Destination wedding photographer: Simon & Kim at Villa San Michele, Feisole, Italy

Destination wedding photographer Italy: It was a real privilege to be invited to shoot the wedding of Simon & Kim at the incredibly beautiful and romantic location of Villa San Michele in Italy. This amazing former monastery sits high in the the sun drenched hills of Feisole in Italy and overlooks the beautiful city of Florence. Just as yesterday on the Chianti shoot, there was no respite from the heat again the wedding. Although the ceremony was scheduled to take place in the late afternoon to try and avoid some of the heat, it was still intense and certainly a real swealter of day. At least I wasn’t in dinner jacket and waistcoat like the menfolk at the wedding!

We began the shoot by hanging out with Kim and the girls for hair and make-up and made our way over to the groom and best man while the girls got into their dresses. After an incredibly hot 15 minutes with Simon and his brother Nikki, the best man, we headed back to the cool air conditioned room where Kim was just stepping into the dress. As the clock quickened towards the wedding hour, we managed to get out into the corridor to shoot some bridals using the rustic decor of the hotel. We were interrupted briefly by TV’s Philip Schofield on his way to the hotel pool  but no-one else came by until Kim’s dad arrived to take her hand and lead her out into the garden. The wedding guests were melting rapidly as Kim made her way down to the ceremony, held on one of the upper garden terraces, and joined Simon for the wedding blessing conducted with the spectacular views of Florence in the distance.

Drinks and canapes were very welcome for everyone and, as we got on with the family and group photos, the relative coolness of the afternoon shade crept across the terrace. This was made even more bearable by a gentle breeze which swept up the hillside from the valley below. A congratulatory nod from the Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark as he and Princess Mary passed by on their way to their room summed up the grandeur of the hotel. Time flew by as always and it was a mad rush to capture the images of Kim and Simon before the wedding breakfast was due to be served, plus we were also racing against the onset of dusk. However we did manage a few shots in front of the hotel, the facade of which was designed by Michelangelo, before the light went! It was totally dark by the time the speeches were due and getting quite late by the time the first dance kicked off but we still managed some great shots of the occasion. I’ve put together more shots than in the usual blog postings, but I think that a wedding from a venue such as this really deserves it :¬)

To book me as your destination photographer for Italy or anywhere else, just give me a call on 01924 229800 for a chat.