Some love stories feel preordained, as though the geography, the timing and the people involved were always meant to find one another. For Divya Singh and Luciano Pettoello Mantovani, their journey unfolded exactly that way. “They say if a place calls to you, it’s because someone significant is waiting there,” says Divya. “Luciano and I met just two years ago in Milan, but our connection to each other’s countries began more than a decade earlier.”
Originally from India, Divya moved to Italy in 2010 after winning a scholarship through the Miss Universe India pageant. She went on to study at Istituto Marangoni, build a career in luxury fashion and now leads special projects at Tod’s in Milan. Luciano’s path mirrored hers in unexpected ways. He lived in India for five years, advising on cross-border investments before founding the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Italy. “He had fallen in love with India and Bollywood,” she smiles. “And I, an Indian soul, had fallen for la dolce vita.”
Their worlds finally collided through a Bumble match in Milan. What followed was swift, intuitive and emotional connection. A year later, Luciano proposed during what was meant to be a quiet birthday escape to Mallorca. Lost luggage, a wrong hotel room and mounting stress dissolved as he got down on one knee at sunset. “The ring wasn’t in the missing suitcase, thankfully,” Divya laughs. “What started as a disaster became the best birthday of my life.”
Choosing Italy as home ground
Planning began with the idea of a wedding in India, but reality intervened. “Planning from afar felt impersonal and overwhelming,” Divya recalls. “Then Luciano’s mother said something that stayed with me: weddings should happen where the bride lives.” After 15 years in Italy, the answer felt obvious.
They chose Tenuta di Canonica, Luciano’s aunt’s estate in Umbria, as the heart of their celebrations. With panoramic views, rustic elegance and even an existing wooden mandap, it felt intimate and instinctive. “With its breathtaking views, rustic elegance, and built-in mandap, it was a natural choice. The venue offered the perfect blend of Italian charm and versatility for our multicultural celebrations. It was like getting married at home,” says Divya. “We planned everything ourselves as a gesture of gratitude to our parents and to create space for our families to truly bond.”
The celebrations begin: mehndi and haldi
The festivities kicked off on June 20 with a haldi and mehndi at Borgo Bianchini, a neighbouring village property. Punjabi-inspired décor transformed the quaint Italian setting into a riot of colour. Friends from Milan and Delhi choreographed Bollywood routines, dholwalas set the tempo and laughter flowed freely. “Watching our Italian and Indian friends dance together like they’d grown up together was surreal,” she says.
Under the Umbrian sun: Anand Karaj
On the morning of June 21, Luciano arrived in true Punjabi style, on a white horse with a sehra and dhol, for the Anand Karaj at Tenuta di Canonica. The ceremony unfolded under the open sky, beneath a minimally adorned mandap that let the landscape speak for itself. “We avoided over-the-top décor, focusing instead on the sanctity and purity of the occasion,” Divya explains.
Since most guests were European, the couple created printed flyers explaining the Sikh rituals, allowing everyone to understand the significance of each moment. Luciano’s father wore a Sikh turban and blessed the couple, a gesture that moved many to tears.
Lunch followed in traditional Punjabi style, served on thalis with scroll menus sourced from India. “Sharing a single-course meal felt deeply communal, like a big family lunch,” says Divya.
One powerful choice stood out. Divya decided to skip the traditional vidaai. “Instead of leaving my family behind, they came into the life I built in Italy. That felt symbolic of everything our wedding stood for.”
A timeless white wedding in Todi
That evening, the couple exchanged vows at the medieval Chiesa di San Fortunato. To be married in a Catholic church as a mixed-faith couple, they completed a month-long course to fully understand the ritual. “It made the ceremony even more meaningful,” Divya says.
The bride wore an A-line white gown. But she made sure to make the look her own. “I wore a pair of Roger Vivier sandals as a special gift from my company. After the ceremony, when it was time to dance, I swapped into the iconic Tod’s Gommino driving shoes in silver. They were also a nod to the brand that holds a special place in my heart, given my ties to Tod’s.”
“We wanted our bridesmaids and groomsmen to feel equally special on our big day, so we gifted them subtle shades of pink and mint green for their outfits. The groomsmen wore a mint green kurta pyjama, while the bridesmaids wore pink saris.”
The glam sit-down reception
The reception returned to Tenuta di Canonica, where tables were set in the olive grove and named after spices, written in both Hindi and Italian. It was a glam affair with lots of good food, fun moments and heartfelt speeches. “Luciano’s aunt played a pivotal role, going above and beyond to ensure the venue became a dream setting for each function. Her hospitality and attention to detail transformed the estate into a wedding haven, making it an easy recommendation for anyone planning an intimate destination wedding.”
A sit-down Italian dinner followed. “We paired it with wines from Tenuta dell’Entrata, owned by the Della Valle family of Tod’s. Each Italian dish celebrated local flavours. Food was our love language,” she adds. “Italian plates, Indian gins and cocktails inspired by Delhi.”
Designing the wedding wardrobe
For Divya, fashion was never just about how things looked. “Every outfit carried a story,” she says. She designed her own bridal lehenga, embedding it with personalised touches. “I designed my bridal lehenga with intricate, meaningful embroideries that carried a deep significance. The lehenga featured custom embroidery dedicated to my maid of honour and bridesman. The motifs were a tribute to their importance in my life, with one side symbolising the bond with my maid of honour and the other reflecting my bridesman’s role. The embroidery incorporated delicate elements that represented our connection, including flowers, stars and meaningful symbols intertwined to create a visual representation of love and friendship.”
The most emotional accessory was a set of heirloom Gujarati ivory bangles, passed down by her bridesman and once belonging to his late mother. “The gharchola sari, which came along with the bangles, was also significant—it was a beautiful representation of both Gujarati tradition and our connection to my bridesman’s heritage. Wearing them felt like carrying generations of love with me,” she shares. For the church ceremony, she paired her gown with custom Roger Vivier sandals, a gift from her workplace. Later, she changed into silver Tod’s Gommino driving shoes for dancing, a nod to her professional journey.
Luciano wore an ivory sherwani with a traditional Sikh turban and kirpan for the Anand Karaj, and a classic suit for the church. Bridesmaids were dressed in soft pink saris, while groomsmen wore mint kurta sets, a subtle, joyful palette that tied everyone together.
The grand finale in New Delhi
To close the celebrations, Divya and Luciano hosted a grand reception in New Delhi for friends and extended family in her hometown. Set against a festive, cold-weather backdrop, the evening felt like a glamorous epilogue to their cross-continental wedding. Divya chose a shimmering sequin lehenga for the occasion, while Luciano complemented her look in a classic black bandhgala, bringing the story full circle with a celebration rooted in home, warmth, and togetherness.
Wow moments
The bomboniere paid homage to both cultures: potli bags from Jaipur filled with ittar from Delhi, paired with hand-painted Neapolitan ceramics from Luciano’s hometown. “We wanted guests to take home a piece of us,” Divya says. From her father walking down the aisle and the kalira ceremony to Italian rice throwing and an impromptu street dance during a local Todi festival, the wedding flowed effortlessly between traditions. “It wasn’t just two families coming together,” Divya reflects. “It was two worlds.”
Words of wisdom
Looking back, Divya’s advice is simple yet profound. “Make it personal. Don’t follow traditions unless they resonate with you. Your wedding should reflect where you’ve come from and where you’re going.” In Umbria, under olive trees and ancient stone walls, Divya and Luciano didn’t just celebrate a marriage. They celebrated a life lived across borders, stitched together with intention, love and unmistakable soul.
The Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Divya Singh
The Groom: Luciano Pettoello Mantovani
Outfits: Self-Designed
Photography: The Photo Lab (Italy) and The Creative Shutter (New Delhi)
Venue: Tenuta di Canonica & Chiesa di San Fortunato
Wedding Planner: Anand Vivaah
Decor: Momenti d’Autore, Todi
Jewellery: Manohar Lal Jewellers
Footwear: Roger Vivier
Henna: Prem Mehndi
HMU: Raveena
