A romantic Villa Corsini wedding in Tuscany

Some wedding venues are beautiful because of how they look. Villa Corsini is beautiful because of the stories it holds.

When Courtney and Marcus first visited Villa Corsini a Mezzomonte, just outside Florence, they weren’t only captivated by its Italian gardens or the magnificent frescoed ballroom. They were fascinated by its history. Once owned by the Medici family as a place for celebrations and lavish gatherings, the villa has welcomed centuries of laughter, music and long dinners. They loved imagining those evenings, and the thought of becoming a tiny part of that history themselves felt almost surreal. 

After fourteen years together, living in different countries, travelling the world, and building a life side by side, they wanted a wedding that felt exactly like them: relaxed, thoughtful and centred around the people they love most.

With just over forty guests travelling from the United States to Tuscany, it became much more than a wedding. It was a shared holiday, a reunion and a celebration of everyone who had been part of their story.

Why Villa Corsini is one of Tuscany’s most beautiful wedding venues

There are countless wedding venues in Tuscany, but Villa Corsini feels different.

Only a short drive from Florence, it offers everything couples dream about when planning a destination wedding in Italy. A formal Italian garden for outdoor ceremonies, panoramic views over the Tuscan hills, elegant historic interiors, hidden courtyards and one of the most breathtaking frescoed dining halls I’ve photographed.

One of the things I loved most was how naturally the day flowed through the venue.

Guests arrived through the gardens before gathering for the ceremony outside. Aperitivo was enjoyed beneath the trees while the evening slowly settled over Tuscany. Later, everyone moved inside into the historic hall for dinner before finishing the night dancing just next door.

Nothing ever felt rushed. Each part of the villa invited people to slow down and enjoy wherever they happened to be.

A wedding inspired by art, history and Italy

Courtney and Marcus weren’t interested in following trends. Instead, they found inspiration in old Baroque still-life paintings, wanting their wedding to feel romantic, timeless and quietly dramatic. Their vision complemented Villa Corsini perfectly, where centuries-old frescoes and historic architecture already provide more beauty than any decoration could.

The styling remained elegant and understated, allowing the venue itself to become part of the design rather than competing with it. It felt like everything belonged there.

A first look before guests arrived

Before family and friends arrived at the villa, Courtney and Marcus shared a private first look in the yellow room.

These quiet moments before the ceremony are often some of my favourites to photograph. The nerves slowly disappear, conversations become easier, and couples get a rare chance to simply breathe together before the celebration begins.

Knowing they were both more comfortable away from the spotlight, this was exactly the right decision. Their relationship has always been built on friendship, quiet support and growing together. After fourteen years, they didn’t need grand gestures. The way they looked at each other said everything.

A ceremony surrounded by family and friends

The symbolic ceremony took place in Villa Corsini’s formal gardens beneath the Tuscan sunshine. There were no bridesmaids walking down the aisle. No elaborate processional. Instead, Courtney and Marcus walked in together.

It felt incredibly fitting for a couple who wanted every part of the day to reflect who they are rather than tradition for tradition’s sake.

One detail I particularly loved was their unplugged ceremony. Without phones held high above guests’ heads, everyone was completely present. Faces instead of screens. Smiles instead of camera flashes. It allowed the photographs to feel even more honest.

Long Italian dinners really are different

If you’ve ever been to Italy, you’ll know that meals are never just about food. They’re about conversation, about staying a little longer, ordering another bottle of wine and listening to another story.

This wedding embraced exactly that spirit. Dinner took place inside Villa Corsini’s magnificent frescoed hall, where guests gathered around one long table, sharing speeches, incredible food and unhurried conversations.

One of Courtney and Marcus’s biggest priorities was spending genuine time with the people who had travelled so far to celebrate with them. Looking around the room, it was obvious they had achieved exactly that.

Nobody was rushing towards the dance floor. Nobody was checking the time. Everyone was simply enjoying being together.

The details that told their story

The most meaningful wedding details are rarely the most expensive. They’re the ones that tell people who you are.

Marcus wore cufflinks that had belonged to his grandfather, while the engraving inside his wedding ring was inspired by the decorative details found throughout Villa Corsini itself. Courtney carried her grandmother’s pearl necklace attached to her bouquet, creating a quiet connection between generations. 

Even their proposal reflected their shared love of history and travel. Marcus proposed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Overwhelmed by the moment, Courtney hugged and kissed him… before realising she’d forgotten to actually say yes. Someone nearby laughed and asked whether she’d accepted the proposal. “Oh… yes!”

It’s one of those stories that instantly makes you smile.

The evening celebration

As daylight disappeared behind the Tuscan hills, the atmosphere shifted naturally.

Desserts appeared alongside an Affogato station, while guests wandered between conversations inside the villa and the cigar lounge in the courtyard. One particularly meaningful moment for Marcus was sharing a cigar with his father, not as a formal tradition, simply as a quiet moment together before the evening continued. 

Eventually the music grew louder, shoes slowly disappeared and the dance floor filled. Like every great Italian wedding, nobody seemed particularly interested in what time it was.

Why I loved photographing this wedding?

When couples ask what my favourite weddings are, the answer is never about the venue. It’s about the people.

Courtney and Marcus cared far more about spending time with their guests than creating a perfectly choreographed day. They weren’t interested in endless portraits or performing for the camera. They wanted to experience their wedding. That trust allowed me to quietly observe everything unfolding naturally: the conversations over aperitivo, the glances across the dinner table, friends laughing together, parents watching their children get married.

Those moments are impossible to recreate. They’re simply lived. And those are the photographs that become more valuable with every passing year.

Planning a Villa Corsini Wedding – frequently asked questions

Where is Villa Corsini a Mezzomonte?

Villa Corsini is located in Impruneta, around 20 minutes from Florence, making it an ideal venue for couples planning a destination wedding in Tuscany. Guests can easily stay in Florence and travel to the villa on the wedding day.

Can you have an outdoor ceremony at Villa Corsini?

Yes. One of the venue’s biggest highlights is its beautiful formal Italian garden, which provides a stunning backdrop for symbolic and civil ceremonies. There are also elegant indoor spaces available should the weather change.

Is Villa Corsini suitable for destination weddings?

Absolutely. Its location close to Florence makes it easy for international guests to explore Tuscany before and after the wedding. Many couples turn their celebration into a multi-day experience with welcome dinners, sightseeing and relaxed gatherings around the wedding itself.

How many guests can Villa Corsini accommodate?

Villa Corsini works beautifully for intimate celebrations like Courtney and Marcus’s wedding of around 40 guests, but it’s equally well suited to much larger destination weddings. With its expansive gardens, historic interiors and multiple event spaces, the venue can comfortably host well over 100 guests while still feeling elegant and spacious.

A wedding that felt like Italy

One piece of advice I often give couples planning a destination wedding in Italy is simple: Don’t try to recreate a wedding from home. Let Italy be Italy.

Embrace the long dinners, the slower pace, incredible food and beautiful surroundings. Most importantly, leave time during your wedding day to simply be together. Step away from the celebration for a few minutes, wander through the gardens or along a quiet pathway, and take it all in.

Those quiet moments often become the memories couples treasure most. And, more often than not, they’re where my favourite photographs are made.