Garden Romance: A Dreamy Countryside Wedding in Tuscany, Italy

AnnMarie and Zach’s story began long before they ever imagined they’d become husband and wife. AnnMarie shares,”We were 10 and 12 years old when our families became close. Zachary was literally the boy next door! Our parents were best friends, we spent holidays together, went on family vacations, and we even had the same babysitter! 

Fast forward nearly 20 years, and life brought us back together. I was 29 and Zachary was 31 when we reconnected as adults. At the time, I was living in Miami and he was in Pennsylvania. What started as a random phone call one night, when Zach casually mentioned he would be passing through Miami, turned into the beginning of our love story. 

Now two and half years later, we’ve gone from childhood neighbors to long-distance dating, and now husband and wife, our story has truly come full circle.” AnnMarie and Zach’s destination wedding brought their closest family and friends from around the world to the rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy, for a celebration that felt both elevated and deeply personal. Hosted at The Lazy Olive, the day embraced the beauty of the Italian countryside with an intimate outdoor ceremony, thoughtful design, and a long, open-air dinner beneath the Tuscan sky.

Bride: AnnMarie DelaCruz, 32, Influencer Talent Manager/Entrepreneur 

Groom: Zachary Miranda, 34, U.S Military Solider Combat Medic 

Photography By: Couick Photography

Place of Residence: Hershey, Pennsylvania

Wedding Date: August 18^th, 2026

Wedding Location: The Lazy Olive in Tuscany, Italy

Wedding Theme/Motif/Inspiration: Our wedding theme was intimate Tuscan garden romance, blending timeless elegance, vibrant colors, lush greenery, and the natural beauty of the Italian countryside.za1wSAZqasszq

Honeymoon Destination: We were fortunate enough to spend an entire month exploring Europe. Our travels took us to Florence and Rome, Italy; Dobrota, Montenegro; Crete, Greece; and Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was such an unforgettable experience!

Briefly tell us about your wedding experience and how the both of you felt on your big day. 

Ann Marie: Our wedding was an absolute dream, everything we could have imagined and so much more! It was intimate, romantic, emotional, and filled with so much love.

There was a point when all you could hear were sniffles throughout the crowd. I chose to read the prayers I had written years ago for my future husband as my wedding vows, sharing how God answered those prayers through Zachary and how trusting His timing and being patient for the right person was worth every moment of waiting. It was such a beautiful, emotional experience to share with everyone we love.

We also wanted our wedding to celebrate both of our cultures. Being half Sri Lankan, I wore a traditional saree for our welcome dinner, and for our wedding day, we incorporated our Hispanic roots into our first dance with a mix of a romantic slow dance, bachata, and merengue!

And the celebration? It was one for the books! Our wedding lasted nearly 12 hours, with us dancing the night away until almost 5 AM! We laughed, cried, celebrated, and made memories we’ll cherish forever.

Wedding song, and the significance of the song:  We chose a three-song mix: ‘Vivo por Ella’ by Andrea Bocelli, ‘Ay! San Miguel’ by Romeo Santos, and ‘Suero de Amor’ by Kinito Méndez. Each of these songs has cultural significance in our lives and played a role in how we wanted the dance to flow. Andrea Bocelli is a beloved Italian artist both our families listened to growing up, and it seemed fitting to start the dance gracefully, slowly, and grounded. Since both our families are Hispanic, it also felt right to throw Romeo Santos into the mix to satisfy AnnMarie’s love for Bachata while raising the energy. Finally, ‘Suero de Amor’ was an homage paid to my late grandmother, Normandia Maldonado (founder of the Dominican Day Parade), whose life mission included raising cultural awareness through traditional folk dance. This last song made a lasting impression on all our guests and provided the high-tempo energy needed to start the party.

What are you most looking forward to as a married couple? 

Growing together, building the life of our dreams, and supporting one another as we turn our individual and shared goals into reality.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Walking down the aisle this year? For more gorgeous bridal inspiration and wedding planning tips, get your copy of the latest issue of Black Bride Magazine.

By Associate Editor, Candice Davie