Dimora Buonriposo wedding in Tuscany is a perfect description of Elisa and Francesco’s celebration in the countryside near Pienza, surrounded by one of the most recognizable landscapes in southern Tuscany. I photographed their wedding some years ago, but looking back at these images today, the location, the atmosphere and especially the extraordinary evening light make this a story that still feels incredibly alive.

There is also a nice connection with the wedding world behind this celebration. Elisa, the bride, is now the founder and wedding planner behind Elisa Bandoni Events, a Tuscany-based agency working with Italian and international couples. Long before photographing one of the weddings she now helps other couples create, I had the chance to photograph her own.

A wedding at Dimora Buonriposo near Pienza

Dimora Buonriposo is located in the countryside of Pienza, in the province of Siena, surrounded by open fields, vineyards, cypress trees and the rolling landscape associated with the Val d’Orcia. The property itself sits within a large countryside estate, and its outdoor spaces are one of its strongest features for a wedding.

And this is exactly what made Elisa and Francesco’s wedding so interesting to photograph.

The day began inside the old rooms of the property, where both preparations took place among paintings, books, wooden ceilings and objects collected over time. These interiors gave me the possibility to work with layers, reflections and natural light rather than simply photographing the preparation in a descriptive way.

The ceremony was held in a small countryside church away from the venue. Sunlight entered through its windows and reflected against the old stone walls, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. It was one of those situations in which the character of an old Tuscan building becomes part of the photographs without needing anything additional.

After the ceremony, everyone returned to Dimora Buonriposo for the rest of the celebration.

Photographing a wedding in the Val d’Orcia landscape

The countryside around the venue is probably the element I remember most vividly from this wedding.

The landscape is extremely open. Fields, distant hills, lines of cypress trees and an enormous sky surround the property, making it possible to create photographs in which the couple remains part of a much wider scene.

During the afternoon the weather was constantly changing. Large clouds moved across the sky and the sunlight appeared and disappeared until, close to sunset, everything changed.

We left the reception for a short couple session in the countryside around Dimora Buonriposo. The light became incredibly warm and intense, turning the fields almost completely orange. Instead of using the landscape simply as a background, I wanted Elisa and Francesco to become part of it.

Some photographs are very close and energetic; others place them almost as small figures inside the vast landscape.

The sky continued changing even after the sun disappeared, moving from intense orange to blue and violet. Within a relatively short period of time we were able to create very different photographs without ever leaving the countryside surrounding the wedding.

An outdoor wedding dinner under the Tuscan sky

Back at Dimora Buonriposo, dinner was prepared outdoors overlooking the hills.

Long tables, flowers, candles and crystal chandeliers suspended from greenery transformed the lawn while still leaving the landscape completely visible. As daylight slowly disappeared, the chandeliers became points of warm light against the darkening Tuscan countryside.

It is one of the reasons this venue works particularly well for couples who imagine an outdoor wedding in Tuscany: the landscape does not disappear when the ceremony or the portraits are over. It remains part of the experience during the aperitivo, dinner and evening celebration.

The dinner quickly became another part of the story rather than a pause between different moments. Speeches, children moving between the tables, friends raising their glasses and spontaneous reactions gave me plenty of opportunities to continue working in a documentary way.

Later, the atmosphere changed again.

The cake cutting took place beneath the trees surrounded by lights and sparks, before music moved everyone onto the dance floor. From the quiet interiors of the morning to the intensity of the sunset and finally the energy of the party, the wedding gradually changed rhythm while still feeling like one continuous story.

Why Dimora Buonriposo is particularly interesting for wedding photography

For me, the greatest photographic strength of a wedding at Dimora Buonriposo is the variety available without losing the identity of the place.

There are historic interiors for the preparations, stone architecture, gardens and large outdoor spaces for the reception, but above all there is the surrounding Pienza countryside. For couples who love photographs in which the landscape has a real presence, rather than being simply a decorative background, this part of Tuscany offers enormous possibilities.

At the same time, a wedding cannot be reduced to beautiful scenery.

Some of my favourite photographs from Elisa and Francesco’s day have almost nothing to do with the famous Tuscan landscape: a reaction during the ceremony, their dog jumping towards them after the church, guests around the tables, a child lifted into the air or people completely absorbed in the party.

That combination is what I look for when photographing a destination wedding in Tuscany: real moments, strong storytelling and creative images when light, people and landscape come together in the right way.

Elisa and Francesco’s wedding at Dimora Buonriposo had all three.

Planning a wedding at Dimora Buonriposo or in Pienza?

If you are planning a wedding at Dimora Buonriposo, in Pienza, the Val d’Orcia or elsewhere in Tuscany, and you are looking for photography that combines spontaneous reportage with a creative approach to portraits and light, I would love to hear about your plans.

Get in touch and tell me about your wedding in Tuscany.

Venue: Dimora Buonriposo
Catering: Rolands Florence
Flowers: Flowers Living
Lights: Wedding Music and Lights
Band & DJ: Merry Mood Band
Video: Screenshot Production
Cake: Atelier Damiano Carrara
A special thanks to Daniele Nardi for his support