First meeting during their senior year at Stanford University, Allison Rath and Daniel Espinel knew they had found something special in one another. As they both pursued MBAs and careers, their relationship remained strong, even spanning three moves across the country – from the Bay Area to New York to Chicago, where Daniel proposed – before finally settling in Pittsburgh.
While planning, Allison and Daniel had no doubts they would host a destination wedding. “I always told my mother I wanted to be married abroad; it was the only detail of my wedding that I was certain about,” shares the bride, who has spent a large portion of her life studying other cultures and languages, including studying abroad in Florence and spending a summer at an artists’ residency in Chianti. “I am fluent in Italian and have a special love for the culture, cuisine, and art.” Thus, a charming villa in Maremma, Tuscany, provided the perfect site that allowed them to spend the better part of a week with their dearest loved ones in a private setting.
With the help of Kaylen Davidson of Sara Judith Events, a joyous wedding celebration spanning four wonderful days was planned in just six months. “The length of the event allowed us time to interact deeply with all of our guests, and we never felt rushed or worried we wouldn’t have enough time to enjoy everyone’s presence,” the bride notes. An artist by training, she designed the invitations, place cards, and menus herself and even worked closely with their floral designer to ensure the design fit their vision of an elegant, natural alfresco soirée under the Tuscan sun.
