Harry and Charlotte, a beautiful couple from Boston, celebrated their symbolic wedding on Chianti Hills in Italy.
They share a passion for Italy and chose Tuscany for their first holiday together back in July 2014. Needless to say, they fell in love with the landscapes, the people and the food and promised to come back someday. So, when they got in touch with Brilliant Weddings Tuscany to ask if we could help them plan a three-day Tuscan dream wedding we couldn’t be more excited. Together, we organized each day to be intimate, joyful and full of memories.
The wedding venue
Harry and Charlotte were looking for an intimate location where they could stay with their two beautiful children. A wedding in Chianti seemed like the perfect option. Chianti is probably the most iconic and the most special area in Tuscany. It’s an hilly area between Florence and Siena renowned for its landscapes and its fine wines, which are among the best in the world. Rolling hills crowned by medieval villages, cypress-lined roads, vineyards and olive groves stretch to the horizon.
A destination wedding on Chianti hills offers every possible option for a symbolic ceremony. There’s an incredible selection of enchanting venues surrounded by the most incredible and romantic countryside: luxury estates, wine resorts, farmhouses with cosy barbecue areas, ancient villas decorated with frescoes and period furniture, fairytale castles with vaulted ceilings and romantic courtyards. For their intimate symbolic wedding on Chianti hills, Harry and Charlotte chose a farmhouse with a pool and wonderful views over Chianti hills. Less than an hour from Siena, the venue is a real oasis of peacefulness expressing the authentic Tuscan rustic style. The ideal frame for a small and intimate wedding.
Three-day Chianti dream wedding
The weekend began with a nice welcome dinner. The couple enjoyed delicious dishes prepared with fresh and simple ingredients. They started with oversized platters of crostini (toasted bread) lavished with liver pâtè, dried tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and garlic, followed by a variety of salami and cured meats, like prosciutto, salame and finocchiona and local cheeses. All of course in the good company of some Chianti Classico wine.
The homemade pasta with duck sauce was a mouth-watering treat and the kids were enthusiastic about the cookies and jam filled crostata served at the end. On day two, we had some very special activities planned for the whole family. The day started with a tour in the legendary Fiat 500 Vintage, a true icon of Italian lifestyle. Two hours of fun into the Chianti hills, driving through olive groves, vineyards, monasteries, and gorgeous panoramic views. The family stopped for a quick visit of Greve, the heart of Chianti country, and stopped a couple of times on the way back to take pictures and bask in the beauty of the Chianti panorama.
The family then headed to a beautiful winery, where we had planned a private tour of the vineyard and the wine cellars. Harry and Charlotte tasted some prestigious labels and great vintages, before sitting down for a romantic four-course lunch in the vineyard. A precious experience enjoying the open air, rediscovering the pleasure of slow rhythms.
After lunch, the couple enjoyed some private family time relaxing and playing by the pool. Then, just before sunset, it was time for a hands-on cooking class to learn how to cook as a true Italian! Both adults and children enjoyed getting their hands dirty and sticky preparing two types of typical Italian fresh pasta and a typical Italian dessert which they later had for dinner.
The ceremony
The two American lovebirds hoped for a very intimate symbolic wedding, a popular alternative to avoid civil and religious documents.
A symbolic wedding is the best option for couples who don’t want to deal with all the paperwork required for a civil or religious ceremony on Chianti Hills, or couples who are already officially married. The content of a symbolic ceremony differs from one couple to another and can be customized to the requirements of each couple. This kind of ceremony is very personal and unique: brides and grooms can choose to write the ceremony themselves or ask for our assistance. Spring is usually a great time to get married in Tuscany but the weather can be really crazy sometimes! Harry and Charlotte, who chose to get married in May, experienced it personally. Truth is, the ceremony was made even more majestic by grey clouds thickening on the horizon. In Italy there’s a saying: “sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata” (wet bride, lucky bride).
The ceremony was intimate and romantic. Every detail was carried out with attention to detail and passion and the whole family looked so elegant and beautiful. A pre and post-wedding photo session captured the best laughs, hugs and dances as well as the beautiful rainbow that came out after the rainfall.
Later in the evening, dinner was served while a folk band trio entertained the family. To make the event even more special, we hired a gelato cart filled with delicious homemade ice cream. The kids were so happy! It was such a joy to plan Harry and Charlotte’s symbolic wedding on Chianti Hills.
Brilliant Weddings Tuscany creates bespoke destination weddings in Chianti, totally tailored to you: get in touch to see how we can help you plan your dream wedding.
