Making the choice to have an intimate wedding was an easy decision for Leila and Sten; it was always their dream to say their 'I do's' surrounded by only their closest family and friends. To make their ideal wedding even dreamier, the couple exchanged their vows in Tuscany, celebrating their nuptials over their entire three day Italian stay with those they love the most. Does it get any more magical than that?

Special thanks to Stefano Santucci for sharing all the beautiful photos with us today!

Leila, 34 & Sten, 30 Florence, Italy

Wedding Date: September 20, 2014

Number of Guests: 27

Wedding Cost: $28,000 USD

Wedding Ceremony Location: Antico Spedale del Bigallo

Wedding Reception Location: Villa Le Piazzole, Firenze

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

It was always our dream to have an intimate wedding with our closest friends and family members.

What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

We did have some moments when people were expecting to be invited and we had to explain that we wanted it to be intimate and couldn't extend the invitation to everyone...it was not always easy.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

We both have a pretty clear group of best friends and close family, so it was probably less of a challenge than for other couples.

Did you have any 'issues' with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

As explained above, in some cases we had to explain why not everybody was invited. All in all, having the ceremony in Italy (we were living in The Netherlands at the time) and not wanting to ask our guests to have to pay any of the costs for the three days were also good reasons to keep it intimate.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

It's difficult to select only one, but for me (Leïla), the moment that I entered the balcony of the city hall and saw Sten was truly special; seeing the look on his face was better than I ever could have imagined! It was just magical, the whole day was just magical!

And right after the ceremony, the kissing and congratulating part with all our guests was also wonderful.

What were the highlights of the reception?

We loved the cocktail hour by the swimming pool; with the sunset, the music, and all our loved ones together, it was fantastic! And during the dinner, the surprises from our guests were truly amazing.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

That we had time with each and everyone and that we could welcome them in a magical place for three days - sharing with them a long weekend we will all remember for the rest of our lives.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Go for it! Try not to worry about the ones that are not invited. People that truly love you will completely understand your guest list and choices, and will be happy to share a moment with you once you are married. If you are like us, and want to spend the day having time for each other while also being able to talk and share everything with your guests, you should not hesitate. And also, if you can, extend the wedding for three days. We were so happy the day after to still have time to relax at the swimming pool and have feedback from everyone. The key is: don't forget that it is your day - you should be able to choose what you both want.

Vendors:

Venue: Villa le Piazzole

Wedding Planner: The Tuscan Wedding

Wedding Dress: Kalaury - Les C.K.L.Z

Photography: Stefano Santucci Studio