A Meaningful Tuscany Wedding at Agriturismo La Mandriola in Lajatico: Federica & Andrea
Federica & Andrea’s Wedding at a glance
Location: Agriturismo La Mandriola, Lajatico, Tuscany
Wedding Style: Intimate, thoughtful, values-driven farmhouse wedding
Couple Background: Living in Northern Italy, with roots in Florence
Guests: Mainly arriving from Florence
Ceremony: Symbolic ceremony under the trees near the pool
Reception: Long table dinner indoors due to weather (Plan B)
Key Highlights:
Handmade paper bouquet and stationery
Reimagined ceremony space with hanging florals
Meaningful wedding favours (Palestinian seeds)
No traditional wedding cake
Dancing and karaoke in the limonaia
This real wedding shows how intentional planning, flexibility, and strong values can create a deeply meaningful Tuscany wedding experience.
Honouring Tuscany While Staying Close to Home
Although Federica and Andrea live in the north of Italy, Tuscany has always been an important part of their story. Andrea is originally from Florence, and many of their guests were travelling from there. From the beginning, the couple asked for a venue that would honour Tuscany while remaining easy to reach for family and friends.
The choice naturally led us to Agriturismo La Mandriola, a farmhouse wedding venue in Lajatico, surrounded by rolling hills and Tuscan countryside, yet close enough to Florence to feel practical.
This balance between authentic Tuscan atmosphere and guest comfort shaped the entire wedding experience.
A Wedding Filled with Family, Handmade Details, and Meaning
One of the most emotional aspects of Federica and Andrea’s wedding was the involvement of Federica’s mother.
She has a passion for paper art and wanted to gift her daughter something truly personal. She lovingly created:
Federica’s paper bouquet
The seating chart
The place cards
For the seating chart, handmade paper flowers were placed inside empty wine bottles, with cards tied around the glass to indicate table sections. Guests found their seats through these floral arrangements, combining creativity, sustainability, and emotional value.
These details didn’t feel decorative — they felt meaningful.
Designing a Unique Ceremony Space Under the Trees
At Agriturismo La Mandriola, ceremonies are usually held in front of the garden arches. While beautiful, Federica and Andrea wanted something more intimate, shaded, and original.
We identified a quiet area under the trees near the pool, naturally cozy and protected from the sun. However, one challenge stood out: a large iron pole was visually dominant in the space.
Instead of seeing it as a limitation, we transformed it.
The pole was covered with greenery using the same leaves as the surrounding trees, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the environment. To enhance the atmosphere, we designed a whimsical altar with flowers hanging from the branches, creating a soft and magical backdrop for the couple.
The result was a ceremony space that felt:
Intimate
Organic
Thoughtfully designed
Perfectly integrated into nature
Another element that made Federica and Andrea’s ceremony truly special was their choice of officiant. Instead of a distant registrar, they asked a very close friend—someone who had witnessed their first meeting and watched their love grow over the years—to officiate their civilly binding ceremony. This choice transformed what is often perceived as a bureaucratic process into an intimate, emotional moment that felt deeply personal and authentic.
Plan B in Action: When Weather Changes the Plan
The original plan was to host dinner on the terrace with panoramic views. However, weather uncertainty and cooler-than-usual temperatures made it necessary to activate Plan B.
Maintaining the couple’s wish for a long imperial table was essential.
With careful space planning and the full cooperation of the venue team, we adapted the indoor areas to recreate the same convivial atmosphere. Guests still experienced a shared table, warm lighting, and a sense of togetherness.
This moment highlights a key truth about weddings in Tuscany:
Plan B doesn’t mean compromise — it means preparation.
Wedding Favours with Values and Sensitivity
Federica and Andrea are deeply sensitive people, attentive to what happens beyond their own celebration. At the time of their wedding, the political situation in Palestine was weighing heavily on them.
As wedding favours, they chose:
Small bottles of seeds from Palestine
An invitation for guests, entirely optional, to donate if they wished
This choice allowed them to share their values quietly and respectfully, without turning the wedding into a statement — just a gesture of awareness and humanity.
No Traditional Cake, Just Shared Sweetness
Federica and Andrea are not drawn to being the center of attention, and this was reflected in their dessert choice.
Instead of a traditional wedding cake and spotlight moment, they opted for:
Mini cakes and assorted sweets
A shared cutting moment involving guests
Rather than watching the couple perform a ritual, guests participated, turning dessert into a communal experience that felt relaxed and genuine.
Dancing, Karaoke, and a Joyful Ending in the Limonaia
The celebration ended in the covered limonaia, where guests danced, sang karaoke, and enjoyed the freedom of the evening.
It was energetic, spontaneous, and joyful — the kind of ending that happens when a wedding is designed around comfort and connection rather than rigid timelines.
What Couples Can Learn from Federica & Andrea’s Wedding
You can honour Tuscany even if you don’t live there
Choosing a venue close to guests improves logistics and experience
Handmade details add emotional depth
Ceremony spaces can be redesigned creatively
Plan B is essential for outdoor weddings in Tuscany
Wedding favours can reflect personal values
Not every wedding needs traditional spotlight moments
A civil wedding in Italy doesn’t have to feel bureaucratic or impersonal
Choosing a close friend to officiate the civil ceremony can transform it into an intimate, deeply emotional moment
From a Wedding Planner Based in Tuscany
As a destination wedding planner based in Tuscany and Umbria, with over a decade of experience, I guide couples through venue selection, logistics, design, Plan B strategies, and meaningful storytelling — ensuring their wedding reflects who they truly are.
If you’re dreaming of a Tuscany wedding that reflects your values, your story, and your way of living — not a copy-paste celebration — thoughtful guidance makes all the difference.
I’d love to help you plan a wedding that feels true to you.