Frequently Asked Questions

We have full use of the villa from September 15 - 21, 2024. Please plan to arrive at the villa no earlier than 4:00 pm on the 15th. Everyone will need to be offsite by 10:00 am on the 21st. ​ We'll have two optional excursions on the 17th, one with Sam and one with Kenna, our version of bachelor and bachelorette parties. You'll find the itinerary and cost breakdown for Sam's excursion here and Kenna's here. The wedding events will take place on September 18th. Guests are also invited to an optional picnic at a local dairy farm on the 20th. ​ You can find a tentative itinerary on the "Our Celebration" page, which outlines dates and times more clearly.

The celebration will take place at Villa delle Sophore, an eighteenth-century country house near the Etruscan town of Cortona. You can enter the Plus Code in Google Maps (5XHJ+2XP Ferretto, Province of Perugia, Italy) or click here to populate directions. ​ It can be difficult for navigational systems to pull the address up if you type it manually, so we recommend you bookmark the auto-populated link and return to it whenever needed. ​ The front of the villa looks like this. Note that the white gate may be closed when you arrive.

No, the only "requirements" are the wedding celebrations on the 18th. While we will never say no to spending time with you and would be delighted to include you in our plans, we are also happy to have guests shape their stay however they like! ​ You can find a tentative itinerary on the "Our Celebration" page, which outlines what the bride and groom plan to do. All activities listed there (outside of the wedding-related events on the 18th) are entirely optional.

There is plenty to do and see in rural Tuscany! A few of the bullet points include: ​ ~1 hour away Florence (No explanation necessary! Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, etc.) Siena (Beautiful Medieval city, less crowded than Florence. Amazing food, wine, and architecture) Val d'Orcia (Beautiful nearby valley and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Great for hiking, wine tasting, or a scenic drive) ~40 minutes away Perugia (An ancient hilltop town known for its incredible views and even better chocolate) Assisi (Historic birthplace of St. Francis) Montepulciano (Home of Italy's second-most planted wine grape) Arezzo (Larger nearby city, rich in history and art) Terme Antica Querciolaia (Historic Roman baths) ​ ~20 minutes away Cortona​ (Setting of the book/movie Under the Tuscan Sun!) Castiglione del Lago (beautiful lakeside town) ​ ~10 minutes away ​Attractions​ Lake Trasimeno​, the largest lake in Central Italy (islands, churches, gardens, and more to explore.) Kayaking​ ATVs Speedboating Cooking classes Restaurants Baldetti Wine & Cantina Ristorante la Badiaccia Ristorante Squad Garden C'era Una Volta Agriturismo Lanterna Rossa La Puntabella La Quercia Del Pentimento Le Torri Di Porsenna (also has a spa!) Agrio' Agriosteria Enoteca Meucci (Michelin) La Bucaccia (Michelin) L'Acquario (Michelin) L'Angolo del Buongustaio Porta Senese Ristorante La Cantina La Pigra Tinca​ Cafes Tin Tin Cafe Cafe Pescatore Praia Wineries Podere Marella Baldetti Wine & Cantina Azienda Agricola Leuta La Braccesca​​ If you want to research other things to do, use nearby towns (Cortona and Castiglione del Lago) for best results.

A daily brunch (served 8:30-10:30 a.m., September 16-20) will be provided for guests of the villa, and a traditional Italian dinner will be served at the wedding reception. A farewell farm lunch will also be offered to guests on September 20. If you would like to purchase your own additional groceries or alcohol, please feel free. There are two kitchens onsite, which guests are free to use. ​ The closest grocery stores include: Lidl in Castiglione del Lago (10-minute drive) Coop in Castiglione del Lago (12-minute drive) Conad in Cortona (15-minute drive) ​ The closest wine suppliers include: Baldetti Cantina in Cortona (3-minute drive) Ellevia SPA in Cortona (4-minute drive) L'Angolo del Buongustaio in Castiglione del Lago (12-minute drive) Cantine Faralli Wine Shop in Cortona (17-minute drive) Grocery stores listed above ​

As some guests will be traveling on their own before or after the stay, we are unable to coordinate provided transportation for everyone. Please note that the closest major airport is in Florence and the country has a very robust train station with multiple daily routes through the area (Cortona/Arezzo/Perugia). ***Please note, though, that it is extremely difficult to find taxis in the countryside, particularly in busy months like September. So, it is critical you book a rental car or taxi ride at least a few months in advance.***

If you'd like to rent a car (note that you only need to provide a US driver's license and there is plenty of parking at the villa), we recommend that you first try following the steps below (Option A):​ Before traveling: Book a flight in advance to the Peretola Airport in Florence. Don't forget your return trip! Book a train in advance through Trenitalia. The starting point is "Firenze S.M. Novella" and the ending point is "Terontola-Cortona". Most trains will be direct, but double-check for any required train changes before purchasing. Don't forget to book your return trip! Book a car in advance with Car Rental Il Girasole. The pick-up destination should be their Terontola-Cortona office. ***Note that September is a busy month for rural Tuscany, so you should plan to book at least 4-6 months in advance.*** Don't forget to set a return date! Upon arriving in Italy: Take a taxi from the airport to the Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station (~25 minutes). ***Note that Florence is a large city, so you do not need to book this taxi ride in advance. You can simply exit the airport and find a taxi as usual. There may just be a bit of a wait.*** Take the train to the Terontola-Cortona railway station (~1.5 hours). Walk to Il Girasole (<5 minutes) and pick up your car. Follow the directions to Villa Delle Sophore (~10 minutes). You can enter the Plus Code in Google Maps (5XHJ+2XP Ferretto, Province of Perugia, Italy) or click here to auto-populate directions. Park in the hidden drive just past the front gate. The front of the villa looks like this. Note that the white gate may be closed when you arrive. ​ If there are no cars available in Cortona, or if you'd like to take a slightly longer train ride through Tuscany, you can follow the steps below instead (Option B):​ Before traveling: Book a flight in advance to the Peretola Airport in Florence. Don't forget your return trip! Book a train in advance through Trenitalia. The starting point is "Firenze S.M. Novella" and the ending point is "Perugia". Most trains will be direct, but double-check for any required train changes before purchasing. Don't forget to book your return trip! Book a car in advance with Hertz. Set the pick-up destination to Perugia Railway Station. ***Note that September is a busy month for rural Tuscany, so you should plan to book at least 4-6 months in advance.*** Don't forget to set a return date! Upon arriving in Italy: Take a taxi from the airport to the Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station (~25 minutes). ***Note that Florence is a large city, so you do not need to book this taxi ride in advance. You can simply exit the airport and find a taxi as usual. There may just be a bit of a wait.*** Take the train to the Perugia Railway Station (~2 hours). Walk to Hertz (<5 minutes) and pick up your car. Follow the directions to Villa Delle Sophore (~40 minutes). You can enter the Plus Code in Google Maps (5XHJ+2XP Ferretto, Province of Perugia, Italy) or click here to auto-populate instructions. Park in the hidden drive just past the front gate. The front of the villa looks like this. Note that the white gate may be closed when you arrive. ​ Of course, there are many ways to structure your travel, the above is just a jumping-off point. If you're ever confused or overwhelmed, please don't hesitate to contact the bride and groom. We'd be happy to help you coordinate! ​

***Important note: There are very few taxis operating in rural Tuscany, and September is a very busy month. So, a rental car will almost certainly be more convenient for most. You can get by using taxis, but you will need to have every trip from the villa fully planned and booked, ideally in advance. This includes trips to restaurants for dinner, day trips, rides to the train station, etc.***​ If you would like to reserve taxis instead of renting a car, we recommend that you book with Perugia Radio Taxi or look up and contact other local providers through Pagine Gialle.

We request you adhere to a garden formal dress code for the wedding celebration. The goal of this dress code is a marriage of casual and formal. Lighter colors and materials are typical. For women, cocktail dresses and gowns are both appropriate. Typically, the longer the hemline, the more casual the fabric can become. So, a maxi or floor-length dress in a fabric like linen or cotton is acceptable, as is a mini dress in a fabric like silk or chiffon. Prints, textures, and embellishments are all welcome. Please note that the ceremony will take place on grass, so flats, wedges, or block heels are recommended. ​ For men, suits are typical, but there is room for some creativity. A full suit in a more casual fabric like linen is a great option. Or, a more traditional suit in a material like wool can certainly be worn, perhaps with a jacket and no tie or vice-versa. Prints like florals or stripes, suspenders, and bow ties are all options as well. ​ If you'd like guidance on cohesive colors (entirely optional), you'll find a color palette here. If you'd like inspiration on the degree of formality (not-so-optional), you'll find a Pinterest board here.​ ​ For the rest of your stay, feel free to dress as you choose. ***Note that if you plan to visit any religious sites, women will need their knees and shoulders covered. This is a strict requirement!***

Please plan to be at the villa by 4:30 p.m. on September 18 for the start of the ceremony. There will be a short activity you'll be asked to participate in before the ceremony begins at 5.

Please RSVP by June 18, 2024.

Please let us know through the RSVP form. We'll miss you!

We are not registered, and we do not expect any gifts. We would simply like to spend the week celebrating with you!

There is cell service in the area, and the villa has a wifi network. You may want to consider some kind of travel pass (cell phone data access while abroad) so you can contact the rest of the party, access your GPS while traveling, etc.

Italian weather is typically quite warm in September. Plan to pack lightweight, breathable clothing, but layers are always a good idea. We'll have access to a pool, so don't forget a swimsuit!