Some weddings start before the actual date, and this one definitely did. I was second shooting for my mate Olly Knight and we decided to make a thing out of it, flying into Italy together and checking into a little spot in Lucca. We spent three days doing what photographers do when they’re not shooting: exploring, eating, taking photos of everything we saw, and most of all, laughing way more than we should have.

Lucca‘s one of those places you immediately warm up to. Narrow streets, stone buildings, cafes spilling out onto the pavements. It’s just the kind of town that slows you down without your even realising it. One morning we hired one of those fun bikes and ended up racing strangers along the city walls. Utter madness. Great memories.

The first evening we arrived, we caught up with Orlagh and Niall for cocktails. Even I had one, and I don’t drink, but the whole Italian atmosphere was too good to stick to water. They were both excited about their destination wedding, and the whole evening felt like catching up with old mates rather than meeting clients.

On the day of the wedding, Olly and I teamed up with Umberto and Marco – two brilliant Italian videographers who brought loads of energy and zero stress. The four of us drove into the Tuscan hills to Casale de Pasquinelli, a beautiful villa complex surrounded by olive trees, terracotta rooftops and wide views across Lucca. It’s the kind of Italian venue that immediately makes you reach for your camera.

The whole morning felt calm: quiet corners, sunlight drifting across the stone paths, just a warm, relaxed start to a day everyone had been looking forward to.

Orlagh and Niall’s Wedding Photos

Photographing a Destination Wedding at Casale de Pasquinelli

As the day wore on and everyone relaxed into it, the wedding took on that easy, natural feel that Italian countryside weddings often seem to do. Casale de Pasquinelli is built for this kind of wedding photography. Soft light. Open landscapes. Rustic villas with rooms full of sunshine. You barely need to push anything. Moments just appear everywhere.

Orlagh spent the morning getting ready inside one of the Tuscan villas with the shutters open. The light poured in. People drifted in and out. Music played quietly. It felt personal and warm. The sort of atmosphere where documentary photography thrives because nothing feels forced.

A short walk away, Niall and the lads were sorting ties, ironing shirts and trying to appear calm. Classic pre-wedding energy, a little nerves, a lot of excitement, even more banter.

The ceremony space at Casale de Pasquinelli overlooks the hills of Lucca. You stand there and see the whole valley stretched out behind them. When Orlagh walked down the aisle everything softened. It was emotional in a simple, natural way. No big production. Just two people surrounded by the people they love, with Tuscany behind them.

Dinner was served out on the terrace. Long tables. Pasta that tasted better than it had any right to. Local wine being poured without hesitation. Guests spread out across the terrace talking, laughing, soaking up the view. For any photographer, this whole part of the day was a dream. So many little moments. So much atmosphere. Nothing staged.

The evening settled into something cosy. A bit of dancing. People wandering between the courtyard and the terrace. Small groups chatting. Drinks in hand. It wasn’t a wild, high-energy dancefloor; it didn’t need to be. It matched the feeling of the whole day: warm, steady, everyone enjoying the last light fading over the hills. It was one of those weddings where the beauty was in the atmosphere more than the noise, the quiet moments, the conversations, the light. All the things you remember when you’re looking back at a gallery later.

Casale de Pasquinelli – A Gorgeous Venue in the Heart of Tuscany

Casale de Pasquinelli really is a gem in the Tuscan countryside. Olive groves, stone villas, terraces with valley views – the kind of place that feels personal and peaceful from the second you arrive. It’s a dream setting for a destination wedding in Italy and even better for natural wedding photography.

There’s that classic Tuscan feel to the villas. Terracotta-walled, shuttered, and full of warm light in every room. Outside, the views stretch out over Lucca and the hills. The spaces for the ceremony manage to feel cinematic without trying. Golden hour here is something else. This part of Italy just glows.

It’s the perfect venue for couples who want a relaxed destination wedding where everything feels easy and real.

Being part of Orlagh and Niall’s Casale de Pasquinelli wedding was such a brilliant experience. From exploring Lucca with Olly to working alongside Umberto and Marco to watching the day unfold in the Tuscan hills, everything felt special from start to finish.

Planning a wedding in Italy yourself and looking for relaxed, natural photography that focuses on real moments? I’d love to chat.

Your day deserves to be remembered exactly how it felt.