Nearly 10 years ago, Ty and Haley fell for the hills of Tuscany, and subsequently, for each other.
They dreamed of getting married here one day, and only in hindsight did they know that was their first vow.
As love will have it, dreams sometimes do come true.
SEPT 29 — Welcome Party
Wine Tasting & Tour
A complimentary winery tour and tasting at our venue, Quercia al Poggio. We’ll visit the cellars, try some bottles, and nibble on light snacks. Meet at the estate reception just before 4:30pm, and make sure to designate a driver if you plan to drive later.
Pizza Dinner
An outdoor dinner on the venue property with a spritz bar, all-you-can-eat vegetarian pizzas and salads, more Quercia al Poggio wine, and a classic Italian dessert. That’s a-more than we can stomach.
SEPT 30 — Explore Tuscany
Visit Siena
If you are feeling medieval, join us in Siena for a day of exploration. We are preparing a (questionable) self-guided tour of the town (Ty loves a walking tour). Meet outside Basilica Cateriniana di San Domenico at 10:30am and we’ll go from there. Afterwards, grab a takeaway lunch and meet us to sit and eat in Piazza del Campo around 12:30pm. It’s totally optional if you want to join us for all or any of this.
Cheese Farm Picnic
A pecorino cheese tasting and picnic at a nearby Tuscan cheese farm called Azienda Agricola S.Anna, a 20 min drive from Siena. The cost is €20 per person and includes a selection of cheeses paired with local jams, bread, and wine. If you would like to come, please let us know a few days prior.
OCT 01 — The Big Day
Ceremony
A short and sweet proclamation of love starting at 3:30pm sharp on the grass near the reception at Quercia al Poggio.
Aperitivo
Join us by the estate pool for a cheers, along with some live music and lots of cheese (and other aperitifs too). Cin cin!
Reception
A delicious 3 course vegetarian dinner served in Quercia al Poggio’s ancient borgo courtyard, followed by speeches and a traditional Italian dessert.
Party
Dancing, drinks, and debauchery under the stars. For off-property guests, there is a shuttle service by reception to take you home at 11:30pm, 12:30am, and 1:30am.
OCT 02 — Pool Party
Pool Party
Ending on a splash with a party at Quercia al Poggio’s main pool. We’ve organized vegetarian sandwiches and salads for lunch, and a bartender will be shaking up some cocktails. We’ll also get a pickup tennis tournament going, so start stretching now (equipment will be provided).
At a winery on a hill, called Quercia al Poggio. The property has 100 hectares of organic vineyards and olive groves, and a couple farmhouses that make up a rural village (a former convent of Vallombrosan monks dating back to 1039). It’s truly a haven of peace, quiet, and calm, and the perfect place for hosting our wedding.
It’s located about 1 hour south of Florence and 20 minutes from Poggibonsi, the nearest large town. The venue is at the top of a hill, up a winding road offering beautiful views of the Chianti region.
The closest airport is in Florence, an hour drive away, but you can also fly into Pisa (1.5hrs), Bologna (2hrs), or Rome (3hrs).
Typically, the most cost-effective way to get there is by flying to a major European centre (Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, London, etc.) and then catching a short regional flight to one of the Italian airports listed above.
We highly recommend renting a vehicle, because it’s the best way to see Tuscany and access our venue. Every airport has a car rental agency, and our venue has free on-site parking.
Driving in Italy is not difficult at all, we’ve done it a few times without any issues. You’re still driving on the same side of the road, just in a smaller vehicle with a few more roundabouts.
Public transportation in Tuscany exists, but is limited. There are train stations in Florence, Poggibonsi, and Siena, but travelling by train will not enable access to the smaller Tuscan towns or our venue, Quercia al Poggio. There are regional taxi and bus services, but ride share services, like Uber, are not very reliable outside of Florence.
If you don't plan to drive, let us know and we'll try to connect you with other guests who have vehicle rentals.
There are a few apartments on the venue that are already reserved for close family and friends. We have already reached out to you if you are staying on the property, otherwise there are lots of great accommodation options nearby.
The road between Quercia al Poggio and Poggibonsi (Strada della Paneretta) has many family-run bed and breakfasts. Most are less than a 10 min drive from our venue and decently affordable. We recommend this accommodation style if you want a more traditional Tuscan experience or intend to frequently visit us at the venue.
There are some very small and charming Tuscan towns nearby our venue that have lots of villas or Airbnbs. Check out the towns of San Donato (15 min away), Castellina in Chianti (20 min away), or Barberino Val d'Elsa (20 min away). Staying in these areas will offer you a good balance of Tuscan charm, urban conveniences, and affordability.
The town of Poggibonsi is only 20 minutes away from our venue. It is more of a commercial and business centre, so it lacks some of the romantic Tuscan charm you may expect in Italy. Expect typical urban conveniences like grocery stores, banks, fast food, and some larger, uncomplicated hotels. We only recommend staying here if you want a more North American hotel experience or if you need to quickly secure a place to stay.
Both cities are very large, so they offer tons of accommodation. However, Florence is 60 minutes from our venue, and Siena is 40 minutes. We don’t recommend staying that far away, unless you love driving. But we do recommend visiting these places at some point while you’re in Tuscany.
You can find most villas, hotels, and bed & breakfasts on typical travel websites like Expedia or Booking.com, but don’t forget to check out Airbnb. We also highly recommend opening Google Maps and just clicking around near our venue. You can find some incredible, authentic Tuscan B&Bs that aren’t listed anywhere else. Some don’t even have websites, but you can email the owners directly to arrange a booking.
Last year we stayed at a hotel called Pimpinella di Semifonte (30 min away). It is very affordable, and the owner Alessandra is very kind. The catch? You have to drive 2 km down a perilous dirt road, but whoever braves it will be rewarded with a charming and memorable stay.
If you would like some help with finding accommodation, or if you would like us to connect you with other guests with similar accommodation preferences, we are happy to help. Just send us a message.
Is there a wedding day dress code?
On the wedding day, we recommend keeping things formal, but only as formal as you feel comfortable. Think well-tailored suits and long dresses, with polished but playful details. Ties optional, colours encouraged. For the welcome dinner, semi-formal is recommended.
Can I bring my child?
We would be happy to include your children, we’ll just have to sort out some logistics with our vendors. Send us a message and we will make sure to include them.
Can I bring a +1?
Unfortunately, our venue capacity prevents us from offering +1s to our guests. If you have someone special that you would like to attend with you, please send us a message and we’ll see what we can do.
Is there a wedding gift registry?
No there isn't, because celebrating with you means more to us than any gift. Please don't feel the need to gift us anything, but if you must, a handwritten note or homemade card would be the perfect keepsake.
What’s the weather like on Oct 1st?
Expect the weather to feel like a Vancouver summer. Warm and pleasant during the day when the sun is out (23-26ºC), and a bit cooler and milder once the sun sets (13-16ºC). Pack a mix of warm weather clothes and light layers, and keep an eye on the forecast when you start packing.
Will the wedding events be outdoors?
We plan to host all our wedding events outdoors in a mix of grassy and stone areas, so please bring appropriate footwear. We’ve also arranged an indoor plan in the case of wet weather.
Any specific clothes to pack?
Bring a bathing suit if you plan to attend the pool party, along with some activewear, as we might do a pickup tennis tournament if there is time and interest.
