Giulia and Francesco were married at Borgo San Faustino, in the countryside around Orvieto, with their reception at Villa Laura, once the home of Princess Vogorides Ruspoli. An outdoor civil ceremony under the estate's trees, sunset portraits on the hill with the whole valley in front of them, and dinner outside under strings of lights.
Borgo San Faustino is a nine-hundred-hectare estate: woods, stone farmhouses, gardens and a historic villa. For a wedding in Umbria that means something specific: ceremony and party are on the same property, but in two completely different settings.
Getting ready
Giulia got ready in one of the farmhouses, with her mother and her friends. There was a gift, opened with a smile before she had even dressed, and then the gown, a sweetheart design by Come in una Favola, laced up the back with crossed ribbon. The bouquet was yellow, white and blue, the colours of a field, and the same flowers returned along the ceremony aisle.
Francesco dressed in company, among blue waistcoats and pats on the back. His mother straightened his tie, and the cufflinks were waiting in their vintage box.
When bride and groom get ready a few metres apart, as they did here, I can follow both without missing anything. That advantage is decided months earlier, when you choose the venue.
The civil ceremony under the trees
The ceremony was in a clearing on the estate, in front of a stone farmhouse, with white chairs on either side of a pale aisle runner and tall trees giving shade overhead. Giulia arrived on foot along the drive, on her father's arm.
It was a civil ceremony, held on site with the officiant in the tricolour sash. Friends read their thoughts, Giulia read her vows into the microphone with a voice she could barely keep steady, and the two page boys carried the rings with a seriousness that made everyone laugh. Then the signatures, and the walk back up the aisle among the guests.
Outdoors, under trees, the light changes all the time: patches of sun and full shade a metre apart. I expose for faces and move a lot, because one step sideways is enough to find a clean background.
The portraits: the woods and the hill at sunset
Straight after the ceremony we took a few minutes in the woods, among the tall trunks, with the light coming in at an angle. Then the toast with the guests, and dinner.
The best moment came later, when the sun was about to set. We walked up to the ridge above the villa: tall dry grass, dark hills all the way to the horizon, and a sky that went from gold to pink in ten minutes. It is the viewpoint where I always take couples who marry here, and the reason I ask you to keep half an hour free around sunset.
Dinner and dancing at Villa Laura
The reception, coordinated by wedding planner Azzurra Danielli, took place at Villa Laura: round tables laid outdoors, string lights overhead, and farm-to-table cooking with produce from the estate's own farm. The toasts started by themselves, table after table.
After dark came the cutting of the cake, a layered millefoglie with fruit standing among candles, then the first dance and the dance floor, with the villa's façade lit up in the background.
Getting married at Villa Laura and Borgo San Faustino: what to know
If you are considering this venue, here is what I saw working there. For dates, capacity and quotes, the venue always has the final word.
Where it is
Borgo San Faustino is in the countryside around Orvieto, in the province of Terni. Orvieto has an A1 motorway exit and a station on the Rome to Florence line: from Rome it takes about an hour and a half, from Florence a little more. For guests coming from elsewhere it is one of the easiest parts of Umbria to reach, which matters for a destination wedding in Italy.
The spaces
Three settings on one property: the stone farmhouses with their rooms, the woods and clearings for the ceremony, and Villa Laura with its gardens for the reception. They are far enough apart to give each moment its own character, and close enough that no time is lost.
Civil or symbolic ceremony
Giulia and Francesco held their civil ceremony outdoors on the estate. For the details, and for a symbolic ceremony, ask the venue. Couples who prefer a religious ceremony will find several country churches around Orvieto.
How many guests
The villa takes receptions of up to around two hundred guests, and the outdoor spaces cope well with large numbers. With smaller groups the place never feels empty, because every scene has its own corner.
Staying on the estate
The farmhouses have rooms for the couple and their guests. Sleeping on site changes the day: slow preparations in the morning, and nobody looking at the clock in the evening.
How I photograph a day here
- Getting ready. In the farmhouses the light comes through small windows: curtains open and lamps off. If bride and groom are in the same hamlet, I follow both.
- Ceremony in the woods. Dappled light, so I move a lot and stay to the sides of the aisle.
- After the ceremony. Ten minutes among the trees, while guests make their way to the aperitivo.
- Sunset. Half an hour on the ridge above the villa. It has to go into the schedule with the caterer, otherwise it arrives together with the first course.
- Evening. String lights and a lit façade: I work with slow shutter speeds and no direct flash, to keep the atmosphere that is there.
For help building the schedule, see my guide on what to expect on the wedding day, with a timeline.
The suppliers at this wedding
- Venue: Borgo San Faustino and Villa Laura, Orvieto (Umbria)
- Wedding planner: Azzurra Danielli
- Wedding dress: Come in una Favola
- Photography: Manuel Diamanti
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
Can you get married at Villa Laura, Borgo San Faustino?
Yes. The estate hosts weddings with an outdoor ceremony and the reception at Villa Laura. Giulia and Francesco had their civil ceremony under the trees and celebrated at the villa, without leaving the property.
Where is Borgo San Faustino?
In the countryside around Orvieto, in the province of Terni, Umbria. Orvieto is on the A1 motorway and on the Rome to Florence railway line, about an hour and a half from Rome.
How many guests can Villa Laura host?
Up to around two hundred for the reception. The outdoor spaces allow for large parties, but the estate works well for intimate weddings too.
Can you have a civil ceremony at Borgo San Faustino?
Giulia and Francesco held theirs outdoors on the estate. For current availability and arrangements, ask the venue directly.
When is the best time to get married here?
From May to September. In summer the woods give shade during the ceremony, and the sunset from the ridge is long and clear.
How much does a wedding at Villa Laura cost?
Costs depend on the season, the number of guests and the services you choose: ask the venue for a quote. For the photography side, see my guide to wedding photographer costs in Italy.
In the same area I also photographed Monika and Ludwig's wedding at Castello di Titignano, above Lake Corbara. Villa Laura is one of the places I have gathered in my guide to wedding venues in Umbria.
If you are looking for a wedding photographer in Umbria and are thinking of marrying here, look at the portfolio and the other wedding stories, or tell me about your wedding: I answer every message personally.
