Villa Cetinale, province of Siena

Welcome Dinner & Drinks

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Dinner

Reception

After Party

Nikki Beach Inspired Pool Party

Our Wedding

Micaela's Perspective: It's Saturday, July 31st, 2021. I wake up in a hotel room in New Jersey, exhausted and hungover from partying all night at my friend's wedding. I roll over to check my phone and see a text from my dad, saying he's at Sunset Beach on Shelter Island and that I should come out. I quickly pull myself together and hit the road. I had a 3-hour drive ahead of me, but the sun was shining and I was so excited to be back at my favorite place, Sunset Beach Hotel. &nbsp;Side note: For those of you who don't know, Sunset Beach is a small slice of French paradise on Shelter Island, owned by André Balazs (Owner of the Chateau Marmont in LA, The Standard in NYC, etc.). Shelter Island is a tiny island set between the North Fork and the South Fork of Long Island. You can take a Ferry from Greenport on the North Fork (where Patrick and I now live) or Sag Harbor on the South Fork in the Hamptons. It's a highly exclusive island, known as "Billionaire's Island," which is absolutely beautiful and a place both of us hold near and dear to our hearts. I've been visiting the Island since 2009 with my dad, and Pat's been working on/visiting the island since he was a teenager. We never crossed paths.. not until, July 31, 2021. &nbsp;I finally arrive and it's the perfect beach day. I came equipped with my portable speaker to DJ some tunes, have a glass of froze (frozen rose, a sunset beach specialty) and enjoy the day. Some people on the beach, around my age commented on how they loved the music I was playing. It happens to be a group of locals who all own houses on the Island. We combine beach spots and spend the rest of the afternoon hanging and getting to know one another.&nbsp; Later in the day, another guy shows up to the beach and joins our group. I notice him immediately because he's wearing a cowboy hat... &nbsp;Side note: At this time in my life, I was living full time in Oklahoma City... the land of the cowboys. I never expected to see a cowboy cross my path on Shelter Island! What in the world was going on...&nbsp; Not only was he wearing a cowboy hat but he was so cute and super fit. I mean.. the guy had muscles on top of muscles. To be honest, I could tell that he was younger than me, so I decided not to take the thought of him any further. This guy was obviously Pat. We didn’t have much of an exchange besides him standing up for an impromptu photoshoot while wearing his black cowboy hat and holding up an American flag… &nbsp;The day continues and we’re all hanging out and my weenie dog, Oliver runs over to Pat and jumps on him and licks/kisses him all over. Pat, confused and shocked by this random dog’s spontaneous affection looks around and asks, “who’s crazy dog is this?”.. I look over and say, “he’s mine!” We lock eyes… Pat pulls out the smoothest line he could think of and says .. “Oh wow, what’s your name?” .. I say, “Micaela, what’s yours?”.. “I’m Patrick… I’m surprised you haven’t caught me eye before…” As he’s saying this, I’m literally holding back laughter… Is this guy serious? Who did he think he was? We continue to have a very quick chat, and his friend starts calling his name from his truck on the street. Pat gets up to leave and I say.. “Wait, you’re leaving?” … Those three words sealed the deal for him. He goes on his way, and the day ends.&nbsp; I end up staying at Sunset Beach Hotel that weekend through the following week. Tuesday rolls around and I’m scrolling on Instagram and notice a “close friends” story with a green circle pop up on my page from a Pat_Anderson96… I had to do a double take because I didn’t even know who Pat_Anderson96 was, let alone why he was including me as one of his “close friends” in his story settings. I click on the story and it’s a beautiful beach sunset pic with the location tag, “Sunset Beach Hotel.” I click on the user’s profile and quickly realize it’s the Beach Cowboy from Saturday! &nbsp;I take the bate and shoot him a message, “Are you here?” He responds another suave line, “All summer :) You?” Eager and ready to hangout with someone my age, I respond, “All week!” He replies, “Yay :) let’s do something!” A few quick, flirty exchanges with lots of extra letters at the end of wordsssssss and smiley faces galore, we make a plan to meet for a drink later that day.&nbsp; Hours later, I had just gotten out of the shower and I get another DM, “All done :) Ya think you can scoop me from the ferry in like 20 min?” I’m literally naked… so I rush to get dressed, fix my hair, do my makeup, etc. and head over to the North Ferry. Now, at this point, I had no idea if he lived on the Island, or what, so I think I’m just doing a local a favor and I’m driving him to his house… I see him standing by the ferry with a backpack and hat. He hops in the car and I go, “Where am I taking you?”, he replies, “A secret spot…drive toward sunset beach.” So now I’m confused. He directs me down and around the island and we park on a dead end next to a huge rock with paintings all over it. He gets out of the car and doesn’t say a word. I get out and follow him as he starts walking down the beach… Mind you, it’s a gloomy, windy, gray day and it looks like it’s about to down pour. I’m thinking, I’m either going to die today, or there’s a slim chance we’re having a first date.&nbsp; He leads me to a gazebo that’s set out from the beach in the water. It’s rustic and beautiful. He whips out a bottle of rose, and a towel for us to sit on. THANK GOD it wasn’t an axe and rope. We sit and chat about our love for President Donald Trump and I knew he was the one. We leave there and go to dinner at Isola, a cute Italian restaurant on the island. We talk and laugh for hours, sharing stories about our families, friends, places we’ve visited, anything and everything. Closing time comes and I have to take him back to the ferry so he can head home to Greenport. He kissed me bye, and the rest is history. We were inseparable ever since.&nbsp; He continued to come back every day for the rest of the week to visit me while I was there. I had no idea he was in the Police Academy at the time and that he was driving 1.5 hours one-way to train/get yelled at all day, to then drive 1.5 hours back to Greenport, quickly change and hop on the ferry to come see me. If you ask me.. that’s love. He won’t admit it but it was love at first sight. He was a smitten kitten and he would have swam over to see he if he had to.&nbsp; I ended up spending 19 out of 31 days on Shelter Island that August. I also never returned to Oklahoma City like I was supposed to. I ended up extending my stay in New York, working remotely for my company, and continuing to build my relationship with Pat.&nbsp; A trip to the Bahamas with my company rolled around in December and I brought Pat along for the ride. He officially got down on one knee and asked me to… be his girlfriend. Two weeks later, he gave me my first Christmas gift, a custom 3D printed, “I Dream of Jeannie” genie bottle and a wrote me a hand-written love note where he told me that he loved me for the first time.&nbsp; A trip to Costa Rica, the South of France, Italy, Bahamas (again the following year), Colombia, Italy (a different part), Spain…. And countless memories with our friends and family, our time together has been nothing short of spectacular!&nbsp; Patrick's Perspective: It’s July 31st, just another weekend in paradise on Shelter Island. I was in the Police Academy at the time, so I rocked a shaved head all summer. To hide my baldness, I decided to wear a beautiful cowboy hat the day I met Micaela. While hanging out with some buddies on sunset beach, I noticed this crazy weenie dog running around causing chaos. He was really handsome so I couldn’t resist playing with him. Let’s just say I got her dog’s approval. Step one complete. &nbsp;While wondering where his owner was, I gazed down the beach to see a crazy blonde staring at us (The owner, Micaela). Armed with an oversized American Flag draped over my back like a cape, I approached the crazy blonde, and made some small talk. I hit her with the old, “I’m surprised you never caught my eye…” line. She was obviously smitten from the start. After 5 minutes, she had me modeling with the American Flag as she took pics of me. We were off to a great start. Step two complete.&nbsp; Soon after our connection sparked, time intervened, and I could hear my buddy, yelling at me that we had to go. Without too much thought, I told her it was nice meeting her started to walk away…and to my surprise, I received a heartwarming reply - “Oh you’re leaving already…?” At that moment, butterflies consumed my stomach. I knew she was into me. Step three complete. &nbsp;I was able to get her number and set up a date the following week. I remember bragging to all my buddies in the Police Academy about Micaela and after hours of deep classroom discussion, they helped me compose the first text I sent to her…”Heyyy” with three y’s. As predicted, she took the bait and responded. Step 4 complete.&nbsp; Before our first date, (our 2nd encounter) I remember how exhausted I was from running drills at the academy. I couldn’t let it threaten to derail the evening. Desperate for a boost, I turned to a military buddy for a scoop of "I am God" pre-workout, which had 400mg of caffeine in one hit. A risky move, perhaps, but love knows no bounds.&nbsp; While brainstorming ideas of where to take her, I decided on a very romantic spot on the peninsula of Shelter Island. However, it’s hard to get to and sort of isolated. Nonetheless, it was a fairytale destination accessible only by determination and love, so I was up for the challenge. I threw on a flannel, jeans, a baseball cap and cowboy boots and left the house with a backpack full of only the essentials: a bottle of Rose, a picnic blanket and some fruit, and headed to the ferry. Looking back, I probably seemed like a serial killer by the way I was dressed and remember her seeming kind of sketched out when I made her park the car at a “Dead End” street only to walk down a desolate beach on a gray foggy/windy day.&nbsp; When we reached the romantic gazebo, she was relieved I pulled out the bottle of rose instead of the shovel and rope… even though we had to drink the wine straight from the bottle because I forgot wine glasses. After we chatted for a bit, we decided to continue the night at a nice Italian restaurant. &nbsp;We sat at the bar and I could barely hold up my drink due to all the caffeine in my body. My caffeine induced jitters caused me to spill my drink all over the bar and almost her. Thankfully, she looked past my nerves, only finding charm in my clumsiness. Long story short, after she answered my follow up text message the following day, hoping to see me again, I knew I had scored a keeper. 5th and final step complete.&nbsp; During the academy, I remember getting yelled for staring out the window, while daydreaming of my next date with Micaela. As soon as class ended, I would quickly drive 1.5 hours home, go to the gym (of course), and jump on the ferry to see my girl aka my "genie in a bottle." From that moment on, every day became a countdown to Micaela and I's next adventure. Whether in the academy classroom or on the 10 min ferry to Shelter Island, thoughts of Micaela consumed me. Shelter Island not only gifted me with cherished memories but also with the greatest treasure of all, Micaela, my forever love (and Oliver, my first love).

Our Story

Our Story & Photo Timeline

Engagement Video:<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YJPVNobHQ8h0WkgdFfhL6g3kN8fgPh3z/view?ts=661b0d4e" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YJPVNobHQ8h0WkgdFfhL6g3kN8fgPh3z/view?ts=661b0d4e</a>

Engagement Video & Photos

Wedding Party

THE VILLA:The Tuscan landscape has barely changed over the past 500 years; the countryside punctuated by small farms and villages of sun-faded terracotta brick and plaster, and between them the villas of the old Sienese aristocracy, the former homes of popes and cardinals, the seats of long-ago power. One of the most beautiful of them all is Villa Cetinale, built in 1680 by Cardinal Flavio Chigi for his august relation Pope Alexander VII. This Roman baroque mansion lies hidden, like anenchanted castle, up a long dusty road lined with paintbrush-tipped cypress trees. Far above it, reached by the 300 steps of the Santa Scala, stands the Romitorio, a tiny monastery built to process the sins and absolutions of the cardinals who once lived here. Benedetto Giovannelli, a local architect, designed these first works completed between 1651 and 1656. After Fabio Chigi became Pope Alexander VII in 1655, the works came to a halt until 1676, when his nephew Flavio inherited Cetinale. Flavio wanted to transform the villa in Roman Baroquefashion and hired the architect Carlo Fontana, pupil of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Fontana designed the monumental stair and the marble portal surmounted by a great Chigi coat-of-arms on the northern façade. He projected the chapel, next to which is the "limonaia" (lemon house). In front of the house stand "Spring" and "Summer", two statues by Giuseppe Mazzuoli. Behind the north front, stand two pillars containing two massive statues, 15th-century copies of Trajan's column in Rome. The avenue then narrows and runs for 220 meters, until it reaches two stone busts of Napoleon and one of his marshals, commemorating the French emperor's visit to Cetinale in 1811. The theatre lies behind the statues and can be reached from the North, from the ancient road to Siena.&nbsp; A small gate leads to the start of "Scala Santa" (Holy Stair), about 300 steps, ending in a stone platform. Here stands the "Romitorio" a five-story hermitage inhabited by monks until the end of 19th century, now fully restored. The straight line that runs from the Romitorio down the avenue and past the house finishes on the southeastern side of the villa, with an enormous statue of Hercules, also by Mazzuoli. To the North lies the Thebaid (Holy Wood), named after the desert around the Egyptian city of Thebes, where the early Christians retreated, in order to escape from persecution. Paths, avenues, statues of saints and hermits, and one of the seven votive Chapels surrounding Cetinale are to be found in the Tebaid. The chapels are decorated with frescos representing "The Seven Sorrows of the Virgin" Most frescos have deteriorated but a few are still visible such as "Escape to Egypt" on the outside wall towards Siena. PALIO DI SIENA:The Palio of Siena, the most famous horserace in Italy was raced seven times between 1679 and 1692 at the villa in the Tebaid, on account of riots in the city. There is no record of Palios at Cetinale after Flavio's death.

Villa & Palio History

BY AIRPLANE:Florence, 82kmPisa, 113kmRome Fiumicino, (FCO) 272km BY TRAIN:The closest station to Villa Cetinale is Siena (30 minutes drive) *Please note that although there are taxis around the train station is not so easy to get one, we warmly suggest to pre-book a transfer in advance. CAR RENTAL:There are many car rental options in Pisa, Florence and Rome airports. Below you can find car rental comparison sites that may be useful to find the type of vehicle you prefer. The usual companies are available such as Hertz, Europcar and Avis. We recommend you bring or rent a sat nav/GPS or use your mobile phone for navigation as although there are signs to the main towns/attractions, some of the places you will want to visit will be slightly off the beaten track. Price comparison websites:www.rentalcars.comwww.holidayautos.comwww.autoeurope.co.ukwww.travelsupermarket.com Please check the opening times of your chosen car rental airport desk, most in Pisa are open until 11:30pm but still worth checking against your flight. DIRECTIONS BY ROAD:From North:Take the motorway in the direction of Florence and exit “Firenze Certosa” then turn right in the direction of Siena. Exit Siena San Marco (or Siena Ovest). From South:Take A1 in the direction of Florence and exit Valdichiana” then follow direction for Siena. As you are approaching Siena take the ring road “Tangenziale” and exit “Siena San Marco”. From Siena:San Marco take the SS. 73 in the direction of Sovicille. When you get to a group of houses called Volte Basse turn right in the direction of Cetinale. When you reach the town of Sovicille turn left and then immediately right and follow the signs for Cetinale in the direction of Ancaiano. Just before you reach the town of Ancaiano look for the sign on the right for Cetinale which is 300 meters up the road. The villa is strategically positioned for those who wish to visit the art cities while enjoying the serenity of the Tuscan countryside. NEAREST TOWN: Sovicille 5km Other towns:Siena 23kmSan Gimignano 33kmCastellina in Chianti 37kmRadda in Chianti 37kmBuonconvento 40kmCertaldo 44kmVolterra 45kmMontalcino 53kmFlorence 67km NEARBY CITIES:Siena - 15kmSiena is one of the most fascinating towns in Tuscany, not only for its sights, but also for its surroundings. It preserves its medieval character to a remarkable degree, and has been largely unspoiled by new buildings. Piazza del Campo is one of the most famous squares in Italy, where the great Palio di Siena horserace takes place. In fact Siena retains a ward-centric culture from medieval times. Each ward (contrada) is represented by an animal or mascot, and has its own boundary and distinct identity. Ward rivalries are most rampant during the annual horse race. The streets in Siena are steep as it was built on a ridge, and the town, can be basically visited by foot only.Some known people were born in Siena, as it has always been a lively cultural center: Mauro Pagani, musician, Duccio di Buoninsegna, Saint Catherine, Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli, archaeologist and many more. San Gimignano - 55 KmSan Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. Known as the Town of Fine Towers, San Gimignano is famous for its medieval architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses, which, with its hilltop setting and encircling walls form "unforgettable skyline" Within the walls, the well-preserved buildings include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture, with outstanding examples of secular buildings as well as churches. TRANSFERS TO THE WEDDING VENUE WILL BE PROVIDED FROM SIENA, IN FIXED PICK UP POINTSPlease refer to our Concierge at silvia@smartluxitaly.com

Travel

THINGS TO DO:Saturday August 16th:For anyone in the area -- join us at the Palio di Siena, a medieval horse race in Siena. We will be going to the Palio race in the afternoon on Saturday, August 16. It is free to enter if you wish to stand in the center of the Piazza. The race takes place around the center.&nbsp; Tickets are available for purchase if you wish to view the race from the stands (~$500+ - tickets go on sale next year).&nbsp; You should plan to book your own transportation to Siena, or drive your rental car. Parking will be available near the entrance of the city (Siena). Find more information here: https://www.aboutsiena.com/Palio-races-of-Siena/palio-of-Siena-schedule.html HOT SPRINGS:Terme Antica Querciolaia Tuscany has many natural hot springs. In most towns there is a modern spa where hot springs water is brought into a swimming pool and you pay a daily ticket to use the pool. Some of them are outdoors and mostly open during spring and summer; others are open all year round. But there are also hot open air springs for free. Address: Via Trieste, 22 - 53040 Rapolano Terme (SIENA) Phone: +39 0577 724091Terme Antica Querciolaia WINERIES:1. Ricasoli Winery - Brolio Castle: Ricasoli is the most representative wine producer in the Chianti Classico area. With its gentle hills, velvety valleys and thick woodlands of oaks and chestnuts, the 1,200 hectares of property include almost 240 hectares of vineyards and 26 of olive groves. The ongoing study of soil types and the clonal selection of the Brolio Sangiovese are among his greatest passions, and he has totally renovated the vineyards and completely mapped them. The Ricasoli winery place offers the possibility to do different kind of tours, from the vineyard to the ancient castle.&nbsp; 2. Castello di Ama Winery: Beauty and uniqueness enticed this family, originally from Rome, to Ama in the early Seventies. Bound by their love of wine, they replanted the vineyards and introduced new production methods, building a new winery with the end goal of producing Chianti Classico and returning Ama to its former glory. The 75 hectares of vineyards surrounding the village at an altitude that ranges between 420 and 527 meters result in characterful wines suitable for long ageing.The tour culminates in a tasting of Castello di Ama wines at the Enoteca in Villa Pianigiani. Tastings can be themed, based from the estate’s private collection, grand crus or vertical tastings to muse on the exceptional vintages of the wines of Castello di Ama. Our 120-minute tours are only available by prior reservation. Phone +39 0577 746069Email reservation@castellodiama.comCastello di Ama GUIDED HIKING TOURS:From Villa Cetinale towards Pernina and RomitorioPrices range from € 120,00 to €150,00 (2 hour tour) Daily excursion towards the river “Merse” including swimming in the pool (4 hours walking) - from€220/€280

Things to Do

Registry

Dear Family and Friends,We have curated a selection of accommodations to make your stay in the area as comfortable as possible.&nbsp; Please follow the instructions provided alongside each option in order to finalize your booking. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Silvia, our concierge manager. She will be happy to assist you with your plans. Our concierge team is available Monday through Friday, from 10:00am - 5:00pm Italy time, or 4:00pm - 11:00pm EST.Email: <a href="mailto:concierge@smartluxitaly.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">concierge@smartluxitaly.com</a> If you choose to find your own accommodation, please remember to inform the concierge team. Kindly note that transportation to and from to the events will be arranged from the selected hotels. Enjoy your planning and see you in Tuscany! <a href="https://www.chiusarelli.com/en/home/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hotel Chiusarelli</a>&nbsp;*** - SienaA budget-friendly hotel offering good quality accommodations near the sights of central Siena. Guests can enjoy comfortable rooms and relax on the attractive, spacious terrace. The restaurant has an appealing brick-vaulted interior and pleasant secluded veranda. The hotel was purpose-built by Signor Chiusarelli in 1870. It has been owned by the Rosi family for three generations and maintains a certain air of bygone times. Danish writer Anne Fortier set her bestselling novel, Juliet, here.Price range:&nbsp;starting from 129€ per room/night with daily breakfast(Please note, this hotel does not have an elevator)How to book: To complete your booking, please contact Silvia directly. (<a href="mailto:concierge@smartluxitaly.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">concierge@smartluxitaly.com</a>) <a href="https://www.nh-hotels.com/en/hotel/nh-siena?utm_campaign=local-gmb&amp;utm_medium=organic_search&amp;utm_source=google_gmb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NH Siena</a>&nbsp;**** - SienaA short walk takes you into the heart of Siena, with its wealth of historical landmarks, Gothic architecture and pavement cafés. Rooms are decorated in dark wood and muted colors. Some come with a little balcony. Up on the top floors, guests can enjoy views either of the old town or San Domenico church.Price range:&nbsp;starting from 145 € per room/night with daily breakfastHow to book: please click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nh-hotels.com/en/event/micaela-and-patrick-s-wedding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;reserve your room at a special price. The rates will be available until June 18th.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lavilladistr.it/en/home" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hotel La Villa di STR</a>&nbsp;*** - SienaAn attractive, small hotel with a relaxed yet refined atmosphere, set in an early 20th-century villa surrounded by a delightful garden, within easy strolling distance of the sights of central Siena.Price range:&nbsp;starting from 170 € per room/night with daily breakfastHow to book:&nbsp;To complete your booking, please contact Silvia directly. (<a href="mailto:concierge@smartluxitaly.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">concierge@smartluxitaly.com</a>) <a href="https://collezione.starhotels.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Grand Hotel Continental</a>&nbsp;*****&nbsp;&nbsp;- Siena&nbsp;The only five-star hotel in Siena's historic town center is situated in an elegant 17th-century palazzo reminiscent of the Grand Tour. The friendly staff, the central location – a mere five-minute stroll from Piazza del Campo – and the Sapor di Vino restaurant are the hotel's top assets.Price range:&nbsp;starting from € 490,00 per room/night with daily breakfast (flexible rate)How to book:&nbsp;No room block or discounted rates have been pre-arranged. Please book directly through their website. If you need assistance, feel free to contact Silvia.&nbsp;(<a href="mailto:concierge@smartluxitaly.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">concierge@smartluxitaly.com</a>) <a href="https://www.casaalgianni.it/en/home/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Agriturismo Casa Al Gianni</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;Loc. Simignano, Sovicille&nbsp;Located in Sovicille, Agriturismo Casa Al Gianni is in a rural location, a 10-minute drive from the venue and 25-minute from Siena.&nbsp;The farmhouse is nestled within its 300 hectares of fields, surrounded by chestnut and holm oak woods. This typical farmhouse, featuring a beautiful loggia, is located on the edge of the village in a large, well-equipped garden with a barbecue, bordered by a small forest. The apartments, with independent entrances, are furnished with antique Tuscan furniture and feature: a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and one or two bedrooms.Price range:&nbsp;starting from 130 € per apartment/night rent only. Supplement for breakfast available.How to book: Please contact Silvia to finalize your booking. (<a href="mailto:concierge@smartluxitaly.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">concierge@smartluxitaly.com</a>)

Micaela & Patrick

Micaela & Patrick

Registry