Villa Catignano Wedding Photography
Well, well, well. What a summer! I’ve been radio silent for a while, off shooting weddings all over the shop and having a wicked time doing it. Coming back in with a bang is Emily and Pete’s stunning Italian wedding. (These guys rocked their engagement shoot, too, which you can see over here.) It all started with a crazy early wakeup around 4am the day before the wedding. A taxi to city airport, a flight to Florence and a beautiful countryside drive later, Villa Catignano was a sight for sore eyes! And what a place it is.
Blue skies and good vibes
Nestled in the hills just outside of Siena, the setting for their wedding guaranteed blue skies, lush foliage and beautifully warm hues. Inviting just under a hundred guests, they had created and curated a stunning getaway of homemade decorations, handmade floral displays, local food trucks, a fashion forward dress code and a party that lasted well until the wee small hours. Although the temperature was way up in the thirties, this didn’t stop them from pulling off a truly unforgettable day. The location was perfect for their ceremony (delivered by a friend), the reception (two huge trestle tables in the courtyard) and for their portraits (cypress trees, olive groves and Tuscan farmhouses).
Just like being on holiday
So, I have a lot of fun at weddings. They’re awesome! It’s why I love my job. But… this wedding was something else entirely. With most of the guests arriving the day before and taking advantage of the weather, the pool and some ice cold beers, this wedding felt more like a holiday with a hundred other people. As the sun went down in the valley the villa overlooked, hundreds of locally-made pizzas arrived (to go with all the wine) and conversation turned to the next day’s events.
A ceremony under the Tuscan sun
With the temperature soaring and a ceremony at 6pm, a late start was quite welcome! The preparations continued for most of the morning and some of the afternoon but, as the started its slow descent, everything got underway. A close friend of the couple, Andy, delivered a heartfelt and unforgettable ceremony with accompaniment from the band who would perform later. Then followed their reception in the courtyard of the villa, with local food trucks providing sustenance and a beer bike(!) providing even a whole other kind of party fuel altogether. After this the band, Truly Medley Deeply, had everyone dancing until the wee small hours. I think I headed to bed at some time around 3am with a belly full of gelato and a giant grin on my face!
This was one hell of an awesome wedding and was such an amazing gathering of friends, family and loved ones. Congratulations again you guys!
Adios,
WP
[All supplier links at the end of the post!]
How about you?
Having a destination wedding in the near future? Perhaps you’re heading to Italy or further afield? I’d love to cover your wedding for you. Make sure to head over to my Info & Pricing page to find out more.
Suppliers
Venue: Villa Catignano
Celebrant: Andy McNamee
Flowers: Bride and Bridesmaids
Emily’s Dress (daytime): Yolan Cris
Emily’s Dress (evening): Alexander Wang
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Hope & Ivy / ASOS
MOH dress: Needle and Thread
Hair & Makeup: Bride and Bridesmaids
Ceremony and evening entertainment: Truly Medley Deeply
Catering: Basulon Food trucks
Planner: Sophie Platts-Martin
