Tanto Amore: Brieanna & Tyler

Brieanna Cunningham & Tyler Prosser

Born and raised in Redondo Beach, Brieanna met her future husband, Tyler, at Washington State University, where they both attended the same architecture class. During a class trip to New York City, the pair first sparked romance. Five years later, Tyler re-created their first date in the city and proposed in a candlelit room with a Central Park view.

After graduation, Brieanna and Tyler moved to Redondo Beach to begin their careers—Brieanna with C&C Partners Design/Build and Tyler with Pritzkat & Johnson Architects. But the couple aspired far beyond the South Bay for their nuptials.

Brieanna and Tyler chose Hotel La Badia di Orvieto in beautiful Umbria, Italy, for their wedding. To help with international planning, they hired Elisabetta Casari with EBC Events.

“She really allowed us to trust the process and the vendors,” says Brieanna. “We also had a family friend, Jared Young, emcee and usher us through the events.”

The couple went to Italy in September for the on-site inspection of the venue and to taste the wine, choose the courses and pick out the table décor. “This is when it started to feel real,” says Brieanna.

Held in a historic residence-tuned-hotel, the ceremony enjoyed a very intimate setting. Foliage and flowers by Nina e i Fiori gave the chapel added elegance. Fr. Jim Kavanagh, a priest who is friends with the Cunningham family, presided over the marriage. “We were able to do our own vows in the Catholic ceremony, which was essentially a mass with all of our loved ones,” says Brieanna.

“We were able to do our own vows in the Catholic ceremony, which was essentially a mass with all of our loved ones.”

Immediately following the ceremony, guests headed to an outdoor courtyard with a bar, appetizers and live jazz before being seated for a three-course meal. “What was memorable was that it downpoured rain during the first course—turning our risotto into rice soup!” says Brieanna. “Rather than being upset about having to finish dinner indoors, we smile at the memories that were made … like tuxedo jackets becoming umbrellas and some guests still sitting completely drenched just to finish their meal. Ironically, our first dance song was ‘Can You Stand the Rain?’ by New Edition.”

The cake was a traditional Italian millefoglie, which translates to thousand-layer cake. “It’s many layers of pastry with Chantilly cream between them, topped with mixed berries and powdered sugar,” says the bride. “We also had a dessert bar of mini treats.”

The newlyweds recall rejoining the cocktail hour after finishing photos and seeing all of their family and friends enjoying themselves. “It was a 4 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. wedding with so much fun and so many little moments. It is difficult to choose just one standout.”