Planning a destination wedding in Italy requires more than good taste; it demands precise execution across multiple days, settings, and logistical challenges. When New York-based doctors Teona and Max decided to marry, they wanted three distinct events, each with a specific design and atmosphere. Holding a weekend like this together without any moment feeling overlooked is a complex operation. They needed a partner with years of proven on-the-ground experience. They chose Sabrina Carbone.
By: Angelica Burlaza
Sabrina Carbone is the founder of The Extraordinaire, a wedding planning studio based on the border of Tuscany and Umbria. With two decades of experience across the country, she takes on a strictly limited number of clients each season. This decision ensures she remains the single point of contact from the first conversation through to the farewell brunch. She builds a working partnership with every couple, providing the focus required to manage complex events.
The Extraordinaire experience
Sabrina’s journey into wedding planning began while she was working in banking in London, where she noticed colleagues starting to marry abroad, even as destination weddings were still in their early stages. Seeing the opportunity, she returned to Italy to establish her business and build a career in a field that was just beginning to grow. Alongside this, she worked in luxury handbag design and created her own brand, which reflected her natural sense of style and creativity, strengthening her instincts for proportions, materials, and visual harmony, qualities she brings to weddings today.
Over the years, Sabrina has built her work around direct experience and long-standing relationships with trusted vendors. She understands that a successful event depends as much on the people behind the scenes as on the design, and she draws on her extensive experience to provide clients with practical, informed guidance.
Photo Courtesy: Holiak Photography
Sabrina and her team work all over Italy. Tuscany is well-suited to multi-day celebrations across private estates, keeping guests in one place and simplifying transport. Umbria offers privacy and a strong sense of seclusion within a single venue, such as a castle or historic village, while both the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como present significant logistical challenges that must be carefully managed. Their properties often come with venue restrictions, rules, and regulations, shaped by the nature of the locations.
Her expertise also informs her work with couples from a wide range of heritages, religions, and backgrounds, as well as across many different types of celebrations.
Three Days at Villa Valentini Bonaparte
For Teona and Max, the weekend spanned three days at Villa Valentini Bonaparte, a luxury property on the very border between Umbria and Tuscany. Each day required a different layout and operational flow.
The welcome event was a white party. The design relied on white furniture, white florals, and feather chandeliers to create a soft, cohesive environment. Achieving a look that feels effortless requires strict control over the design and installation process.
Photo Courtesy: Holiak Photography
The couple and their guests are true wine connoisseurs, so the second day began with a wine tasting at Tenute del Cerro, a working winery. Guests arrived on the lawn overlooking rolling hills and endless vineyards, where Sabrina curated the tasting setup with classic bistro tables and chairs that complemented the winery’s aesthetic and created an experience that felt seamlessly connected to the landscape. They were welcomed with a glass of Cerrus Metodo Classico Brut, followed by a tasting of four exceptional regional wines.
Photo Courtesy: Jules Bower
Before the rehearsal dinner at Villa Valentini Bonaparte, the group enjoyed another intimate tasting back at the villa’s own wine cellar, where the owner, Nello Malvagia, uncorked a vintage bottle of Masseto from Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, Bolgheri, making the experience even more memorable.
Photo Courtesy: Holiak Photography
That evening, the rehearsal dinner shifted to a more relaxed and fun format. Live cooking stations provided fresh pizza, roasted porchetta, and pasta, while an ice cream cart added a playful element. The design used pale blue and yellow tones with small white florals. A roaming band played Italian music, keeping the energy light and making a large guest list feel intimate.
Photo Courtesy: Holiak Photography
On the wedding day, the ceremony took place in the amphitheater of Villa Valentini Bonaparte, framed by white and green florals with soft pink hydrangeas, peonies, and roses. The layout moved guests to a sunset terrace for the aperitif, then into the greenhouse for dinner. Three serpentine long tables sat beneath chandeliers, maintaining the soft color palette. A DJ, fiddler, and saxophonist managed the evening pacing before the group transitioned to the bottaia room for an after-party that ran late into the night.
Photo Courtesy: Holiak Photography
What True Partnership Means
The Extraordinaire operates as a trusted planning partner, with Sabrina and her team overseeing every aspect of the process: from vendor coordination and contracts to logistics and the countless details required to keep a multi-day celebration running seamlessly.
Transparency is a core principle throughout the planning journey. Couples work directly with their chosen vendors while receiving clear, real-time budget oversight, ensuring complete visibility and confidence in every decision. For clients planning from abroad, this approach removes uncertainty and makes the process both straightforward and reassuring.
Clients often describe working with Sabrina as having a knowledgeable advocate who genuinely has their best interests at heart. The Extraordinaire begins every collaboration with a complimentary consultation, laying the foundation for a planning experience defined by clarity, organization, and thoughtful guidance. The result is more than a beautifully designed celebration; it is the peace of mind that allows couples to be fully present and enjoy every moment of the experience they have envisioned.
Credits:
Wedding planning and design: @thextraordinaire_official
Venue: @villavalentinibonaparte
Florals: @stiatti_fiori_
Ceremony officiant: @blessingsfromitaly
Catering & rentals: @preludio_classe_catering @preludiodivisionenoleggio
Content creator: @contentandamore
Photography: @holiak.photography
Videography: @stas.lysak
Bridal beauty: @alessandromancinostudios
Audio and lights: @opuseventi
DJ: @matthew.thedj
Roaming band: @bluedreamentertainment