Alexandra Rogers Sisto, assistant to the CEO of skincare company BeautyBio, met Jarrett Scott Mattox Daniel, a director at a Dallas-based investment management firm, in college. It was “in the most romantic way possible—at a Kappa and FIJI mixer at an off-campus house at Southern Methodist University,”Alexandra jokes. After dating on and off for eight years, Jarrett proposed in Newport Beach, California in the rain—yes, it rains in California, sometimes.
Somehow Alexandra didn’t catch wind of Jarrett’s plan to propose. “I’m an admitted snoop, so it’s very hard for Jarrett to keep anything from me, since I usually find out!” she says. Over Presidents’ Weekend while visiting his family, he planned a huge engagement party. But, his plan to propose during a cruise on the bay was foiled by rain as was his alternative plan to propose outside the Montage after lunch. He ended up pulling over in a park overlooking the bay and talking Alexandra into getting out of the car, while it was still drizzling, to pop the question. “The rain and umbrella made for beautiful pictures, and I was legitimately shocked when we walked into his house and my entire family was there! It was a dreamy night filled with lots of ugly crying!”
When thinking of where to host their wedding, Alexandra remembered being a flower girl in her aunt’s wedding in Florence. (Her dad’s family is Italian.) Friends were also getting married there and that gave them the confidence to do the same. “Our parents (especially my dad) couldn’t have been more excited to plan a wedding in Italy!” Alexandra remembers. They wanted a small villa that could sleep the majority of their guests, and their wedding planner, local Florentine Simona Cappitelli from W Tuscany Events, suggested Villa Tolomei Hotel & Resort, a monastery turned hotel a few miles outside of the city center. “Our favorite part is that it still has so much character; it really felt like you were in the Tuscan countryside even though you could take a long walk and end up at the Ponte Vecchio!” Alexandra says.
The bride had always seen herself in a long-sleeved dress, and after she saw a long-sleeve Monique Lhuillier gown on the runway, she tracked down the sample the minute it came into Warren Barron Bridal in Dallas. “It was exactly what I was looking for—full, long-sleeved, delicate lace—a timeless dress that I still want to wear around the house every day!” she jokes. She also found a timeless dress for her rehearsal dinner at Happy Isles in Los Angeles—a vintage blue and green beaded number from Bonwit Teller in the 70s. For her something blue, Alexandra wore her grandmother’s sapphire earrings and ring. “It was the most special moment to have her there with me and put the earrings on me!”
Her beauty look for the big day was kept simple, since she doesn’t wear a lot of makeup in her day-to-day. Adrienne Aereboe used most of the bride’s own makeup too, so she felt like herself.
The groom wore a custom white Italian wool dinner jacket from Sid Mashburn, with custom Stubbs & Wootton slippers that had all of his initials embroidered on them.
The ceremony took place in front of the villa, overlooking the olive trees. Alexandra walked down the aisle with her father, while a string quartet played “Canon in D.” Because both maternal grandmothers, in their late 80s, were able to make the trip, Alexandra and Jarrett had a candle lighting ceremony with all moms and grandmas. The pair wanted as many traditional Italian elements as possible, so they also had an Italian signing of the parchment. Their officiant, Sofia, turned the couple’s vows into a story and read them aloud, which was a sweet personal touch. “There were lots of laughs, especially when Jarrett had trouble getting my wedding band on my finger and loudly announced, ‘Too much pasta and pizza, Al?!’” the bride remembers. They then recessed to Florence + The Machine’s “You’ve Got the Love.”
Continuing with traditional Italian elements, the newlyweds put on a four course, four hour dinner, which turned into five hours. Guests sat down to tables with custom blue linens by Julia Amory of India Amory. “They were the perfect finishing touch and I can’t wait to continue to use them in our home,” Alexandra says. The meal included a caprese and burrata salad, rigatoni all vodka, rack of lamb, and tiramisu. One of the bride’s favorite moments of her day was eating the pasta. “It was heavenly. It was so good that I ate Jarrett’s serving, as well,” she says.
During the seated portion, Alexandra’s step-dad opened the evening with a prayer and Jarrett’s two best men and Alexandra’s three maids-of-honor gave speeches along with the bride’s father. Instead of a traditional American wedding cake, a mille-feuille was served at the end of the night.
Post-dinner, the newlyweds had their first dance to Andrea Bocelli’s verse of “Perfect Symphony” by Ed Sheeran. “Dancing in Italy with my new husband to Bocelli’s voice was magical!” says Alexandra.
As the night went on, remaining guests headed to the wine cellar for the after-party at around 2:00 a.m., where an electric violinist, a DJ, and a photo-booth were waiting for them. The bride changed into a light blue, feathery Alice McCall two-piece set to dance the night away in.
After Florence, the duo continued to Capri for a “buddy-moon” with about 20 of their best friends. “We are still recovering from the amount of wine and food consumed,” Alexandra says. “But it was the perfect way to end the wedding!”
