01 — The Wedding Day

Paola & Julien · Villa Oliva, Tuscany

The heart of Paola and Julien’s Tuscan weekend unfolded beneath the late-afternoon sun at Villa Oliva. After getting ready at Villa Lenka, Paola and Julien made their way to the venue together with their bridal party, arriving at a setting that felt completely immersed in the Tuscan landscape. The ceremony began at 4:30 pm — a time we especially love for summer weddings, when the light becomes softer and warmer and the landscape seems to slow down with it. As Paola walked towards Julien, the last light sat beautifully along the hedges behind them, creating a natural frame for the ceremony.

What made their vows particularly meaningful was the way their closest friends and family were woven directly into the ceremony. Instead of traditional speeches later in the evening, their loved ones shared their words during the ceremony itself, making the entire moment feel deeply personal, intimate and emotional. After the vows came heartfelt congratulations before the celebration moved into the gardens of Villa Oliva.

A separate garden area surrounded by flowers, fountains and the warm Tuscan air became the setting for the aperitivo. Guests could wander between little tables while music played and an incredible selection of Italian food was prepared right in front of them — freshly made seafood, risotto, salads and dishes served from stations throughout the garden. It was the kind of long, unhurried Italian afternoon that makes you want to stay forever.

Later, the guests followed a romantic path through a small wooded area towards the dinner setting. More than one hundred guests gathered around an extraordinary table beneath the summer sky, with Paola and Julien’s loved ones having travelled from across Southern France to celebrate with them. The evening was accompanied by a band of international musicians from Paris, with a new musical performance appearing between almost every course.

A guitarist moved between the tables, drawing guests into the music, before a grand black piano became the centre of the celebration. As the pianist played and sang, guests gathered around him until the dinner table had essentially transformed into a dance floor. Later, the cake cutting became another spectacular moment, with the couple joined by the chefs as they added the finishing touches to the cake, accompanied by a saxophonist and bursts of light behind them.

And just before midnight, the entire celebration seemed to pause for one final moment of wonder. Paola and Julien stood on chairs with champagne in their hands, surrounded by all their guests as fireworks illuminated the Tuscan night. From above, the scene became even more cinematic — a fitting final frame to a wedding day filled with music, movement, emotion and an unmistakable Italian sense of celebration.