Romantic Tuscany wedding at Castle Il Palagio

Romantic Tuscany wedding at Castle Il Palagio

If you are planning a romantic wedding in a castle, a destination wedding in Tuscany is the perfect location to fulfill your dream. The wedding of Gabriella and Charles was one of the chicest events planned by Exclusive Italy Weddings last summer. I was eager to share it with you for many reasons: the elegant, refined style of both wedding and ceremony, the delicate all-white decors, the romantic setting in a medieval castle, and the funny Italian touches like the 500 vintage cars in the colors of the Italian flag, details that made the event truly personal and reflecting the couple’s story and personality.

Castle wedding in Tuscany

Gabriella and Charles are a British couple who contacted us more than a year in advance to plan their wedding in Italy. They introduced themselves in this way:

We  are both 32 years old, very energetic full of life, would like a not too over top but welcoming chic wedding. We are looking for a romantic church in Tuscany. Our vision is of a classic Italian wedding with neutral colours.

After an attentive evaluation, with the help of our wedding planner Martina they chose the romantic Castello Il Palagio on the Tuscan hills as their wedding venue and the nearby ancient church of Santo Stefano in Campoli as the perfect setting for their catholic ceremony.
[one_half][/one_half][one_half_last][/one_half_last]The simple and elegant Romanesque structure of the Pieve of Santo Stefano was enriched with delicate decorations in the Baroque era. This sophisticated ceremony setting was decorated with natural arrangements combining olive and rosemary branches for a Mediterranean flavor, and all white flowers for an elegant touch: hydrangeas, avalanche roses and gypsophila, with simple gypsophila posies for the pews.

The bridal bouquet was in the same simple and elegant style: white stephanotis flowers tied with a silk ribbon.

The ceremony was accompanied by a string quartet playing classical airs of Vivaldi, Boccherini, Bach and Pachelbel, and Schubert’s Ave Maria sung by a soprano.
[one_half][/one_half][one_half_last]Bridal Bouquet[/one_half_last]
Arrival of the bride[one_half]Aisle decorations for Tuscan church[/one_half][one_half_last]Order of Service[/one_half_last]Catholic wedding in Tuscany[one_half]Gabriella and Charles getting married in Tuscany[/one_half][one_half_last]Classical music for wedding ceremony[/one_half_last]End of Catholic ceremony in Tuscany

Gabriella’s parents are both Italian, they come from the region of Emilia Romagna, whose capital is Bologna, famous for its cuisine and good food, the cradle of worldwide renowned specialties such as Prosciutto di Parma ham, Mortadella and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Bologna is the hometown of tortellini, lasagne, tagliatelle and lots of other delicious recipes that are appreciated also outside of Italy. So it’s easy to understand why Gabriella’s family was particularly sensitive to the aspect of good food and wanted a perfectly curated wedding menu.

The appetizers buffet offered many different types of finger food inspired by Italian traditional recipes such as pappa al pomodoro, bruschetta, carpaccio, bresaola… all in a nice display full of different colors and flavors.
[one_half]Appetizers for Wedding Cocktail[/one_half][one_half_last]Appetizers for Wedding Banquet[/one_half_last][one_half]Tuscan Wine for Wedding Reception[/one_half][one_half_last]Wedding Cocktail in a Tuscan Castle[/one_half_last]The starters were served in the Fountain Garden of the castle. The cocktail was accompanied by a string quartet. Near the cocktail area the bridal couple arranged a photobooth with a giant Polaroid frame.
[one_half]Cocktail in the gardens of Il Palagio Castle[/one_half][one_half_last]Musicians for Wedding Cocktail in Tuscany[/one_half_last][one_half]Table plan for castle wedding in Tuscany[/one_half][one_half_last]Polaroid photo booth[/one_half_last]Wedding Cocktail at Il Palagio Castle

For the sit-down dinner they chose the following courses:

first courses: risotto with zucchini, zucchini flower and saffron veloutè, potatoes ravioli with mugellana ragout;

sorbet: lemon sorbet;

main course:  thinly sliced steak with rosemary flavored extra virgin olive oil.

Charles, the groom, is also part Italian, since his ancestors came from Italy too. His passion is another excellence of Italy: car races. So he named the reception tables after famous racetracks such as Monza, Imola, Nurburgring, Red Bull Ring, Oulton Park… The racetracks were designed on both seating plan and table cards. He also hired three 500 Fiat vintage cars in the colors of the Italian flag: green, white and red, with drivers for the six bridesmaids.
[one_half]Bridesmaids[/one_half][one_half_last]Vintage Fiat 500 car[/one_half_last]Vintage Fiat 500 Cars
One day Gabriella wrote to us about the car for the bridal couple: Charlie is sorting this as one of his race teams are sending a car down so that car will bring myself and my Dad to the church and will take myself and Charlie away… and that car was no less than a fabulous white Maserati Ghibli! Wow!
Luxury car for Tuscany wedding
After the ceremony the guests reached the castle’s courtyard for the wedding banquet. The reception tables were decorated with tall centerpieces filled with gypsophila, forming a dreamy cloud never the tables, small vases with roses, hydrangeas and stephanotis, candles and scattered white petals for a romantic effect.

[one_half]Outdoor wedding dinner at Il Palagio[/one_half][one_half_last]Table decoration for wedding reception in Tuscany[/one_half_last][one_half]Total white decorations for wedding reception in Tuscany[/one_half][one_half_last][/one_half_last]A century old cedar tree in the castle gardens was decorated with fairy lights and a spectacular glass chandelier: the perfect setting for the cake cutting. The millefoglie wedding cake was prepared in front of the guests and decorated with fresh berries and white roses. The guests lit their sparklers on and the air was full of magic while the bridal couple toasted with sparkling wine.
[one_half]Glass chandelier for outdoor wedding reception[/one_half][one_half_last]Cutting of the cake under a tree at Tuscan wedding dinner[/one_half_last][one_half]Wedding guests with sparklers[/one_half][one_half_last]Wedding cake with fresh berries and white roses[/one_half_last]Newlyweds toasting at Tuscany castle wedding

After the romantic first dance of the bridal couple on the music of Tom Odell’s Grow Old with Me, the party continued in the castle courtyard with dances and a midnight snack until 1 am.

Castle wedding in TuscanyAfter party in the courtyard of Castello Il Palagio

The castle is surrounded by a large park and by an estate with olive groves, a perfect background for a romantic photoshoot with a Mediterranean atmosphere. The entire event was photographed by Sara and Silvia of Infraordinario Photo Studio: their delicate and dreamy style matches perfectly the wedding theme and I am happy to share these fantastic photos with you!
[one_half]Bride and groom in the olive groves of the Chianti region [/one_half][one_half_last]Portrait of the bride among the olive groves of Tuscany [/one_half_last]Bride and groomsmen in the gardens of Castle Il Palagio [one_half]Bride and bridesmaids in the gardens of Castello Il Palagio in Tuscany [/one_half][one_half_last]Bride and bridesmaids in the gardens of Il Palagio in the Chianti region[/one_half_last]Groom and bridesmaids in the park of Castle Il Palagio

If you are planning a castle wedding in Italy please have a look at our renewed wedding website, we have a section called Castle Weddings in Italy with lots of photos, where you can see the fabulous venues with which we cooperate. Or you can contact me via our contact form to get an estimate based on your personal preferences.

Martina

Image Credits: infraordinario studio ©.

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