Davitta Niakani & Ryan Bartlow’s Tuscany Wedding
More than anything, the food had to be good. Which makes sense, given the couple’s background: Davitta Niakani and Ryan Bartlow are the duo behind downtown Manhattan hotspot Ernesto’s. “It was very important that everything, from food, drink, and decor, was regional,” Davitta says of the couple’s late summer wedding in Tuscany, at Villa Cetinale in Siena. Working with catering company Galateo, they came up with a standout menu of porcini mushroom risotto, saffron paccheri, stuffed zucchini flowers, and sea bream, all to be complemented with wines from a small vineyard, Fattoria Mani di Luna, in Umbria. (“Our glasses were never empty!”)
There was plenty of great food and drink throughout the weekend, too, including at the Shabbat dinner organized for close family and friends near the gates of the villa, a vineyard tour and welcome lunch for the bigger group at Castello di Monsanto, welcome drinks at Bar Il Palio on the Piazza del Campo in Siena, an afternoon by the pool catered by sandwiches from Florence’s supremely popular All’Antico Vinaio, driven down from the city that morning for peak freshness. Read on below for all the details on Davitta and Ryan’s Italian celebration.
The Couple
Davitta and Ryan were introduced by mutual friends in late 2015. Their first date was at Uncle Boons, the now-closed Michelin-starred Thai restaurant in Nolita. “Over slushy beers, spicy chicken salad, and pig ears, we both realized that we had met our matches, and the rest, as they say, is history!” Davitta says. By 2019, they had become partners in business as well, with the opening of Ernesto’s. The empire will soon when the couple debuts Bartolo, in the West Village, next year.
The Venue
Look familiar? The couple’s wedding venue, Villa Cetinale, had a starring role in season three of Succession.
The Dress
Davitta chose a blue Oscar de la Renta gown featuring a landscape print that evoked the Italian countryside, which she paired with a custom Gigi Burris veil sewn by the same lacemakers who made Princess Diana’s veil.
The Tux
Ryan wore a custom Martin Greenfield tuxedo.
The Details
Laura Frappa, owner of Exclusive Italy Weddings, orchestrated the celebrations. The floral design was the work of Tommaso Torrini, of La Rosa Canina, who used regional flora and foliage.
The First Dance
The newlyweds chose Gino Paoli’s “Vivere Ancora.” for their first dance. “The lyrics are so beautiful and speak to the small intimacies of love that exist only in your little world,” Davitta says. “And for that first dance it really felt like we were in our own world.”
The Reception
In traditional Italian wedding style, the couple had a millefoglie cake that was created in real time at the reception. “As the chef was building it, “Volare” by the Gipsy Kings started playing and we had this fabulous, almost hedonistic, dance party around the cake,” Davitta says. “It was so magical, and it was all lit by a huge floating helium moon.”
The Honeymoon
The couple did a mini-moon in Rome immediately following the wedding. On their one year anniversary, they returned to the region for a holiday at the storied Hotel Il Pellicano.
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