Justyna and Jason, both avid travelers, settled on the quaint Tuscan town of Cortona for their wedding. The event celebrates their love and the best of the location including vineyard views at Villa Baroncino, a ceremony in a stunning 900-year-old church and foraged greenery and olive branch installations by Passion Flower at the reception. The personalized details are what you’d expect of a wedding planner’s own nuptials (yep—Justyna’s a planner with Ines and Marie ) and her friend Amanda Dumouchelle was on hand to captured it all!
What made the wedding special and unique?
There are few places in the world more special and unique to be married than Italy! Justyna and Jason chose the quaint Tuscan town of Cortona, near Lake Trasimeno and nestled between Tuscany and Umbria. Though Italy may sound like an unusual destination, it makes sense when you look at how they’ve lived their lives. Jason born in the United States, Justyna born in Poland, both living in countries such as Ecuador and England, both avid travelers, and with friends and family coming from as far away as China and Australia. Italy just seemed like the most romantic venue for these two lovebirds. Justyna and Jason’s wedding was made even more special considering that they, along with their closest friends and family, spent an entire week together at the same winery and estate; laughing, drinking, singing, eating amazing food, and traveling the Italian countryside together. This made their wedding feel like a week-long celebration of love and family!
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
The dress is the Garbo by Amy Kuschel. Justyna found it at The Gown Shop in Ann Arbor!
What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?
Literally every single detail of their wedding had a personal touch to it. Being a professional wedding planner, Justyna had a hand in almost every aspect of the wedding aesthetic, with the guest experience being a primary focus. To add to the personal touches, Justyna and Jason chose to bring their photographer and friend (Amanda Dumouchelle) and their florist (Susan McCleary) all the way from the US, knowing that they each would be able capture the vision they had for their special day. Susan from Passion Flower sourced the flowers for the wedding locally in Italy, and even foraged most of the incredible greenery from the grounds of estate where the reception took place. To add to the personal touch, Justyna herself even handcrafted all of the paper goods that adorned the reception space. To help tie his roots back to Michigan, Jason had his custom tuxedo made by a Detroit-based bespoke clothier, with his and Justyna’s initials stitched under the breast pocket, and cuff links bearing his Alma Mater that were presents from his soon-to-be brother and sister-in-law. These touches all helped their wedding feel more like a personal expression of their love for one another!
What was the most memorable part of the day?
Jason and Justyna had a difficult time deciding on one part of their day that was most memorable, as for them it was one long, continuous happy memory. From their first look, which reduced them both to tears of happiness, to the ride up the mountainside to the small 900 year old church in Cortona, their ever so slightly intoxicated but funny and wonderful Roman-Catholic priest from India, to the tearful and heartfelt speeches by their bridal party, the day was amazing from start to finish. That being said, they both agree that perhaps the most memorable part of the day was after the reception, as they sat around the pool with their friends and loved ones, drinking wine and singing songs and laughing until the wee hours of the morning…and just soaking in the splendor that was their wedding day! That moment will live on in their hearts for a lifetime.
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
Jason and Justyna were born 4,500 miles apart, and spent most of their lives traversing the globe and living in other countries. And yet, their unique paths led them back to Michigan, where they spent much of their childhoods. When their paths finally crossed, it was as if they had known each other their entire lives. They were introduced by one of Justyna’s friends, whom she spent time in England with and also moved back to Michigan around the same time. Justyna’s friend Jacki began working at a company where Jason worked, and immediately thought that Jason would be perfect for Justyna. So, using her cunning matchmaking skills, Jacki secretly arranged for Jason and Justyna to meet, and the rest is history!
Jason had originally planned on proposing to Justyna during a trip to Costa Rica, but Mother Nature had other plans and spoiled his helicopter ride to a hidden lake atop an extinct volcano. Having already informed Justyna’s family prior to the trip of his intentions, they all waited anxiously and not so subtly for the good news, which had to wait for the next perfect moment. A couple weeks later, back home in Michigan, Jason took Justyna to a very special conservatory on Detroit’s Belle Isle (a place his beloved grandmother would take him as a child) and amidst a sea of wild flowers and trees from around the globe he asked her to marry him, on their one year dating anniversary!
Knowing how much Justyna cherished the time she lived in England, as well as her being a hopeless romantic, an “old soul”, and lover of British culture, Jason saw it only fitting that her engagement ring come from a jeweler in London which specializes in antique jewelry. Her antique ring was made in the 1930’s, and belonged to a man who had it made for love of his life yet for circumstances unknown was never able to give it to. His dream now lives on in the love that Justyna and Jason have for each other.
Photo: Amanda Dumouchelle // Designers/Planners: Ines and Marie // Floral Designer: Susan Mcleary, Passion Flower // Paper: Paper and Honey // Venue: Villa Baroncino // Wedding Dress: The Gown Shop // Dress Designer: Amy Kuschel // Flower Farm: Puscina Flowers // Hair: Meraki Room Chicago // Groom Attire: 1701 Bespoke // Linens: La Tavola Linen
