Italy is so full of amazing places that are perfect for destination weddings. Of course, you have the beautiful Lake Como, and I will say, I’m biased considering I live there. 

There’s also Puglia and even Cinque Terre. 

But in my opinion, one of the best places in Italy to get married is Sardinia. It’s an island that rests in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. And with gorgeous sandy coastlines and rugged landscapes, it’s an epic location that’s often forgotten about. Yet, every time I visit, I’m inspired all over again by how beautiful Italia is! 

So, naturally, I was thrilled to be a part of the dream team for this romantic, luxurious Sardinia wedding.

Eleanora, a talented sports journalist, and Danilo, a professional basketball player in the NBA, came to Eleanora’s birthplace for their incredible union. And they put their complete trust in me to capture it all!  

The Historic, Royal Sardinia Wedding Venue: Villa D’Orri 

In Sarroch, Sardinia sits a historic, royal home called Villa D’Orri. It’s one of the many gorgeous, luxury wedding villas in Italy. With classic Mediterranean-style archways built into the architecture and lush foliage all along the property, it’s the perfect Italian wedding destination! 

Intentional Planning for an Extraordinary Celebration

Ele and Danilo worked with a wonderful wedding planner, Sara Carboni Events, who helped them think of every fine detail throughout the day. From getting ready to dancing the night away during the reception, the wedding planner truly thought of everything! 

And as everything came together just as they had imagined for months, I was there to capture it all and preserve it in time.  

The Elegant Color Story

With Villa D’Orri’s traditional Italian color palette, the couple worked with their planner to create something that embraced the beauty already within the luxury Italian wedding villa. 

They chose romantic blush pinks, muted tans, and whites to accompany the natural color palette of the villa. Then, they used subtle shades of greens to match the foliage of the venue. It was an idyllic complement to the historic location.

Romantic, Garden-Inspired Florals 

There is something so editorial about including fresh florals in a wedding’s decor. They bring an air of luxury and elevation that’s hard to reproduce in any other way. And between the soft texture of the petals and the pops of colors, fresh floral arrangements add such a gorgeous visual interest to every wedding photo. 
For this Sardinia wedding, the villa was filled with garden-inspired, romantic florals. From the staircase that led to the ceremony site to the cake itself, flower arrangements were the eye-catching elements everywhere.

Magical Lighting for the Reception

While the inside of Villa D’Orri is stunning with its ornate wall decor, paintings, and statues, the outside of the venue is just as immaculate. Large trees framed the reception site on the property, and the couple didn’t plan to forget those. 

Instead, they made them into an ambient lighting fixture! The large trees were wrapped in beautiful twinkling lights that created an ethereal glow for the couple’s reception as they celebrated with their guests. 

The Couture Wedding Gowns

I still get so excited when I see a bride step out in her beautiful wedding gown. Maybe it’s the fashion of it all or the idea that they chose something so special in a style unique to them. No matter what, it never fails to give me a few butterflies in my stomach, while my fingers itch to press the shutter button on my camera. 
So when the beautiful bride for this Sardinia wedding said she had two dresses, I was ecstatic!

Ele’s first gown for the ceremony was a captivating off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved gown paired with a cathedral-length veil. It held a more traditional aesthetic which was perfect for the romantic, elegant ceremony site on the property. 

The second gown, which she changed into during the reception, was a stunning, plunging neckline gown with detailed beading on the bodice. It gave a more modern feel for the bride, so she could have the best of both worlds for the celebration.

A Grand Cake Fit for Royalty

In a historically royal home, it’s only proper to have a cake that does it justice, right? That they did! The couple cut into an impossibly grand 11-tiered wedding cake, an homage to Danilo’s perfect-for-basketball height, while their guests looked on in amazement.

The Magic Happens When Couples Give Me All of Their Trust

As a wedding photographer, I work hard to create lasting relationships with my couples. Mostly because I love working with them and seeing their lives unfold, even after their celebration. But the other part is to gain their trust for the wedding day. 

When my couples put their faith in me as their photographer, that’s when the magic truly happens! 

It creates a day that’s less about “work” and more about allowing my creativity to flow freely to capture the celebrations as they unfold. 

That’s exactly what happened as I photographed their bridal and couple’s portraits! With their trust, I was able to create stunning artful photography that will be cherished for decades to come. 

Revisiting Sardinia and seeing just how magnificent it is as an Italian wedding destination is always inspiring!  I’m so grateful for the dream team that helped make this day flow perfectly for this lovely couple.

 

Explore more Italian wedding destinations on our blog! 

Wedding Day Vendors: 

Photographer: Lilly Red
Wedding Planner: Sara Carboni Events
Wedding Venue: Villa D’Orri
Videographer: MatCaste Films
Floral Designer: Andrea Patrizi
Stationery: Letterink
Catering: Luigi Pomata
Wedding Cake: Gianluca Aresu
Entertainment: Goldsingers
Service Band and Lighting: Blunotte Events
Wedding Gowns: Pronovias 
Bridal Hair: Stefania Zoppegni
Bridal Makeup: Carla Oppes