Audrey and James were married at Tenuta del Gallo, in Amelia, Umbria, on 19 May 2025. Fourteen guests in all. Both of Korean heritage and with international lives, they had visited several villas in Tuscany before choosing this estate: they were looking for somewhere elegant but private, where a wedding this small would not feel lost.
It was an elopement in the full sense: a ceremony in the garden in front of a floral arch, a Korean blessing from the family, portraits in the cypress avenue and a single long table laid in the Italian garden.
Getting ready
James dressed in the stone courtyard, with his father straightening his cuffs. Audrey's dress, meanwhile, was hanging under an archway among the plants, with the garden behind it: the first photograph I took that morning.
Audrey got ready in a room with pink and gold walls, in a clean off-the-shoulder gown with a bouquet in shades of pale blue, peach and white. Soft colours, chosen with care, which returned unchanged in the ceremony arch and on the table.
The first look on the staircase
Before the ceremony they wanted to see each other alone. A first look is something I often suggest to couples marrying with few guests: it takes away tension, gives you a private moment, and lets you do part of the portraits calmly, before the day begins.
We did it on the villa's great stone staircase. James waited at the bottom, with his back turned. Audrey came down, and he turned round. I was far away, with a long lens, so as not to step into that moment.
The ceremony in the garden
The ceremony took place on the garden lawn, with chairs for the fourteen guests and an arch of blue and white flowers against the green of the hills.
James's mother arrived in a hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, and walked her son across the lawn. Audrey came in on her father's arm, passing through the conservatory. James read his vows into the microphone, his voice breaking with emotion; Audrey read hers from a notebook, smiling. Then the Korean blessing led by the family, and later the tea ceremony in the garden pavilion.
With so few people, every reaction counts. During the vows I photograph the couple but keep an eye on the parents: they are, almost always, the photograph that lasts.
Portraits in the cypress avenue
Tenuta del Gallo has a long, regular cypress avenue on a gentle slope, with the countryside of Amelia opening out on either side. We went there when the low sun was drawing stripes of shadow across the grass.
They walked, they danced, they held each other in the middle of the avenue. At a wedding with fourteen guests there is time for all of this, and it is one of the reasons small weddings produce such free Italian wedding photos.
Dinner in the Italian garden
A single long table, laid among the hedges and stone urns of the Italian garden, with the villa in the background. The menu brought the two cultures together: Korean starters reinterpreted, dishes with Umbrian ingredients and Korean techniques, local wines.
For the cutting of the cake Audrey changed, wearing a black jacket in place of the gown. The cake was small, decorated with fresh fruit, in proportion to the party.
Getting married at Tenuta del Gallo: what to know
For dates, capacity and quotes, the venue always has the final word. This is what I learned working there.
Where it is
The estate is in the countryside around Amelia, in the province of Terni, in southern Umbria. From Rome it is a little over an hour by car, which makes it convenient for anyone landing at Fiumicino. The nearest A1 motorway exit is Orte.
Who it suits
It is a venue designed for intimate celebrations, roughly between ten and fifty guests. A stone villa, an Italian garden, a cypress avenue, a vineyard: the spaces are well kept and scaled for a small group, so even with fourteen people you never have the feeling of an empty place.
Ceremony and rituals from other cultures
Audrey and James held their ceremony in the garden and added the Korean blessing and the tea ceremony to the programme. Couples coming from abroad often choose a symbolic ceremony, signing the paperwork in their own country. I explain this in my guide to planning a destination wedding in Italy.
The best season
May was perfect: the garden in bloom, the grass still green, mild temperatures. June and September work well too. In high summer it is better to move the ceremony to the late afternoon.
How I photograph an elopement here
- Getting ready. The courtyard and stone archways give clean open shade: excellent even in mid-morning.
- First look. On the staircase, with me at a distance. Ten minutes that change the mood of the day.
- Ceremony. On the lawn I move along the sides, and I follow the parents as much as the couple.
- Portraits. The cypress avenue in the late afternoon, in low light.
- Dinner. The long table is photographed from the top of the garden steps, before the guests sit down.
I have written a separate guide on small weddings: micro and intimate weddings in Italy.
The suppliers at this wedding
- Venue: Tenuta del Gallo, Amelia (Umbria)
- Photography: Manuel Diamanti
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
Can you get married at Tenuta del Gallo in Amelia?
Yes. The estate hosts weddings and garden ceremonies, and is particularly suited to intimate celebrations. Audrey and James were married here with fourteen guests.
Where is Tenuta del Gallo?
In the countryside around Amelia, in the province of Terni, Umbria. From Rome it is a little over an hour by car.
How many guests does Tenuta del Gallo host?
It is designed for small weddings, roughly from ten to fifty guests. For current numbers, ask the venue.
Can you elope in Umbria?
Yes, and Umbria is one of the best regions for it: it is private, well connected to Rome and less crowded than the best-known spots in Tuscany. All you need is a well-kept venue and a light schedule, and an Italy elopement photographer who knows the area.
Can you include rituals from another culture in a wedding in Italy?
Yes. Audrey and James combined a Korean blessing and a tea ceremony with a garden ceremony. You need a private venue and suppliers who are attentive to both traditions.
When is the best time to get married at Tenuta del Gallo?
May, June and September. The garden is at its best in late spring, which is when Audrey and James chose to marry.
I live in Terni, half an hour from Amelia, and I work as a destination wedding photographer in Italy for couples arriving from abroad. Tenuta del Gallo is also in my guide to wedding venues in Umbria.
Dreaming of a small wedding in Umbria? Look at the portfolio and the other wedding stories, or write to me: I answer every message personally.
