Exclusive: Pia Toscano’s Wedding Photos

Like many couples, Pia Toscano and her now-husband, Carmen Educate, met at work. But for Pia, “work” looks a little different than your classic corporate setting. As a professional musician—one who has performed with Jennifer Lopez and Andrea Bocelli and released singles and a solo album—Pia first crossed paths with her Carmen, the executive vice president of On Stage Audio International, thanks to their mutual connection with producer David Foster. “[Carmen and I] were friends for quite a while,” Pia, who competed on season 10 of American Idol, tells Brides exclusively. “When I moved out to Nashville, Carmen was always looking out for me and [provided] a very safe space for me to be myself. From there, our friendship blossomed into a relationship.” The shift from friends to more-than happened so naturally that the couple hardly noticed: “We actually don’t have an anniversary date for when we started dating because it kind of just happened organically,” Pia says.

The couple does, however, know the date of their engagement: October 10, 2023, when Carmen proposed at the Nobu Hotel in Cabo San Lucas. “He set up a very romantic dinner on the beach, just the two of us,” says Pia. “We watched the sunset, then were briefly interrupted by a quick thunderstorm, which added some excitement.” After a four-course meal followed by s’mores under the stars, Carmen dropped down to one knee. “It was one of the most magical nights of my life,” reflects Pia.

The pair worked with Linda Cangro of The Rolodex NY/LA and Jeff Gloeb of The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, to confirm the details and design of their 106-guest wedding, held on November 24, 2024. “Planning is never easy when it comes to mine and Carmen’s work schedules,” says Pia. “They were so attentive and gracious in working with our ever-changing schedules to accommodate our needs.” The other challenge Pia and Carmen faced involved committing to a vision that was uniquely theirs. While they knew the atmosphere they wanted to create—an intimate setting that highlighted the blending of their two families—their careers provided endless chances to reconsider each decision. “Carmen and I attend a lot of events in our line of work, so every time something caught my eye, my mind would change,” says Pia. Her history as a wedding singer presented its own obstacles: “I had the opportunity to perform at and attend a ton of weddings,” she says. “I really wanted ours to feel different—like nothing we had ever been to.”

In the end, their vendor team pulled together a ceremony and reception that spoke to their “intimate, timeless, and romantic” vision and also put family first (“Having it be family-oriented was a priority,” the bride confirms). “We just wanted to surround ourselves with great energy, so we very carefully selected vendors that not only were outrageously talented, but cared for our wedding day as much as we did,” says Pia. “We were so fortunate to work with incredible vendors that truly went above and beyond to make this day special for us.” The couple’s friends pitched in, too; David Foster, his wife Katharine McPhee, Matt Bloyd, and Boh Cooper all surprised the couple and their guests with performances during the wedding. See every detail (both curated and surprise!) ahead, in exclusive wedding photos captured by Mary Kate Steele.

Deciding on The Hermitage was simple, says Pia: “The second we stepped foot inside, our breath was taken. It’s absolutely stunning and so regal. It just felt right,” she says. “We barely got up the stairs and into the main lobby before Carmen looked at me and said, ‘This is it.’”

After working with Paola Estefania to create an on-stage wardrobe for her tour with Andrea Bocelli, Pia knew the designer was the perfect choice to design her wedding dress. “The amount of care and love she puts into her designs is next level, and I knew that for the most special day of my life, there was no better person for the job,” says Pia. 

She ended up requesting two gowns—one for the ceremony and one for the reception. The ceremony number, which had a mermaid silhouette with a high neck, plunging back, sheer sleeves, and trailing train, was constructed from Italian Armani satin and French lace appliqué. “We collaborated every detail through a process of subtraction, taking away excess lace until we were left with an essential and timeless design,” says Pia. “The best part of being able to custom design your own bridal dress is the learning process of couture design. I was able to select my own fabrics and color palette. Paola walked me through the process, from our inspirations to pattern making, fabric sourcing, and finally fitting and sampling. This journey was an unforgettable experience.”

Pia turned to her long-time makeup artist Stephen Moleski for a “timeless and radiant” beauty look—a contrast to her more dramatic stage makeup. “For the wedding, Stephen and I designed a softer look that just made my skin look radiant and, most importantly, [made me] feel like the best version of myself,” she says. She prepared her skin by incorporating Tatcha Luminous lifting sheet masks into her routine. “I love and swear by them; they really help my skin on tour, and on my wedding day, it was even more important,” she says. 

As for her hair by Carly Bethel of Vol. II Hair Studio? “I just wanted to feel effortless,” she says. “I didn’t want to be overly styled, and I wanted a look that complemented both gowns.”

Pia chose her footwear as much for practicality as for fashion, opting for a pair of Vince Camuto heels for the ceremony and Bella Belle beauties for the reception. “I went more for comfort as I was going to be on my feet all night,” she says. “They were gorgeous shoes, practical and incredibly comfortable—highly recommend.” A drop-style veil completed her bridal look.

Pia’s all-white bouquet from florist Casey Sims at Rose Hill Flowers previewed the ceremony and reception’s palette. “Originally, my color palette was all fall tones,” says Pia. “Then we had a meeting where our florist had all these gorgeous white arrangements. We immediately changed the whole vibe and color palette to go with what Casey had designed—it was breathtaking.”

Though Pia initially wanted to save the couple’s first look for the moment she walked down the aisle, she also appreciated the sanctity of sharing that time together before the ceremony. “When I thought more about it, I felt that it should just be a private moment between us,” she says. “It was incredibly special to share that moment with just him. It was just very emotional seeing the person I am embarking on this beautiful lifetime journey with for the first time as my soon-to-be husband.” 

Carmen stepped out in a black velvet tuxedo—a custom look from SuitSupply. Pre-wedding, he stuck to a grooming routine he describes as “a lot more simple than the bride: a haircut, a good shave, and good energy! I’m very low maintenance.”

Though the couple kept their ceremony family-focused, centering Carmen’s five children alongside them instead of a bridal party, Pia asked her sister and her closest friends to dress in warm, fall-inspired hues, creating a picture-perfect autumn palette for an heirloom portrait session.

Pia and Carmen chose not to go overboard with ceremony florals. “The veranda is so beautiful on its own, so we just wanted to complement what was already there,” she says. Pillars topped with white and ivory arrangements created a central altar space where the couple exchanged vows. “I couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect place to get married,” says Pia.  

As Pia walked to the aisle on her father’s arm, the couple’s close friends David Foster and Katharine McPhee surprised guests with a live performance of “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” “They are so dear to us, and had it not been for David, I would’ve never met Carmen,” says Pia. “Both he and Katharine are a big part of our story.”

Officiant Todd Rodarmel guided the couple through a personal ceremony that included vows Pia and Carmen wrote themselves. “Writing and reciting our own vows was incredibly important to us,” says Pia. “For me, I could write a book about how amazing Carmen is.” The ceremony also included the groom’s children. “I wanted to have a special moment dedicated to Carmen’s kids, because they are absolutely the greatest gift he has given me, and I wanted them to know that,” says Pia.

For Pia and Carmen, an added benefit of a first look was that it allowed them to join their guests during the cocktail hour; the newlyweds also sliced into their three-tiered vanilla bean cake from Huey Cakes before guests moved into the reception space.

For their reception, the couple envisioned “an intimate, timeless, romantic evening with our closest friends and family,” says Pia. “We wanted to keep it as simple as possible, yet still very elegant.” The party’s décor included tables draped in white velvet linens, votives, candelabras, and gold chargers.

The couple put extra emphasis on creating an unforgettable meal from Michelin-star Chef Jean-Georges. “Good food is very important to us, as we are both big foodies,” says Pia. “That’s how we bonded as a couple, so a very carefully curated menu was key.” After a starter of wedge salad, guests chose beef tenderloin with garlic-herb mashed potatoes or miso-glazed sea bass with wild rice, while gnocchi with truffled mushroom and shaved parmesan were served family style; chocolate cheesecake with a cookie crust and bourbon caramel finished the meal. 

During the party, the couple’s close friends Matt Bloyd & Boh Cooper also took the stage for a surprise performance: Their own version of “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts.

During the reception, Pia changed into her second look: a lace dress with a high neckline, sheer back, and “modern-princess slit.” “The aesthetic of the dresses certainly evolved, but I wanted to make sure that both looks were elegant, sophisticated, and effortlessly comfortable,” says Pia of the design process. “Both dresses were intricately hand-embroidered with the most luxurious and highest quality French lace.”

With a guest list full of industry heavy-hitters, the couple knew they would need a DJ at the top of her game. “We had seen DJ Amberly Rolland, a.k.a Sound I Am, of Entertain!, and knew she would be the perfect person to keep the dance floor packed and everyone entertained,” says Pia. “I love all genres of music, so in speaking with Amberly, we discussed covering all the bases so that everyone gets a taste of the music they love! My advice would be to find a great DJ or band that you trust, and keep an open mind. Amberly is great at reading a room and I think that’s really important. She is amazing at what she does so I really leaned on her expertise. However, I did request some Shania! Shania Twain has the best love songs.”

For Cup Sakes whipped up a batch of iced sugar cookies, frosted with their first initials and wedding date, for the couple; the edible favors, which guests grabbed on their way home, were a hit.

The difficulty of scheduling their wedding extended to the planning of their honeymoon, too: “We have to wait until next year for our honeymoon, as I go right out on tour with Andrea Bocelli next week,” says Pia. But with beautiful memories of the day—like “marrying my perfect person in front of my closest friends and family, the blending of two families, the first dance, and walking down the aisle,” says Pia—to look back on, Pia and Carmen also look forward to their future. “Try to enjoy the process, and don’t sweat the small stuff,” she says. “It’s one day, and yes, it should be as magical as you want it to be, but the end goal is the marriage!”