A Romantic Destination Wedding in Italy | Gemmy & Niels
Bruiloften / 05 augustus 2026
A Romantic Destination Wedding in Italy
There is something incredibly special about a destination wedding in Italy. It is not simply about choosing a beautiful place to get married. It is about bringing the people you love together, slowing down for a few days, and turning a wedding into an experience. For Gemmy and Niels, that experience unfolded over two unforgettable summer days at Le Stonghe, near Fossombrone in the beautiful Le Marche region of Italy. A sun-drenched pool party. An Italian pizza night beneath the evening sky. Fields filled with sunflowers. Heartfelt vows. Long tables surrounded by family and friends. Homemade limoncello. Golden light over the hills and, as evening fell, a distant thunderstorm illuminating the Italian landscape. And somewhere between all of that, Gemmy and Niels became husband and wife. Check out the full long highlight slideshow of this amazing wedding week here:
Welcome to Italy
Our journey began on July 9th, when the three of us travelled from Amsterdam to Bologna. From there, we collected our car and drove south through the Italian countryside towards Fossombrone. After quickly checking into our hotel, there was little time to waste. At Le Stonghe, the first guests were already arriving and preparations for the opening celebration were well underway. With the Italian summer temperatures in full force, there could hardly have been a better way to begin the weekend.
An Italian pool party
Drinks were cold, music was playing and it did not take long before almost everyone had found their way into the water. Friends reunited. Stories were shared. Glasses were raised. People floated around the pool, played games, danced to the DJ and simply enjoyed being together again. This is one of the things I love most about photographing destination weddings: the wedding does not have to begin with the ceremony. It can begin long before that.
An Italian Pizza Night
After an afternoon in the pool, it was time for everyone to change for the evening celebrations. For Gemmy, preparations began with Annemiek Wijsman, who travelled to Italy to take care of her hair and make-up throughout the wedding weekend. Niels came to collect his bride-to-be and even received a little touch-up of his own before the two of them made their entrance together. Their guests were waiting. As Gemmy and Niels arrived, they were welcomed with cheers and applause before officially opening the weekend with a few words and a toast. And then Italy took over. An Italian trio performed live music as freshly prepared pizzas were served and the sun slowly disappeared behind the surrounding hills. The atmosphere was exactly what you hope for when planning a wedding in Italy: warm, effortless and wonderfully relaxed.
Golden Hour in Le Marche
As photographers, we are always watching the light. And during dinner, that beautiful Italian summer light suddenly became impossible to ignore. We quietly borrowed Gemmy and Niels for a few minutes. Nothing elaborate. No long photoshoot. Just the two of them stepping away from the celebration together as the landscape around Le Stonghe turned golden. Sometimes ten minutes is all you need. They returned to their guests for an evening filled with heartfelt speeches, live music, laughter and plenty of Italian food. As daylight faded into blue hour, it was time for the famous shoe game. How well did Gemmy and Niels really know each other? Judging by their answers, very well indeed. The evening eventually came to a close upstairs on the terrace, where everyone was treated to Italian gelato. A perfect refreshing ending to the first day. Because the following morning, there was a wedding to celebrate.
The Wedding Day at Le Stonghe
July 10th started early. At least, it did for Gemmy. Hair and make-up were already well underway while Niels was taking a slightly more relaxed approach to the morning, enjoying a few final quiet moments on the sofa before getting ready. We began by photographing the details of the day, including Gemmy's wedding dress in some of the beautiful surroundings of the venue. Slowly, the energy began to change. Niels started getting dressed with his closest friends while Gemmy's mother stopped by to see how preparations were progressing. Her expression said everything. Her daughter looked beautiful.
Champagne, Music and a Few Pre-Wedding Nerves
No wedding morning would be complete without champagne. The gentlemen raised their glasses to the day ahead, while things became slightly more adventurous on Gemmy's side when the champagne almost overflowed. There was only one sensible response. Turn up the music and dance. For a few minutes, the room was filled with laughter and movement before the moment arrived for Gemmy to put on her wedding dress. And suddenly, it became real. The nerves appeared. Her friends and mother gathered around her, helping with the dress and reassuring her while Annemiek made the final adjustments to her hair and make-up. One of my favourite photographs from the morning is a quiet black-and-white frame taken just before Gemmy stepped outside. She is taking a deep breath while everyone around her is trying to keep her cool with hand fans. Outside, Niels was already waiting.
An Emotional First Look
Niels had not seen Gemmy yet. But he could hear that something was happening behind him. The subtle noise of their guests watching from a distance told him that she was approaching. That alone was enough. Before Gemmy had even reached him, the emotions took over and a tear appeared. Then she stepped into the light. Walking towards him through the Italian sunshine, she looked incredible. When Niels finally turned around, they had a moment entirely their own. They looked at each other. Really looked. They laughed, embraced and took in the fact that after all the preparations, all the planning and all the anticipation, their wedding day was finally here.
A Wedding Photoshoot Among the Sunflowers in Italy
There was one thing Gemmy had hoped for when imagining her wedding photographs in Italy: Sunflowers. Before travelling to Le Marche, we had already explored several possible locations. So after the first look, we got into the cars and headed towards one of the fields. Our schedule was running slightly behind and the Italian heat was already building. We did not have long. And then the light changed. Just as we arrived, a thin layer of cloud softened the midday sun, creating beautiful, flattering light across the entire landscape. Every now and then, the sun broke through again. It was perfect. For around twenty minutes, with two photographers and a videographer working together, Gemmy and Niels had their Italian sunflower moment. Golden flowers stretching into the distance. Rolling countryside. And two people about to get married. It could hardly have felt more Italian.
Seeing Their Children for the First Time
Back at Le Stonghe, another emotional moment was waiting. Their children had not yet seen Mum and Dad dressed for the wedding.The eldest needed no encouragement whatsoever and immediately ran towards them. The youngest was slightly more cautious. With a little encouragement from Grandpa, he slowly made his way over before finally running straight into Gemmy's arms. We photographed the four of them together before it was time to head towards the ceremony. Because this day was not only about two people getting married. It was about celebrating them as a family.
An Intimate Outdoor Ceremony in Italy
Guests began taking their seats as the sound of a violin drifted through the warm Italian air. The ceremony procession began with the men, followed by Niels and his mother. Then came the bridesmaids. And finally Gemmy appeared, walking alongside her father. As they reached Niels, there was a beautiful emotional exchange between the three of them before her father gave her away. With a kiss, the ceremony began. Niels' sister led the ceremony, immediately making it deeply personal. In the distance, however, the Italian skies were beginning to change. Clouds gathered above the hills and for a moment a few drops of rain began to fall. Thankfully, that was all. The weather remained warm and humid, meaning the hand fans provided for the guests became one of the most popular details of the day.
Personal Vows and a Very Enthusiastic Ring Bearer
Gemmy's mother shared some beautiful words during the ceremony before Gemmy and Niels read the vows they had written for one another. Surrounded by everyone they loved, they promised each other their future. Meanwhile, a very important little guest was patiently waiting for his cue. Their eldest son. After the vows and the "I do", his moment had finally arrived. Carrying the rings in a little basket, he came running towards his parents, delivering them perfectly... and immediately sprinted back to Grandma. The rings were exchanged. Gemmy and Niels shared their first official kiss as husband and wife. And with the documents signed, they were married.
Champagne, Sunflowers and a Celebration in the Italian Countryside
Following their ceremony exit, everyone gathered on the steps to welcome the newlyweds. Gemmy and Niels made their entrance to cheers from their guests before opening the reception with an impressive champagne tower. Glasses were filled and raised. From that moment on, there was barely a quiet minute. Friends and family delivered speeches. Conversations flowed. Music filled the venue. And then Gemmy's mother surprised everyone by singing. It did not take long before people were dancing again. Meanwhile, the team at Le Stonghe transformed the dinner setting, with the sunflower theme returning throughout the tables and styling. Before dinner began, we brought everyone together for one large group photograph. One frame containing almost every person who had travelled to Italy to celebrate with them.
Dinner Under the Italian Sky
Gemmy's father opened dinner with a speech. What followed was everything you could want from an Italian wedding dinner: wonderful food, live singing, long conversations and more heartfelt words from the people closest to them. There was always something happening. But it never felt forced. That is an important distinction. The best wedding days have a rhythm of their own. You do not need to manufacture moments when you have surrounded yourself with people who genuinely want to celebrate with you. And this wedding had that in abundance.
Ten Minutes of Extraordinary Italian Light
There is a moment during almost every wedding when I begin watching the horizon. Golden hour. Even with a busy schedule, I always try to find a few minutes to take my couples away from everything. No guests. No speeches. No schedule. Just the two of them. For Gemmy and Niels, we had around ten minutes. Those ten minutes became some of my favourite photographs from the entire weekend.
The heat and humidity of the day had created something spectacular in the distance. A storm. Dark clouds gathered above the rolling hills of Le Marche. Rain could be seen falling far away and occasionally the sky illuminated with distant lightning. Yet where we were standing, it remained dry. Behind Gemmy and Niels was a dramatic Italian sky. In front of them, the final warm dinner light. It was impossible to plan. And impossible to recreate. That is the beauty of wedding photography. Sometimes nature gives you something far better than anything you could have imagined.
A Very Italian Dessert
Back at dinner, another important Italian tradition was waiting. The wedding cake was served with strawberries and powdered sugar. And naturally, there was limoncello. But not just any limoncello. Gemmy had made it herself. It was one of those small personal touches that made the entire weekend feel unmistakably theirs. A destination wedding should never feel like simply transporting a traditional wedding to another country. The location should become part of the experience. Here, Italy was everywhere. In the food. In the music. In the landscape. In the light. And definitely in the limoncello.
From First Dance to Full Dance Floor
After a quick outfit change and a moment to freshen up, Gemmy and Niels returned for their first dance. The schedule had slipped slightly by this point. Nobody cared. There was only one thing left to do. Celebrate. The party began immediately and never really slowed down. The DJ combined his set with live saxophone, bringing everyone onto the dance floor. People jumped, sang, danced and completely forgot about the cameras around them. Which is exactly how I like it. The more people lose themselves in the moment, the better the photographs become. Elegant portraits and beautiful details are an important part of telling a wedding story. But so is the chaos. The laughter. The movement. The sweat. The people dancing like nobody is watching. And this crowd knew exactly how to celebrate. After two hours of non-stop dancing, the saxophonist played one final serenade for Gemmy and Niels. Surrounded by their family and friends, they kissed. And after two extraordinary days in the Italian countryside, their wedding celebration came to an end.
More Than a Wedding in Italy
There is a reason destination weddings feel different. You are not simply inviting people to a ceremony and dinner. You are asking them to travel somewhere with you. To escape everyday life for a few days. To share an experience. For Gemmy and Niels, that meant spending Thursday afternoon in a swimming pool with their closest friends. Eating pizza while an Italian trio played as the sun went down. Finishing the evening with gelato under the blue-hour sky. And then waking up the following morning knowing: today, we get married.
It meant a first look filled with emotion. Their children running into their arms. Vows beneath the Italian sky. Champagne cascading down a tower of glasses. Dinner surrounded by everyone they love.Ten extraordinary minutes of golden hour while lightning flashed above the hills. Homemade limoncello. And finally, dancing late into the evening to the sound of a saxophone. This is what I love about photographing destination weddings. Of course I want to create beautiful photographs. But more importantly, I want those photographs to bring you back. Not simply to what your wedding looked like. But to what it felt like. The heat of the Italian sun. The nerves before seeing each other. The sound of your friends cheering. Your child running towards you with the rings. The distant thunder over the hills. And that feeling of looking around and realising that all these people travelled here for one reason. To celebrate you.
Wedding Suppliers for this amazing Italian Destination Wedding
Location: Le Stonghe
Photo and Film: Paco van Leeuwen Studio
Live Music / DJ / Lights: Daniele Mancini
Suits: I am Luigi
Wedding Dress: Unique Bridal
Hair & Make-up: Annemiek Wijsman
Planning Your Own Destination Wedding in Italy?
If you are dreaming of a wedding in Italy — whether that means a private villa in Tuscany, a celebration overlooking Lake Como, an intimate wedding in Le Marche, a masseria in Puglia or somewhere completely your own. I would love to hear what you are planning.
I photograph destination weddings throughout Italy and Europe with a relaxed, story-driven approach, combining genuine moments with timeless portraits and an editorial eye. Your wedding does not need to look like anyone else's. It should feel unmistakably like yours.
Planning a destination wedding in Italy or elsewhere in Europe? Get in touch and tell me where your story is taking you.
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