Micaela and Raffaele were married at San Pietro Sopra le Acque, the resort in Massa Martana set in the woods of the Monti Martani, in Umbria. An outdoor civil ceremony at the end of the cypress avenue, portraits under the park's tunnel of trees, dinner indoors and the cake cut after dark.
It is a venue I know well and recommend to couples who want a wedding surrounded by green without giving up comfort: everything happens inside the park, and guests never have to move.
Getting ready
Micaela got ready at home, with her friends in mint-green robes who at one point went out into the garden and jumped all together in front of the camera. It was their idea, and those are the photographs that best capture the mood of that morning. Then the dress, full, with an embroidered bodice and a very long veil, the shoes photographed against the sky, and her father arriving to arrange her veil.
Raffaele dressed calmly, black waistcoat and bow tie, and his mother pinned the flower to his lapel.
The bridesmaids then swapped their robes for long forest-green dresses, the same green as the park where the ceremony would take place. Details like these hold a day together in photographs.
The civil ceremony at the end of the cypress avenue
At San Pietro Sopra le Acque the outdoor ceremony is held in an intimate clearing, enclosed by cypresses and stone walls, in front of a small arched shrine. For Micaela and Raffaele's wedding it had been dressed with string lights and hanging flowers.
Raffaele arrived first, on his mother's arm. Micaela walked down the avenue with her father, the bridesmaids ahead of her. The civil ceremony was held on site, with the officiant in the tricolour sash, and ended with the signatures and an exit through petals along the ivy-covered wall.
That clearing has a precise photographic advantage: the cypresses act as a backdrop on every side and screen the sun, so the light is soft even in the early afternoon. I move behind the guests and along the sides of the avenue, never passing between the couple and the people watching them.
Portraits under the tunnel of trees
After the toast we slipped away for about twenty minutes. In the park there is a gallery of trees, a green tunnel where the branches close overhead and light comes in only from the far end. It is the spot I always look for when I work here, because it gives natural backlight at any hour.
There Micaela's veil did the rest: laid out on the ground along the path, lifted by the wind, used as a tent to kiss under. I didn't ask for poses, I only asked them to walk.
Dinner and dancing
The reception continued in the resort's hall, bright, with round tables and a wall of windows onto the garden. The seating plan hung from a structure of metal hoops and light bulbs. Then, outside, the cutting of the cake under the lights and the first dance, with Raffaele by now in shirtsleeves.
Getting married at San Pietro Sopra le Acque: what to know
If you are considering this venue, here is what I learned working there. For dates, capacity and quotes, the venue always has the final word.
Where it is
San Pietro Sopra le Acque is in Massa Martana, in the province of Perugia, at the foot of the Monti Martani. It is in the centre of Umbria, between Todi and Spoleto: easy to reach from the E45 road, and Perugia is the nearest airport for guests travelling from far away.
The spaces
It is a resort and spa created from an old stone complex, in the middle of a park with centuries-old trees. There is the cypress avenue, the ceremony clearing, the gardens, the tunnel of trees, an indoor hall for dinner and the bedrooms. Ceremony, aperitivo, dinner and party all sit within the same perimeter.
Civil or symbolic ceremony
Micaela and Raffaele held their civil ceremony here, outdoors. For current availability and arrangements, and for a symbolic ceremony, ask the venue.
If it rains
The indoor hall is large and bright, so the plan B is not a fallback. Portraits are still possible too: under the trees you stay almost dry.
Staying at the resort
There are rooms for the couple and some of the guests. Sleeping on site means unhurried preparations and no transfer at the end of the night.
How I photograph a day here
- Getting ready. If you get ready at the resort, the rooms have soft window light. Curtains open and lamps off.
- Ceremony. The clearing among the cypresses is in shade for much of the afternoon: you can hold the ceremony early without having the sun in your faces.
- Portraits. Twenty minutes under the trees, to be scheduled straight after the toast.
- Dinner. Indoors I work with fast lenses and no direct flash, to keep the warm tone of the lights.
- Evening. Cake and first dance outdoors look best with the garden lights on and slow shutter speeds.
To fit these moments into your plan, see my guide to a stress-free wedding in Umbria.
The suppliers at this wedding
- Venue: San Pietro Sopra le Acque Resort & Spa, Massa Martana (Umbria)
- Photography: Manuel Diamanti
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
Can you get married at San Pietro Sopra le Acque?
Yes. The resort hosts weddings with an outdoor ceremony in the park and the reception in its indoor and outdoor spaces. Micaela and Raffaele had their civil ceremony among the cypresses and celebrated without leaving the property.
Where is San Pietro Sopra le Acque?
In Massa Martana, in the province of Perugia, at the foot of the Monti Martani, between Todi and Spoleto. It is in the heart of Umbria, near the E45 road.
Is it a good venue for a wedding surrounded by nature?
Very much so. A cypress avenue, a park, centuries-old trees and a tunnel of trees make it one of the best places in Umbria for an outdoor ceremony.
What happens if it rains?
The indoor hall takes dinner and dancing, and has large windows onto the garden. The plan B should still be looked at beforehand with the venue.
When is the best time to get married at San Pietro Sopra le Acque?
From May to October. In high summer the shade of the park helps a great deal; in September the late afternoon light is lower and warmer.
How much does a wedding at San Pietro Sopra le Acque cost?
Costs depend on the season, the number of guests and the services you choose: ask the venue for a quote. For the photography side, see my guide to wedding photographer costs in Italy.
In Massa Martana I have also photographed at Castello di Montignano, a few kilometres from here. Both places are in my guide to wedding venues in Umbria.
If you are looking for a wedding photographer in Umbria and are thinking of marrying here, look at the portfolio and the other wedding stories, or tell me about your wedding: I answer every message personally.
