The Chianti region of Italy is well known for being a huge producer of wine, and its landscape is one of undulating green hills dotted with vineyards and olive groves. The Tuscan charm of the region encompasses all you expect from picturesque Italian countryside, and as such it was the perfect setting for Charlie and Bobby’s summer celebration. When I met Charlie and Bobby during the pandemic, their vision was for a three day wedding in Tuscany to bring together friends and family. Together we curated a peach of a Chianti wedding over the course of a weekend, and today I want to share it with you.
The ‘Borgo’: The Perfect Chianti Wedding Venue
During the process of searching for a venue for Bobby and Charlie’s wedding we placed great importance on bringing everyone together for an ongoing celebration, immersing their guests fully in the Italian lifestyle experience. We discussed the concept of a Borgo, a timelessly historic feature unique to Italy. A Borgo is a medieval village comprised of buildings and farmhouses and many of them have now been reimagined into hotels. For Bobby and Charlie we found Borgo di Pietrafitta, a wonderful example of a Borgo which operates as a hotel and self catering accommodation and can be booked in its entirety on an exclusive use basis. It was the perfect venue to allow all their loved ones to stay together and become fully enveloped in the experience of their wedding weekend, and we designed a celebration over the course of 3 nights using each of the different spaces available.
The Welcome Party
On the Friday evening before the wedding day itself, guests were treated to a welcome party. I love the idea of bringing your guests together the night before the wedding, inviting them to settle and feel at home in their surroundings. In many cases guests travel long distances to celebrate your special day with you, and so extending the wedding is a lovely way to help them decompress and relax into the experience. For Charlie and Bobby’s Chianti wedding, we hosted a pizza party at the rear of the main villa. When the party began everyone was treated to the stunning views of the Chianti countryside, and as the evening rolled on they were graced with a spectacular sunset, the likes of which only the Italian countryside can deliver.
An al fresco Chianti Wedding
A venue such as Borgo di Pietrafitta with its glorious views really lends itself to an outdoor wedding, and so that is exactly what we created. At the bottom of the Borgo by the swimming pool, Charlie and Bobby’s ceremony took place with Tuscany’s signature cypress trees lining the landscape. Their ceremony was a symbolic one (find out more about symbolic ceremonies in this blog), beautifully written by Katie Keen of True Blue Ceremonies. It was framed beautifully by a draped arch with florals by Il Giardino delle Fate, and a family friend made an excellent officiant for a truly romantic ceremony. After the ceremony guests were treated to aperitivo, an absolute must when in Italy! This took place by the Italian garden at the front of the villa, and guests were treated to a performance by Mamas Tomatoes, an Italian roaming band who made for great entertainment.
The Borgo itself was built on a hill, and the wedding dinner and dancing took place outside at the top of the venue. The setting was both intimate and impressive, strung with warm lighting which glowed as the evening went on. The tower of the main building was a fantastic backdrop for Charlie and Bobby’s top table, and also acted as a projection screen for their wedding logo which really came to life after the sun set.
The colour palette and styling for this romantic Chianti wedding was based on a blend of its Italian setting and Charlie’s surname, Peach (which she is keeping!). Tables were named after different regions and cities of Italy, and the table decor featured a lovely warm orange pop of colour alongside real peaches.
The Finishing Touch
Before the amazing wedding weekend came to an end we hosted a recovery BBQ, based alongside the swimming pool. It was a relaxed and easygoing way to bring everyone back together after a high energy day, and allow Charlie and Bobby to properly say goodbye to all their loved ones.
With thanks to…Noleggio Chianti 500 who provided an APE vehicle to help us transport the bridal party around the Borgo; Delizia Ricevimenti who delivered exquisite Italian catering; Ayelet Garson, for providing hair and makeup for the bridal party; and Charm Wedding, who took all of the images you see in this blog, alongside Vertigo Wedding Films for capturing this wonderful weekend in Chianti.
If you are looking to bring together your loved ones for a wedding in Chianti or another region of Italy, send me a message via this contact form. As an expert in planning multi day Italian weddings for discerning couples, I can’t wait to hear your ideas for a celebration in the most romantic country on earth.