Wedding at Villa Boscarello, Tuscany
There are places that need no explanation for their charm. For me, Villa Boscarello is one of them. Perched on a hill near Trequanda, this historic estate offers sweeping views of the hills of southern Tuscany. Add to that the old trees, olive groves, the long cypress-lined avenue, historic rooms, and the panoramic pool.
I had the pleasure of documenting Maxi and Daniel’s multi-day wedding here, with just under 50 guests. From the pizza party by the pool the night before to the wedding ceremony on the cypress-lined avenue, followed by dinner under strings of lights and the party later on, practically the entire wedding weekend took place on the estate.
It was precisely during this experience that I realized what makes Villa Boscarello so special: the different areas are close together, yet each one feels uniquely different. There’s no need for long drives or elaborate changes of location. The wedding can unfold quite naturally throughout the villa and its surroundings.
If you're planning your own wedding in this region, you'll find more information on my website as a wedding photographer in Tuscany about how I cover destination weddings in Italy.
Villa Boscarello – Historic Architecture Near Trequanda
The history of Villa Boscarello dates back to the 17th century. Following an initial restoration in 1802, the property underwent further restoration between 1995 and 2000. Its historic character was preserved during this process.
Spacious rooms and authentic Tuscan details blend seamlessly with the garden, pool, and surrounding countryside. It’s precisely this combination that I love about the villa. It feels elegant without being too formal.
Its elevated location is a key part of its character. All around the property, the view opens up over the landscape, and as the light changes, the atmosphere shifts constantly throughout the day.
More unique wedding venues in Tuscany I've compiled in a separate guide.
The entrance gate to Villa Boscarello welcomes you right at the end of the impressive cypress-lined avenue.
What kind of couples is Villa Boscarello best suited for?
Villa Boscarello is particularly well-suited for couples who are not only looking for a venue for their wedding day but also want to spend several days in Tuscany with family and friends.
For Maxi and Daniel, their weekend together had already begun the night before. Many of their guests stayed overnight right on the property, while others stayed in nearby towns. The next morning, some guests were still by the pool, while preparations were already slowly getting underway inside the villa.
That’s exactly what makes a destination wedding feel so special to me. The guests don’t just arrive right before the ceremony and head home that same night. It creates a sense of shared time surrounding the actual wedding.
Poolside Pizza Party – A Relaxing Start to the Wedding Weekend
Maxi and Daniel's wedding weekend began with a relaxed pizza party on the terrace by the pool.
Little by little, the nearly 50 guests arrived, while three musicians—playing the accordion and trumpet—provided entertainment for the evening and set a lively mood. Add to that the view of the Tuscan hills and an evening without a formal program, allowing everyone to settle in at their own pace.
For Daniel, there was another personal highlight. He’s a passionate amateur pizza maker himself and got to step up to the pizza oven and bake his own pizza. It was one of those little moments that can’t really be planned—and that’s exactly why they become so personal.
Before the pizza party really got started, we stepped aside for about 15 minutes for a quick couple’s photo shoot. Maxi and Daniel wanted to have some pictures taken together in casual clothes and, at the same time, get a feel for what it would be like to be in front of the camera the next day.
After that, she went straight back to her guests.
Carlotta, the owner of Villa Boscarello, also joined them that evening and personally introduced the guests to the team that would be accompanying them throughout the wedding weekend. It was a small gesture that fit perfectly with the villa’s intimate atmosphere.
To me, this evening really highlights the advantage of multi-day weddings. Not everything has to be crammed into a single day.
Casual Couple Photo Shoot During the Pizza Party the Day Before the Wedding
Daniel Making Pizza
Maxi and Daniel's Wedding at Villa Boscarello
The next day at noon, the weekend continued almost seamlessly. While some of the guests were still enjoying themselves by the pool, preparations for the wedding were already underway at the villa.
Getting Ready at the Villa
I started by photographing Maxi getting ready, and then moved on to Daniel and his friends on the rooftop terrace.
At noon, Villa Boscarello reveals yet another side of itself. While life around the pool is already getting underway outside, things remain quiet in the rooms for the time being. For a documentary feature, I like this contrast precisely because the day unfolds slowly and doesn’t begin with the first item on the schedule.
First Look with the Family and the Bride and Groom
Even before the two met, there was an emotional moment involving Maxi's parents.
After that, Maxi and Daniel decided to have their own first look. For that, we used a quiet, shady spot right next to the house.
No big production and no lengthy ceremony. Just a few minutes for the two of them before the wedding ceremony began.
Whether a moment like that is appropriate for your own wedding day or if you’d rather wait until the ceremony to see each other, I’ve discussed this in more detail in my article on the "First Look" at a Wedding .
Non-religious wedding ceremony on Cypress Avenue
After their first visit to Villa Boscarello, Maxi and Daniel already knew exactly where they wanted to get married: on the long cypress-lined avenue.
And I can understand why.
The tall cypress trees create a very minimalist and typically Tuscan setting. At the same time, this place hardly needs any additional staging, because the avenue itself already sets the entire atmosphere.
In addition to a non-religious wedding ceremony, Villa Boscarello also offers the option of a legally binding civil wedding ceremony, according to the venue. The villa is recognized as the municipal wedding venue for the municipality of Trequanda.
Analog photos of Maxi and Daniel taken after their non-religious wedding ceremony on Cypress Avenue.
Aperitivo by the Panorama Pool
After the wedding ceremony, we headed back toward the pool.
Here, Maxi and Daniel received their congratulations while the guests spread out around the terrace and spent the afternoon together.
After the solemn atmosphere and the emotions of the wedding ceremony, the day here became much more relaxed again.
It wasn't until late in the afternoon that we took a few family photos, before moving on to the couple's portraits.
Couple portraits at sunset among cypresses and olive trees
Even during our planning call before the wedding, Maxi and Daniel had told me that they wanted to spend as little time as possible apart from their guests on their wedding day. That’s why they deliberately planned to set aside only about 20 minutes for their couple portraits.
This worked out wonderfully at Villa Boscarello. Since the cypress-lined avenue was particularly important to them, we took several photos there together. Right next to it is an olive grove, so within just a few steps we found ourselves in a completely different setting.
To me, that's exactly one of Villa Boscarello's greatest strengths. To get beautiful portraits, no one has to get in a car or leave their own wedding for an hour.
After about 20 minutes, Maxi and Daniel were back with their guests.
That's exactly what I have in mind when I think of authentic wedding photos. Photography should remain part of the day and not dictate it.
Light and Photography at Villa Boscarello
From a photographic perspective, Villa Boscarello takes on a different look time and again throughout a wedding day.
In the morning, the light around the villa’s historic rooms and shaded areas is even more subdued. Later in the day, the open spaces, the pool, and the landscape take center stage.
It gets especially nice for me as evening approaches.
The cypress-lined avenue is bathed in softer light, long shadows fall across the olive grove, and the warm colors of the landscape stand out more clearly. That’s exactly where we took some of the portraits of Maxi and Daniel.
However, this doesn't require a long "golden hour" session. Because the cypress-lined avenue, the olive grove, the garden, and the villa are so close together, you can capture a wide variety of images in a short amount of time.
I think that's especially important when it comes to documentary-style photography. The wedding shouldn't be interrupted for the sake of taking pictures. The photos are taken naturally throughout the day.
Digital and Analog Photography and Film with Maxi and Daniel
Maxi and Daniel decided to have their wedding weekend documented through photography and video, and to complement the digital coverage with analog photography.
I covered the wedding on my own and switched back and forth throughout the day between digital photography, video, and my film camera.
For their analog photography, the two had chosen two rolls of Kodak Portra 400, each with 36 exposures. This resulted in about 60 to 70 analog photos.
Film works particularly well for me at Villa Boscarello. The warm light, the natural colors of the olive groves, the cypress trees, and the historic walls complement the aesthetic of 35mm film very well.
For me, this doesn't create a separate "analog" part of the wedding. I deliberately capture certain moments on film while the story continues to unfold. Analog and digital both tell the story of the same day from the same perspective.
You can find out more about my work with film at analog wedding photography.
The video footage was also edited into a wedding film about five minutes long. Maxi wrote to me later that she had already watched it more than twenty times and that it moved her every single time.
For me, that is exactly what makes it a complement to photography. Movement, voices, and atmosphere capture things that a single image cannot.
You can find out more about this in my article on the wedding highlight film.
Analog recording from the pool at Villa Boscarello
Dinner in the courtyard
The dinner took place in the villa's courtyard.
The shape of the historic building creates a sheltered area here that takes on a unique atmosphere in the evening, illuminated by strings of lights.
After the aperitivo and the open-air areas around the pool, the evening suddenly felt completely different again, even though we had only walked a few meters further.
This is where we ate, chatted, and later cut the wedding cake.
It is precisely these short distances that stood out to me time and again over the weekend. As people move from one area to another, the atmosphere changes without disrupting the natural rhythm of the day.
Cuisine at Villa Boscarello
At a wedding in Tuscany, the meal is more than just an item on the agenda between the ceremony and the reception.
This was already clear the night before at Maxi and Daniel's pizza party. Freshly baked pizza, live music, and a long evening spent together were all part of the wedding weekend, even before the actual wedding day had even begun.
The following evening, dinner in the courtyard was a much more elegant affair.
These two evenings in particular beautifully illustrate just how different shared meals can be during a wedding weekend: on the first evening, a relaxed gathering by the pool; on the wedding day, a dinner illuminated by string lights within the historic walls of the villa.
And for Daniel, the homemade pizza was probably one of the culinary highlights of the weekend, if not the highlight.
Villa Boscarello at Night
After sunset, the villa takes on a whole new look.
The landscape gradually fades into the background, while the historic walls, string lights, and illuminated areas of the estate come into sharper focus.
For Maxi and Daniel, this part of the day began with dinner and cutting the wedding cake in the courtyard.
Afterward, the group moved to the other side of the building, where the DJ had already set up, and the party continued late into the night.
Photographically, this creates a completely different visual world than in the afternoon. Instead of the open landscape and soft light, the images are now defined by movement, artificial light, and the closeness between the guests.
For a documentary-style report, I particularly like this transition. At some point, no one is waiting for the next part of the program anymore; the camera becomes secondary, and the wedding takes on its own rhythm.
My Experience as a Wedding Photographer at Villa Boscarello
What really stuck with me after the weekend with Maxi and Daniel wasn't so much the individual spectacular backdrops as the short distances and the sense of calm that results from them.
The poolside pizza party, getting ready, first looks, the wedding ceremony in the cypress-lined avenue, the aperitivo, portraits in the olive grove, dinner, and the party were all able to take place without Maxi and Daniel having to leave the estate.
That's a big advantage, especially for a destination wedding. The time you get to spend with your guests is limited, and in my opinion, it shouldn't be wasted on long transfers or extended photo shoots. Maxi also told me the same thing after the wedding:
"You brought so much calm to all the excitement—I'm really, really grateful to you for that! Our guests also told us over and over how impressed they were with you." – Maxi
I was also impressed by the support provided by Carlotta and her team. The night before, Carlotta introduced the guests to the people behind the wedding weekend. On the wedding day, too, she and the team were always approachable, friendly, and there for us.
At the same time, a lot of things were quietly organized behind the scenes without Maxi and Daniel having to take care of them themselves.
That's exactly what good planning should feel like for a bride and groom.
My Tips for Your Wedding at Villa Boscarello
If you’re spending several days at Villa Boscarello, I’d recommend making the most of the evening before. Maxi and Daniel’s pizza party worked out wonderfully because it gave the guests a chance to get to know each other and arrive together. As a result, on the wedding day itself, no one was really a stranger anymore.
I wouldn't plan the day's schedule too tightly either. The distances on the property are short, and many areas take on a different atmosphere as the light changes. That's why I'd leave some breathing room, especially in the late afternoon.
In my opinion, you don't need to set aside a lot of time for couple portraits. The cypress-lined avenue, the olive grove, the villa, and the garden are all so close together that you can take a wide variety of photos in just 15 to 20 minutes.
And if you’re just as captivated by the cypress-lined avenue as Maxi and Daniel are, I wouldn’t just see it as a beautiful backdrop. For them, it became the setting for their wedding ceremony—and thus a part of their own story with Villa Boscarello.
If you're just starting to plan your wedding, you'll find everything you need in my guide Planning a Wedding in Tuscany for more tips on the timeline, the region, and destination weddings.
Conclusion – Wedding at Villa Boscarello
After Maxi and Daniel's weekend there, Villa Boscarello strikes me above all as a place where a multi-day wedding can go off without a hitch.
Just under 50 guests, a pizza party and live music by the pool, a wedding ceremony on the cypress-lined avenue, an aperitif with a view of Tuscany, quick portraits among the cypresses and olive trees, dinner under strings of lights, and the party later on.
Everything in one place, yet with a variety of atmospheres.
In addition, Carlotta Pometti and her team were there throughout the entire weekend, quietly organizing many things behind the scenes.
For couples who see their wedding not just as a single day, but as an opportunity to spend a few days together with their loved ones in Tuscany, Villa Boscarello offers a special setting for this.
If you’re planning your wedding at Villa Boscarello or Tenuta la Selva—which is only about 200 meters away—and are looking for a one-stop provider of photography and videography services who will blend quietly and unobtrusively into your wedding weekend, I’d love to hear more about your plans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Weddings at Villa Boscarello
Is it possible to hold a non-religious wedding ceremony at Villa Boscarello?
Yes. Villa Boscarello offers various options for an outdoor wedding ceremony. For example, Maxi and Daniel, along with their approximately 50 guests, chose the long cypress-lined avenue, which had been one of their favorite spots on the estate since their very first visit.
Can you have a civil wedding at Villa Boscarello?
Yes. According to the venue, Villa Boscarello is recognized as the municipal hall of the municipality of Trequanda. This means that legally valid civil wedding ceremonies can take place directly on the property. International couples should coordinate the necessary documents and requirements with the venue and the relevant municipality well in advance.
Can guests stay overnight at Villa Boscarello?
Yes. At Maxi and Daniel's wedding, some of the guests stayed right on site, while others had booked accommodations in nearby towns. Especially with a destination wedding, this allows for significantly more time together leading up to and following the actual wedding day.
When is the best time of year to have a wedding at Villa Boscarello?
From late spring through early fall, Tuscany offers excellent conditions for an outdoor wedding. However, the best months depend on the temperatures and atmosphere you want for your wedding.
Carlotta, the owner of Villa Boscarello, told me that May, June, and September are among the most popular months for weddings at the villa, and dates during those months are often booked well in advance. If you’d like to get married during one of those months, it’s therefore a good idea to start planning early.
Is Villa Boscarello suitable for a wedding lasting several days?
Yes. For Maxi and Daniel, the wedding weekend began the night before with a pizza party on the terrace by the pool. The various areas of the property and the accommodations make the villa particularly appealing for weddings that last several days.
Do you need an additional location for couple photos?
Not from my experience. The cypress-lined avenue, the olive grove, the garden, and the historic villa all offer a wide variety of options within walking distance. For Maxi and Daniel, the actual couple shoot took us about 20 minutes, and we didn't even have to leave the property.
Is there an alternative in case of bad weather?
Yes. In addition to the garden, pool, and other outdoor areas, Villa Boscarello features historic interiors. This allows the schedule to be adjusted in case of changeable weather. I would coordinate the specific “Plan B” directly with the villa, depending on the number of guests and the planned schedule.
