In the heart of Sicily, in the historic town of Bagheria, a wedding of rare emotional intensity and artistic meaning took place within the magnificent Villa Valguarnera a noble Baroque estate overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Beneath the golden light of late summer and surrounded by ancient gardens, marble terraces and the scent of wild citrus trees, Thom Yorke, legendary frontman of Radiohead, married Dajana Roncione, acclaimed Sicilian actress.
For Thom an artist known for reshaping contemporary music and for exploring the intimate dimension of sound, silence and emotion this was far more than a ceremony. It was a deeply personal, poetic and conceptual experience, built on shared artistic vision and inner sensibility between two creative souls. Surrounded by a circle of selected family and friends, including musicians, actors and long-time collaborators, the celebration felt like a private performance, where every gesture carried meaning.
Sicily, with its dramatic landscapes, ancient culture and magnetic spiritual energy, has become one of the most desired destinations for emotional celebrations and luxury weddings in Sicily, chosen by international couples who seek authenticity, history and cinematic atmosphere. From aristocratic villas and baroque cities like Palermo and Noto, to coastal cliffs and volcanic horizons shaped by Etna, the island offers a poetic setting for love stories that wish to transcend the ordinary. It is no surprise that many couples dream of a wedding in Sicily (qui inserirai il link interno), where time slows down and beauty takes on a visceral dimension.
Events like this remind us why Italy remains the world’s most iconic destination for refined celebrations and luxury weddings in Italy (qui inserirai il link interno), where architecture, design, gastronomy, landscape and art form a single uninterrupted experience.
VILLA VALGUARNERA
The Soul of Sicilian Baroque
The celebration unfolded within the extraordinary Villa Valguarnera, one of the most important Baroque residences in Sicily and an architectural symbol of Bagheria’s aristocratic heritage. Owned by Princess Vittoria Alliata di Valguarnera, the villa is renowned for its monumental façade, frescoed salons, grand staircase, and vast historic gardens that open to a panoramic view from the Gulf of Palermo to the rolling hills of the Conca d’Oro.
Walking through its terraces and internal courtyards, one feels suspended between centuries a place where philosophy, art, literature and Mediterranean light intersect. The villa has welcomed writers, thinkers, scientists and aristocrats, and today continues to be a space of intellectual freedom and creative experimentation.
For Thom and Dajana, Villa Valguarnera became an emotional and symbolic stage, perfectly aligned with their artistic sensibilities: a sanctuary where nature, silence, wind and architecture could dialogue with personal meaning. Here, the celebration transformed into a ritual of presence and introspection, rather than spectacle.
Japanese Conceptual Foundation
As the creative team behind the event, P & J Events (Paolo & Jinane), we were entrusted with the full design, planning and coordination. Through several personal meetings with Thom and Dajana, we explored their inner worlds, leading to a unique conceptual foundation: a wedding inspired by Japanese philosophy, specifically the concept of Karesansui, the art of the dry Zen garden.
From this vision, we imagined a poetic space where sand and grass coexisted, sculpted into forms that dialogued with the natural surroundings and the historic context of Villa Valguarnera one of Sicily’s most breathtaking baroque estates. The entire scene unfolded on a panoramic terrace with a dramatic sea view, covered by a custom-made canvas tent created especially for the occasion.
But there was more than Zen geometry in this creation. Our design was also deeply influenced by the principle of Wabi-Sabi a cornerstone of Japanese aesthetics. Wabi-Sabi celebrates imperfection, impermanence, and the quiet elegance of natural materials. It honors asymmetry, raw textures, and the traces of time. This philosophy guided our choices: every fabric, object, and spatial void was intentionally curated to evoke simplicity, humility and timeless beauty.
Ceremony & Cocktail Intimate Elegance
The ceremony, celebrated by an Anglican priest as a nod to Thom’s origins, brought together a carefully chosen group of guests close family, friends from around the world, fellow actors, and members of Radiohead. Due to Covid restrictions, the event had to follow safety regulations, but rather than limit creativity, this constraint pushed us to find refined and innovative solutions. Even the concept of spatial distancing was integrated into the decor through the use of sculptural ceramic jars, placed to gently guide the guests through the spaces while preserving flow and elegance.
The cocktail reception was held in the villa’s lush garden, curated personally by Princess Vittoria Alliata di Valguarnera, who generously opened her historic residence for the couple. The garden, filled with rare Mediterranean plants, created an enchanting natural backdrop. The music was entrusted to a group of Sicilian musicians playing ancient and rare instruments instruments Thom had discovered months earlier during a visit to the island. Their sounds, archaic and haunting, added a mystical quality to the aperitivo.
Dinner, Dance & Timeless Memories
For dinner, we transformed the villa’s greenhouse into a sanctuary of calm minimalism, in continuity with the Wabi-Sabi and Karesansui concepts. Every element from furniture to lighting was selected to express a quiet elegance, never excessive, always meaningful. The space breathed with purpose and restraint, reflecting the inner clarity of the couple themselves.
There was no traditional dance floor and that was intentional. After dinner, the newlyweds shared an improvised, joyful dance under the stars, surrounded by the warm applause of their guests. Later, Thom delighted everyone by spinning vinyl as a DJ, occasionally joined by his son, in a moment of pure spontaneity and connection.
This wedding was not just about celebration, but about presence, essence and emotion. An experience of love told through space, silence, natural beauty, and a deep sense of soul. We, Paolo and Jinane of P & J Events, are honored to have shaped the concept, design, planning and coordination of this extraordinary event. It will remain, for us and for all who lived it, a memory suspended in time just like the music of Thom Yorke himself.
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