Emma and Chris travelled from the United Kingdom to Tuscany to celebrate their wedding at Villa Catignano surrounded by family and friends who had joined them in the Chianti countryside.
The day began inside the historic villa, where Emma got ready in the Appartamento di Maestà, one of the most beautiful suites in the main villa. Filled with natural light, elegant historic details, and views over the estate, it provided a calm setting for the morning preparations. At the same time, Chris spent the morning in one of the frescoed rooms on the upper floor of the villa, where painted ceilings and historic interiors created a completely different atmosphere for his getting-ready photographs.
With around fifty guests, their wedding felt intimate, relaxed, and focused on spending time together rather than following a busy schedule. It was one of those celebrations where everything unfolded naturally, allowing everyone to enjoy the experience of being in Tuscany together.
A Garden Ceremony at Villa Catignano
Emma and Chris chose to hold their ceremony in the Italian Garden, one of the most iconic ceremony locations at Villa Catignano.
Rather than feeling formal, the ceremony felt personal and welcoming, with family and friends gathered close around them. Surrounded by historic architecture and the gardens of the estate, it was a beautiful setting that still kept the focus on the couple and the people who had travelled to Tuscany to celebrate with them.
After the ceremony, everyone gathered for a group photograph in the Giardino all’Italiana before moving to the Fattoria Courtyard for aperitivo. With around fifty guests, the celebration felt intimate enough for everyone to spend time together while still creating the atmosphere of a destination wedding in Tuscany.
A Relaxed Wedding Day in Tuscany
What I remember most about Emma and Chris’ wedding is how relaxed it felt.
There was a lot of laughter throughout the day, from the morning preparations to the evening celebrations, and the wedding never felt rushed. One of the things I noticed most was how often Emma and Chris made each other laugh. Their wedding felt focused on family, friends, and enjoying the day together rather than turning the celebration into a photoshoot.
For their portraits, we kept things simple and natural. The gardens, courtyards, and historic interiors of Villa Catignano provided a variety of beautiful locations without ever needing to leave the estate.
As the evening continued, dinner, speeches, and time spent together became the focus of the celebration. It was one of those weddings where the best photographs came from real interactions rather than carefully planned moments — conversations between friends, laughter during speeches, and the feeling of everyone settling into a long Tuscan evening together.
VENDORS
Photographer - Alexandra Kukushkina | Venue - Villa Catignano | Wedding Planner - Luxe Weddings Italy | Flowers - Fleurdecor Anna Circhetta | Celebrant - Tuscan Pledges | Dress - Petticoat Lane Bridal
Kind words from Emma:
"Alexandra is such a fantastic wedding photographer! She did an amazing job of capturing our wedding day in Tuscany. My husband and I are not naturals in front of the camera but she made us feel really relaxed and captured beautiful candid photos. She had a set of preview photos available for us within a few days which were amazing to look through and then very quickly afterward the whole wedding album was ready. I couldn’t recommend Alexandra highly enough!"
Planning a wedding at Villa Catignano or elsewhere in Tuscany?
