Unforgettable wedding at Castello di Castagneto

A romantic castle wedding by the Tuscan sea

Gaia and Federico are an extremely romantic couple. Their everyday life was already a family life, in a house full of love, having two beautiful daughters, but they wanted to seal the deal and celebrate with all their loved ones. What they envisioned at first was getting married in a place that meant something for the two of them, rather than just a random nice place.

When looking for a venue we started searching around their hometown, near Florence, but with time they started to think more and more about a wedding by the sea, to which both of them feel extremely connected, each since childhood, but also together as a couple. We visited Castello di Castagneto together during a sunny spring day, and for them it was love at first sight. Since that moment it was not possible for them to picture their wedding anywhere else.

The castle holds such history, being the residence of the noble Gherardesca family, and it is so close to the bride’s childhood seaside spot that it wasn’t hard to take a decision after the site inspection. They immediately understood that they both wanted a wedding at Castello di Castagneto. In the castle property there also happens to be a lovely church, perfect to celebrate the religious ceremony they had always envisioned.

Another great aspect of a wedding at Castello di Castagneto is that Castagneto Carducci is a very special and genuine village in Tuscany, where cars are not allowed and tourists are few — a rare find in Italy.

The Wedding Morning

On the wedding day the bride and groom stayed in a convenient B&B just a few meters from the castle entrance. When all the guests arrived, the groom was already in front of the church to welcome them, as Italian traditional etiquette requires.

The bride got ready in the castle with her older daughter. She wanted a rather natural look, feeling like her everyday self on her wedding day — an amazing white dress, princess shoes, and a bold red lip, a touch she regularly loves in special occasions and decided to keep for her wedding at Castello di Castagneto.

The Ceremony

The bride entered the church with her beloved father, walking to one of the couple’s favourite songs, Chiaro di Luna by Lorenzo Jovanotti — a song that speaks about the deepest and most perfect love. The religious ceremony was deeply moving, with a live duo band — a friend of the bride — playing a personal selection of songs the couple loves most, which continued into the aperitif held in the Castello di Castagneto private gardens overlooking the sea.

The Reception

Gaia and Federico expressly wanted this wedding to be not only a celebration of their love, but also a party for their two adorable daughters and all their little friends. They arranged a dedicated kids entertainment space with specialised staff — which also allowed the parents to fully enjoy the aperitif and dinner without worrying about running after their children.

The seated dinner began after sunset, so guests could watch the sun dip into the sea from the castle walkway. The dinner area was set up in the courtyard terrace with round tables and wooden chairs, matching the castle’s classic style while keeping it typically Tuscan.

The Details

The couple chose classic but highly personalised details throughout. Flowers were white, arranged in a contemporary shape with a subtle special touch: napkins in a jeans-blue hue, echoing the sea theme that ran through the entire wedding palette — from the invitations to all the stationery.

Guests were surprised to find a personal thank-you letter from the newlyweds at their seat. Table names were chosen from meaningful items connected to the sea and to the couple — love songs, admired people, favourite places, beloved sea animals and works of art — each with its own handwritten card explaining the significance.

The seating plan was handwritten on a large mirror that reflected all the beauty of the setup, and became the perfect spot for guests to take a mirror selfie.

The Cake and the Party

After dinner the cake was cut under a splendid tree in the lower courtyard, where Gaia and Federico, together with their daughters and surrounded by all the other children, personally decorated and then cut a traditional Italian millefoglie filled with fresh cream and berries.

The party began right after in the old cellar, transformed into a night club where a DJ played vintage music from actual vinyl records.

Photography by Andrea Corsi.