March 10, 2022

A Wild and Intimate Elopement in Tuscany

elopement, Tuscany, Italy, inspiration

Wedding Celebration in the Mountains of Tuscany, Italy

the church in Isola Santa Tuscany on a bright spring day

flat lay on a rusty backdrop of wedding stationary by Olive and Millicent

a shell design carved into marble at Isola Santa

groom holds out a card with his vows handwritten and also the wedding rings

Who wouldn't dream of holding a romantic and intimate wedding with the only expectations being that of the two of you being together and immersing yourselves in nature and the experience. Far from the more well known wedding locations of Tuscany, in the heart of the Apuan Alps (or Apli Apuane in Italian), Bianco Rosa, wedding planners based in Lucca, planned the most incredible elopement with precisely this feel. This wedding was full of moments of serene calm surrounded by the lush green vegetation and ancient stone buildings of a tiny village, a hidden gem next to a lake with water so turquoise, and then moments of joy and excitement with music and dancing and even confetti canons! Even though it was just the two of them, this was a CELEBRATION! And I am so thankful to have been there to capture it all as their wedding photographer.

Preparations for an Intimate Wedding

It was just the two of them; no guests and not even that many passers-by to be honest! Within the sleepy little village chosen to hold the elopement, a tiny cottage in the centre was used for the bridal preparations. While the groom got ready downstairs dressing in a stylish suit by Linneo, the bride got ready upstairs. She chose a simple but elegant two piece by Abito Bianco and, because it was early spring and the air can have that wonderful crisp and fresh feeling to it still, she also had a cosy cardigan to complete the look. The gorgeous accessories which added a bit of sparkle were also from Abito Bianco. On hand for hair and make-up was Sada Make-up Artist, who created a soft, yet refined, romantic look perfect for an elopement.

Stationary for a Tuscan Elopement

What better way to announce your elopement than a set of beautiful stationary created by Olive and Millicent. They created an entire set which could be used on the day itself and also after to send to friends and family, the announcement depicting the location of their elopement in a gentle watercolour. The couple each had their own little vow booklet with their personal vows hand written inside.

groom holds a vow booklet up in front of an old blue painted wooden door

bride holds a vow booklet up in front of an old blue painted wooden door

A Picturesque Setting in Italy

It was a fine day in early spring, so the couple chose to say their wedding vows outside the old village church. Rebel Rebel had created a floral display to match the wild beauty of the location; iris, allium, aquilegia, mustard, sorrel, ferns, and locally foraged foliages created the perfect backdrop for an elopement in the wilderness of Tuscany. The symbolic ceremony was lead by Jo Bertolino from Tuscan Pledges. Gentle and calm, Jo instantly put the couple at ease with her presence, leading an intimate ceremony full of beautiful words, personal vows, and music.

A stone church exterior featuring arched architectural details and greenery framing a wooden doorway where a small ceremony takes place.

A couple embraces in front of a rustic stone church entrance with green foliage framing the wooden door.

A joyful wedding celebration moment outside a rustic stone building with a large wooden door.

A couple shares a romantic moment outside a rustic stone building while a musician plays guitar in the background.

A bride in a white dress and her companion in a beige suit stand at a stone building entrance with lush greenery.

A musician performs outdoors with a guitar against a rustic stone wall while others gather in the background.

Music and Emotion

The music brought life and joy to this occasion I have to say. The gorgeous melodies and upbeat sounds of The Brothers in Law filled the valley in this remote corner of Tuscany as the couple held their wedding. It even had the couple dancing after the ceremony which was the sweetest thing! Live music really made all the difference here.

A romantic couple in wedding attire poses playfully in front of a rustic brown door with climbing vines on stone walls.

Twirling figure in white dress and sweater stands before a brown wooden door framed by climbing vines and stone walls.

A couple dips in a romantic dance pose against a rustic stone wall with brown door and climbing vines.

A couple in wedding attire laughs together in front of a stone building on their special day.

After the Wedding, Exploring the Apuan Alps National Park

After the wedding, we decided to explore the surrounding area as the village is situated inside a national park of Tuscany. Wild and rustic, you can feel the history in the buildings and the calm sleepy way time passes here. There was a path along the brilliantly coloured turquoise lake, dotted with yellow wild flowers, which we followed for some time getting lost in each moment we spent wandering. Untouched and unspoilt, surrounded by nature and off the beaten path, this was a truly magical time.

Black and white romantic close-up portrait of a tender kiss between a couple, with one person's curly hair visible.

A romantic black and white portrait of a couple embracing outdoors, with the figure holding flowers behind their back.

A couple stands near a turquoise lake surrounded by lush green foliage during what appears to be a wedding ceremony.

Couple in wedding attire walks along a lush green path beside a turquoise lake on their special day.

Scenic turquoise lake surrounded by lush green forest and mountains in a peaceful wilderness landscape.

The Perfect Place for Wedding Portraits in the Wilderness of Tuscany

This is one of the first places I discovered when we moved to the Garfagnana in Tuscany, and so being able to photograph an elopement here had a very special place in my heart. My family has spent many a hot summer day finding the perfect place along this path to dip our toes into the freezing cold water. I still cannot get over the colour of the water each spring. The luminous and bright colour provided a unique backdrop for the wedding portraits and also filming of the couple by Due su Due.

A newlywed couple laughs while holding drinks by a beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by lush green forest.

A couple celebrates their wedding day by a turquoise lake, popping champagne in a lush green forest setting.

A joyful newlywed couple celebrates by a turquoise lake surrounded by lush greenery on their wedding day.

A couple shares an intimate moment beside a turquoise lake surrounded by lush greenery and trees.

A couple stands by a turquoise lake in a lush forest setting, playfully raising a glass in their hands in celebration.

How to celebrate an Elopement in Tuscany with Style

Just because it's an elopement doesn't mean you can't have those special moments as you would at a normal wedding. In fact, when it's an elopement, you can throw out the rule book and structure your day however you see fit and make those moments even more personal, and even more exciting. Toasts were made beside the lake, where the groom opened the bottle in style! And, even though it was just the two of them, who says you can't have confetti?! Diego Fuochi d'Artificio set up confetti canons which released streamers for a spectacular and fun finale to this elopement in Tuscany.