We recommend arriving in the Florence/Tuscany area by Thursday, September 10th and staying through Sunday, September 13th in order to attend all events. The welcome party starts at 6:30 pm on Thursday, and buses will depart from Florence at 6:00 pm.
The most convenient airport is the Florence Airport (FLR). From there, it’s just a 20-30 minute drive into the city center and 30-40 minutes to Dimora Ghirlandaio by taxi or shuttle. Florence is also easily accessible from other Italian cities by train. More information is included under the "Travel & Accommodations" tab.
• Thursday, September 10: Welcome pizza party at Dimora Ghirlandaio in Tuscany. • Friday, September 11: Free day! Relax by the pool at Dimora, explore Florence, or book a cooking class. Rachel is also coordinating a winery visit for those interested. Text her for details. Rehearsal dinner at Cucina Torcicoda in Florence that evening. • Saturday, September 12: Wedding day! Ceremony, aperitif, dinner, and dancing outdoors, followed by an indoor after-party at Dimora Ghirlandaio.
We’ve reserved rooms for ~40 guests at Dimora Ghirlandaio (mostly wedding party and immediate family). All other guests are encouraged to stay in the Florence center city or in Tuscany. We’ll be providing round-trip transportation from Piazza Ognissanti in Florence to all wedding events. See the "Travel and Accommodations" tab for a list of recommended hotels, but feel free to book any hotel of your choosing.
If you are staying in Florence, renting a car is not recommended. Florence’s historic city center is a ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato), which means most cars are not allowed to drive through it. Access is restricted to residents, taxis, buses, and authorized vehicles, and parking is very limited. Shuttles will be available to and from all wedding events so car rentals are not required. If you plan on staying in Tuscany or outside of Florence's city center, feel free to rent a car! Most accommodations outside of the historic city center have on-site parking. For those staying at Dimora Ghirlandaio, complimentary parking is available. If you are interested in renting a car, obtaining an international driver's license is recommended.
Yes! We’ll have buses leaving from Piazza Ognissanti in Florence to take guests to the welcome party on Thursday and the wedding on Saturday, with return transportation after each event. We’ll also be providing round-trip transportation for the rehearsal dinner on Friday in Florence for guests staying at Dimora Ghirlandaio. For any guests that would prefer to drive themselves, Dimora Ghirlandaio has on-site parking.
For the Welcome Party, the attire is al fresco chic — think summer dresses and linen shirts. No jackets or ties needed. For the Rehearsal Dinner, please wear your best cocktail attire. For wedding day, the attire is black-tie optional. This means tuxedos or dark suits for men and midi or long dresses for women. Bright colors are encouraged.
We're so excited to celebrate this special day with our closest friends and family. As we are keeping it intimate, only those formally invited on your wedding invitation can be accommodated. If you have a plus one, it will be noted on your save the date envelope, wedding invitation envelope, and when you RSVP.
Early September in Tuscany is usually warm and sunny, with daytime highs in the mid-70s to low 80s°F and cooler mornings/evenings (mid-50s to low 60s°F).
As soon as you can! We kindly ask that you RSVP no later than July 1, but early RSVPs help us plan transportation, meals, and seating.
If you'd like recommendations for things to do before or after the wedding, or need assistance arranging transportation during your time in Tuscany, our wedding planner has partnered with a local guest services agency called the Ocra Project. They can help book experiences such as truffle hunting, cooking classes, wine tastings, horseback riding, guided tours of Tuscany's art cities, and other customized activities. They can also arrange private airport transfers and transportation for personal travel before or after the wedding. This service is completely optional and there is no cost. Guests only pay for any experiences or transportation they choose to book. To get started, contact the agency directly: 📧 info@arcobalenosrl.org 📞 WhatsApp/Phone: +39 393 923 1926 When reaching out, please mention the code: RACHEL – MITCHELL – PLANNER MARILENA ZAMBELLI – 12 SEP 2026 This will help the team recommend options that fit around the wedding schedule and your travel plans.