Choosing the best wedding venue is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Especially if you’re planning a celebration from abroad. The place is among the first choices and, therefore, you should put some thoughts into where you are going to exchange your vows and host the party afterwards. If you’re planning a destination wedding in Lucca, it couldn’t be easier.
Italians are very conservative and wish to exchange vows and rings in magnificent churches. You cannot change their minds. But let’s look the bright side: they leave room for weddings from abroad! Thanks to several facilities, friendly vendors and inexpensive venues – compared to other parts of Tuscany – it’s not a surprise that Lucca is getting very popular among Italian locations for international celebrations.
Villas of Lucca look tailor-made for English and American marriages in Italy. I’ve dropped a list of the best venues for garden weddings.
Villa Grabau
Villa Grabau provides one of the loveliest gardens for weddings of Lucca. It’s entirely covered by the branches of large trees, which shelter newlyweds and guests on hot summer days. Here you can celebrate civil weddings. The villa also offers a large secular park, where you might be portrayed for wedding pictures, and several areas for every stage of the reception.
The conservatory is unique: long lianas come down from the roof, so long that almost touch heads of the people dining here. It’s the perfect spot for a meal to remember – and for the first dance! Have a look here for more wedding photos taken at Villa Grabau.
Villa Oliva
Villa Oliva is one of the most elegant villas of Lucca. Its park is boundless, and because of it, there are many beautiful spots where you can arrange memorable ceremonies. It can also accommodate large weddings, and the conservatory is perfect for receptions in case of bad weather. Click here to see a real wedding at Villa Oliva.
Villa Bruguier
Villa Bruguier is the right choice for every type of wedding. The large lawn at the bottom of the facade is the perfect background for any ceremony – and photo shoot, of course. You can take memorable pictures in the green fields around the villa. There are plenty of spots with a view in the surroundings.
Villa Bernardini
Dated back to 600, Villa Bernardini is very close to the city centre of Lucca. Civil and symbolic ceremonies might be celebrated on the lawn at the bottom of the grand facade, surrounded by the silence of the countryside.
The cocktail hour might be arranged in the Teatro di Verzura, a large green lawn in which you can receive your guests after the ceremony. The dinner takes place in a conservatory with a glass roof. A real treat!
Villas with a view
If you’re looking for a villa with a view, you cannot help but consider the hills of Segromigno in Monte, just a few kilometres from the city centre. The landscape looks like Chianti, even if the villages are less famous and therefore less crowded. There are excellent accommodations here. Hotel San Pietro and Casale dei Pasquinelli are the best venues if you wish an intimate wedding with a breathtaking backdrop in the calm of the countryside.
What Else?
Although you must book the venues early in advance (especially for weekend weddings), the wait is worth it. Lucca provides several solutions for your guests’ accommodation as well. They might stay in the lovely city centre or the many farmhouses lost in the countryside. They can spend some time by the pool, hiking, or tasting wines in the most beautiful wineries.
Even if it’s a little-known historical town, Lucca has a broad appeal to tourists and art lovers, which makes it the perfect place also to begin the honeymoon. Forte Dei Marmi and Pietrasanta provide boutique hotels on the seaside and luxury accommodations.
Your Villa
Any recommendation? What’s your favourite villa of Lucca? Feel free to send me a note!
