La Cutura Botanical Garden, Lecce, Puglia, IT Elopement Photo Story Award

Puglia IT elopement Image from The secret garden as they walk with their families and closest friends to their wedding

The newlyweds arrived to the botanical garden, with a small group of people, and decided to take the long paths from the parking lot to the ceremony's location, making the small wedding even more special

The group of people, including the newlyweds, arrived at the location with a van. They decided to take the long paths that lead from the parking lot to the area designated for the ceremony, the Italian gardens. I had been waiting for them inside the structure for a long time and when I saw them popping up at the end of the avenue I was struck by this scene. They looked like the protagonists of an epic film that traveled the stretch of road that would lead them to the place of their enterprise.

Elisabeth and Stefano love nature and come from far away. She from Australia and he from Brazil, fell in love with Italy and their dream was to visit it.

They decided to invite their families and closest friends to their wedding in Puglia. In all, they were ten people.

In May, with a van, they reached Lecce and then La Cutura, the location chosen for their wedding ceremony. La Cutura is a botanical garden known above all for its woods and large greenhouses with succulents from all over the world. The structure is surrounded by greenery and it is a pleasure to walk the paths to discover enchanting views.

Puglia elopement image from The Italian Garden of the bride and groom using a ladder staircase

Lecce, Puglia Elopement Image | The bride and groom are on the site of the civil ceremony

The spouses are on the site of the civil ceremony. The ceremony was chaired by the mayor of the nearby town of Giuggianello and by the celebrant who translated from Italian into English and Portuguese. There was no way to get past the hedges that surrounded the ceremony site, so the bride and groom asked for a staircase and in a few minutes the workers of the structure created a bridge with two stairs and a table. Very ingenious and nice solution to tell. Also in this image, I preferred a central perspective to connect to the previous one in which the characters were introduced.

Lecce Elopement detail photo during the spouse vow exchange

Puglia Elopement Detail Photo | to celebrate the wedding, the eight guests were arranged

All around the place chosen to celebrate the wedding, the eight guests were arranged. We were outdoors, on a beautiful sunny day and some of them put themselves in a place where there was shade. In the photo we see a detail of the two mothers of the spouses, as well as wedding witnesses. The moment was about to begin during which the spouses exchange promises and the mothers were moved. At one point the two women looked at each other with tears in their eyes and Elisabeth's mother tightly and warmly squeezed the wrist of Stefano's mother who could not stop crying.

Lecce Wedding ceremony image of the bride and groom with written promises on the phones

Lecce Elopement Picture | the bride and groom had written their promises on the phone and decided to whisper them

The spouses had written their promises on the phone and decided to whisper them without the help of the microphone. Very intimate and exciting things were said. In the background, Stefano's dad and the other guests are watching the scene carefully.

Puglia Italy Garden Wedding photo of a ceremony ending passionate kiss

Puglia Italy Elopement Ceremony Image from The Italian Garden | The wedding ceremony ended with a passionate kiss

The wedding ceremony ended with a passionate kiss and a very strong hug between the two new spouses.

Italy Garden Wedding Ceremony image from The holm oak forest as dad uncorked a bottle of prosecco

Italy Elopement Garden Ceremony Photography at The holm oak forest | the groom's dad uncorked a bottle of prosecco.

The brief refreshment took place inside the holm oak forest. Stefano's dad made a speech in Portuguese, later translated by his son, and uncorked a bottle of prosecco.

Puglia Wedding image of the necklace gift moment that belonged to mother

The enchanted farm, Lecce, Puglia, Italy Elopement Photographer | After a short walk through the gardens, we arrived at the enchanted farm

After a short walk through the gardens, we arrived at the enchanted farm, another beautiful location. Here Stefano's mother gave the necklace that belonged to her mother to his son's wife. It was a very moving moment because Elisabeth did not expect such an important gift.

Puglia, IT Elopement image of a public speech from mom followed by a big hug

The enchanted farm of Italy Elopement Photo | A very moving and particular speech by mom

Elisabeth hugs Stefano's mom after a public speech. A very moving and particular moment.

IT elopement Couple image made from the outside the greenhouse of Latin American

Greenhouse of Latin American, Italy Elopement Image | The spouses chose this place for a relaxing walk after the ceremony

Here we are in the greenhouse of Latin American succulents. The spouses chose this place for a relaxing walk after the ceremony. All the other guests had moved and the couple was left alone. I also wanted to leave their intimacy but I made some shots from the outside.