Alex & Saffa Wedding at Villa Cetinale
A lovely spring destination wedding in Tuscany
Alex and Saffa from the UK, chose to celebrate their love in the idyllic setting of Villa Cetinale in Tuscany. This luxurious estate is a popular choice for weddings, thanks to its breathtaking architecture and picturesque surroundings. The villa boasts a host of beautiful features, including a stunning garden, a chapel, a tranquil hermitage, and a mystical sacred wood, all of which come together to create a magical and romantic ambiance perfect for couples exchanging vows.
What sets Villa Cetinale apart is its rich history as a gathering place for horse races, hunts, religious pilgrimages, and lavish social events, adding a touch of glamour and nostalgia to any wedding celebration held there. The estate is also adorned with seven elegant chapels, intricate statues, busts, and a variety of stone creatures, giving the venue a unique and charming character that sets it apart from other wedding venues. For couples seeking a truly unforgettable and special location to say "I do," Villa Cetinale is the perfect choice.
To get the weekend started and welcome guests they decided to host a welcome event at La Cerbaia. One of three striking farmhouses located on Cetinale property. A welcome party it’s such a nice idea before a destination wedding because you will have more time with your loved ones and also it’s usually a more laid back evening that sets the tone for the next day. In this case they opted for a pizza party because who doesn’t love Italian pizza right?! The pizzas were made in a wood-fired oven in front of the guests, a nice way to entertain them. Since the theme was Italian style and it was a relaxed evening we opted to decorate the buffet with seasonal vegetables and the tables with aromatic herbs and a red and white runner without a tablecloth to emphasize that rustic look that perfectly matched the farmhouse style. The evening was lovely and setted the right mood for the wedding day.
Before the arrival of guests, Alex and Saffa had some couple shoot in the gardens of the property. Having a couple shoot the day before the wedding is a great way for the couple to relax and spend some quality time together before the big day. It allows them to capture some special moments and can help to ease any nerves or anxiety the couple may be feeling leading up to the wedding. It also provides an opportunity for the couple to get comfortable in front of the camera and with their photographer, ensuring that they feel more at ease and natural on their wedding day. The pictures turned out so beautiful!
Then the big day came. On the morning of the wedding, the weather was perfect with the sun shining brightly. The bride and her bridesmaids took advantage of the beautiful day by having a yoga class outside to relax and bond before the big event. Then the getting ready started and the bride got ready with her bridesmaid while the groom with his groomsmen at different floors of the villa.
Unfortunately from the sunny day that was in the morning, clouds started to appear until the sky was very cloudy and it started raining. We had already arranged everything we needed for the outdoor ceremony, and since the forecast said it would rain for only an hour or so, we decided to postpone the ceremony but still have it outdoors. While it was raining the bride took some lovely pictures with her bridesmaid and the groom with his groomsman.
Then the rain suddenly stopped, we quickly dried the ceremony chairs and let them have the outside ceremony that they dreamed of. It turned out perfect because during the celebration the sun came out, such a blessing!
After the ceremony it was time for the cocktail party outside. They got to spend time in the lovely garden in front of the villa enjoying some good appetizers, sipping some spritz and listening to charming Italian music with an itinerant band. The vibe was delightful and the bride and groom were so happy they could spend a good part of the day outside, at a certain point while it was raining they were very concerned but in the end it was as they dreamed of.
Although the sun came out, being at the beginning of April, it was still pretty chilled and since in the morning during the setup the weather was uncertain we decided to have the dinner reception inside in the Limonaia. In the end it was the right decision because in the evening the temperature went down even more and outside people would not have enjoyed their time. Everybody enjoyed the delicious meal while listening to some music. They then moved outside for the cake cutting of the very tasty italian style cake to then get the night started with the after party that went on. Everyone was very happy, it was a day filled with joy.
I knew I did a good job when the next day I woke up with a message from the bride saying that she wanted to re-do it all over again.
CREDITS:
PHOTO: SERENA MORANDI PHOTOGRAPHY
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I'm Francesca, a wedding planner specialized in sustainable events in Tuscany with more than 12 years of experience.