This intimate, alfresco wedding will have you running for the Tuscan hills

Intimate Al Fresco Wedding In A Tuscan Vineyard | Roberta Facchini

At a picturesque villa, situated in the rolling hills of Tuscany, Sophie and Valentin celebrated their wedding in classic Italian fashion – with a dinner al fresco, filled with freshly shaved prosciutto, olive oil favors, cheeses, and plenty of wine sourced from the venue itself.

“See this is exactly what I’ve imagined!” I’ve shown photos of Sophie & Valentin’s long, shared, farm table setting to my fiance numerous times since first viewing this gorgeous alfresco reception. Creating one long table tells guests they’re at “our table” and that we’re all one big family.

We imagine their guests felt particularly loved in the cool, Tuscan evening air.

The classic Italian scene had just the tinges of modern details: bundles of eucalyptus draped the tables and trendy signage while olive branches decorated an organic three-tiered cake. The little details added pops of contemporary notes to an otherwise delightfully vintage Tuscan affair.

Photo by Roberta Facchini via Bridal Musings

Our Love Story

Valentin proposed in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, in October 2016. He took me on a surprise weekend there and had booked a lovely room with a balcony overlooking the bay. On our first evening there, we had decided to have some wine and antipasti, as the view and sunset were so spectacular.

As soon as the sun started to set, he got down on one knee and proposed with a ring that we had both seen in London. He was so nervous, but it so moving. I started shaking and crying as soon as I realised that he was about to propose! I was so happy! Then we went out to celebrate down in the village at a lovely restaurant and ordered champagne and seafood.

The Venue

We chose to get married in Italy as we got engaged in Riomaggiore and hold Italy in our hearts. Tuscany was just the perfect place to gather all our friends and family for an intimate ceremony overlooking the vineyards and to enjoy the fantastic Tuscan food.

As soon as we visited the Villa Montelucci, perched up a hill, with its long garden and fairy lights, we knew this would be our dream venue. I immediately pictured a long rustic table, with a garland full of olive branches and delicate roses in golden candleholders. The idea of having a romantic alfresco wedding, with a ceremony overlooking the vineyards enchanted us both and we were soon booking the venue and organizing details for the ceremony, aperitivo and dinner.

The Decor

Our color palette was green, rose and peach with gold accents. The wedding favors consisted of miniature bottles of locally produced olive oil. We kept our ceremony decoration simple, with a few olive branches and flowers decorating the alleyway. The view was so breath-taking that there wasn’t much needed for decoration.

Favorite Moments

The day started with a bit of a panic, as it was raining in the morning. Luckily, the sun came out about twelve and we were able to carry-on as planned and had the wedding outside. The whole day just felt like a dream, from the preparation in the lovely living room, surrounded by my bridesmaids and mum and grandmother to the end of the day, dancing under the stars. Each moment was truly unforgettable, and having such an intimate ceremony was what made it really special to us.

The Reception

After the ceremony, we headed to the garden for the delicious aperitivo, followed by a photo portrait session with our lovely photographer, Roberta Facchini. The backdrop was just stunning, and the light was just like in a dream, very soft and glowy. Then afterward, we headed to our table for a fantastic three-course dinner, in the garden, all lit-up with fairy lights; the atmosphere was very romantic. The day ended with us all dancing under the Tuscan stars. Our wedding day was a dream come true and one day we will remember forever.

The Photography & Videography

We chose Roberta Facchini because her style was exactly what we were looking for; soft, pastel, romantic photos. We immediately clicked with her and her style and she understood our needs from the very beginning. As Roberta had already visited the region, she already knew about “the light” there which was so important. She had so many ideas for beautiful photos, and she is so creative, we knew she was “the one” from the very beginning. The photos she delivered are just stunning and we could not be happier! These will be memories we will treasure forever.

As to our videographer, Emanuele Mura, he was recommended to us by our wedding planner, Hewelin Vanni. After a few Skype sessions with Emanuele, and viewing his previous work, we could see his creativity and we knew that we could trust him. He listened attentively to our ideas and wishes. He delivered an incredible “trailer” video as well as a longer version of the full day. He is very talented and we are very pleased with his work, we keep watching the videos over and over again to relive the day.

Photo by Roberta Facchini via Bridal Musings

Advice for Other Couples

We got carried away the previous days, trying to plan everything to the detail. In the end, everything went as planned, but even if it hadn’t, it would not have mattered that much. The simple joy of having our friends and family gathered with us in such a beautiful setting was all we could have wished for.

If we could give any tips, it would be to delegate as much as you can (to friends and family), and to trust your vendors as much as you can, so you can enjoy the day worry-free.