How to Plan a Tuscany Destination Wedding: The Complete 2026 Guide
A step by step guide created for US and UK couples by local wedding experts in Tuscany. Discover timelines, venue insights, flowers and styling ideas, photography recommendations, and everything you need for a seamless Italy celebration.
Introduction
Planning a destination wedding in Tuscany is a dream for many couples. Golden hills, historic villas, long tables under the stars, warm hospitality, and unforgettable food come together in a way that feels effortless and deeply romantic. But behind every smooth and beautiful celebration is careful planning guided by people who truly understand this region.
We live and work in Tuscany year round and have helped plan, design, and photograph more than 500 weddings across the region. This guide brings together everything we have learned over the past 15 years so you can understand how to plan your Tuscany destination wedding confidently and without stress.
In this guide, we share the planning steps, local knowledge, and timelines that help international couples create a smooth and beautiful Tuscany wedding experience.
1. Start With a Clear Vision
A successful Tuscany wedding begins with defining the experience you want. Every couple is different, and this first step shapes the entire planning journey.
Clarify your celebration style
Do you imagine:
An intimate celebration with 20 to 40 guests
A larger weekend with 80 to 120 guests
A relaxed countryside atmosphere
An elegant historic villa with formal touches
A multi day celebration with welcome dinner and pool party
Your vision influences venue selection, budget, styling, guest logistics, and the overall timeline.
Think in terms of atmosphere
Tuscany offers many moods. Some couples gravitate towards:
Soft rolling Chianti hills
Olive groves and rustic farmhouses
Renaissance villas near Florence
Dramatic landscapes in Val d’Orcia
Vineyards with views of medieval towns
Choose an atmosphere that feels right to you, not what is trending online.
2. Choose the Right Tuscany Wedding Venue
The venue sets the tone for everything that follows. Tuscany has hundreds of villas, estates, and castles, but only a small percentage truly work well for destination weddings.
Here is how to choose wisely.
Decide between main venue types
Villas
Elegant, refined, often with beautiful indoor halls. Perfect for medium to large weddings.
Wine estates
Authentic countryside feel, amazing views, excellent food and wine.
Castles
Dramatic architecture, stone courtyards, unique backdrops.
Borgos and hamlets
Small villages converted into accommodations. Ideal for multi day celebrations.
Photography insight: Choose a venue with soft evening light
The most flattering light in Tuscany arrives late in the day and moves quickly behind hills. Consider:
open spaces for portraits
shaded areas for midday photos
sunset direction
backup indoor or covered locations
These details make a noticeable difference in how your wedding looks and feels.
Consider guest experience
For international guests, choose a venue with:
comfortable rooms
air conditioning in summer
easy transfers from Florence or Pisa
good rain plan
nearby restaurants or towns
Your guests will appreciate the comfort after a long trip.
3. Understand Tuscany Seasonality
Every season in Tuscany has its own rhythm, light, and character. Understanding these differences helps you plan realistically and choose the best month for your celebration.
Mini Data Table: Tuscany Weather Overview
April
Temperature: Mild
Rain: Low to medium
Photography light: Clear, bright, fresh greens
May
Temperature: Warm
Rain: Low
Photography light: Soft light, lush landscapes
June
Temperature: Warm to hot
Rain: Low
Photography light: Long golden evenings
July
Temperature: Hot
Rain: Very low
Photography light: Strong midday sun, beautiful late sunsets
August
Temperature: Very hot
Rain: Very low
Photography light: Golden hazy evenings, warm tones
September
Temperature: Warm
Rain: Low
Photography light: Stable light, warm tones
October
Temperature: Mild
Rain: Medium
Photography light: Soft light, rich colors
Proprietary insight: In the past three years, April has become increasingly popular due to mild temperatures and lower demand, while October often delivers some of the most beautiful light of the entire year.
4. Create a Realistic 12 Month Timeline
A clear planning timeline removes stress and helps international couples stay organised.
12 to 10 months before
Choose your venue
Confirm your wedding date
Hire your wedding planner
Reserve photographer and florist
Decide on guest count range
9 to 7 months before
Secure catering
Start styling and design mood boards
Confirm ceremony type
Begin accommodation planning for guests
6 to 4 months before
Finalise decor ideas
Plan your menu tasting trip
Send invitations
Create your wedding weekend schedule
3 to 1 month before
Review final logistics
Share guest travel info
Lock in transportation
Confirm timeline with photography and styling team
1 week before
Relax, enjoy Italy
Meet your planner on site
Walk through the spaces
Enjoy the welcome dinner
5. Flowers and Styling That Match the Landscape
Tuscany has a natural elegance that pairs beautifully with thoughtful floral and styling choices.
Design with mood and texture in mind
In 2026, wedding florals and styling are all about mood, texture, and personality. Instead of focusing on fixed color trends, couples are choosing designs that reflect the feeling they want to create. Pantone’s 2026 shade Cloud Dancer is a perfect example, offering a timeless soft white that blends beautifully into the Tuscan landscape.
Let Tuscany guide the atmosphere
Thoughtful floral arrangements and simple, well chosen details can highlight the natural beauty of the venue without feeling heavy or overdone. This approach keeps the atmosphere relaxed, elegant, and perfectly in tune with the Tuscan countryside.
Be mindful of summer heat
In the warmer months, it helps to plan floral placements with the climate in mind. Shaded ceremony spots, cooler reception areas, or well-timed setups keep everything looking fresh throughout the day.
6. Photography as Part of the Experience
Photography plays an important role in destination weddings, especially in Tuscany where light changes quickly and landscapes are central to the atmosphere.
Golden hour is your best friend
The last hour before sunset delivers the softest, most romantic light in Tuscany. Build your timeline around it when possible.
Plan portraits with space to breathe
Tuscany weddings are joyful and emotional. Leave short windows of time for relaxed portraits without rushing the day.
Choose a photographer who knows the region
Each venue behaves differently depending on season, temperatures, sunset direction, and architectural layout. Local experience adds calmness and efficiency to your day.
A soft reminder: Our photography approach is natural, warm, and story driven, blending seamlessly with planning and styling so the day flows with ease.
7. Build a Multi Day Wedding Weekend
Many couples choose a three day celebration so they can enjoy time with guests.
Day 1: Welcome dinner
A relaxed Tuscan dinner is the perfect way for everyone to settle in. Most couples keep this at the venue with an outdoor dinner, a pizza or pasta party, or even a friendly BBQ. It usually feels informal and joyful.
Day 2: Wedding day
The heart of the celebration. Ceremony, aperitivo, dinner, golden hour portraits, music, and dancing.
Day 3: Pool party or farewell brunch
A light and joyful way to close the weekend.
8. Logistics for Guests Coming From Abroad
Good logistics create a calm and enjoyable experience.
Travel
Most guests fly into Florence, Pisa, or Rome. Offer a simple travel guideline on your invitations or wedding website.
Transportation
Consider buses or vans for groups, especially for venues in the countryside. Many guests also choose to rent a car, especially if they plan to explore Tuscany or other parts of Italy after the wedding.
Accommodation
Many venues have on site rooms. If not, nearby farmhouses or boutique hotels work well.
Food and allergens
Italian caterers are experienced with dietary restrictions and can accommodate all needs when told in advance.
9. A Real Wedding Example: 80 Guests in Tuscany
A couple from New York planned a three day celebration at a wine estate in Chianti. Their priorities were relaxed elegance, great food, natural photography, and an intimate feeling even with 80 guests.
Key choices that made everything smooth:
welcome dinner with simple local dishes
A ceremony on the lawn with sweeping views of the vineyards and Tuscan hills
long dinner table under string lights
golden hour portraits behind the vineyards
a gentle, music filled party under the stars
This format is ideal for couples wanting a timeless, warm, authentic Tuscan celebration.
If you’re at the beginning of your planning journey, here are a few helpful next steps.
If you’d like support with logistics or coordination, our wedding planning in Tuscany service helps guide couples through each stage of the process.
For inspiration, you can explore our flowers and styling page and our Tuscany wedding photography approach. And of course, if you’d like to check your date or ask anything at all, feel free to get in touch.
We are always happy to help couples create something personal, beautiful, and effortless here in Tuscany.
This guide explains how to plan a destination wedding in Tuscany through a clear step by step structure. It includes venue selection insights, seasonal differences, a 12 month planning timeline, floral and styling recommendations, photography considerations, logistics advice, and a real wedding example. It is written for US and UK couples planning a wedding in Italy and highlights the local expertise of FunkyBird Weddings.