Nothing makes me more excited as a destination wedding photographer than getting to photograph a gorgeous destination (such as Tuscany!) and getting to photograph an absolutely fearless couple.
The couples who love to throw caution to the wind and the rules off to the side? They have a special place in my heart.
And that was the case with this fearlessly fashionable bride and groom at Villa Guicciardini, their Tuscany wedding venue.
Keep scrolling to see how I captured this incredible Tuscany destination wedding:
Almost every single wedding day comes with a fair few nerves, especially when it comes to taking photos. I’m sure it’s because most of my couples don’t often step in front of a professional’s camera!
That’s why I always love having a portrait session the day before (or at least an engagement session beforehand). It’s a chance for my couples to feel much more relaxed in front of the camera and much more comfortable with me!
That always opens the door for even more gorgeous photos on the wedding day itself.
And that’s exactly why this particular bride and groom chose to have a couple’s session in Firenze the day before their wedding. And wow! Talk about meant for the glossy pages of Vogue! They were stunning in their complimenting white outfits; they could not have looked more chic if they tried!
Both the bride and the groom are known among their friends and family as extremely fashionable. So they couldn’t let their wedding day go to waste!
They chose to showcase their love of fashion in their wedding day outfits. And as a fashion photographer turned destination wedding photographer, I couldn’t get enough!
I always love when a bride chooses a wedding dress that pairs with the mood and aesthetic of the day. Considering Villa Guicciardini, the Tuscany wedding venue, is a gorgeous labyrinth of gardens, selecting a lace dress matched the ethereal whimsy perfectly.
With a stunning pair of Jimmy Choo bridal shoes and a bouquet of baby’s breath to match, this bride looked as though she had stepped straight out of a fairytale!
Considering the groom works under the Yves Saint Laurent brand, it should come as no surprise that he considers himself fashionable. And his unique suit proved his point!
He dressed in a black Gucci suit jacket with the most gorgeous floral interior lining that had my fashion-loving heart beating wildly! Paired with matching Gucci shoes, including the embossed leather on the sole, and embroidered bees on his shirt cuffs and his tie, he was one of the best-dressed grooms I’ve had the pleasure of photographing.
Villa Guicciardini is a charming, historic villa nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy. Like many villas throughout Italy, Villa Guicciardini prides itself on its impeccable gardens and foliage throughout the grounds.
Of course, that serves as a stunning backdrop for any Tuscany destination wedding. And this wedding was no exception!
Rather than stick to the traditional color palettes of blush pinks or even simple neutrals, this couple chose to step out of the box and incorporate bright pops of color throughout their wedding day.
Their floral designer put together arrangements at the ceremony site that completely transformed the Tuscany wedding venue into an absolute unicorn heaven!
And what made my wedding photography heart beat even faster was the fact that they chose to allow the flowers to take the spotlight. Huge blooms of peonies and hydrangeas lined the gazebo which served as the ceremony altar.
Along with the flowers, velvet settees in pastel pink and blue were lined for guests to sit during the ceremony. While such a bold color palette can often be overdone, it simply wasn’t for this wedding. I couldn’t get enough of the gorgeous color scheme!
One of the greatest trends to take over the wedding industry in the last several years is allowing your best friends to be a part of your day.
And by best friends, I am absolutely talking about your dogs!
The couple chose to have their dogs be a special part of their celebration during the ceremony, and it couldn’t have been a sweeter moment. As a huge dog lover myself, I was so ecstatic to see their two French bulldogs join them during the Tuscany wedding ceremony!
Immediately following the ceremony, the bride, groom, and I took off to explore the grounds for their “Just Married” sunset portraits.
It’s always one of my favorite parts of the wedding day because there’s this beautiful, ethereal “just married” glow about the couple that photographs so exquisitely!
We explored the grounds of the Villa Guicciardini wedding venue together, making sure to stop at all of the perfect locations I had scouted previously that I knew would fit both the couple and the signature Lilly Red style.
After the Tuscany wedding ceremony, everyone made their way to the reception hall which was a glass greenhouse filled with beautiful natural light.
It couldn’t have been a better location to capture the festivities as they began to unfold!
As the Tuscany wedding photographer for this celebration, it was a breath of fresh air picking up my camera to photograph all of the details for the reception.
Everything this couple chose to do was outside of the box of traditional weddings, and I was so excited to see it!
The vibrant color scheme of bright blues and pinks paired with pastel purples and sandy neutrals was the most magical color palette I’ve ever seen. As soon as I saw it, I immediately thought it was nothing short of unicorn heaven!
And my camera and I went crazy photographing it all!
Along with the bright colors of the flowers, the couple chose unique wedding reception decor in the same shades. Their wedding reception napkins were all the same shades of bright blue, vibrant pink, and pastel purple, thanks to the incredible work of Allegoria Textiles. And the ruffles of the napkins added an extra layer of texture and dimension to the wedding tablescapes – something that made my wedding reception photos pop even more!
There is nothing quite like fresh flowers as wedding decor. Nothing photographs like fresh flowers. Nothing adds that layer of extravagance to a wedding like fresh flowers.
And when you find a local artisan who can create magic with their flower arrangements – well, naturally, you have to have them for your wedding day.
That’s what this beautiful couple chose to do! They brought in a floral designer who transformed the Tuscany wedding venue into a magical dream. The designer used the same bright color scheme of light blue and vibrant pink. They are balanced with sandy, neutral tones and whites just to add a layer of depth.
What made everything so unbelievably magical was the choice of flowers they used! From full roses to silky peonies to pops of hydrangeas and even orchids – this floral designer created the most unforgettable arrangements that brought the space to life.
It was so difficult to pull my camera away from photographing each arrangement because they were all so spectacular!
Not only did the designer create arrangements for each table, but they also incorporated arrangements of baby’s breath and greenery on the chandeliers. Everywhere you looked was touched by the whimsy of flowers.
As you’re planning your destination wedding, make sure you think about how you want your flowers to add life and vibrancy to your day. And use this Tuscany, Italy wedding as plenty of inspiration to step outside of the box!
With the ceremony completed, dinner finished, and speeches given, it was time to truly celebrate the newly married couple.
And that they did!
The pair danced the night away with their friends and family, cut into a gorgeous three-tier cake, and celebrated with fireworks. They also brought in a local Tuscan pastry chef to create delicious pastries and small desserts for everyone to feast on throughout the night.
These two wanted to make sure everyone had an incredible, unforgettable time, and it’s safe to say they accomplished that.
After a long day of celebrating with family and friends, the couple arrived back at Villa Guicciardini, the Tuscany wedding venue, to spend more time with their guests.
They opted for a day-after brunch picnic, complete with picturesque picnic baskets and blankets strewn about the grounds of the Tuscan villa.
Considering the wedding day goes by so fast, having an extra few hours with guests is always a great idea! Plus, it opens the door for more moments and memories captured by my camera.
It’s weddings like these that prove time and time again that if you want to toss out traditions (like neutral or muted color palettes or simple wedding day fashion), it’ll help you create an epic wedding that’s unforgettable for you and your guests.
Need more wedding day inspiration?
Photography: Lilly Red
Venue: Villa Guicciardini
Planner: La Iaia
Flower Design: Andrea Sedici
Videography: JT Films
Napkins and Ribbons: Allegoria Textiles
Wedding Dress: Andrea Sedici
Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Groom Suit: Gucci
Jewelry and Wedding Rings: Tiffany and Co.
LILLY RED DI ELISABETTA REDAELLI © 2022 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS | PRIVACY | P.IVA: 03990210134 | DESIGN BY KAT COSMA