ITALIAN WEDDING FAQS
Engagement, elopement and wedding Photography
I came to Italy in 2011 at 19, with no set career plan. More than fifteen years later, I've learned the language and the culture and built my career as a photographer here in Tuscany.
I also got married here, so I know what it's like to plan a wedding in a place where you don't always know how things work.
Now I photograph weddings across Tuscany, and I love being the person on the ground who helps it all come together.
The first half of this page covers planning a wedding here in Italy. The second half is all about working with me.
If your question isn’t here, write to me. I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up!
THE FIRST STEPS - Planning a wedding in Florence and Tuscany
When is the best time of year to marry in Tuscany?
Both are wonderful, and it certainly depends on what is important to you as a couple.
Florence gives you cobblestones, the Duomo, and little streets in the Oltrarno that feel like they’re yours for an hour. The countryside gives you a villa where everyone lives together for a few days: welcome dinners, morning swims, long lunches, guests barefoot on the terrace long after midnight.
One of my favourite ways to do it is both: drinks in the city the night before, then up into the hills for the wedding. (If your guests are flying in, a villa within an hour of Florence keeps everyone’s travel easy.)
Should we marry in Florence or the countryside?
Both are wonderful, and you don’t have to pick just one!
Florence gives you cobblestones, the Duomo, and little streets in the Oltrarno that feel like they’re yours for an hour. The countryside gives you a villa where everyone lives together for a few days: welcome dinners, morning swims, long lunches, guests barefoot on the terrace long after midnight.
One of my favourite ways to do it is both: drinks in the city the night before, then up into the hills for the wedding. (If your guests are flying in, a villa within an hour of Florence keeps everyone’s travel easy.)
Can we marry at home and celebrate in Tuscany?
Yes! Lots of couples do the legal part at home and have a symbolic ceremony here, which means you can say your vows wherever and whenever you want. From a photography point of view, that’s a dream: we can put your ceremony right in the best light of the day.
Also, from a bureaucratic viewpoint I do not recommend doing the legal part here if you are not Italian, it adds unnecessary paperwork.
For the legal side of marrying in Italy, your planner or official guidance will have the details, since it depends on your passport: UK couples, US and other non-EU couples.
Do you work with couples from the UK and THE USA?
Yes, and a lot of my couples come from the UK and my home country in the US. Italy is an hour ahead of London and six to nine hours ahead of the US, so we’ll find a call time that works for both of us.
Should we hire a local photographer or bring ours from home?
Both can work! But a photographer flying in means paying for flights, hotels, meals and travel days on top of their fee, and they’ll often be seeing your venue for the very first time on the day.
I’ve been here since 2011. I know the light, the venues, and the people who make a day run smoothly, and I can sort things out in Italian when plans change (because they always do, a little).
How many days of photography do we need?
If you can, more than one. Over a weekend, your guests get used to me at the welcome dinner, so by the wedding day nobody’s reacting to the camera anymore. They’re just having fun, and that’s when the best photos happen.
- Wedding day only: getting ready, the ceremony, portraits, dinner and dancing
- Welcome evening and wedding day: your guests arriving and reconnecting, then the day itself
- Full weekend: all of that, plus the farewell brunch or a quiet walk around the property the morning after
More on wedding weekends here. Send me your plans and I’ll build a package around them.
More time means more time to play and add in fun activities like Portrait booths for guests.
How much does wedding photography in Florence and Tuscany cost?
Every wedding is different, so every package is built around your day. To give you a starting point:
- Civil and short ceremonies: from €1,050
- Full-day coverage with a second shooter: from €3,200
- Multi-day weekends: tailored to your celebration
If you’re in Florence before the wedding, couple sessions start at €425 for about an hour and a half.
Can we elope in Tuscany without a big package?
Yes! Short ceremonies start at €1,050. An elopement here can be as simple as vows in a garden, a coffee, and a slow wander through the city to find the best light. I’ll make you a little map of the spots you love.
What happens if it rains?
It happens! We’ll plan a covered backup with your venue ahead of time, and I’ll scout loggias, porticoes and big windows in advance. Honestly, some of the most romantic photos come from a couple ducking under a stone arch together.
In Italian there is a proverb "Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata" meaning: “A wet bride is a lucky bride” and everyone will tell you that if it looks like it will rain on your big day!
Which villas and planners do you recommend?
These are the villas and planners I’ve worked with, with my notes on the light, the team and what each place does best.
Where can we read reviews from your couples?
You can read reviews from real couples I've worked with on Google and on Matrimonio.com, or here on my testimonials page.
WORKING TOGETHER - Wedding Photography
Do you speak English and Italian?
Yes! I’m fully bilingual, being originally from the USA my native tongue is English and began learning Italian at 19, when I first moved to Italy.
What personal information do you need from us?
Just the basics for the contract: your names, address and contact details, and your general plan for your day. It is okay if not everything has been finalized yet.
What happens if you’re ill on the day?
I have a small network of photographers in Florence I trust.
If anything ever kept me from your wedding, someone I know and rate would step in, and to the best of my abilities, I would still handle the editing so your photos are consistent with what you see in my portfolio.
Do you work with a second photographer?
Yes. For all full day packages I’ll bring a second photographer and am happy to arrange a videographer/videomaker.
How many photos do we get, and do you edit them all?
I never give an exact number because each day is unique, but I do send you every one of the best images from your weekend. Every photo you receive is selected and edited by me, I do not use AI programs to cull photos because I genuinely love reliving the day we spent together.
How many days of photography do we need?
If you can, more than one. Over a weekend, your guests get used to me at the welcome dinner, so by the wedding day nobody’s reacting to the camera anymore. They’re just having fun, and that’s when the best photos happen.
- Wedding day only: getting ready, the ceremony, portraits, dinner and dancing
- Welcome evening and wedding day: your guests arriving and reconnecting, then the day itself
- Full weekend: all of that, plus the farewell brunch or a quiet walk around the property the morning after
More on wedding weekends here. Send me your plans and I’ll build a package around them.
More time means more time to play and add in fun activities like Portrait booths for guests.
Do we get high-resolution files?
Yes, all of them, ready to download, share and print. You will receive a link by email with a PIN that you can share with anyone you like.
When do we get our photos?
You’ll get a few sneak peeks within the first couple of weeks, then your full gallery in 4-6 weeks. It stays online for up to 2 years so you can download everything and share it with family.
Do you shoot film?
Yes! I started out assisting an alternative process photographer in New York, and film is still part of how I work. I shoot both film and digital
Can you recommend other vendors?
Yes, happily. I’ve worked with planners and villas across Tuscany, and over the years I’ve got to know a lot of the people who make weddings here happen. If you need someone, ask me and I’ll tell you who I trust. I also speak Italian, so I can help when something gets lost in translation.
