Some love stories begin with a perfect plan. Francesca and Dylan’s began with one that quickly went off script, and became far better because of it.
The two first connected online in the summer of 2019 and instantly realised they had something rare. Every spare minute was spent on the phone before their first date in New York City. They began the evening at a beautiful cocktail bar before heading to Carnegie Hall to hear the MET Orchestra. Romantic, refined, and memorable, until both decided midway through the performance that a grand symphony was not quite their style. Instead, they slipped out into Midtown and found themselves in a dive bar called Valhalla, eating pretzels and pickles, laughing for hours, and discovering that the best moments are often the unplanned ones.
The two first connected online in the summer of 2019 and instantly realised they had something rare. Every spare minute was spent on the phone before their first date in New York City. They began the evening at a beautiful cocktail bar before heading to Carnegie Hall to hear the MET Orchestra. Romantic, refined, and memorable, until both decided midway through the performance that a grand symphony was not quite their style. Instead, they slipped out into Midtown and found themselves in a dive bar called Valhalla, eating pretzels and pickles, laughing for hours, and discovering that the best moments are often the unplanned ones.
Their relationship would soon be tested when Dylan accepted a job in Saudi Arabia only months later. Then, during one of his visits home for Francesca’s 30th birthday, the world shut down. Borders closed, plans changed, and uncertainty took over. Yet in the middle of that chaos, they built something lasting. They split time between New Jersey and Connecticut, later bought a home, and proved their relationship could thrive through change, distance, and every unexpected turn life delivered. Years later, surrounded by the people who watched them grow through it all, they chose Costa Rica for the next chapter. Zephyr Palace at Villa Caletas was the perfect setting for a wedding that felt elevated, adventurous, and unforgettable.
Few ceremony settings rival the pool terrace at Zephyr Palace. Framed by grand columns, an infinity-edge pool, and panoramic ocean views, the space feels cinematic before a single guest even arrives.
Guests were welcomed with sparkling wine, water, and a warm tropical breeze before taking their seats on wooden benches. Two striking floral floor installations anchored the altar space with dramatic tropical textures and rich colour, blending sculptural greenery with layered blooms.
As the ceremony music began, Francesca made one of the most memorable entrances imaginable. She walked solo down the staircase before being joined by her parents at the bottom to complete the walk down the aisle together. It was graceful, emotional, and deeply symbolic. Close friends officiated the ceremony, giving the moment warmth and intimacy. A reading by Andrew Lee added another personal layer before Francesca and Dylan exchanged vows in front of the ocean, their families, and the friends who had watched their love survive every chapter leading here.
Wedding Playlist
Ceremony starts with: Your Hand in Mine by Explosions in the Sky
Ceremony ends with: Your Hand in Mine by Explosions in the Sky
Couple first-dance song: Transatlanticism by Death Cab for Cutie
Mother + son dance song: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Last-song of the night: The Killers by Mr. Brightside
After the ceremony, the terrace transformed into cocktail hour while guests remained in place enjoying one of Costa Rica’s most iconic sunset settings. A live piano and vocal duo set the tone as drinks flowed and passed canapés circulated through the crowd.
Guests enjoyed margaritas, palomas, local apps, seasonal fruit spreads, and beautifully styled grazing stations while the newlyweds slipped away briefly to enjoy the golden light and take portraits overlooking the Pacific.
The reception design blended modern sophistication with tropical detail. Dark blue gauze runners, black plates, amber and blue glassware, gold flatware, and lush floral compositions made each table feel editorial and immersive.
Wedding Day Menu
Hors d’oeuvres: Cheesy + spinach taco, tuna canape, beef tenderloin, and salmon with sundried tomato
Starter: Mixed salad with smoked salmon, creamy mushroom with crostini, marinated tuna, and fresh fruits
Main course: Caprese stuffed chicken with mashed potato, yellowfin tuna with rice and fresh vegetables, and New York steak
Kids meal: Chicken fingers, buttered pasta, and mini burgers
Dessert: Lemon tarlet, eclair, mango parfait with vanilla mousse, and chocolate mousse
Late-night snacks: Burger with fries and pizza's
As daylight softened into dusk, guests gathered outside with sparklers lining the terrace. Introduced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Wolf, Francesca and Dylan descended from the ballroom doors into a tunnel of light before sharing their first dance.
Heartfelt speeches and dinner were followed by parent dances. As the evening progressed, the ballroom gave way to a full celebration. A live cigar roller offered hand-rolled cigars on the terrace while the DJ packed the dance floor inside. Francesca later changed into a second dress, ready for the after-hours party energy to begin. Late-night mini burgers, fries, and pizzas kept everyone fuelled through the final songs of the night.
Francesca and Dylan’s wedding was not just beautiful because of the setting, the design, or the details. It was beautiful because it reflected who they are.
They are a couple who have already weathered distance, uncertainty, moves, reinvention, and time apart. Their wedding was not the start of the story. It was the celebration of everything they had already built, and the joyful beginning of what comes next.