The Wedding That Started It All: How Planning My Sicilian Wedding From NYC Gave Me My Master Plan
How do you plan a luxury Sicilian wedding from abroad—without losing your mind?
There’s nothing quite like the intoxicating pull of Sicily. It calls you home with the whisper of sun-drenched stone, the scent of jasmine, and the promise of a feast under the stars.
Born and raised in Sicily but living and working in New York City, I felt that pull—and answered it. I knew I wanted to celebrate my marriage in my homeland, surrounded by its authentic, timeless beauty.
But for every moment of dreamy inspiration, there were ten moments of pure panic.
The Bicoastal Bride’s Dilemma
My wedding wasn’t just a destination event; it was a logistical marathon across continents.
The six-hour time difference turned every call into a race against the clock. I was vetting Sicilian caterers and florists via grainy video calls from a Midtown office while they were already closing up for dinner.
The question haunted me:
How can you guarantee an authentic, stress-free Sicilian experience when you can’t be physically present?
Beyond the obvious issues—vetting vendors, understanding Italian legal paperwork, managing language barriers—the deeper fear was this: that all the effort would result in a generic, chaotic event that didn’t feel like us.
The Birth of the Aulentissima Master Plan
Eight years ago, there were no elegant, efficient tools for this kind of challenge.
Every planning template I found was designed for backyard weddings—not a multi-day luxury event in Sicily that required precision down to the minute.
So, I created my own.
That wedding became the testing ground for what would later become The Aulentissima Master Plan—a proprietary wedding planning system that bridges dream and execution with meticulous precision.
My 3 Logistical Secrets for a Flawless Sicilian Wedding
These are now at the heart of the Aulentissima Master Document Suite, the framework behind every destination wedding we plan.
1. Timeline Mastery
Beyond due dates, this is a minute-by-minute Run Sheet covering every vendor, transition, and cue.
In Sicily, where a 15-minute delay can derail an entire schedule, precision is the true luxury.
2. Triple-Vetting Protocol
Every local vendor goes through three layers of verification:
Referral and reputation check
Logistical capacity review
Cultural fit assessment
This ensures your vendors understand both New York efficiency and Sicilian soul—the balance every destination wedding needs.
3. Legal & Cultural Checklist
Italian bureaucracy can be complex, especially for foreign couples.
My Master Plan includes a step-by-step legal checklist that ensures every form and permit is handled before you step on the plane.
The Sensory Signature: Where Aesthetics Meet Logistics
The difference between a beautiful event and an unforgettable one lies in sensory precision.
Luxury is not just seen—it’s felt.
For my own wedding, I designed a Scent Signature with fresh citrus groves and crushed gardenia. I paired fine Sicilian linen with wines sourced from a small, family-run vineyard.
Every “effortless” sensory moment was the result of meticulous timing and coordination.
The citrus had to arrive an hour before guests. The linen count was triple-checked. Authenticity requires engineering.
This is the essence of Aulentissima—turning beauty into systemized, replicable perfection.
The Ultimate Luxury: Being Present
When my wedding day finally came, I wasn’t managing spreadsheets or chasing late arrivals.
I was present. I felt the breeze, heard the music, and tasted the wine.
That freedom—to fully experience your day—is the ultimate luxury.
It’s what I now create for every Aulentissima client: a wedding that feels authentic, elegant, and effortlessly perfect, no matter how far away you are.
Because flawless execution isn’t accidental. It’s designed.
