Villa Catureglio Wedding Photography

Villa Catureglio wedding photography – Anil & Aneeka’s wedding at Villa Catureglio, Lucca, Tuscany. 

Villa Catureglio is a short trip from the romantic Renaissance-era city of Lucca. Nestled up and hidden in the foothills of the Alpe Apuane, Tuscany. A wedding here feels luxurious and authentically Italian (the villa originally being a 13C fortified tower) but most of all it feels private, exclusive even. Guests can shout in excitement during the confetti, and dance into the night with only the local wildlife to hear you. As a wedding photographer it’s a dream. To start with it’s beautiful from every angle and there are so many different lovely spaces it was honestly hard to prioritise where to photograph! Be it in the magnificent high beamed rooms inside, or the outside ceremony space framed by cypress trees, there are picture perfect spots everywhere. As a destination wedding photographer I’ve been to many stunning places in Italy, but Villa Catureglio is one of the best I’ve seen.

The Wedding

If Aneeka and Anil could have had a better wedding day then I don’t know how. Their closest friends and family had stayed the night before and so the morning was a relaxed mix of old friends catching up and family excitedly anticipating the big day ahead. Aneeka and Anil got ready at opposite ends of the estate with plenty of room for bridesmaids, groomsmen and the odd family member to help. Meanwhile the wedding co-ordinator Lisa from Hitched in Italy had the day running as smoothly as the string quartets soft playing that surrounded the courtyard. Staff set up long tables for the wedding breakfast feast to come, rows of chairs for the ceremony on the hillside and colourful relaxed flowers provided the cherry on top.

As I dipped in and out of the venue the smell of wine and balsamic vinegar being reduced in the kitchen would hit me and I’d be forced to remind myself that there’s a whole lot to capture before it’s time to sit down for food! When it was time for the ceremony guests enjoyed seeing Anil make his entrance down the beautiful steps from the main Villa, but of course it wasn’t long before he was Aneeka would upstage him in her stunning dress, sparkling in the Tuscan sun. The ceremony was held in both Italian and English, but everybody knew when to clap as Anil kissed (and dipped!) his new bride to rapturous applause. 

Confetti and festivities followed, with impressive canapés and a well stocked bar, guests laughed and shared stories as the sun began to set on this early October Day. Before long it was time for me to steal the couple away for photos and as previously mentioned it was a case of picking the best spots as there are just too many good ones to choose! The light was hitting the chapel just right and so I relished letting the couple catch up as I photographed away. I always like to give a couple some space and a wide shot with the backdrop of cypress trees was the perfect place, I was very happy with the photos and Aneeka & Anil seemed very happy with the excuse to spend a little time being close.

The night began to draw in and it was time for the real festivities to begin. Emotional speeches and three courses, followed by dessert in the form of a wedding cake made in front of our eyes! As DJ Fabio played the first dance song guests huddled into the barn, and romance turned to celebratory chaos as friends and family flooded the dancefloor. Honestly I don’t think I need to say any more about that as the photos speak for themselves…