Destination Wedding Photography in Umbria – A Beautiful Family-Home Celebration
Relaxed, natural destination wedding photography in Umbria – capturing a warm, intimate celebration at a family home near Orvieto.
A Beautiful Family-Home Wedding in the Hills of Umbria
There’s something uniquely special about weddings held at a family home, especially in a place as captivating as Umbria. This celebration took place just outside Orvieto, among olive trees, warm terracotta walls and views that stretch endlessly across the valley. As an English photographer who regularly works across Italy, these are the days I love most — relaxed, personal, and full of genuine emotion. Nothing staged, nothing rushed, just a beautifully lived-in atmosphere that naturally shapes the photographs.
The sense of calm at this wedding was unforgettable. Guests moved between the house, the terrace and the gardens without ceremony or structure — just naturally flowing through the day. There’s something about a family home in Italy that instantly makes everyone feel welcome, and that atmosphere shaped the entire story from the very first moment I arrived.
The morning began inside the old stone house, where shuttered windows let in soft, directional light. These spaces are a dream to photograph — quiet corners, warm textures, and the kind of honest moments you only get when people feel completely at ease. Outside, the garden was already alive with laughter and the smell of warm air rising off the tiles.
I had already photographed their ceremony, back in London, a few days earlier, so this was relaxed party and celebration. It was simple. The setting added to that sense of closeness: nothing formal, nothing corporate, just family, friends and the countryside.
Afterwards, drinks flowed in the garden as guests found shade beneath the trees or gathered in the courtyard. These unposed, in-between interactions — the hugs, the laughs, the small connections — are at the heart of how I photograph weddings. A family home gives space for these moments to breathe, and this day was full of them.
As the light softened, we took a gentle walk through the olive grove for a few portraits. No posing, just movement and conversation. In Umbria, the evening sunlight has a depth and softness that wraps around everything, and the resulting images always feel warm, calm and timeless.
Dinner was held outdoors as lanterns were lit around the courtyard. The speeches were some of the most heartfelt I’ve documented — intimate and emotional, the kind that stay with you. As night fell, music filled the space and the courtyard became a little pocket of joy under the Italian sky.
Explore More Destination Weddings
- Casa Cornacchi – Tuscany Destination Wedding{target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
- Château Rhianfa – Wales Destination Wedding{target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
If you’re planning a destination wedding in Umbria or anywhere in Italy, and you’d like relaxed, natural photography that captures the atmosphere and real moments of your day, I’d love to hear from you. I regularly fly out to Italy (and other parts of Europe) from Gatwick, and it’s often far more affordable than couples expect to have me photograph their day abroad.
You can explore more of my work on the featured weddings page or get in touch through my contact page to check availability and chat about your plans.
Natural, storytelling wedding photography by Paul Read – relaxed, romantic, and full of genuine emotion.