Whitney Cooper and Steven Candido met during a chance encounter in Texas, which was “obviously meant to be.” The two immediately began building a life together and never looked back. A few years later, during a road trip up Highway 1 in California, Steven popped the question.
“We’re not entirely sure why we decided to get married in Italy,” Whitney reflects. “It was one of those crazy ideas that, suddenly, you think is actually doable. But it was the best decision we could have ever made. It was the perfect place to gather our closest family and friends, and enjoy what we love most – eating, drinking, laughing, and exploring new places.”
“FOR US, ITALY WAS A DREAM – SOMETHING OUT OF A FAIRYTALE.”
The bride and groom were married in San Galgano on a warm day in late-September, and the mayor of a nearby town performed the ceremony at a roofless 12th century abbey. It was a breathtaking experience for the couple, and even Dario, the guitarist, joined in the happy tears.
“We had rented a villa in Tuscany for the week, and there, under a sky of twinkling lights, we had the most spectacular dinner feast,” the bride recalls. “The traditional Italian meal was served family-style and wine flowed freely late into the night. That evening, my mother presented us with the most wonderful gift we could have imagined.
Unbeknownst to us, she had asked each of our dear guests to share their favorite memories of both Steven and I during dinner. Throughout the evening’s celebration, the people we love most in the world shared stories that made us laugh, made us cry, and left us feeling so incredibly blessed to have such amazing people share this remarkable day with us.
Our wedding day is something that we think about often and we know we will cherish forever.” After a week in Italy, the newlyweds continued across Europe and honeymooned in Greece, spending time at Katikies resort in Santorini – a wonderful setting with turquoise seas and white-washed buildings.
“For us, Italy was a dream – something out of a fairytale,” says Whitney. “It took a lot of faith and trust to plan a wedding, plus a week full of group activities and events from a distance (mom in Michigan, me in Seattle, wedding planner in Italy), but it was truly one of the most extraordinary experiences of our lives.
We are eternally grateful to all those who traveled so far and did so much to make our week in Italy an unparalleled experience that we will hold in our hearts always.”
WEDDING TALENT
Planner and Event Design: Il Cerimoniere Italian Weddings, Dallas, TX: Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander