The most beautiful part of any wedding is when two people commit to love each other for life. So why make it about anything else? That’s exactly how Valerie and Jesse felt when they decided to elope to the stunning Tuscan Countryside of Northern Italy. The couple exchanged their vows in the most romantic ceremony in an historic stone fortress that stands above the Villa Le Fontanelle, just as the sun began to set into the golden sky…..

Bride Valerie shared these words about their fairytale elopement…. “We wanted our wedding to be a celebration of our relationship with a private intimate ceremony with just the two of us. We picked Italy because we wanted a beautiful scenic location with history and charm. Jesse had been to Italy once before and we had been discussing taking a trip there for years and it felt like it was the perfect time.

To make the process easier we decided to hire a wedding planner who could arrange all of the little details for us. A stress-free wedding was our number one goal so having someone who could manage all of our requests was a must. We found Daniela at The Tuscan Wedding we knew she was the best person to take care of us on our special day. She was very responsive and assisted us with every detail.

For our venue, we wanted a scenic villa in Florence with a beautiful view and outdoor ceremony options. We spent time looking for things that would make us happy and tried to just embrace that this was a once in a lifetime event. We kept looking for simple and charming. While doing research we fell in love with the Villa le Fontanelle. The villa was quaint with beautiful rooms and a stunning view of Florence. The villa’s romantic charm and rich history made us feel like we were living our own little fairytale.”

Valerie carried a large bouquet of red and ivory roses with dark purple wild flowers, and small pieces of Tuscan greenery branching off, arranged by  Flowers Living.

The fortress was decorated with two beautiful bouquets of large burgundy hydrangeas placed on green metallic tables. The decorations were minimal, however their simplicity made the occasion even more intimate. And who needs flowers when you have a view like this??

“To add to the romantic backdrop we hired a violinist to play our favorite music for the ceremony and wrote our own vows the night before. My brother also wrote a special poem for the occasion which fit perfectly into our ceremony and added a sense of comfort from our loved ones who could not be there. Even a little lizard made an appearance during the ceremony which we joked later was our only witness.”

Pearls of wedding wisdom from the bride….

“Find a planner that is ready to work with you and is easy to communicate with, someone who will help keep the stress of the day down. Find things that will make you happy and take the time to understand what both you and your partner wants.

Settle on a budget that works for you and do not be afraid to splurge on those extra items that will make your wedding day truly special. Remember to plan for unexpected expenses.”

“After the ceremony, we had a prosecco toast then took a ride in a vintage convertible to San Miniato and Piazza de Michelangelo to take photos and bask in the beauty of Florence. Then we returned to an amazing dinner on the rooftop of the villa with a decadent five-course meal. Watching the sunset and the city come to light was the perfect ending to our special day.”

Tell us a little bit about your photographer….

“When we were searching for a photographer, we wanted someone who captured couples in a realistic but romantic style. Where the photographer focused on the beauty and uniqueness of each individual couple.

We were truly blown away by Elisa and Adriano of Purewhite Photography. As a couple themselves, they intuitively understood how to work with newly married couples on their special day. They captured the romanticism of the Villa and Florence effortlessly and went the extra mile to give us the shots we wanted most.”

VIEW THE GALLERY

Isn’t it exquisite?? I want to elope to Tuscany! Many many congratulations to the happy couple, Valerie & Jesse, and a heartfelt thankyou to them and photographers Elisa and Adriano of Purewhite Photography for allowing me to share their beautiful celebration with you. If you love their style of photography and would like to see more of their work pop over to their website at www.purewhite-photography.it, and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Or if you’re considering an elopement and are looking for more inspiration then you will love Beatrice & Gabriele’s on Viverone Lake, Italy or how about Faith & Adam’s stunning elopement at Magnolia Plantation, or this chic city hall elopement? Oh and this enchanting Venice elopement is one not to be missed!

Amy

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Credits & Contributors

Photography – Purewhite Photography // Planner – The Tuscan Wedding // Venue – Villa Le Fontanelle // Floral Design – Flowers Living // Wedding Dress – Issa by Lis Simon // Bridal Boutique – Maggi Bridal Raleigh // Groom’s Attire – Bespoke Suit by Heng’s Suiting and Armory // Wedding Stationery – 4 Love of Polka Dots // Catering – Villa Le Fontanelle