The Tuscany region of Italy is well-known for its incredible wine, food, scenery and romance, so there’s no doubt why it tops the lists as one of the most desirable places in the world to get married. If you’re thinking of a destination wedding, here’s seven ways to ace a luxury wedding in Tuscany.
Venue
The venue will feature prominently in so many aspects of your destination wedding – not only as the backdrop in all your photos, but the theme or style of the venue, and the various spaces it offers will influence all other choices you make.
Tuscany is full of grand, historical venues such as Borgo Stomennano in Monteriggioni. This stunning Borgo (“small italian village”) comprises a main elegant villa and rustic luxury surrounding farmhouses, so guests can all stay together and enjoy the acres of olive groves and vineyards, with wine and oil produced right on the premises. From the long cypress-tree lined driveway, to the fairy-tale garden complete with tower, to the frescoed ballroom, you will be spoilt for choice for your ceremony and reception. Another stunning luxury option is Borgo Santo Pietro, with a Michelin-starred restaurant that exclusively uses produce grown throughout its 200 acre estate.
Photo: Borgo Stomenanno
Planning
If you’re not from the area, you’ll want to enlist some local knowledge to help you navigate not only customs & regulations, but to give some insider access to amazing suppliers and ideas. A wedding planner like Super Tuscan Wedding Planners can be invaluable from helping you find a perfect venue that you might not have known existed, to sourcing great suppliers for your special day. On the day, you’ll have their Italian-speaking local staff helping the day run smoothly and setting up your venue just right, so you can focus on enjoying the moment.
Photo: Eppel Fotografie
Food & Drink
In a place like Tuscany, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to food, but if you really want to wow your guests, skip traditional wedding catering packages, opt for some canapes from ideal party by a main meal from a gourmet Chef like Alessio Sedran instead. Sedran runs a highly-respected restaurant in Florence, but will also work to create a highly customized menu of exquisite hand-created dishes using the finest local ingredients. He can even make your wedding cake by hand in front of guests, as a classic Italian mille-fueille show for a unique touch. Add locally-produced organic wine from the region’s finest and guests will talk about the dinner for years to come.
Photo: Eppel Fotografie
Music
The nearby art city of Florence is also famous for its musicians, and there’s nothing like beautiful classical music, expertly played to accompany your ceremony and reception. Florence Art Ensemble can arrange everything from harpists to violinists, opera singers to a full orchestra to add a touch of musical elegance to your day, and when it’s time to party, a locally-based international DJ like Ed Gillum of First Dance can craft a playlist that’s perfect for your guests.
Photo: Eppel Fotografie
Hair & Make Up
With a stunning venue, idyllic scenery and gourmet food, of course the Bride and Bridesmaids should look their absolute best. Finding world-class hair and make-up services in the countryside can be challenging though, and a wedding day is not a time to be taking chances. Luckily Anna Ushakova of Annartstyle in Rome has years of experience of weddings, fashion, film and catwalks, and will travel to the region to create flawless looks for the Bride and Bridal party.
Photo: Eppel Fotografie
Photographer
Hire a great photographer and you won’t regret it. Tuscany is a feast for the eyes and you will be overwhelmed with the beautiful detail every where you look. You will want a photographer that knows how to shoot this, understands the light and depth of scenery, and has a great eye to capture all of your personal moments, and the uniqueness of the place you picked. Ralf Czogallik is an expert in destination wedding photography, and his company Eppel Fotografie fly all over the world creating stunning images. Although based in the Netherlands, he travels regularly to shoot Tuscan weddings, and one look at his photographs will show you why. Make sure you interview your photographer carefully so that you are on the same page to create the memories that you want.
Photo: Eppel Fotografie
Other activities
Having a destination wedding comes with its challenges, but it also is a great catalyst for your guests to travel and see something new. The beauty of Tuscany is that it is also sandwiched in between the stunning cities of Florence and Rome, and being in the heart of Europe makes it easy for onward travel. Maybe you choose to have a sophisticated bachelor party for the guys at the masculine and refined D.O.M Hotel in Rome, while the ladies hit the spa at Hotel Eden followed by dinner with a dramatic view in Il Giardino, or a post-wedding excursion touring the Colosseum or Vatican. Whatever you choose, there will be of no shortage of elegance, culture and gastronomy during your Tuscan destination wedding.
Hotel Eden – Photo: Dorchester Collection
Article by Darren Darnborough