Masseria Borgo Ritella, Vintage Glamour & Italian Soul

In mid-August, a timeless three-part destination wedding in Puglia, Italy unfolded at the breathtaking Masseria Borgo Ritella — a celebration defined by vintage elegance, Italian heritage, and cinematic emotion. Planned and designed by Annamaria Pirina of Imperial Weddings , this wedding blended classic Italian traditions with Italian-American flair, Old Hollywood glamour, and deeply personal storytelling.

After 15 years together, childhood sweethearts Jesse and Spencer finally tied the knot in a place that felt woven into their identity. With Jesse’s Italian-American roots and a birthday trip to Puglia sparking the idea, an Italian destination wedding quickly became inevitable. The entire celebration was planned from the U.S., sight unseen, with complete trust in their planner — a decision that resulted in a wedding experience both intimate and visually striking.

A Multi-Day Destination Wedding Experience in Puglia

The wedding weekend began with a relaxed yet stylish welcome dinner in Polignano a Mare, setting the tone for a celebration that felt more like a shared journey than a single event. Guests gathered by the sea, easing into Apulian rhythms, warm summer nights, and the unmistakable energy of Southern Italy.

The wedding day itself unfolded in layers. The morning began with a traditional church ceremony, honoring Italian heritage and family roots, followed by a symbolic ceremony in the afternoon at Masseria Borgo Ritella. This dual ceremony structure allowed the couple to blend tradition with personal expression — sacred and emotional, yet modern and free.

Bridal Fashion: Four Bespoke Dresses, One Vision

Style played a central role throughout the weekend. The bride wore four bespoke, custom-made dresses, each carefully designed for a specific moment:

• A vintage-inspired look for the welcome dinner
• A refined, classic gown for the church ceremony
• A statement dress for the free ceremony, featuring a lace veil-hood that transformed into a sleek, veil-free dinner look styled with long gloves
• A final party dress, designed purely for movement, celebration, and late-night energy

All looks followed a cohesive aesthetic: ivory tones, vintage silhouettes, Old Hollywood references, and Italian cinematic romance — echoing influences from Fellini films, jazz-era glamour, and timeless Italian elegance.

Old Hollywood Meets Southern Italy

The overall design concept drew inspiration from classic Italian tradition, paired with subtle “Godfather-era” Italian-American elegance. Florals were deeply rooted in the region, incorporating.

Apulian produce such as olives, grapes, and green beans, creating arrangements that felt organic, grounded, and unmistakably local.

Personal details elevated the experience further: illustrated stationery and signage by Flourish Co., blending Puglian symbols with martini glasses and Hollywood glamour, and vintage Italian postcards placed at each guest’s seat, handwritten with personal messages and revealed during the couple’s thank-you speech.

A Venue Worth Waiting For

“We wanted a masseria where we could host our closest friends and family for several nights,” the couple shared. “Our favorite weddings are multi-day celebrations where everyone truly connects.”

Introduced to Borgo Ritella by their planner, the couple committed instantly — without seeing the venue in person until their wedding week. When they finally arrived, emotion took over. “My mom, sister, and I were sobbing. Spencer just kept squeezing my hand. We knew we had found something incredibly special.”

The Heart of It All

The most powerful moment came during the vows. Drawing from 15 years of shared history, the words spoken resonated far beyond the ceremony space. Guests later shared that they didn’t just hear the love — they felt it.

Published by LaLista, this luxury destination wedding in Puglia stands as a testament to intentional design, emotional depth, and the beauty of celebrating love without rushing it. A wedding rooted in heritage, elevated by fashion, and brought to life through connection — cinematic, soulful, and unapologetically personal.

The Team:

Wedding Planner: @theimperialweddings
Flower Designer: @fiori_di_testa_flowerdesigner
Venue: @masseriaborgoritella
Make up & Hair @barbarapastoremakeup
Hair Styling: @jorgeserranohair
Photographer: @klassen.weddings
Analog film photography & Content creation:
l.oveandotherstories
Video: @baltovideomaker
Catering: @traetta_catering
Lighting @visiontent
Dj: @alexsisto
Bride @jessegoddard
Dresses for Welcome, church, Party:
@madrigal.designs.bridal
Dress symbolic ceremony: @the_official_margot
Stationary: @theflourish.co
Location pre wedding @terrazzemonachile
Published in LaLista: https://www.lalista.com/articles/real-wedding-jesse-and-spencer