Stunning Wedding in Italy at Castel di Poggio, Florence, Italy
I have to pinch myself that this is for real. Doing more wedding photography in Italy is what I have wanted to do for a long time …….and on a blistering hot day at the beginning of this month I landed back in Italy, camera gear at the ready to photograph a gorgeous Fraternita di Romena & Castel di Poggio Wedding of Laura-Jane and Alessio in the autumn sun of Tuscany (although it was exceptionally warm at 37C!)
With a ceremony at the beautiful church of the Fraternita di Romena followed by a reception at Castel di Poggio there was some serious planning to ensure that I was able to do a smooth transition between the location where Laura-Jane was to get ready, to the church over an hour away and back again to Florence – no closed roads this time (as I had for the wedding of Nichola and Adam at Castello di Vincigliata!), only me repeating the mantra of ‘be like an Italian, be like an Italian’ as like a true local I found myself overtaking on a seriously winding mountain road and realising I didn’t have the power that I normally have in my own car and precious little room for any error! There is also probably some poor Italian driver still recovering from me winding down the window and shouting in English (with a few expletives) where he thought he was going with no room to overtake and nowhere to pull in – still we both survived!
I was acutely aware that this time round the wedding guests would be both Italian and English – my Italian language skills are still developing to say the least but I could not have asked for a friendlier or indeed elegant and gracious group of guests. Valerio the best man particularly impressed me, delivering the nerve inducing best man’s speech in English!
For me the day was perfect as I was given ‘free reign’ to really use my documentary style of wedding photography to its full capacity as Laura-Jane and Alessio had no wish for formal shots. The day was firmly about family and friends celebrating a great day with them and their baby daughter in a warmed under the ever present Tuscan sun.
I particularly like the intimate moments that I captured with Laura-Jane and baby Phoebe interacting with best man Valerio – the touch of Alessio’s hand on Valerio’s back. In that moment family, friendship, new life and the future are captured to enjoy for a lifetime. Beautiful moments captured just never lose their appeal…….
Of course the day had its fun as friends pasted Gia’st Sposi across their flower power VW camper van or struck a pose as only the Italians can do – with style, panache and fun as they battled for space in the photo with the waitress and the fabulous wedding cake. Gorgeous food by Bi Ricevimenti and genuine Italian ice cream (that the children and adults had great fun with) just helped to make the day even more perfect – if that is possible!
There were so many great moments during the day – from Laura-Jane (in her lovely Maggie Sotero dress) and baby Phoebe leaving the apartment for the ceremony, Laura-Jane and her bridesmaids negotiating the perilous tiled pavements to the awaiting VW Camper and the beautiful ceremony where I witnessed that unique mix of intimacy and spontaneity that is rarely found in church services in England – images that sum up why I love photographing weddings in Italy – fun, family, and friends brought together with elegance and warmth.
P.S. a special thank you also to Celine at L’amour en rose who introduced us to Laura-Jane and has a great wedding planning service in Northern Italy and without which I would not have been able to do this wedding.
Now this Castel di Poggio wedding is over and I am on my way home so until next time……….
Are you planning a Castel di Poggio Wedding?
If you’re planning a Castel di Poggio Wedding, or in fact anywhere in Italy, and looking for relaxed, unobtrusive wedding photography why not give me a call 0370 626 5200, drop me an email, or use the Contact Form to get in touch, I’d love to hear your wedding day.