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FAQs

The Wedding Website of Vicki Ponarski and Michael Beals
Question

When is the RSVP deadline?

Answer

August 8th, 2026

Question

Where/when is the wedding?

Answer

Grand Hotel Villa Parisi along the gorgeous Tuscan Riviera Via Romolo Monti, 10, 57016 Castiglioncello LI, Italy October 5th, 4:30pm-11:30pm - afterparty starts 9:45pm (with opportunity for extension depending on vibes) Please plan to arrive between 3:30-4:15 to allow adequate time to grab a welcome drink and make your way safely to the ceremony area. The entire wedding is here, no moving between ceremony/reception/afterparty, etc.

Question

Why Italy?

Answer

Since 95% of our guest list would have to fly for the wedding anyway, we wanted to give you somewhere worth flying to. We're also able to provide a much more extravagant experience for you this way -- expect a 2 hour cocktail hour with an indulgent appetizer buffet with live cooking, a set menu authentic Italian meal, and free flow alcohol the entire time. As some of you know, we searched across the entire world for our initial list of wedding venues. This one offered the best balance of travel times and costs, and overall wedding experience. We highly encourage making a trip out of it, Italy is wonderful of course but also situated between 3 continents if there's somewhere else you're excited about!

Question

Logistics?

Answer

If you plan to start your trip with our wedding, we recommend flying out Saturday Oct 3rd and landing Sunday Oct 4th in either Pisa or Florence Airport: Pisa - 40 min drive Florence - 1.5 hour drive There is adequate parking for everyone onsite. Keep in mind that people drive like Italians and European roads tend to be narrower, so if you are an anxious driver we recommend carpooling. If you plan on getting pulled over, you will also need an International Driver's Permit (IDP). This is a fairly easy online application process. Alternatively, there is also a train station that drops off about a 10 minute walk from the villa: Pisa - 1 hr + 10 min walk Florence - 2 hrs + 10 min walk There is lodging available onsite for 45 people - first come first served. Please contact the bride if you are interested. We recommend staying onsite as we are subsidizing the cost and you won't have to worry about getting back after 7 hours of free-flow alcohol. A 2-night stay will be the most comfortable, giving you time to settle in/fight jet lag the first day, attend the wedding the second day, and head out the third. As of March 24, all spots are filled. Please let me know if you'd like to be added to the waitlist. If it fills up, we stayed at Villa Giulietta Castiglioncello when we visited which was great, though there are many other wonderful and walkable options in the area! Please do not plan to drive to the venue if you plan on indulging in the open bar. *The ETIAS visa has been delayed until 2027, so Americans and Canadians should not need a visa to travel to EU at this time.

Question

What should I wear?

Answer

The weather should be very nice this time of year (which is why we chose it), sunny and breezy with a high of 70°F (21°C). There are many shaded areas to sit for those of you that run hot, and many enclosed areas for those of you that run cold. The whole villa is also air conditioned. We ask that folks dress semi-formal in suits and dresses, of course avoiding the usual wedding colors for dresses (white, black, red). If the ceremony platform on the sea is available to use for our date, you might also want to bring a thicker heel as the walkway down can be unsteady. We won't know for sure until day of as it's based on the tides. Also recommend some comfortable shoes for dancing! The wedding colors will be whites and pinks, bridesmaids and groomsmen colors coming soon.

Question

Do I have to bring a gift?

Answer

Definitely not! Your presence is your gift to us! We understand that some people like to see a piece of themselves in the bride and groom's home, so a registry is attached below. If needed, a mailing address can also be sent by the bride per request. Please do not feel pressure to contribute anything otherwise! https://www.amazon.com/wedding/share/vickiandmichael

Question

Can I bring my kids?

Answer

Although we love your little ones, our wedding will be an adult-only celebration.