An adventurous love story, to say the least, that of Chiara and Marco, two Neapolitan kids who moved to Paris: a meeting of fate, the moment when it seemed that everything was about to end, finding themselves again under the same roof in Paris, albeit with different lives and jobs.
However, in addition to being held in France, they wanted to celebrate the ceremony at home, with their families and close friends. And the location was truly exceptional: Villa Samuel is a beautiful reception venue located in Pontelatone, in the province of Caserta, a place famous for its Casavecchia wine and its fresh country air.
The request
I followed my clients for a year, until the wedding. We met virtually on Google Meet, due to the distance, but immediately a strong sympathy was born.
The wedding planned by Chiara and Marco responded to one word: simplicity.
“Please remember Federico, we don’t like photo shoots. We want to spend as much time as possible with the guests and as few posed photos as possible”. Wish granted.
Then, furtively, the groom said to me: “there will be a surprise for the bride. Be ready at the end of the ceremony”.
The team I selected for the event was composed of Valerio DeMarco as second shot and Fabio Iengo as videomaker.
Therefore, the event had these demands:
- Two photographers
- Video maker with two cameras
- Print Polaroids to give to guests
- Simple photo album, A4 version
- The entire event takes place in one place
The preparation
The newlyweds decided to get ready inside the venue, so my team and I went straight to Villa Samuel, where we were able to carry out the two preparations, divided into teams.
The bride was accompanied by her family and best friend, while the groom was accompanied by his best friend. The interior rooms, characterized by low light and a rustic atmosphere, allowed us to take photos with plays of light next to the windows.
The ceremony
Here, a dream moment. The small chapel of the venue and the small garden allowed for a private but intense moment: there were about 120 guests, who welcomed first the groom and then the bride in the sweetest and most classic of moments.
The wedding was celebrated by the couple's closest friends who, in a very profound moment, decided to dedicate letters recalling the couple's funniest and most unusual days.
Finally, the “ring warming”: the newlyweds decided to pass the rings through the hands of all the guests, with the request to express a wish for them. And finally, at the end of this beautiful and profound moment, the ring was given to the kids.
Finally, a promise of love sung by the groom melted everyone into an embrace, while the sun set behind them.
The photo set
The request was explicit and we fulfilled it: as few photos as possible. We held the young couple for a few minutes after the ceremony, just enough to take the video's cover shots. My photographic approach was different: I had already identified a small fountain and advised the young people to sit down and chat a bit. It was their most intimate moment, when the passion and emotion of the ceremony had already reached its peak. I positioned myself a little further away and took care of taking a photo that well tells their complicity.
The party
Few formalities, lots of fun: the couple's choice to proceed with a large buffet, and not with the classic wedding dinner, greatly favored the standing parts, where there was dancing.
Here too we established a technique together: one photographer printed the Polaroids, while the other followed the moments of the party. Then we delivered them live to the guests, who were ecstatic.
The colors
Photography is also and above all post-production. The colors of the wedding, which changed from sunset yellow to green and wood of the atmosphere, led me to develop a color scheme that favors warm colors and medium tones, respecting the intimate and lively atmosphere created by Chiara and Marco.
