Tuscany has a certain magic all its own. Maybe it’s in the soil, maybe it’s in the wine, maybe it’s the special sunlight that basks on its hills. What is certain is that it is one of the most intimate ways to celebrate your marriage, bringing together your closest family and friends to live and play side by side among the olive trees and vineyards.

When marrying in Tuscany I would suggest finding the right size villa for your group and have everyone stay together onsite at the villa for three nights. If you can only manage two nights then make sure that the location is within two hours of an airport for ease of travel. Three nights seems to be the magic number—neither too fast after traveling such a long way or too long since your guests will want to travel to see other sites while in Italy before returning home. I would avoid properties where you have to rent by the week since very few people will stay for the entire week. A villa hotel that rents out by the night gives you optimal flexibility and a staff on hand for the convenience of you and your guests throughout your stay. 

Although Tuscany looks small on a map, places are not so close once you start traveling on narrow, winding country roads. Most Tuscan villas are deep in the heart of the countryside, surrounded by little other than olive groves, vineyards and rolling hills as far as the eye can see. This means that many locations will be difficult to get to for your guests on their own. You may want to have us organize a bus to take everyone from Rome to the villa at the beginning and then to take everyone back to Rome or drop them in Florence the day after the wedding. This is always appreciated when the guests are coming from the US. We are here to give you recommendations on the best way to handle transportation for your chosen venue.

In addition to the traditional farmhouses one expects, there are many monasteries and castles that have been converted into villa style hotels for a more majestic experience. A symbolic, Jewish, Hindu, or non-denominational Christian ceremony can be held anywhere on site. Some locations will have a private Catholic church on the villa grounds where the wedding can be celebrated, but for most there will be a charming country church or a spectacular cathedral in the near vicinity for the celebration of the wedding. Most civil ceremonies would need to take place in the designated civil hall of a small, historic town nearby and not at the villa itself. But there are some exceptions.

The season in Tuscany is from April 1 through October 31 and most villas are only open during that time although there are some exceptions. While it’s true that the summer months will be hot in the afternoons, they will have ideal weather in the evenings for the dinners outside. The solution to a hot day is an afternoon pool party! September is generally warm and sunny and when the grapes are harvested. October is considered off season and it is unlikely that the dinners can be held outside unless arrangements are made for a tent with heat lamps.