One of the cutest wedding venues in Tuscany; meet Borgo di Castelvecchio!
Selecting an appropriate venue is probably the most crucial decision in wedding planning. Fortunately Shannyn & Ben made the perfect choice; when they first wrote to me I was delighted to find out that they had decided to get married in Tuscany, Italy, and more specifically in Borgo di Castelvecchio, an amazing medieval village surrounded by castles, cypresses, vineyards and a boundless landscape of serene natural beauty that offers the ideal setting for exclusive, unforgettable weddings. All the guests, who had come from all over the globe to celebrate the union of this sweet couple, stayed in the borgo and enjoyed the charm of traditional architecture, the stunning views, and of course the delicious Italian cuisine!
A Tuscan – flavored party!
The first group event was Tuscany wine tasting and was followed by pizza dinner, with lots of mozzarella and prosciutto. The wedding day started with a crazy pool party that ended with the groom and the groom mates jumping into the swimming pool. A cool way to kick-start your day! But there were more surprises in store: a barber had come all the way from England to shave the groom and the groom mates against the backdrop of the rolling hills and green meadows of the Tuscan countryside. During his preparation, Ben offered each one of his groom mates a set of special gifts: a bottle of traditional Italian wine, a tie, cufflinks and a pair of socks. As to the bride’s preparation, it took place in a different villa of the borgo; the bridesmaids, wearing identical robes with colourful floral patterns, opened a bottle of champagne and wished Shannyn all the happiness in the world.
Wedding Colors from Italy
The open-air wedding ceremony was held before an old mill completely covered with creepers. To them, it was probably the best wedding venue in Tuscany and -why not, to the entire Italy! The groom was constantly smiling and the bride, who was radiantly beautiful in a wonderful wedding dress with a train, couldn’t hide her emotion. The couple had also prepared a little ritual in which they put two letters they had written for each other in a box containing a bottle of wine. The box was then nailed to be opened after their 20th or 30th anniversary. The just-married couple left under a rain of rose petals. The photo shooting involved pictures of the newlyweds with the famous winding cypress-lined road La Foce in the background.
The wedding reception was held under a huge tree, where tables arranged in an angular U shape had been elegantly set and decorated with romantic lights and candles, inviting the guests to enjoy exquisite Italian traditional dishes and copious wine.
I must add that the presence and cooperation of a good friend, the very talented videographer Kostas Kastanakis, raised the entire experience to a new level! We travelled together from Greece, first to Rome by air and then to Tuscany by car, in an awesome road trip with many stops for pictures, snacks, Italian coffee and gelato! This trip has left me many precious memories, but the one I thing I will never forget is the kindness and trust of this lovely young couple.
Dearest Shannyn & Ben, I have no words to express how grateful I feel, for choosing me to be your destination wedding photographer in Italy! I can’t thank you enough for your trust! May your life together be always full of love, joy and happiness!
