Borgo dé Brandi

Love at First Slice Welcome Party

Wedding Day

Welcome Drinks

Ceremony

Reception

After Party

Paninis & Bikinis: The Day After Party

Our Wedding

Our romance started as many modern relationships do now - virtually, on the dating apps. We matched on The League, a dating app that few people have heard of and although we didn't talk to each other on that app, the universe still had plans for us. Shortly after, we matched on Hinge which had newly released a video feature. Shannon had a video of a monkey jumping on her shoulder in Bali and Michael had a video of himself playing guitar. Shannon messaged Michael in response to his video with, "Sounds pretty good. Do you know any John Mayer?" Michael replied, "Good ear, that's a poor man's version of a John Mayer song." To this day, John Mayer is one of the few artists we agree on - so it seems quite serendipitous his music played a role in bringing us together. During our 7+ years together, we have traveled all over, including exciting trips to Mexico, Greece, Portugal, Morocco and beyond! Our love of travel, food, wine and the great outdoors is taking us to Italy for the first time and we know it will provide an unforgettable setting for this momentous occasion! Friends and family are greatly important to us, so it's meaningful to celebrate our special day with all of you!

Our Story

Kaile and I were unexpectedly paired in temporary dorm housing during sorority recruitment at Washington State University in 2009. We clicked right away, bonding over our shared major, similar interests and the fact that we were both transferring from universities in California, each hoping to build meaningful friendships before stepping into the real world.

Kaile is the most amazing friend I could ever ask for—and one of the rare few whose advice I will take. From Coug games and frat parties to international trips and deep conversations about our careers, families and relationships, she’s been by my side through it all. I feel incredibly lucky to have her in my life.

Kaile Talbott

Despite enduring relentless tormenting as the younger brother, Brandon is still willing to be the best man. His easygoing attitude and knack for making any situation more fun are refreshing reminders to laugh a little more and stress a little less. From the early days as bunk bed mates, he’s always had my back when times have been the toughest, and I’m grateful to have him by my side this summer.

Brandon Dunaway

Amanda and I met in 2010 when I welcomed her into Greek life at AOII at WSU. Over the years, we’ve made countless trips to visit each other, spent time with each other’s families, and grown up side by side, always supporting one another. What I admire most about Amanda is that she knows exactly what she wants and pursues it unapologetically.

We became fast friends, bonding over fashion, design and our mutual love of shopping. There’s no one else I’d catch COVID for on a trip to Nashville or stay up all night with making flower arrangements before a wedding—but for Amanda, I’d do just about anything. She’s the kind of loyal friend who always puts me at ease and I love her dearly.

Amanda Anderson

I’ve known Robbie since the third grade. I was new to the school district, we were paired as deskmates, and he conveniently lived around the corner – the friendship has flourished ever since. We grew up together through elementary, middle, and high school, and even lived as roommates in college. Though we now live on opposite ends of the country, a phone call always brings us back to countless laughs, no matter how much time has passed.

Robert Ginnebaugh

Kelsey and I first met in college through our sorority in 2009, but we didn’t really become close until our last year in Pullman when we shared the best room in the chapter house. From late-night study sessions for PR classes to spontaneous midnight adventures and endless laughs over the randomness captured in my infamous camera roll, every moment with her has been pure joy.

What I cherish most about Kelsey is how effortlessly we pick up where we left off—whether it's been a year without talking or even longer without seeing each other. Our marathon 3+ hour phone calls are wild, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Somehow, we’re complete opposites, yet we just get each other perfectly. I love our friendship beyond words.

Kelsey Gegen

I met Trey in driver’s ed and we instantly clicked with a shared sense of humor and aspirations to be the next Jimmy Page – little attention was paid to the rules of the road. The friendship grew over road trips to Northern Michigan, bus rides through Argentina, beach hangs in San Diego, and calm boat excursions in Tampa Bay. He’s a true friend who's always checking in and would drop everything to help those around him.

Trey Shield

Wedding Party

Flying InWe recommend flying into Florence and renting a car as you make your way to Siena. Borgo dé Brandi is located between Florence and Siena in Monteriggioni, a walled town in Tuscany, known for its medieval fortifications and watchtowers. The venue is nestled among groves of olive trees and vineyards with a picturesque view of Monteriggioni castle. Getting to Monteriggioni&nbsp;from FlorenceBorgo dé Brandi is not far from Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence (38 miles). We recommend renting cars for ease as taxis, busses and trains are not as reliable in this area. Driving Directions: ~1 hourThe drive is about an hour (36 miles) with scenic views of the countryside.- Take the A1/E35 highway heading south from Florence.- Take the exit for Firenze Impruneta, then follow signs for the RA3 (Raccordo Autostradale Firenze-Siena) toward Siena.- Stay on the RA3 for ~40 km (25 miles) and exit at Monteriggioni.- From Monteriggioni, follow signs for Strada di Brandi or Borgo de' Brandi.- Use Via Cassia Nord/SS2 south briefly, then turn onto Strada di Brandi.- Drive through scenic country roads for about 5-10 minutes until you reach the agriturismo entrance.- Parking: Borgo de' Brandi offers parking on-site for guests. HotelsSummer is busy season in Italy so we recommend booking a hotel room in Monteriggioni or Siena ASAP if you plan on attending. We have listed some nearby accommodation options below from which we will have shuttles pick up and drop off for wedding events but feel free to do your own research to find the best place to stay for you!

The wedding party and some immediate family members will be staying here with the couple

Please email the manager Stefano at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@ilpiccolocastello.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">info@ilpiccolocastello.com</a>&nbsp;and mention “Shannon &amp; Michael wedding” to have access to the specific rooms they are holding for us. From there, you will need to provide a credit card as guarantee of the booking. In case of cancellation, there is no fee until 15 days before check-in, 50% fee of the total amount from 14 to 7 days, 100% of the total amount less than 7 days. These fees will be charged to the cards of the guests that cancelled.&nbsp;

Il Piccolo Castello

Travel & Accommodations

FAQs

Sharing some inspiration on what to wear for our Italian wedding. We’d love for everyone to bring their best formal looks—think men in a sharp suit (any color you love) and women in a long dress or a chic pantsuit. We want you to feel amazing and confident! To keep the vibe elegant and cohesive, we kindly ask that you skip white (for obvious reasons), red, animal prints or loud patterns—solid colors are ideal for photos. We can’t wait to see you all dressed up and to celebrate with each of you in style! Check out the Pinterest board link below for more wedding day guest attire inspiration!

<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/shannon_baker/wedding-guest-attire/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.pinterest.com/shannon_baker/wedding-guest-attire/</a>

Shannon & Michael

Shannon & Michael

Photos