La Foce Tuscany, Italy Wedding : Erica+Carl

It was to be about the marriage, not just the wedding. Yes, friends and family yearned to be at their sides, but Erica and Carl committed to cultivating a private moment between two people in love. While a piece of their hearts remained at their beachside home in Florida, the hills of Tuscany welcomed them with open arms as they wedded in Italy.

The night before the wedding, they sipped on local wine and talked about their vows. They promised to make each other better, to refine the process of loving each other, and remain steadfast in their desires for adventure and unpredictability. Erica tossed her head back and laughed when she also promised to become a Star Wars fan, much to Carl's delight.

Tucked in the rolling landscape of Tuscany, a castle sat next to a church on the property of La Foce. It was the perfect location for a wedding and contained hundreds of years of history. As Erica made her way down from the castle and walked the cobblestone streets to the church, she stopped at the front door, placed her hand on her heart, and soaked in the moment of her dreams. Together, the bride and groom recounted their vows and promised their love to each other.

Erica and Carl…from meeting while you were in Florida, to an engagement session in Santa Monica, to a wedding in Tuscany, Italy…you remained truly remarkable. Your devotion to each other is only paralled by your dedication to learning how to love, forgive, and love even more with grace. Thank you for inviting JD and I to document your first day as husband and wife. Your love left Italy better than you found it. Much Appreciation and Love… j*

A bow on a pair of heels? Yes, please.

It's not everyday I get to photograph a bride getting ready for her wedding day in an ancient castle…but I loved every minute of shooting around the La Foce estate and discovering gorgeous views around every corner.

La Foce is an estate that produces olive oil, so Erica was sure to incorporate olive branches through the wedding decor as a nod to their Italian love story…

Beauty, beauty everywhere…the Tuscan landscape was a perfect backdrop for a wedding…

Bridal prep…

Tying the knot…literally.

It was lovely and rare to see a bride dress herself, and Erica smiled through every moment…

While I was with the bride as she dressed, JD was with the groom…

The light in the room the groom prepared in was just perfect…

Can you spot the reference to Star Wars? (hint: check out those cufflinks!)

Carl walked to the church to write his vows and prepare for their big moment…

The groom waited in the La Foce church for his bride

The stone walls…the stone ground…the doors to the church…such a gorgeous moment for a bride…

Once the doors opened, Erica took a moment to soak in the gravity of the moment before seeing her groom…

…and Carl loved the way his bride looked…

The couple found a bilingual priest who conducted the wedding ceremony at the private church at La Foce

And this is where their Italian love story began…

The happy couple strolled through the Italian courtyard…

A kiss in front of the door that they exited as entirely new people: husband and wife.

Details…

We strolled through the massive La Foce estate and found rustic beauty around every corner…

The best part of having a wedding with just a bride and groom is the ability to focus on photos and enjoy each moment for exactly what it is…

…like this intimate moment…

…and this exciting moment (the bride had an olive garland made for her ceremony, which she later took for her reception)…

…and this perfect moment (just before entering their private quarters for a reception dinner made by the La Foce head chef)…

A splash of red…

Just before sunset, the couple strolled through the olive groves…

It was beyond cold (like, freezing for two Florida natives), but the bride was determined to enjoy every moment and capture her wedding memories…

I'll end on this happy note because the sun was shining, their love was shining, and their future together was brightly illuminated as a result.

Many thanks to the following for ensuring the wedding was truly perfect for this deserving couple:
Wedding Venue: Chiesa di S. Bernardino Church at La Foce
Reception Venue: Chiarentana at La Foce
Makeup Artist: Patricia and Samantha of Sam's Parrucchieri
Florist: Nadia of Stiatti Fiori