A Romantic Tuscan-Inspired Celebration at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

By Kevin Harson9 October 2025

The color palette was a soft blend of neutrals—whites, creams, and soft shades of green—that created an effortlessly elegant and timeless feel.

Hanna and Chris envisioned a romantic, Tuscan-inspired celebration—intimate and timeless, perfectly complemented by the enchanting backdrop of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.

Chris proposed two days before Christmas on the beach at the Hotel Del Coronado, right after they went ice skating. It was such a special and romantic moment, surrounded by holiday lights and festive magic. Funny enough, exactly one year later—on Christmas Day—they welcomed their son into the world! Hanna and Chris have been together for nearly seven years. They originally met in high school but reconnected after college. He always tells me her had a crush back then but was too shy to make a move!

The wedding gown, from Archive Bridal, featured a romantic off-the-shoulder design with a sweetheart neckline, an A-line silhouette, and a flowing train. It was paired with a floor-length tulle veil, handmade in Italy.
With such an intimate ceremony and reception, Hanna and Chris chose to forgo a traditional bridal party. Instead, they invited their closest friends to take part in pre-wedding celebrations and encouraged them to wear whatever attire they felt best in. For the ceremony itself, Hanna’s sister Rachel walked down the aisle as maid of honor, and Chris’s best friend Piettro stood by his side as best man.

For dinner, Hanna and Chris chose a seated, multi-course meal featuring filet mignon and Chilean sea bass, paired with an open bar to keep the celebration flowing.

Hanna and Chris’s reception was a floral dream—an elegant sea of hydrangeas, including antique varieties, cascaded down the center of the tables, glowing with the soft flicker of candlelight. The overall design embraced a timeless, Italian-inspired aesthetic, with soft, satin sage green ribbons delicately tied around each dinner napkin. For the ceremony, lush arrangements blended hydrangeas, roses, and rich greenery to beautifully echo the rose garden backdrop where they exchanged their vows.

Their three-tiered cake, adorned with cascading florals that echoed the ceremony arrangements, was both beautiful and meaningful. The flavor—pistachio raspberry—was a subtle nod to the Italian inspiration woven throughout the day. Crafted by Heritage Desserts, it was as delicious as it was stunning.

Hanna and Chris’s ceremony featured a string quartet (Hanna walked down the aisle to can’t help falling in love), and they were married by pastor Willy Baptista. The festivities continued as they danced late into the night, enjoying the perfect playlist curated by their DJ.