Fletcher
Event Planning – Curate Events and Design
Venue + Catering – Arrowhead Golf Club
Floral Design – Floral Wild
Cake – Lala’s Bakery
Live Music – Great Family Reunion
Invitation Design – Wordshop Denver + Ivory Isle Designs
Makeup Artist – Makeup By Taylor Olson
Transportation – Boxcars Limo

 

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings
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