A luxury destination wedding at Villa di Ulignano

There are weddings that feel like travel, and then there are weddings that feel like a return home. This celebration at Villa di Ulignano was very much the latter.

With guests flying in from California and New York, this wasn’t just a destination wedding in Tuscany it was a gathering of two families reconnecting with their Italian heritage in the place that had always felt like the place for them.

As a UK-based destination wedding photographer, weddings like this are exactly why I travel.

Their wedding was beautifully planned by Ilenia Giuliani Events, whose refined, editorial approach brought a seamless flow to every moment of the day.

Morning at the Villa di Ulignano

The day began at the villa, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the Tuscan countryside. The atmosphere was calm but filled with anticipation as guests began arriving from around the world.

The bride wore two unforgettable looks throughout the celebration:

• A sculptural gown by Steven Khalil for the ceremony and formal moments
• A second iconic look by Vivienne Westwood for the evening celebration

Both dresses reflected her personality perfectly—modern, confident, and effortlessly elegant, with a nod to timeless fashion heritage.

a first look in the main ballroom

One of the most emotional moments of the day took place inside the villa’s main ballroom.

The couple chose to have a private first look before the ceremony, surrounded by the architecture and history of the villa. The stillness of the room made the moment feel even more intimate just the two of them, pausing before the celebration began. It was a moment filled with emotion, anticipation, and calm before the energy of the day unfolded.

ceremony over looking the tuscan hills

The ceremony was set overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany—an unforgettable backdrop of soft greens, golden light, and endless horizon.

Guests from California and New York watched as the couple exchanged vows surrounded by family, history, and landscape that felt almost cinematic in its beauty.

The light in Tuscany has a way of slowing everything down, and as the vows were spoken, it felt like time paused entirely.

Sunset Dinner by Candlelight

As the sun began to set, guests moved to the front of the villa for dinner.

Long tables were set outdoors, styled with understated elegance and illuminated entirely by candlelight. As golden hour faded into twilight, the entire space transformed into something warm, intimate, and almost dreamlike.

This part of the day is where destination weddings in Tuscany truly shine when the architecture, landscape, and light all come together in perfect harmony.

Dinner unfolded slowly, surrounded by laughter, speeches, and the hum of conversation as the sky turned deep blue over the hills.

A party to remember

As the sun dipped behind the rolling Tuscan hills, the celebration at Villa di Ulignano shifted seamlessly into an unforgettable evening of music, emotion, and pure joy. The newlyweds led guests into the courtyard for the cake cutting, where a beautifully crafted wedding cake became the centrepiece of the moment met with cheers, champagne, and the glow of golden-hour light bouncing off the stone villa. As the first slice was shared, the atmosphere lifted even further with the soulful sound of a live saxophonist, weaving effortlessly through the night air and setting the tone for an electric party to follow. Soon after, the DJ took over, transforming the historic setting into a vibrant open-air dance floor where guests from the USA and beyond celebrated late into the Tuscan night. Adding another unforgettable highlight, the bride made a stunning outfit change into a champagne-hued Vivienne Westwood gown elegant, modern, and perfectly suited to the energy of the evening captivating everyone as she rejoined the dance floor.

The night ended exactly as a destination wedding in Tuscany should: under a sky full of stars, surrounded by music, laughter, and the warmth of friends and family who had travelled across the world to be there. As the final songs played and the lights softened across Villa di Ulignano, the celebration gently faded into a haze of unforgettable memories marking not just the end of a wedding day, but the beginning of a new chapter in the most timeless Italian setting.

If you’d like to talk further about me capturing your day in a way that feels natural, timeless, and true to you, I’d love to hear from you. Every wedding at Villa di Ulignano and beyond is completely unique, and I take a documentary-led approach to telling your story as it unfolds—quietly observing the real moments, the energy, and the emotion as they happen. Whether you’re planning an intimate Tuscan celebration or a larger destination wedding in Italy, feel free to get in touch and share your plans; I’d be happy to explore how we can create something beautiful together.