La Badia Di Orvieto, Italy Wedding
Kaitlyn + Mitch
Every so often in my career, I get a “pinch me, is this really happening?!” type moment. And sometimes, those moments come over and over again— with the same set of clients! Kaitlyn and Mitch’s destination wedding in Italy was just this for me, an absolute wedding of a lifetime. From their very first inquiry email, I felt such a rush of excitement. Though I am primarily an Ottawa wedding photographer, I am so fortunate to shoot destination weddings across the globe fairly often. It is such an honor to be considered for the job, every single time! And this was no exception… the fact that these complete strangers wanted to bring ME to Italy?! Amazing.
Everything about our trip to Italy and their La Badia Di Orvieto Italy Wedding was an absolute dream. Though I am excited to share details about the wedding, I have to note that one of the best parts of this whole experience is the friendship that I developed with Kaitlyn and Mitch’s family! They have a sweet son who is only a month older than Bentley! We spent months and months planning the trip together and did a few mini sessions to get their son, Oliver, comfortable in front of the camera. So between all of that and our trip, we’ve grown so close. They are such a special family to Connor and I, and Bentley and Oliver recently started dance classes together, so we get to see each other frequently! Who knew that my career as an Ottawa wedding photographer would result in so many life-long friends?!
Connor and I spent a few days in Rome before the wedding, where we connected with Kaitlyn and Mitch and captured their gorgeous Rome engagement session the day before the wedding! After, we took the train to Orvieto and spent the wedding night in the castle with everyone before finishing off our trip in Positano/Amalfi!
Katilyn and Mitch’s La Badia Di Orvieto wedding was such an intimate affair; their entire wedding consisted of solely their wedding party. The couple had dreamed of running away and having a small ceremony, and their venue tugged at their heartstrings from the get-go. They planned a perfectly Italian affair, showing off both the romance of the country and Kaitlyn’s love for Olive leaves! Kaitlyn loves Olive leaves so much that they could be found all throughout her wedding, as well as engraved inside Mitch’s ring… and of course, with the name of their sweet boy, Oliver!
We started the wedding day off like any other, photographing the beautiful venue in the sunshine. Bridal prep photos were made especially fun because Kaitlyn is the detail queen and had everything we needed for detail shots! Since none of their parents were present at the wedding, the couple read sentimental letters from their parents while getting ready. One of my favorite photographs of the entire day is of Kaitlyn FaceTiming her mom to show off her wedding dress.
The ceremony location was incredible and epitomized Italian charm! However, it started absolutely pouring right before the ceremony was set to start. I was determined to make it work for them, so we just went with the flow! Fortunately, the arch kept the couple from getting too wet. The ceremony was filled with emotional moments— from Kaitlyn’s brother walking her down the aisle to Oliver’s face lighting up when he saw his daddy and again when his mom walked down the aisle. One of the most special aspects of the ceremony occurred when they did vows for Oliver and gave him a ring! And then they let him sign the marriage certificate in crayon. The wedding party tossed olive leaves to celebrate a kiss at the end of the ceremony!
Because the ceremony ended up starting an hour late, it was very dark outside for all of the formal photos. Though this isn’t what I am used to, we made the best of it and ended up with so many beautiful photographs! The outdoor lights on the building actually ended up adding a little bit of a romantic glow. I would have loved to explore the castle grounds more and photograph every inch of it, but it was just far too dark and rainy… next time!
Kaitlyn and Mitch planned an elegant, luxury family dinner for the reception! It was very quaint and so full of tears! The speeches were so emotional that I had a hard time keeping it together, but fortunately, I could hide my tears behind my camera. It eventually stopped pouring, so we all snuck outside for a sparkler-lit first dance and champagne pop under the arch. I never thought I’d check off “photograph a first dance under a giant arch in Italy while it sprinkles rain” from my bucket list, but I am sure glad I did!
Of course, it goes without saying, but the aesthetics of the day were amazing. Kaitlyn looked stunning in her gown from With Love Bridal! It was the perfect fit for an Italian destination wedding, especially with those lace sleeves! Little Oliver was adorable with his suit and bowtie, and their nieces were the cutest flower girls. I loved the floral hoops that they carried! We were also joined throughout the day by a cat guest who kept popping up! He was on my Instagram stories from the beginning of the day, and he showed up again and again during the different events. See how many times you can spot him in photos!
I truly cannot thank Kaitlyn, Mitch, and Oliver enough for making this wedding-of-a-lifetime and trip happen for me! Congratulations, you three!
Vendors
Brides Dress Store + Designer: With Love Bridal
Bridesmaid Dress Store + Designer: MOH: Birdy Grey. Bridesmaids: H&M
Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Banana Republic
Florist: Fatima Palomares
Wedding Invitation Suite: Handmade!
Videographer: Ericka from The Wedding Tale
Officiant Name/Company: Carina from Tuscan Wedding Officiant
