Exclusive Photos of Influencer Pau Dictado’s Italian Micro Wedding

Influencer Pau Dictado and Peter Hong met the old-fashioned way. The high school sweethearts met in 2009 during their senior year, and they’ve been together ever since. After 13 years together, Peter proposed during a trip to Hawaii in August of 2022.

“We knew we wanted a destination wedding that felt both classic and timeless, but also dreamy, ethereal, and deeply romantic,” Pau says of the couple’s vision for their wedding. As they considered different locales, one put all other options to shame: The couple fell hard for Castello di Bibbione in Tuscany, Italy. “Tuscany captures our hearts with its lush greenery and serene beauty, and when we discovered Castello di Bibbione, it truly felt magical—a castle tucked into the rolling hills.”

The couple planned a micro wedding, attended by just 43 guests, which ensured everyone attending could stay on-site and be part of three full days of experiences. The revelry began on September 21, 2025, with an all-white rehearsal dinner. Then, on September 22, guests gathered again for the couple’s ultra romantic ceremony and reception, which featured tons of draping, autumnal floral arrangements, and live music. A club-like after-party followed that evening before the party resumed the next day for a post-nuptial brunch with pizza and gelato.

Sydney Tobin Photo beautifully captured each event, which Bloom & Grow Events helped plan—scroll on to see every picture-perfect detail, shared exclusively with BRIDES.

The wedding celebration began with a rehearsal dinner at Castello di Bibbione on September 21. “We wanted the night to feel elegant and dreamy,” the bride says of the open-air party.

Pau wore a Courtney Zheng dress with a deep V-neckline and halter straps. She accessorized with Shona Joy shawl, Vivienne Westwood necklace, and Bared Footwear heels. The bride-to-be styled her hair in a loose updo for the occasion, keeping her look soft and romantic. Peter picked a neutral-colored Birdy Grey suit for the pre-wedding celebration.

“The food and vibes set the stage for the week and our guests couldn’t believe it wasn’t even the wedding yet,” Pau explains. Guests were seated at one long table, which was surrounded by garden-style chairs. Glowing string lights cast a warm glow over the table, which was nestled beneath a canopy of trees.

The couple asked everyone to dress in white for the party. “Everyone looked stunning in all-white attire matching the dinner décor. The ambience felt sophisticated yet whimsical with draper and calla lily stems.”

Peter worked with the team at JB Clothiers to create a bespoke black tuxedo for the wedding day. As a big-day gift, his best man made Peter a set of cufflinks engraved with a “P” on each, a nod to Peter and Pau’s names.

Pau chose an off-the-shoulder A-line wedding dress with thigh-high slit from Vivienne Westwood for the big day. “The moment I tried on my dress I did not want to take it off,” she remembers. “I felt butterflies in my stomach. Being in this dress felt my truest, most beautiful self. After trying on so many dresses, this was the first time I felt that I didn’t need to keep looking.”

The bride wanted a “simple, classic, and timeless” hairstyle for the big day, so stylist Koni Bennett gave her blow-out style waves with a side part. She did her own wedding makeup, which was something she says she always knew she’d take on. “I wanted my makeup to feel glowy, fresh, and radiant—like the best version of myself,” Pau notes. “I wanted it to enhance my natural features without looking heavy or overdone.”

Pau carried a bouquet of white calla lilies down the aisle. Her bridesmaids, dresses in mismatched gray gowns, carried single stems of calla lily instead of traditional bouquets.

A string duo performed during the couple’s indoor wedding ceremony, which was decorated with heavy draping and aisle arrangements of green and white hydrangeas. A string duo performed during the processional, during which Peter walked down the aisle to “Good Life” by Kayne West and the bride entered to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.

The couple opted to write their own vows, exchanging sentimental words during their intimate ceremony. After being pronounced husband and wife, guests showered them in white flower petals.

A jazz band performed while guests gathered on the venue’s lawn for cocktail hour, which Pau and Peter were able to attend because they timed portraits to take place ahead of the ceremony. “A first look gave us space to soak in all the emotions and calm the nerves. We also wanted to prioritize timeline flexibility,” Pau notes. “It allowed us to take most of our portraits in advance and join cocktail hour to be able to spend more time with our guests.”

A long bar was decorated with heavy drapery to mimic what was added to the venue’s walls. “Our textile artist was really important to us for drapery to complete the vision for the day,” Pau explains.

The bride and groom served two signature drinks—a dirty martini and Old Fashioned—throughout the night, along with a selection of other liquors, beer, and wine. Custom matchbooks were also on display for guests to grab.

Before moving into the reception space, Pau and Peter poured bubbly over a Champagne tower—the drinks looked so good that the bride couldn’t help but steal a sip!

The couple had a very clear vision for their reception: They wanted lots of hanging drapery, lush hydrangea centerpieces, lots of candles, and crystal glassware. The result was an extremely romantic, slightly moody party that the couple and their guests loved. “Setting the mood and overall vibe was something I enjoyed the most throughout the planning process,” the bride explains.

“My biggest advice is to focus on how you want your wedding to feel rather than how it looks,” Pau says. “It’s so easy to get swept up in social media and Pinterest boards, chasing the idea of a ‘perfect’ wedding. But in the end, what truly matters is celebrating your love with the people who mean the most to you.”

Family members and friends gave speeches throughout the evening while guests enjoyed a three-course Italian feast of local favorites.

The bride and groom shared a choreographed first dance to a mashup of “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”

Instead of a traditional tiered wedding cake, the couple drew inspiration from their Italian destination and served a traditional millefogile instead. They even helped decorate it during the reception!

Pau changed into a mini dress for the after-party, during which a DJ took over and got everyone to the dance floor. “The dance floor had the most amazing energy,” the bride recalls. “All of our guests had a blast!”

The next day, guests gathered for a post-wedding brunch with Italian flare. Not ready to give up on bridal whites just yet, the bride and groom came dressed in wedding-appropriate attire, including Pau’s structural gown with a trendy neck scarf.

Everyone enjoyed homemade pizza from a pizza truck and gelato, which was served from an adorable cart. It was the perfect opportunity to give guests another taste of Italy before they headed home.

“Be present, soak it all in, and don’t forget to have fun—that’s what makes the day unforgettable,” Pau advises future brides and grooms.