Elopement in Tuscany

Italian wedding in Val d’Orcia, an unforgettable setting for a intimate ceremony in Tuscany

Saturday, July 18, 2020. It is a beautiful sunny day, the air is warm but mitigated by a light wind that makes the temperature extremely pleasant. We are in the heart of Tuscany, in one of the best known and loved places not only by those who already live in this land but also by foreigners, the Val d’Orcia. And it is precisely here that Kathleen and Neri have decided to celebrate their Italian wedding, so as to be able to give their small and intimate ceremony that splendid setting represented by the most classic of Tuscan landscapes: hills rich in wheat, cypresses, vineyards, small villages and ancient farmhouses.

Among these, their choice fell on the Agriturismo Il Rigo, a place that welcomes with open arms anyone looking for kindness, simplicity and harmony, an ancient stone and brick house that stands on a small hill and offers a incredible view on one of the sweetest views of Tuscany. Il Rigo is surrounded by an immense garden in which there is also a private pond, and a small biodynamic garden inside which a portion is dedicated to the cultivation of cut flowers. And it is they, the wildflowers, the seasonal flowers, the protagonists of the arrangements that are made for the weddings celebrated at the Rigo, giving them that special flavor that only things “homemade” with love can have.

And this is exactly what Kathleen and Neri wanted when they thought of an elopement in Tuscany: they, who already lived together in Florence, had the desire to organize an intimate, private wedding, created to get excited in a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. In front of the officiant, their symbolic ceremony was celebrated under an arch embellished with flowers by Luisa, the owner of the farmhouse. A wonderful blue sky, the rolling Tuscan hills and a row of cypresses provide the backdrop to this “window to the world”. The beauty of the bride was underlined by a very natural make-up and an extremely soft hairstyle (MUAH MAURA MARTINELLI): her freshly collected hair falls on her shoulders, thus enhancing not only her face but also the silhouette of the dress bride.

The dress chosen, in fact, by Kathleen is a dress, made by Miranda Di Sipio, with soft and simple lines, inspired by the second book of La Recherche by Marcel Proust, by the beautiful dresses of the early twentieth century and, of course, by nature, to small simple and precious things like flowers. The model is called Fiori di Dalia, a flower that symbolizes good taste, elegance and femininity. Kathleen chose a tailored wedding dress, made to measure for her, in satin and georgette in pure silk and every flower that embellishes it has been designed, painted and embroidered by hand.

Dahlias, together with zinnias, cosmea, carrot flowers and molucella, are also the flowers that make up the bouquet: a multitude of wild flowers which, held together by a light purple fabric ribbon, create a fresh and colored.

In the name of “handmade” also the wedding rings, made by Paolo Penko, real small personalized and exclusive works of art, made of gold, and worked with the techniques of the Florentine goldsmith tradition.

Inside the courtyard, the bride and groom’s table. A simple mise en place but enriched by a strip of white organza covering the table and by silver placemats and cutlery. The fil rouge of this small banquet, the flowers: the composition created for the centerpiece harmonizes perfectly with the bouquet and with the other floral decorations and the stationary (design by elena Fei) is also inspired by flowers. Prepared in the Rigo kitchen with vegetables from the garden, the company’s flours, local and seasonal products, the menu chosen by the couple ends with a cream wedding cake, the softest, softest and most timeless of the fillings.