Montestigliano, Tuscany.

The gorgeous bride and her Dad.

I arrived back in New Zealand last week after a fantastic trip which took me to the shores of the USA and Italy. The above photo will explain how this trip first came about - yes, my dear friends, Wes and Adriana were getting married and their wedding was to be at a small hillside 'borgo' called Montestigliano, Tuscany - which is located about 10 minutes from Siena. How could I turn this invitation down?
So there I was at the beginning of June enjoying this gorgeous place for a week and I just had to share my photos with you - I hope you don't mind. In fact, it might encourage you to go and visit yourself - go on, you know you'll love it.

After a two hour drive from Rome, we had arrived.

Olive trees everywhere - should be no surprise that Montestigliano produce their own olive oil. 

Up those stairs is Casa Ropoli Sopra - my accomodation for the week. This was one of 12 villas that was booked out for the wedding.

The porch had the best views over the valley.

This was the view from my bedroom - not too shabby, eh?

There are three pools located around Montestigliano - this was our 'local' one.

Casa Virginia 1 and 2 - serious games of bocce were played on the front lawn.

Casa Adriana on the lower level by the pool.

Lots of great walks around Montestigliano - including this one through the Cypress Avenue

The Oak Viale which takes you to another villa called Pipistrelli.

The night before the wedding - pizza night behind Villa Donati

Are you hooked yet? We stayed here for a week and it was a blissful time. While the location was fantastic for visiting Siena, Florence and other nearby towns, it was perfect for a wedding. The team at Montestigliano, Francesco (awesome manager who speaks Italian with a British accent) and co, out-did themselves and their warm hospitality made it a relaxed and enjoyable week. I will return! And should you go - let Francesco know that I sent you.

The wedding ceremony was set up by Casa Luisa. During the ceremony, rainbows came out and doves flew by. No, I'm not kidding, it really did.

The reception was held in the piazza. 

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

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Wedding Decorations



White origami cranes hanging in the trees at the ceremony site.





White tissue pompoms behind the bride and groom.



Coloured pompoms and cranes at the marquee for the reception.





The marquee in action.

You may remember when I posted the origami wedding invitation of my brother's and his fiancee in November last year? This wedding has been and gone - it was in February and in Christchurch (thankfully we got to enjoy the city at its best before its recent destruction). It was great wedding and a great weekend. One thing we worked on up here in Wellington was the wedding decorations. Origami was continued with hanging cranes and the bride was keen to carry on the paper theme with fluffy and romantic tissue pompoms.  They were made here in Wellington and kept flat for easy travelling. It was the day before the wedding that a working bee of family and friends gathered in the middle of the marquee bringing these tissue pompoms to life - white for the ceremony area (under a big tree in a gorgeous park) and bright celebratory colours for the marquee. It looked great.
Photographs 1-6 by Louise Hyatt and 7 by Lauren Wong. 

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I Like...

My brother and his fiancee are getting married in less than two weeks! We have been busy making various decorations - including origami cranes and folding loads of tissue paper to create hanging pom-poms to decorate the ceremony and reception areas. I'm looking forward to see it all installed and in action!
I like this dining set-up above - it is also for a wedding. It has a grand and vintage feel to it all. The random combination of the lights and lanterns looks great above the ordered tables.
Photograph via April and May.

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Wedding Invite



The little wedding invitation package.



The origami heart.



Turn over and open to see inside the heart the official wedding invite (I'm keeping this for my eyes only.)





RSVP postcard to return.



Postcard map - where to go on the day.

I received a sweet little package yesterday - a wedding invitation package. Inside was a small origami heart, which you open to read the invite details inside. Attach were postcard size maps, RSVP return card, wedding registry details and the next day party details. This has come from my brother and his fiancee so of course I am attending. In this day and age of technology, finding a sweet package like this in the letterbox is a pleasure, don't you agree?
Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

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