Arrival in Val d’Orcia
Monteverdi isn’t just a destination — it’s a feeling that lingers long after you leave. Perched high above the Val d’Orcia, the medieval village has been lovingly restored into one of Tuscany’s most exquisite retreats. The moment you arrive, there’s a hush that settles over you — the kind of silence that carries the hum of cicadas and the warmth of late afternoon light spilling over stone walls.
For couples who choose Monteverdi for their wedding, it isn’t simply about hosting a celebration. It’s about creating a weekend where beauty and emotion exist in balance — where guests slow down, gather around long tables, and watch the sky change color as vows are exchanged.
The Welcome Dinner
The weekend often begins with an intimate welcome dinner tucked into one of the village’s terraces. Golden hour light filters through the olive trees, dancing across linen-covered tables filled with locally grown food and deep Italian wines. There’s laughter, anticipation, and that quiet knowing that something sacred is about to unfold.
These early hours always hold some of my favorite moments — raw, unposed, and unguarded. The excitement in the air is palpable but unhurried, and it allows me to photograph in a way that feels more like observation than orchestration.
The Morning of the Wedding
Morning at Monteverdi carries a kind of reverence. The village is still, the landscape veiled in soft fog, and there’s a sense of quiet focus as everyone prepares. The bride gets ready in one of the stone villas overlooking the cypress-lined hills. The light spills gently through the window — soft, painterly, and utterly timeless.
Film thrives here. The tones, the texture, the way it renders emotion — it all feels alive. This is where Tuscany reveals her magic: the blend of earth, architecture, and emotion all in one frame.
The Ceremony
Set within the village chapel or overlooking the sweeping hills, the ceremony feels deeply personal. Every sound echoes — the faint rustle of fabric, the breeze moving through lavender, the tremor in someone’s voice as they read their vows.
It’s here that I work quietly, blending into the rhythm of the moment, focusing on storytelling rather than staging. The result is a gallery that feels organic and cinematic, as if the images were always meant to exist.
The Portraits
After the ceremony, the light softens and the hills turn to gold. The couple often wanders through the vineyard paths or pauses by the ancient archways. I rarely give direction — just quiet prompts that let the moment unfold. These portraits are never about perfection but presence.
Monteverdi’s architecture and light invite stillness. Every turn of the path feels like a painting, and that’s how I approach it — capturing not just how it looked, but how it felt to be there.
The Reception
As night falls, candlelight flickers against the stone walls and laughter fills the air. Dinner beneath the stars turns into dancing under the Tuscan sky. It’s these transitions — from stillness to celebration — that I love most. They tell the full story of a wedding weekend: the anticipation, the serenity, the joy.
Each wedding at Monteverdi unfolds differently, but the constant thread is emotion. It’s the quiet in-between moments that linger long after — the embrace before walking down the aisle, the soft smile shared across the table, the wind carrying music into the hills.
Why Monteverdi Is So Special
Monteverdi captures the essence of Tuscany without ever feeling performative. It’s intimate, design-led, and deeply connected to its surroundings. For couples seeking a balance of luxury and authenticity, it offers both — architecture that photographs beautifully, and a soul that feels grounded and real.
It’s not a venue that demands attention; it invites it. And that’s exactly why it resonates so deeply with my approach — to document quietly, with intention, creating photographs that feel lived-in and deeply human.
Documenting love stories in places like Tuscany reminds me why I do what I do — the light, the stillness, and the quiet beauty of a moment that feels entirely your own.
If you’re planning a destination wedding that celebrates emotion, artistry, and intention, I’d love to help you preserve it in a way that feels effortlessly timeless.
Inquire here to begin your journey.
Vendor Credits
Photographer — @suzyandersonxo
Venue — @monteverdi_tuscany
Design & Styling — @kalebnormanjames
Production & Planning — @nktevents
Florals — @winsome_floral
Videography — @annalord
Bridal Attire — @daniellefrankelstudio
Veil — @janerhyanthecollection
Hair — @frankgiacone_bride_atelier_
Makeup — @elianecandia_hair_makeup
Stationery — @tiethatbinds
Rentals — @preludiodivisionenoleggio
Cake — @tuscanweddingcakes
