Wedding | Andrew & Vince

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We’re Andrew and Vince, living together in New York City since 2020. We met in 2019 while working at the same hospital in New Jersey. We got engaged in 2022 in Riomaggiore, Italy and eventually went back to tie the knot in Florence in 2024!

Andrew is 34 years old and originally from New Jersey. He is a board certified emergency medicine physician and finds great reward in caring for others when they need it most. Andrew spent time in Virginia for college and returned to New York for his medical education and training. Andrew’s mother and father are both retired and enjoy traveling the world together. Andrew loves to cook, travel, and spend time with his friends and family. He also enjoys trying new restaurants with loved ones in NYC, skiing and reading at the beach. 

Vince is 38 and originally from El Paso, Texas and works in medical device sales in NYC. He is the middle of three brothers. He moved to the Northeast over a decade ago after studying in San Antonio for college. Vince loves traveling, great food, and spending quality time with friends and loved ones. He is also passionate about art and finds time to paint in his spare time.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

It was the perfect mix of elegance and intimacy. The venue Villa Medicea di Lilliano could comfortably host the wedding we envisioned and it was everything we imagined and more. By being just a short ride from Florence, it also made it easy for our guests to enjoy the city and surrounding Tuscan countryside. 

We were drawn to the beauty of the landscape, the historic charm, and the variety of spaces the villa offered. It allowed us to host multiple events - a welcome party, the wedding day, and a poolside BBQ the day after - with many of our loved ones staying nearby at the villas. The rooftop view of the Duomo sealed the deal.

This place was everything we imagined and more. The layout, the views, the history - it’s breathtaking. The team there was professional, kind, and incredibly easy to work with. From the rooftop overlooking Florence to the beautiful gardens and villa spaces, it was truly magical.

From the moment we visited in person, we just knew it was the one. The team at the villa was incredibly warm and professional.

We started the wedding events at Obicà, a restaurant in Florence, that hosted us for the ideal kickoff to the weekend. The food, the service, and the setting - everything felt warm and relaxed. The rustic meets modern aesthetic was perfect for welcoming our guests to Florence. 

How many guests did you have?

We had about 120 guests join us for the celebration.

What was your budget? 

We didn’t go in with a strict budget, mainly because we did not know what to expect with planning a wedding overseas. We focused more on creating an experience that felt natural and true to us. We wanted something timeless without overdoing it. The beauty of Tuscany and the venue spoke for themselves, so we kept the decor simple. We did make some sacrifices in the interest of avoiding overspending, however we don’t regret omitting things because in the end, the celebration felt complete and exceeded our expectations. Doing the research ahead of time, getting multiple quotes, and responding promptly to vendor emails is what allowed us to comfortably pull the trigger.

Tell us about your outfits.

We picked out our tuxedos for the big day from Hugo Boss and the team there helped us find exactly what we were looking for. We were drawn to their classic, masculine style - nothing flashy, just clean lines and great tailoring. 

Andrew wore a black tuxedo, and Vince wore a navy and black combination. We both wore bow ties from Tom Ford, cufflinks from Ferragamo, and loafers from Christian Louboutin to finish the look. The final result was elevated without feeling overdone. Vince’s wedding band is from Tiffany and Co., while Andrew’s is from Cartier. These pieces are all still a pleasure to wear to different events after our wedding!

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

Our guests. From the beginning, we wanted everyone to feel welcome, comfortable, and a part of something special. We knew a destination wedding could be a big ask, so we focused on making the entire experience - from the welcome party to the ceremony and our pool party - worth the trip.

We were intentional with everything: the date, the location, the food, the music, seating, transportation - it all mattered. We wanted everyone to walk away feeling like they had just experienced something personal and meaningful. Our guests came from all over the globe and for them to take the time and spend the money to share this moment with us made us work even harder to make the experience unforgettable. 

Staying organized with all the contracts and vendor communication was key, and luckily every vendor we worked with was incredible. We both equally contributed to all the work and decision making. It was a labor of love, and although we both live busy lives, we made time to have our wedding planned to our standards so that we were happy and proud to host our friends and family. 

We wanted to include interesting experiences through the wedding events and one of those was having a live painter paint guest portraits. Inna, from Inna Illustrator, was incredible. Watching her paint in real time during the evening added a really special and artistic touch. The final pieces she created for our guests to take home are something we will all treasure forever because they capture the energy and emotion of the day in such a unique way.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

Definitely. We wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the Florentine landscape and keep the overall vibe Italian and rustic. That meant keeping florals and décor minimal and letting the surroundings speak for themselves. Nadia, from I Fiori di Nadia, understood our vision right away. We didn’t want over-the-top florals, and she struck the perfect balance with natural, elegant arrangements that let the setting shine. Her work added just the right touches in all the right places.We wanted to incorporate a touch of tradition so we used a Ukrainian embroidered towel to stand on during the ceremony. We also knew we wanted fireworks - something you don’t often see at weddings in the U.S. - and they were a showstopper. They lit up the night and brought this huge moment of celebration and joy. It was such a memorable way to close out the evening. 

Any tips for couples getting married?

Keep it fun and stay ahead of the planning. There are a lot of moving parts, so don’t wait until the last minute. Use whatever tools or systems help you to stay organized.

As two grooms planning this on our own without much outside influence, we made sure the day reflected us. That’s our biggest advice: make it your own. Overspending just to have “more” does not always translate to more on your wedding day, so keep your vision clear and focus on the importance of you, your partner and your guests. On the day of, don’t leave each other’s side. Be present together through it all - you only get this day once, and it’s easy to get pulled in a million directions. Also, use the help of an experienced planner. Having Patrizia on our side made the whole process feel manageable, and truly nothing went wrong (that we could see!). It was exactly the wedding we hoped for.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

All our vendors were absolutely amazing but there are three we would love to give a special shout out.Our photographers, Urška and Domen, were amazing. They captured every moment without being intrusive. Their eye for detail and ability to catch real emotion made us feel like we were in the best hands. The photos are stunning and bring us right back to each moment. Capturing the best moments of genuine smiles and happiness are evident in each photo! 

Our wedding wouldn’t be the same without our planner, Patrizia from In Tuscany Weddings, and we truly can’t say enough about her and her work. Planning a wedding from another country can be overwhelming, but she made everything feel smooth and manageable. She’s organized, thoughtful, and just a joy to work with. Every single detail - from timelines to translations - was handled perfectly.

And last but not least, our catering, Delizia Ricevimenti. The food was delicious - authentic, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The table arrangements was exquisite and welcoming. The Millefoglie wedding cake was a total hit - light, fresh, and delicious, many of our guests still rave about this cake.

Photographer: Urška & Domen @urskaanddomen | Planning: In Tuscany Wedding 

@in_tuscany_wedding_ | Flora: I Fiori di Nadia @i.fiori.di.nadia | Ceremony & Reception Location: Villa Medicea di Lilliano @villamediceadililliano | Celebrant: a close friend | Cake, Catering & Beverages: 

Delizia Ricevimenti @deliziaricevimenti | Stationery: Lucy Says I Do @lucysaysido | Suit: Hugo boss | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Fireworks: Pirotecnica Soldi @pirotecnicasoldi | Artist Painting: Inna Illustrator @inna_illustrator