Modern Seaside Tuscan Wedding Inspiration by Mike Larson at Tenuta di San Giusto
Last spring we held our 2nd annual Mike Larson Wedding Photography Workshop that we designed and styled at my dear friend Francesco’s villa in Chianti, Tuscany dating back to 01AD. This beautiful villa served as the perfect backdrop for a modern yet beachy interpretation of what our ideal Tuscan Wedding would look like by marrying our greatest passions in Italy, both the Tuscan hillsides and the Tuscan coast.
With inspirations of an Italian love story in mind, we created the vision of Terra e Mare, or Land and Sea for a new twist on a Tuscan Wedding for the Mike Larson Tuscany workshop. The story is this… a seaside beach beauty in love with a dapper polo player wed amidst the vineyards in Tuscany, bringing together the land and sea for a juxtaposition of styles.
The invitation to this intimate Tuscan wedding featured modern typography on a textured cardstock that was carefully nestled inside of a dove gray silk invitation box with a seashell adornment on top.
This vintage green gem was tucked away in Francesco’s garage and was actually given to him by his father as a teen. It was truly a piece of art and was so perfect for our shoot!
Dressed for a casual yet romantic ceremony, our bride was styled in an ethereal ruffled skirt and vest by BHLDN. Our ‘sposabella’ cradled an eclectic bouquet featuring lush white peonies, lisianthus and gords with sea urchin shells nestled inside of them. Clad in a nautical inspired casual yet preppy attire, our groom’s garb boasted a royal blue blazer. After changing into casual glam evening look our ‘bella’ bride boasted a 40’s inspired beaded gown by BHLDN and dangled rhinestone and fabric earrings to make her eyes sparkle as she gazed upon her.
Set against the backdrop of the rolling vineyards of Chianti in a Romanesque villa, Tenuta di San Giusto was the locale for this magical Tuscan wedding shoot designed with modern, classical, seaside and rustic elements. For an updated twist we paired white mid-century modern Arne Jacobsen chairs with a rustic wine tasting room wood table and layered on vintage battenburg lace napkins, sterling silver chargers and bone inlaid flatware. To combine the romantic and modern inspirations onto the tablescape we painted leaves and greenery an opaque white and mixed them into the arrangements of white roses, lilies and lisianthus along side sea shells and neo-baroque candleabras.
Stay tuned for future updates on the next European workshop coming soon! This Tuscan wedding inspiration workshop shoot was featured on Style Me Pretty seen here!
Photography by Mike Larson
Art Direction, Design, Styling, Flowers & Stationery: Vanessa Van Wieren of Alchemy Fine Events
The Luxury Villa: Tenuta di San Giusto
Fashion Styling: Stefania Warren
Bridal Fashion & Accessories: BHLDN
Groom Fashion: Zara Men
Bride Model: Carolina Rosini
