Payton & Gavin

"I met Gavin in 2020. He was supposed to head to Italy the next month for a master’s program but the pandemic kept him stateside, and before we knew it we were attached at the hip. The following year, we BOTH decided to earn our masters’ in Italy. The program took place in a northern Italian town of 900 people — so small it didn't even have a grocery store. It was the most magical year of our lives. We fell in love more and more with each other and with the beauty of Italian culture.  

"When we got engaged years later, choosing Asolo as our wedding destination was almost an unspoken decision. It was right up the road from our campus and a place we had shared many memories of growth, love, and adventure, and since we were familiar with the area, we were able to incorporate so many special touches to our wedding day. We hired our wedding planner, Anna Bergamin, who happened to be from our 900-person town — we had actually walked by her house all the time when we were there but had never met! We truly could not imagine having anyone other than Anna throughout the whole wedding planning process.  

"She helped us choose Castello San Salvatore, where she’d married ten years before. We trusted her completely, and we did not actually see our venue until a couple days before we said 'I do.' I felt it really spoke to Gavin and my love for adventure. Our guests never stayed in one place and each part of the wedding had its own unique atmosphere and story. We wanted to give our guests a true taste of Italy."

"I trust my Maid of Honor, Brooks, with my life — so when she gave me a recommendation for my wedding shoes, I listened. She told me that of all the heels she’s ever worn, Loeffler Randall makes the absolute best. In fact, they were the only heels she’d worn to a wedding that didn’t leave her kicking them off halfway through the evening. I was intrigued, but skeptical. Typically, there’s a tradeoff between comfort and style, and I wasn’t about to compromise on having stunning shoes for my wedding day.

"When I looked at Loeffler Randall, I was immediately captivated. The designs were everything I wanted — elegant, timeless, and undeniably beautiful. The hardest part wasn’t finding a gorgeous pair, it was deciding which one to choose! The collection is filled with so many perfect options, each one unique yet equally stunning.

"But just like other tough decisions during wedding planning, I kept coming back to one — the Natalia heel. It’s sophisticated and chic, with a touch of whimsy that perfectly complemented my Saint Bridal gown. You could see and feel the thoughtfulness in every detail, from the fabric to the impeccable craftsmanship. The Natalia heel wasn’t just a pair of shoes, it was a work of art.

"What truly sealed the deal was knowing that these heels were made to last, both in quality and comfort. I wanted to fully enjoy my wedding day — dancing, celebrating, and being present — without worrying about aching feet or needing a backup pair. Thanks to Brooks’ advice and Loeffler Randall’s incredible design, I found the perfect shoes to carry me through one of the most special days of my life in both style and comfort."

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"Seeing all the details from our months of planning come together was a surreal experience. Thanks to our incredible photographer, Caitlin Wilson Photography, and our videographer, Steven Jim Films, we can relive those moments again and again.

"We wanted our guests to feel special even before arriving, so we started with personalized invitations. Barbara, an artist from the town of Asolo, hand-drew our custom crest and an outline of Asolo. We incorporated personal touches throughout the wedding weekend, starting with the welcome party. While the theme was a white party, Gavin and I wore blue as each other’s ‘something blue.’ Guests enjoyed pizza from our favorite local pizzeria and gelato from the main piazza in Asolo. To add a nostalgic element, we played our parents’ wedding videos on a projector to honor our parents’ wedding anniversaries of 40 and 33 years. A casual DJ set unexpectedly turned into an incredible dance party, setting the tone for the festivities ahead. 

"The next day, my bridal brunch included a surprise for my mom — I walked out in the dress she had worn to her rehearsal dinner years ago. It was such a meaningful way to honor her. To add a fun, personal twist, I taught a tiramisu-making class (a nod to my love for cooking and teaching pasta-making classes back home). Anna, our wedding planner, even arranged handmade, personalized aprons for everyone attending! 

"That evening, our rehearsal took place at the Antonio Canova museum, a venue Gavin and I had always wanted to visit while living in Asolo. Anna suggested a candlelit tour of the sculptures, creating the most magical and romantic atmosphere."

"I hope I never forget how I felt on my wedding day — fully present."

"Finally, our wedding day came. One of our favorite decisions — though initially something we never imagined doing — was sharing our vows (out loud) during the ceremony. That morning, we finished writing them together, soaking in a peaceful moment before the whirlwind of the day began.

"Our reception was filled with a handful of surprises. Anna whisked us away towards the end of aperitivo (cocktail hour) to a private spot at Castello San Salvatore, where we sampled one-bite versions of all the appetizers at our aperitivo. It was a moment for just the two of us. Anna surprised us again that evening by giving us the chance to decorate our wedding cake! We chose the classic Millefoglie and had so much fun adding our own touch to the final presentation. It was such a sweet and memorable way to end the evening."

"Planning our wedding was one of the most creatively fulfilling experiences I’ve ever had. It gave me a chance to dream up ways to make our day not just memorable for us, but for everyone who traveled to celebrate with us. Since it was such a big commitment for our guests to journey all the way to Italy, I wanted every detail to make them feel cared for and appreciated from the moment they arrived.

"We wanted our guests to experience the authentic beauty of Italy that we had fallen in love with — not just the touristy spots in big cities, but the charm, culture, and sense of community you find in smaller towns like Asolo. Every decision was made with this in mind, from the food and the setting to the little moments that made their time with us special.

"Throughout the process, I learned and re-learned the importance of staying true to ourselves. Wedding planning brings out a lot of opinions from others, and I truly valued hearing them all. But at the end of the day, this was a celebration of our love and our story, and we wanted it to reflect who we are as a couple. I don’t regret any of the risks we took or the unconventional ideas we embraced — those were the moments that made our wedding feel truly ours. It’s all worth it on the wedding day."

"I hope I never forget how I felt on my wedding day — fully present. It was raining that morning, and just before the ceremony, the clouds parted to perfect sunshine. Even with that miracle, there were still a number of Plan Bs that we had to embrace throughout the process. We changed wedding venues just months before, we moved the area of our welcome party day-of, we swapped our dinner inside at the last minute. So many things. Each unexpected turn felt like an opportunity to lean into faith and trust that things would work out exactly as they were meant to. It taught me one of the most valuable lessons of the entire experience: no matter how much you plan, God’s plan is always the best plan."