Tiffany Dawn Harris and Frank Laurens Maassen, July 6, 2025, Villa Medici di Lilliano
THE COUPLE
A Montauk birthday weekend in 2020 sparked a flame that turned into a passion for Tiffany Dawn Harris, a senior executive at a global nonprofit, and Frank Laurens Maassen, senior vice president at one of the world’s leading beauty companies. It was the height of the pandemic, and Tiffany, living in DC, was celebrating her birthday—as was Frank (their birthdays are a day apart).
“Everything was outdoors, and we were wearing masks,” says Tiffany. “I spotted him right away. He’s a 6-foot, 9-inch Dutchman and completely stood out, and I was curious. So I made the first move. It was one of those instant connections that felt exciting and somehow familiar.”
After that weekend, the couple started a long-distance relationship. “I was living in DC, and Frank was in New York City, so we built our relationship through travel—lots and lots of train rides, FaceTime calls, voice memos, shared playlists and memes. We both leaned into each other’s worlds,” says Tiffany, noting she started learning Dutch and spent time with him in the Netherlands. Frank studied Judaism, and they met each other’s families while celebrating holidays together. They moved in together in DC and later in Switzerland.
Frank proposed at Jungfraujoch, which is one of the highest peaks in Europe. “It’s 11,000 feet above sea level. I couldn’t understand why Frank wanted to visit this mountain so badly, but I went along with it,” says Tiffany. “We hiked up, and then took a gondola and a train through the steep mountains. When we stepped out, it felt like we were standing on the top of the world. We walked out onto the snowy overlook, and suddenly Frank stopped and proposed to me. I was surprised and so happy. There were a bunch of tourists around us, so we got some great pics and videos.”
THE CELEBRATION
“Frank did the venue scouting with our wedding planner,” says Tiffany. “The moment he saw Villa Medici di Lilliano, we knew it was the one. It’s an amazing historic estate just outside of Florence. It was built in the 1200s, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves with amazing views of the Tuscan countryside.”
Tiffany says the ceremony was a true blend of the couple’s backgrounds, cultures and the people who shaped them. “My mom is Ashkenazi Jewish with Hungarian roots, and my dad is African American from Alabama,” she says. “Frank was born and raised in the Netherlands, and his entire family and most of his friends came from the Amsterdam area to celebrate with us. Between the two of us, we’ve lived in 10 different countries, and the friends we made along the way have become part of our chosen family.”
“My favorite moment actually happened before the ceremony,” shares Tiffany. “During our welcome party, Frank and I were standing on a small balcony [preparing] to give our speech. The crowd had not fully gathered yet, so for a moment it was just the two of us. We looked out and saw our entire world—our families, our childhood friends, the friends who had shaped us, the people we had met along the way, even the people we hoped to build a future with.”
The villa’s reception featured a color scheme that blended soft, elegant pastel tones with warm, natural Tuscan neutrals, including creamy whites, soft greens, pale blush and touches of muted gold. Guests walked through a garden that overlooked an olive grove on one side and a winery on the other. “It felt like stepping into a movie. Guests made their way into the reception space, which we wanted to feel like a celebration, not a formal dinner,” says Tiffany, adding that the afterparty featured confetti cannons, CO2 guns and a giant LED screen. “It was pure joy from start to finish.”
One of the bride’s favorite moments occurred after dinner, when everyone gathered outside in the garden to enjoy another aperitivo. “I snuck out to change into a sparkly short Bronx and Banco dress with gem-studded heels. Our planner coordinated everything so that I could meet Frank in the back of the villa. Together, we made a grand entrance down the sweeping staircase into the garden. The moment we appeared, everyone erupted in cheers. Cold sparklers went off behind us, lighting up the stairs. It was such a joyful moment.”
WHAT THEY LEARNED
“One of the biggest lessons I learned is to love your rainy day and backup plan as much as your original vision,” says Tiffany, noting that morning rain moved the couple’s pre-ceremony events indoors. The planned outdoor dinner, complete with chandeliers and florals, had to be moved. “Thankfully, the skies cleared just long enough for us to have our ceremony outside, but there were parts of the day that were not what I originally pictured,” says Tiffany. “If I could do it again, I would intentionally design both options to feel equally magical. Your backup plan should not feel like a compromise. It should feel like a second vision that you love just as much as your first because the weather is totally unpredictable.”
THE HONEYMOON
Tiffany and Frank began their honeymoon on the Italian Riviera in Portofino, then continued south to Sicily and the Favignana islands.
THE LIST
Wedding Planner La Fête, Charlotte Ricard-Quesada, @lafeteofficial
Bride’s Dress Jane Hill, Custom Huntleigh Gown, @janehillbridal; Jaxon James Couture Bridal, New York, @jaxonjamescouturebridal
Bride’s Ring Alx&Co, Alexandria, Va. @alxandcompany
Bride’s Jewelry Van Cleef & Arpels, @vancleefarpels
Bride’s Veil Tony Federici, @tonifedericiveils; Jaxon James Couture Bridal, New York, @jaxonjamescouturebridal
Bride’s Shoes Loeffler Randall, @loefflerrandall Harvey Nichols, London, @harveynichols
Bride’s Makeup Lara Navarrini, @laranavarrinimakeup
Welcome Party Hair & Makeup Ciro Via delle Terme snc, @ciroviadelleterme
Welcome Party Dress Johanna Ortiz, @johannaortizofficial
Reception Dress Bronx and Banco, @bronxandbanco
Styling Brandon Palas, @beaudofficial
Groom’s Tux OGÉR, Amsterdam, @worldofoger
Groom’s Ring Alx&Co, Alexandria, Va. @alxandcompany
Catering Guidi Lenci Catering, @guidilencicatering
Photography Silvia Poropat, @silviaporopatweddings
Videography Memento, @mementostoryfilm
Floral Design Stiatti Fiori, @stiatti_fiori_
Ketubah Rachel Jackson, @binahdesign
Catering Guidi Lenci, @guidilencicatering
