WEDDING BLOG

When Olivia and Micah started planning their Sicilian destination wedding, they weren’t trying to recreate anything they’d seen before. What they wanted was simple but intentional: something timeless, relaxed, and deeply connected to place. Set at the historic seaside Tonnara di Scopello, their multi-day celebration blended classic style, meaningful details, and a guest-first mindset that made the entire weekend feel more like a shared vacation than a traditional wedding.

Their story began unexpectedly. Olivia was scrolling Instagram when a friend posted a photo of Micah and it caught her eye. A few weeks later, the two met at a birthday party, and on June 4, 2019, went on their first date at Justine’s Brasserie in Austin, Texas. Over dinner, they talked about Micah’s years living in New York and Hawaii, Olivia’s love of “too much travel and hobbies,” and their shared outlook on life. “We bonded over a zest for life and new experiences,” Olivia shared, along with the values that mattered most to both of them: family, friendships, and building a meaningful future together.

That same balance of fun and foundation carried through every part of their stunningly chic wedding weekend in Sicily.

What We Love About This Sicilian Destination Wedding

• A historic seaside venue styled around its natural character
• A multi-day format that gave guests time to truly relax
• A music-forward celebration with live bands for every event
• Fashion that felt editorial but deeply personal
• Intentional private moments built into a lively reception

Building a Wedding Timeline That Doesn’t Feel Rushed

From the very beginning, Olivia and Micah knew they wanted more than a single-day gathering. “We wanted a destination wedding because of the guest experience we wanted to create,” Olivia said. “A vacation, ample time together, and space to settle in instead of just being at a venue for a few hours.” They booked Tonnara for four days so guests could enjoy the property at their own pace—swimming in the sea, reading with an Aperol spritz at the café, or simply soaking in the scenery. On the wedding day itself, they extended cocktail hour and dinner, shortened speeches and formal dances, and structured the schedule around shared time. “We focused our time together on, well, time together,” Olivia added. To bring everything together, they worked closely with Amuri – Events & Wedding Planner. “Barbara understood our vision and narrative from the beginning,” Olivia said. “We leaned on her to help translate that vision into reality and bring us the right vendors.”

Planning Breaks Without Disrupting the Flow

Instead of doing a first look, Micah surprised Olivia mid-dinner by arranging a private champagne moment overlooking the courtyard. “Weddings are such a whirlwind,” Olivia shared. “It’s hard to grasp every moment and commit it to memory.” That short break gave them space to breathe, reconnect, and fully take in what was happening. “This sweet, intimate moment for just the two of us felt so special,” and became one of their favorite memories of the day.

Featured Vendor:
Amuri – Events & Wedding Planner

Working With Existing Architecture Instead of Against It

Instead of reshaping the venue to fit current wedding trends, Olivia and Micah chose to let the location guide their design choices. “We share a love of timeless, curated things,” Olivia explained. “Rather than transform Tonnara to us, we decided to match our style to it and focus on timeless classics with small modern refinements.” They pulled colors directly from the surrounding buildings and coastline, weaving in Sicilian culture through vintage painted carts used for seating arrangements and cake displays, as well as traditional street food during cocktail hour. To keep things feeling current, they layered in modern touches like cascading anthurium bouquets and contemporary floral styling. “The question we kept coming back to was how to balance timeless and classic with innovative and original,” Olivia shared—and that balance became the visual thread tying everything together.

Treating Music as the Backbone of the Weekend

Music wasn’t just a background element, it shaped the energy of the entire celebration. Micah took the lead on researching performers and curating each event’s sound. “Micah loves music and knows how to throw an incredible party,” Olivia shared. The weekend featured a soul band for the welcome party, a quartet for the ceremony, a walking Sicilian band during cocktail hour, a nine-piece live band at the reception, and even a vinyl-spinning DJ from Rome who kept guests dancing until 3 a.m. Coordinating performers from different regions added complexity, but the payoff was worth it. “The music was a hit,” Olivia said, and it gave every part of the weekend its own personality.

Adding Personality to the Ceremony Script

One of the most meaningful ceremony details was having their mutual friend officiate, the same friend who introduced them years earlier and took the original photo of Micah that caught Olivia’s attention. They also wanted the ceremony to reflect their personalities. “We love to laugh and don’t take life too seriously,” Olivia said. Their officiant leaned into that energy by playfully roasting them throughout the ceremony while still weaving in heartfelt moments. The laughter immediately relaxed the crowd and set the tone for a joyful, lighthearted evening.

Fashion Choices That Felt Editorial Without Feeling Costumey

Fashion was one of the most playful parts of planning. “We wanted black tie, classic, and cohesive with the venue, but something unique to us,” Olivia shared. Micah embraced timeless tailoring with a Ralph Lauren Purple Label tux featuring a cream Gregory Barathea Italian linen dinner jacket and black tuxedo trousers. He paired it with a custom Proper Cloth Sea Island white shirt, Tom Ford silk bow tie and cummerbund, and Ace Marks patent wholecut Oxfords. His accessories reflected his love for vintage details, including a 1930s Omega gold watch, Moscot sunglasses, Dolan Bullock vintage onyx cuff links, and a custom-made pearl and gold brooch worn in place of a boutonniere for both himself and his Best Man. “That was something I hadn’t really seen before,” Olivia noted.

Olivia’s look balanced softness, sentiment, and subtle storytelling. She wore the Gabrielle Gown by Helsa Studio as her “something new,” drawn to its clean modern lines and delicate nod to the 1950s with a bow at the back. Her accessories carried deep personal meaning. Her vintage Chanel baroque-style earrings—her “something old”—came from Marla Hurley, a longtime family friend and owner of a luxury consignment boutique in Round Top, Texas. “I’ve known Marla since I was 10,” Olivia shared. “She’s a style icon with the biggest heart and a huge focus on philanthropy.”

Her gold cuff, gifted by her grandmother and originally purchased by her grandfather in the 1970s, became her “something borrowed,” while her pale blue bow in the bouquet completed her “something blue.” For shoes, she kept things delicate and understated with the Winnie Peep Toe heels from Reformation, wanting something that complemented rather than competed with the dress.

Her beauty look followed the same philosophy of quiet intention. “I kept it simple to the point of boring—a low, slicked-back bun with a big black bow,” she said. The final result felt polished, personal, and effortlessly editorial without feeling overdone.

Shop Olivia’s Accessories:

Turning Cocktail Hour Into a Cultural Experience

Cocktail hour became another opportunity to highlight Sicily and the venue’s history. Tonnara began as a tuna fishery in the 13th century, and Olivia and Micah wanted guests to feel that heritage. They set up live food stations by the ocean with freshly prepared calamari, sashimi, and local seafood. “We wanted to create warmth and coziness by having food prepared in front of guests,” Olivia shared. “Food is important in bringing people together—and how people experience your love through food was a central theme for us.”

Spending on What Guests Would Feel and Remember

When it came to budgeting, Olivia and Micah focused on experience first. “We had a general budget in mind, but we gave ourselves a small buffer so we didn’t have to sacrifice something important to either of us,” Olivia explained. Their largest investments were the venue and music. “Those two were the most crucial because they set the tone for how guests feel when they’re at the events,” she said. Photography was another priority. “It was so important to memorialize this for ourselves too.” By concentrating on atmosphere and long-term memories, they avoided getting caught up in details that were secondary.

Adding a Surprise Element to the Reception Meal

One of the most unforgettable moments came during dinner service. After choosing swordfish as the entrée, Olivia noticed chefs gathering excitedly in the courtyard. Moments later, a nine-foot fresh swordfish was brought out, caught that same day just offshore. Guests had even seen it being pulled from the water earlier. The chefs invited Micah to make the first cut before preparing and grilling it on-site. “It just fit so nicely into this relaxed, ocean-to-us vibe we wanted,” Olivia said. The experience turned dinner into a shared moment instead of just another course.

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Practical Advice From Planning Abroad

Looking back, Olivia’s most practical advice is simple: convert your cash ahead of time. “Get your cash in the currency you need,” she laughed, recalling a last-minute scramble to exchange dollars into euros before the welcome party. Her bigger takeaway, though, is about presence. “Take a moment for yourselves,” she shared. “You’re not being a bad host. That quiet courtyard moment helped me slow down and really commit things to memory.”