I believe our industry sometimes confuses luxury with excess and beauty with spectacle. Social media has made the ‘WoW!’ image incredibly important, but a wedding cannot exist only for a photograph. People have to live it. I would love to see a return to celebrations that are elegant without being pretentious, beautiful without feeling artificial, and sophisticated while remaining warm and welcoming. That is Fancy & Style to me: authentic, effortless, personal, and unmistakably Italian…”
Serena Bracali, Founder & Creative Director of Fancy & Style
Serena Bracali is the Founder and Creative Director of Fancy & Style, an Italian wedding planning and event design company based in Tuscany, with more than thirty years of experience in ‘Made in Italy’ hospitality, and luxury experiences. Serena’s work is Italian in spirit, but international in perspective…
C&B: “Serena, congratulations on being voted in to our CITY & BEACH TOP 10 ITALIAN WEDDING PLANNERS 2026. What first inspired your career in weddings?”
SB: “After decades working with Italian taste, hospitality, and international clients, wedding planning felt like a natural evolution. It brought together everything I love; beauty, food, travel, design, and human connection, while allowing me to share an authentic vision of Italy with couples from around the world…”
My Italian roots taught me that the most extraordinary place is not always the most famous one. I am attracted to places that already have a soul; properties with history, character, beautiful proportions, a connection to the landscape, and a natural sense of hospitality. Sometimes the greatest privilege is not having the most imposing venue, but discovering a private villa, a hidden garden, a family estate, or a terrace with an extraordinary view that feels completely genuine. My Italian roots also make me look beyond architecture. I consider the landscape, local food, artisans, traditions, and lifestyle surrounding a property. A venue should not simply provide the background for a wedding; it should become part of its identity…”
Serena Bracali, Founder & Creative Director of Fancy & Style
C&B: “Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world – which region is most of your weddings staged within?”
SB: “Tuscany is the heart of our work. Its historic villas, private estates, vineyards, countryside, and coastline offer extraordinary settings, but what I love most is its effortless beauty. Tuscany reminds us that elegance does not need to be excessive…”
I see trends as inspiration, never as rules. Italy already gives us extraordinary architecture, craftsmanship, cuisine, and traditions. I prefer to introduce contemporary elements with restraint, allowing them to complement rather than overpower what is already there. Modernity should refresh tradition, not replace it…”
Serena Bracali, Founder & Creative Director of Fancy & Style
C&B: “Which pivotal wedding or project would you say first established your reputation in the luxury wedding sector?”
SB: “There was no single defining wedding. Fancy & Style has grown through years of work, relationships, and trust. I believe reputation comes from consistency: giving every celebration the same attention to while creating something personal, distinctive, and true to each couple…”
I’m especially proud of weddings that become a complete Italian experience over several days. When international guests discover Tuscany through its food, wine, landscapes, and traditions, the wedding becomes much more than an event, it becomes a shared memory and a genuine connection to Italy…”
Serena Bracali, Founder & Creative Director of Fancy & Style
C&B: “How do you define the current signature design aesthetic of Fancy & Style?”
SB: “Effortless Italian elegance; chic, charming, warm, and authentic. I love beautiful design, but a wedding should never feel like a photoshoot. It has to be lived. A beautiful table also needs to be comfortable. A spectacular installation should enhance a space rather than overwhelm it. Guests should be able to talk, move, eat, dance, laugh, and feel completely at ease. For me, true luxury is creating something exceptional that still feels natural, welcoming, and effortless…”
C&B: “How do you turn a client’s story into a memorable and meaningful experience that is unique to them?”
SB: “It always begins with listening. We want to understand not only what a couple likes, but how they want their guests to feel. From there, we create something deeply personal, often extending beyond the wedding day through food, wine, local traditions, and experiences throughout Tuscany. At the end, what stays with me is not a photograph of the setup. It is seeing a couple emotional, their parents coming to hug me, or guests telling me they have experienced something they will never forget. That human response is what makes me love this job…”
C&B: “Are there any new luxury wedding themes that you’re excited to introduce next?”
SB: “I’m less interested in ‘themes’ and more interested in a return to authenticity and quiet luxury. A private orchard, seasonal food, an exceptional local producer, handmade Italian ceramics, or dinner under olive trees can feel more luxurious than an elaborate installation. For me, the future of luxury is less ostentation, more substance, fewer things, but better ones…”
FANCY & STYLE: http://www.fancystyle.it
CREDITS: Jimmy Visuals; Soul Studio Italy; Kristina Ferri Photographer
