I would like to offer a sincere piece of advice to couples: don’t choose a destination based solely on its visual appeal on social media. Choose a place whose soul, cuisine, and lifestyle you genuinely love. Planning a destination wedding should be an effortless and unforgettable experience. To ensure the transition from dream to reality is flawless, surround yourselves with professionals who do not just visit the territory, but breathe it, respect it, and know how to translate your emotions with technical mastery and artistic sensitivity…”
Kellen Lauxen, Founder, KLD Weddings
Kellen Lauxen is an Italo-Brazilian architect, interior designer, and floral designer who entered the wedding industry in 2010. She currently operates as a destination wedding planner through her company, KLD Weddings. The agency specialises in curating bespoke luxury weddings across Italy and internationally for a global clientele. Here we discuss favourite locations and memorable themes…
C&B: “Kellen, of all the beautiful places you stage weddings, which are your favourite destinations, and why?”
KL: “As an architect, my heart belongs to Italy’s historical gems. I have a special fondness for the Renaissance villas and wine resorts of Tuscany – the region I chose to call home – which perfectly blend historical heritage with untouched nature. Another region that fascinates me is Puglia, due to its atmosphere, its distinct architecture across different towns like Alberobello and Locorotondo, its scenic beauty, its culture, and the genuine warmth of the Apulian people. These locations are my favourites because they allow us to work organically with natural light and the environment’s native colour palettes, creating three-dimensional design concepts integrated into the landscape…”
We maintain a strictly boutique policy and offer an exclusive, full-service experience, organising no more than 10 weddings per year, depending on the requirements of each celebration. This ensures that I can personally oversee every single logistical and artistic phase. While our highest demand is within Italy’s most iconic backdrops from Lake Como to Tuscany, Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and Puglia, our signature brand caters to a global client base, which has also led us to plan weddings in Portugal, Spain, and Scotland…”
Kellen Lauxen, Founder, KLD Weddings
C&B: “What would you say is the most significant design concept on a summer wedding theme that your company has ever brought to life?”
KL: “The most breathtaking concept was based on what I call ‘Nature’s Architecture and Textural Fluidity.’ We developed an entirely open-air celebration where the floral scenography did not feel artificially staged, but rather like a living extension of the historical garden itself. We utilised a colour palette integrated with the tones of the local sunset, high-fashion furnishings in organic materials, and a lighting engineering design that subtly transitioned from twilight into a candlelit fairytale setting, while strictly respecting the architectural lines of the space…”
In the luxury market, a welcome gift must be both sensory and functional. I love creating personalised Welcome Boxes containing authentic hand-woven straw hats, custom fans featuring the wedding’s visual identity, numbered bottles of artisanal truffled olive oil from the region, and an illustrated travel guide explaining local phrases and traditions. It is a way for the couple to say ‘welcome to our story’ through the senses…”
Kellen Lauxen, Founder, KLD Weddings
C&B: “Most destination weddings include several events and/or excursions. What is the best multi-day itinerary you’ve planned for international guests?”
KL: “That was an immersive four-day journey here in Italy designed to welcome families crossing the ocean from Brazil, who were reuniting with family members arriving from Germany. The first day began with a Welcome Dinner in an authentic, traditional Italian ‘pasta party’ format, featuring fresh pasta stations and local wines set against an olive grove valley overlooking Lake Trasimeno. The second day was dedicated to the wedding day itself a flawless transition from an emotionally resonant symbolic ceremony to the party. On the third day, in the afternoon, we dedicated the time to unique local experiences: some groups went wine tasting, others explored the canyons in Umbria, and another group discovered the islands of Lake Trasimeno with a guide. We wrapped up the fourth day with a poolside Pizza & Gelato Party, allowing the couple and their guests to enjoy the journey effortlessly and at a relaxed pace…”
For the summer, we prefer to avoid static receptions. Instead, we opt for creative bars serving signature Italian cocktails, gastronomic stations showcasing typical products of the wedding’s region paired with local sparkling wines, and live Show Cooking presentations where chefs finish contemporary dishes right before the guests’ eyes, transforming the dinner into a true multi-sensory spectacle…”
Kellen Lauxen, Founder, KLD Weddings
C&B: “What summer wedding trend has made you feel the most inspired?”
KL: “The trend that inspires me the most is the Local Experience Narrative, incorporating meaningful details of the couple’s native culture while maintaining a strong, distinctive Italian imprint. Couples have finally realised that getting married abroad is not about guest volume or status, but about creating deep memories. Seeing celebrations transform into micro-weddings or highly personalised destination weddings, where the absolute focus is curating quality time with loved ones, is what gives true meaning to my profession…”
CONTACT: http://www.kellenlauxen.com
