Gay marriage in Tuscany, Italy: A family celebration.
Today I am going to tell you a beautiful story of a gay marriage in Tuscany, the marriage of a fantastic New York couple JR and Stephen.
I was really happy to have been invited by the photographer Jules Bower and the fantastic Sabrina (The Extraordinaire), to make a video of such a heavenly wedding, and I am even happier now that I have met the couple. Two lovely sweet men.
The wedding takes place in Villa Catignano, in the province of Siena, an enchanting place, which I know very well, perfectly managed and with nice open spaces.
Stephen has Italian origins, JR Brazilian. Both are greatly attached to their families and relatives and their friends are extremely important to them.
The venue was therefore ideal, exactly what they needed. As the structure is very large, Villa Catignano had space for everyone to celebrate, even the day before the wedding.
For me, working in this place, as usual, gives me the opportunity to film very different situations with different backgrounds. I am really glad that JR and Stephen chose it for their wedding.
Gay wedding in Tuscany, Italy: JR and Stephen in the countryside around Villa Catignano, Siena.
Preparations
Stephen is getting ready inside the villa with the loving help of his parents, while JR is putting on his really cool white double-breasted coat with the help of his brother and father.
When everything is ready the future spouses decide to have a “first look”, which really helps attenuate the tension and the great emotions to come. Its a really exciting moment, what a lovely couple, they are a joy to my eyes, I am so proud to be able to film this day for them!
JR getting ready helped by his brother and father.
Gay marriage in Tuscany: The ceremony in the Italian garden
JR and Stephen’s nephews is the first to walk down the aisle, it is a perfect contributions for their uncles! Everything has been set up with very sober flowers and greenery. More than the flowers or even the furnishings, the plants are the main characters of this delightful scene.
The ceremony, accompanied by the music of a harpist, celebrated by the spouses aunties, is very emotional and many can’t help themselves from shedding a tear.
As soon as the ceremony is over JR and Stephen walk back up the aisle, and as the Italian tradition goes, they are covered by a rainfall of rice.
The celebrations start from the aperitifs!
Being great lovers of Italian food, there is a big table covered with all sorts of appetizers waiting for Stephen and JR. In the background an excellent Italian folk band plays traditional music. It’s impossible not to appreciate the delicious food and drink, which covers all tastes, with this exquisite music playing at the same time.
Once all the guests have congratulated JR and Stephen, and the atmosphere is relaxed, we start doing family photos and videos. What a lovely group, everyone is so fond of one another, nobody is rigid or formal!
Immediately after, we move off with the couple for more romantic filming and photography. The landscape around the villa is amazing and typically Tuscan. Jules and I want the spouses to pose naturally and Stephen and JR are completely at ease.
Gay marriage in Tuscany, Italy: The ceremony in the Italian garden of Villa Catignano
The surprise, the dinner and the party!
Just before the guests move towards the dinner area, JR disappears. He is preparing a surprise for Stephen.
The table is full of candles which creates an environment of elegance and romance with their soft light. As soon as everybody is sitting down, someone places a chair in the centre of the horse shoe shaped table and Stephen is asked to sit there. He is a bit worried looking as he doesn’t suspect a thing.
Suddenly JR appears and accompanied by a guitarist starts singing a love song for him. Everybody is without words: nobody realised JR was such a talented singer! As soon as the song is over the two hug each-other with affection. Now dinner can begin.
After eating under the stars, it is now time for JR’s surprise from Stephen. While we are moving into the party room, in the adjacent courtyard, a spectacular show of fireworks set off with a song the two particularly love. Everybody is singing and clapping hands!
Gay marriage in Tuscany: The amazing party in the grey hall of Villa Catignano, Siena, Italy
The amazing party after the dinner!
We move to the grey room where a very good DJ and percussionist create a very festive atmosphere. Thanks to a very skillful use of lights, perfumed fluids and drums it is surely a visual and an olfactory display. In the adjacent room, there are cocktails and desserts. The party continues into the night.
It is now time to say good bye to the spouses and their families. As I drive home, a feeling of joy still warms me inside. It was fun and an honour to be the videographer of such a beautiful Gay marriage in Tuscany!
Credits
– Venue: Villa Catignano
– Wedding Design: The Extraordinaire
– Videographer: Tiziana Billi Italian Wedding Videographers
– Photographer: Jules Bower
– Celebrant: Blessings From Italy
– Florals: Roberto Fiori
– Catering: Preludio
– Musicians for ceremony, aperitifs and surprise song: Italian Wedding Musicians
– DJ: Mattew
Other interesting weddings I’ve filmed in Tuscany:
– A glittering Tuscany castle wedding
– Villa Catignano marvelous event in Tuscany
– Villa Treville Positano
– Vow renewal in Tuscany Italy
– A Tuscan Castle elopement
– Elopement in Tuscany at Villa di Geggiano
– English marriage at Villa Dievole
– Agriturismo I Cedri Borgo a Mozzano, Lucca.
– Jewish wedding in Italy
– Getting married in Sorrento
– Stunning wedding at a lighthouse
– intimate wedding in Italy
Leave a Reply