Mara
&
Leon
Some weddings stay with you because of a single moment.
Others because of the place.
Mara & Leon's is one of those weekends we still find ourselves talking about.
Their wedding took us to Tuscany, but not just anywhere in Tuscany. Everything felt carefully chosen, from the little streets of Pienza to the agriturismo where they got ready, and finally Podere Il Casale, a place where everything comes from the land around it.
Local food, local wine, local ingredients... and everything just tastes delicious.
One of the guests said something that stayed with us all weekend: "Mara always finds the most incredible places."
It couldn't have described the wedding any better. The funny part is that, until the night before, the forecast looked terrible. Rain all day. We had already started thinking about Plan B... and then we woke up to one of those perfect Tuscan days you secretly hope for but never expect.
Blue skies, warm light, and exactly the weather everyone had been wishing for. One of the best decisions they made was having their first look and a couple session the day before at the beautiful agriturismo where they were staying. It meant they could spend the entire wedding day where they really wanted to be: with their family and friends.
We actually recommend this whenever possible. It gives couples so much more time to celebrate instead of constantly watching the clock. The same idea carried through the whole day. Family portraits were done before the ceremony, and instead of spending cocktail hour calling out names for endless group photos, we only took one - with everyone together. After saying "I do", there was nothing left to organise. Just hugs, laughter and celebrating.
Of course, weddings always have their own little surprises. During the couple session, a peacock casually wandered into the scene as if it had been hired for the photoshoot. Later, during the big group photo, a couple of cats decided they also deserved to be in the wedding album. Tuscany doing Tuscany things.
Dinner was unforgettable. Incredible local food, endless conversations, emotional speeches and one of the best pasta dishes we've ever had. Honestly, ever since that wedding, every plate of pasta we eat gets compared to theirs... and always loses.
The whole evening simply flowed from one beautiful moment to the next, ending with everyone exactly where they wanted to be: together.
And that's probably what we remember most. Mara and Leon are elegant without ever feeling formal. They're incredibly fun, incredibly easy to be around, and by the end of the weekend it genuinely felt like we'd known them for years.
Those are our favourite weddings. The ones where you arrive as photographers... and leave feeling like you've just spent a weekend with old friends.