If you love great food and a wedding day filled with personal touches, Kaitlin and Dakota’s Italian inspired wedding at The Seclusion might just become your new favorite. Their day was full of charm, from pizza peel seating charts to custom guest merch. It reflected their shared love of good food, time outdoors, and their sweet pup, Harley. All the important things!
Kaitlin and Dakota’s love story started in a very modern way: on Tinder! After talking for about six months, they met in person at a dog agility trial in Lexington, VA, Dakota’s hometown. What started with hours spent cheering on dogs quickly turned into a connection that only grew deeper over time. Their first official date was at an outdoor show in Fishersville. A fitting first date for two people who love spending time outside together.
When Dakota proposed, it was during a family trip to Tennessee to celebrate Kaitlin’s 30th birthday. Surrounded by both of their families, he got down on one knee after gifting her a t-shirt that read “in my engaged era.” How perfect!
Hosting their Italian inspired wedding at The Seclusion made perfect sense.
The venue’s mountain views, elegant spaces, and exceptional staff created the perfect backdrop for their celebration. Since Dakota grew up in Lexington, the location was especially meaningful.
Of course, no wedding day is complete without a little drama from the weather! The forecast kept changing from clear skies to rain to a full-on downpour. We decided to move forward with an open gable clear top tent from Skyline. This allowed us to preserve the gorgeous mountain views while keeping everyone dry. In the end, the rain stopped by 3pm and the sun did come out, but I am so happy we were prepared!
One of my favorite parts of this wedding was how thoughtfully Kaitlin and Dakota incorporated their story into the design.
The overall aesthetic had an elevated rustic feel balanced with bright and airy details that kept everything elegant.
Because the couple shares a love for making homemade pizza on special occasions, they knew food had to play a starring role. We brought in an Italian caterer from New York who delivered an incredible culinary experience. We’re talking wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta, a mozzarella and prosciutto station, and for dessert, authentic gelato and cannolis!
Guests loved the “I got sauced at Kaitlin & Dakota’s Wedding” t-shirts, hats, and koozies (a clever nod to their pizza theme!). The seating chart was even made up of numerous sizes of pizza peels! There were also subtle hints of Dakota’s love for hunting, with deer on the hats and antlers incorporated into the sweetheart table decor.
And we can’t forget Harley, their 6-year-old Jack Russell–Shih Tzu mix! He made an appearance through personalized cookie favors featuring his face, along with “doggie bag” treats for guests to take home to their own pups.
Kaitlin and Dakota’s Italian inspired wedding was such a wonderful celebration of love, family, and good food. From the pizza peels to the pup-themed favors, every detail was uniquely them.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding that feels as personal as it is beautiful, let’s bring your vision to life. Whether you’re planning your own Italian inspired wedding or something completely different, I’d love to help you create a day that feels like you. Let’s chat!
