Castello Di Ristonchi

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

We first met as co-workers at the children's hospital in Richmond, VA, where Jerrod was beginning his third year of residency and Hanna was working as an occupational therapist. We connected on Hinge shortly after, and had our first date at Hotel Greene in downtown Richmond, where we talked for over 4 hours and never made it to the planned mini golf portion of the date. We began dating exclusively pretty quickly and have had enjoyed exploring Richmond's food scene, adventuring with Hanna's dog, George, and traveling together. Jerrod proposed in one of our favorite spots in Richmond, Maymont Park, and surprised Hanna afterwards with loved ones ready to celebrate. We feel so lucky that we get to spend our lives together and to be supported by such wonderful friends and family!

Our story 

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Tuesday, May 27

Castle arrival 4pmWine on the terraceWelcome dinner

Wednesday, May 28

Breakfast buffetPoolside lunch Wedding ceremony AperitivoSunset dinnerDancing

Thursday, May 29

Brunch on the terracePool party with BBQPasta making classOther optional events on castle grounds

Friday, May 30

BreakfastCheck-out 11am

Schedule of Events

Travel documentation 

Please check your passport expiration date ASAP. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date to the United States. If you do not have a passport or will need to renew your passport, start the process now! Double-check that you have signed your passport.

Flights

The nearest airports are: Florence (40km), Pisa (115km), Bologna (120km). Although farther away, flying into Rome or Milan and taking a train to Florence is another great option.   Make sure you set up flight price notifications in advance. Early booking is always recommended, but sales do pop up any time in the 4 - 12 month prior window.

Self-directed travel

You are able to rent a car and drive separately or taxi to the venue. The drive is around 45 minutes from the Florence airport.   The address is as follows: Castello di Ristonchi Chiesa 1 Pelago, FI Italy 50060 Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/2FxGwVYWPfgLxJB18

Stay

Castello di Ristonchi will exclusively host all events for our wedding celebration. This medieval castle was commissioned by Italy’s famous Medici family in 900 AD and continues to overlook the gorgeous Tuscan landscape. In choosing Ristonchi as our venue, we hope we've significantly simplified your travel logistics. Your accommodations have been arranged for these three memorable days, and we are genuinely thrilled that you can join us in this unique opportunity to stay at this charming and authentic Tuscan castle.

Travel

What if I can't make it?

You will be dearly missed! Please let us know as soon as possible so that we can maintain an accurate headcount.

What should I wear? 

May 27:Wine on the terrace and welcome dinner: Smart Casual(Think sundresses, button downs, and slacks) May 28:Breakfast buffet: Comfortable Casual Poolside lunch: Swimwear Wedding events: Elevated Garden Party(Elevated garden party attire is whimsical, dressy, and designed to be worn outdoors. It typically falls somewhere between a semi-formal dress code and cocktail attire, with breezy silhouettes and pastel colors. And since you’re dressing for an outdoor event, make sure you are comfortable! For women, this means flowy dresses, breathable fabrics, and shoes that are made for navigating uneven terrains. For men, you can’t go wrong with a lightweight suit or jacket and tie. Have fun with your outfits! Note: The wedding and many of our festivities will be outside and on grass, so keep that in mind when packing shoes.) May 29:Brunch on the terrace: Comfortable Casual Pool party: Swimwear Pasta making class: Casual May 30:Breakfast: Comfortable Casual

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Please indicate this as soon as possible on your RSVP. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-sensitive are easily accommodated by the venue.

What is included in my stay?

This invitation is for a 3-day event on the castle grounds, inclusive of meals and a selection of beverages. Any additional beverages that guests choose to partake in, which are not part of the provided package, will be considered extra expenses. Each guest will be responsible for opening a tab on their room and settling these charges upon check-out.

What will the accomodations be like?

The castle is over 1,000 years old. That being said, please do not think you are arriving at a brand new hotel! The castle is rustic and charming. Keep your eye out because some of the stones in the walls have medieval markings engraved in them. It is surrounded by an ancient forest - they live in harmony with nature, have a functioning farm, and don't use harmful chemicals - so there may be a bug, a bee, or a spiderweb around along with the beautiful serene nature. If this sounds like a nightmare to you, that's okay! There are several villas you can book about a 15 minute drive from the castle. The castle consists of apartments and studios, so you may be sharing an apartment with your family or friends. Each apartment has a private bathroom and most have a mini-kitchen. The furnishings are typical Tuscan style, and some of the bathrooms are small and quirky, but that's part of the fun of staying in an old castle. There won't be daily cleanings, but all of the basics will be provided for you, such as bed linens, towels, hand soap, and shampoo. There is heat, however no air conditioning, which is common in Italy. All guest rooms have fans and we've been assured that the property is high on a hill and gets a very nice breeze. There will be an ironing/steamer station for your wedding attire. All common areas of the venue and the Castello Tower rooms will have WiFi for guests, however Fattoria and Borghetto rooms have stone walls too thick for WiFi to reach.

Do I have to stay at the castle?

Staying and the castle is not required. You are welcome to stay nearby and arrange a shuttle or drive to the venue if you prefer for the wedding events. Here are some nearby hotels, villas, and AirBnBs: VILLA GRASSINA: 5 mins by car or 20 mins walkwww.villagrassina.it VILLA CERTINA: 2 mins by car or 9 mins walkhttps://www.vrbo.com/it-it/affitto-vacanze/p2160289?arrival=2023-05-19&amp;departure=2023-05-22&amp;uni_id=2287272 FLORENCE HILLS RESORT &amp; SPA: 10 mins by carhttps://www.theflorencehills.it/en/ OTHER:https://www.airbnb.it/rooms/34694916?adults=1&amp;category_tag=Tag%3A8536&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;search_mode=flex_destinations_search&amp;check_in=2023-04-10&amp;check_out=2023-04-15&amp;previous_page_section_name=1001&amp;federated_search_id=6cfc44f4-1f41-4181-9fcc-9dea44c3c290 https://www.vrbo.com/it-it/affitto-vacanze/p8743695?noDates=true&amp;uni_id=4806508 https://www.vrbo.com/it-it/affitto-vacanze/p1786983?arrival=2023-04-06&amp;departure=2023-04-09&amp;uni_id=3498648

Will I be able to purchase necessities nearby?

The castle is secluded so please pack all necessities such as medication that you will need for the 3-night stay. There is a bar and small shop onsite where you can buy coffee, drinks, ice cream and snacks. Please note that outside alcohol is not permitted.

What will the weather be like?

Here is a link to a website with local weather information:https://www.accuweather.com/en/it/pelago/1548049/weather-forecast/1548049

Any fun ways to prepare?

We recommend following Castello di Ristonchi on Instagram! They post beautiful and fun updates of their weekly events. They were also the filming location for the Netflix movie Toscana. The film won't be winning many awards but it provides beautiful videos of the grounds and surrounding landscape.

Gifts?

Travel is a great love of ours and we are so excited to share this experience with our friends and family! If you are able to make the trip to Italy, please consider your gift received.

Q + A

Things to Do

Travel around Europe

The most difficult part is getting to Europe. Once you’ve crossed the water, travel is rather affordable! If you'd like to extend your vacation before or after the 3-day wedding, Florence is located by train or plane to major cities on low cost carriers that connect you across Europe.&nbsp; This is the direct website of the Italian rail line.&nbsp;We recommend booking any train travel directly with them:http://www.trenitalia.com/en.html Familiarize yourself with AirBnB! Europe is full of options with private or shared apartment rentals that fit any price point.

Money

The unit of currency in Italy (and the rest of Europe) is the&nbsp;euro and centessimo, similar to the US dollar and cent. Almost all vendors (including taxis) take Visa, Mastercard, and Apple Pay. American Express and Discover are less widely accepted in Europe. Contact your bank and credit card companies ahead of time to set a travel notice that you will be abroad. If you'd like cash, you are able to exchange USD for EUR at your bank pre-departure, however we recommend waiting until arrival and using a local ATM. Avoid the airport conversion stands! Tipping is not customary - only in times of exceptional service - and even then is no more than 10%.

Cell Phones

Look into your US-based carrier's international plan. If you do not secure an international plan via your US carrier, ensure your phone is in airplane mode/data turned off so that you are not charged roaming fees.

Other

2025 is a Jubliee year in Rome - a special year for those of Catholic faith. Expect Rome to be very crowded and all entry tickets, accommodations, etc. to fill up very quickly. If planning any additional travel to Rome, we recommend that you make reservations as soon as possible.

Hanna & Jerrod

Hanna & Jerrod

Photos