Planning a Destination Wedding at Decugnano dei Barbi in Italy

Bringing a destination wedding to life from another country takes a lot of planning. Luckily, Gina + Alex had the help of Fabrizio of Italy Prestige. As a full-service destination wedding planner, he guided Gina + Alex through every step, from venue details to vendor coordination and logistics. 

Thankfully, finding a venue – one of the biggest hurdles of wedding planning – was one that Gina + Alex could already check off their list. Decugnano dei Barbi wasn’t just a beautiful Italian vineyard the two had simply stumbled upon. A close friend of Gina’s frequently imported wine from Enzo, the vineyard owner. Gina had even visited the vineyard once for her friend’s birthday. The moment Gina + Alex had the chance to visit the vineyard together, they knew they had found their venue. With endless rows of grapevines all around them and a 360^o view overlooking the hilltop town of Orvieto, it was the perfect setting for this travel-loving couple. 

The history of Decugnano dei Barbi dates back to 1212. However, it wasn’t until 1973, when Claudio Barbi purchased the once-abandoned land and the Santa Maria di Decugnano church that stood at the center it, that it became the esteemed winery it is today. Claudio refurbished the church and planted the vineyards, truly bringing the forgotten land back to life. Now, not only can you book wine tours and cooking classes featuring housemade wines and homegrown ingredients, but you can also book an overnight stay at Villa Barbi and host events in the former church – making it the perfect setting for an unforgettable wedding. 

Pre-Wedding Festivities in Orvieto, Italy

Gina + Alex’s wedding celebrations began a day early with a relaxed rehearsal and lunch. Their wedding party and their closest friends and family gathered the day before at the Villa Barbi where their ceremony would be held the next day. Surrounded by warm Italian sunshine, they walked through the ceremony, shared a delicious meal, and enjoyed pours of various wines created right on site. It was a simple, lovely way to take a breath, settle in, and begin the wedding festivities. 

That evening, the celebrations continued as more of Gina + Alex’s guests began arriving in Orvieto. To greet them, Gina + Alex hosted a welcome party at the Emme Palace Hotel with a traditional Italian aperitivo. An aperitivo is a pre-dinner social gathering with drinks and appetizers. During the welcome party, spritzes flowed, glasses clinked, and small bites were passed around as conversation flourished throughout the hall. Gina + Alex greeted each guest as they arrived and thanked them for making the long trip to celebrate with them.

Wedding Day Morning at the Villa Barbi

Following the welcome party, Gina and her bridesmaids spent the night at the Villa Barbi. The next morning, they woke bright and early to warm sunshine pouring through the large windows of the villa as they began preparations for the big day. The ladies enjoyed a morning of champagne, laughter, and cozy pink pajamas as they had their hair and makeup done. When Gina was ready, her mom and sister joined her in her suite to help her with the finishing touches of her wedding gown. The intricate floral lace gown was breathtaking, and having her mom and sister there to help her with it was a simple, sweet, and meaningful moment that made the morning even more special. 

Meanwhile, not too far away, Alex was undergoing preparations of his own. He and his groomsmen gathered in the apartment of the church to ready themselves for the day ahead. They guys’ playful and silly antics kept the mood light, with plenty of laughter echoing through the apartment. Between buttoning jackets and straightening lapels, their excitement and joy were palpable as they strolled through the Orvieto streets before making their way to the vineyard for the ceremony.

Wedding Ceremony at the Decugnano dei Barbi Vineyard

As the ceremony time approached, guests began arriving at the vineyard, filling in the seats arranged in a semicircle on the lawn of the Villa Barbi. The seats faced a panoramic view overlooking the rows of grapevines stretched across the rolling hills below, creating a beautiful background for Gina + Alex’s ceremony. With no trees to provide shade, parasols and fans were passed around to offer a little bit of relief from the warm June sun.

As the music changed to a soft, enchanting melody, Alex made his way down the aisle with his parents on each arm. The rest of the wedding party followed closely after and got into position along each side of the ceremony space. Then, with a swell of music, Gina appeared in the villa doorway with her parents by her side. Since the two of them had decided not to have a first look, this was the first time Alex saw her all day. His reaction said it all. A wide smile instantly lit across his face at the sight of his beautiful bride-to-be making her way down the aisle towards him. 

For an extra personal touch, Gina + Alex’s ceremony was officiated by Gina’s brother. He spoke about the two of them and their love story before passing the mic to Alex’s sister and a close friend of Gina’s, both of whom did special readings. Once the readings were done, Gina + Alex shared the vows that they had handwritten in matching leather journals. And with an exchange of rings and a joyful first kiss, the two were officially husband and wife. 

Wedding Reception at the Decugnano di Barbi

After the ceremony, guests made their way from the villa to the main hall of the Decugnano di Barbi for cocktail hour. Meanwhile, Gina + Alex took a moment to gather with their families and their wedding party inside the villa. Plenty of hugs went around as the newlyweds celebrated with their closest loved ones before signing an elegant keepsake wedding certificate to commemorate the day. 

As cocktail hour continued, we took the time to capture all of the family and wedding party portraits Gina + Alex requested. Soon after, the couple joined their guests for the remainder of their cocktail hour before everyone was guided to the patio for an elegant sit-down dinner. Heartfelt speeches filled the space between courses, including a gracious thank you address from Gina + Alex that left guests smiling from ear to ear. 

With the sun beginning to set, Gina + Alex slipped away from the dinner to take newlywed golden hour newlywed shots. The soft light of the setting sun illuminated them as they walked along the vineyard paths and through the rows of grapevines. And as the sun finally began to dip below the horizon, it drenched the sky in beautiful shades of pale pink and orange, making Gina + Alex look like they had just stepped into a painting.

The two returned to the celebration just in time for dessert to be served. They cut their wedding cake amidst showers of fireworks sparkling on either side of them before sharing their first dance together and their parent dances. Finally, the celebration came to a peak as everyone filtered into the event hall. Music and colorful lights filled the space and Gina + Alex spent the rest of the night surrounded by all of the people they loved the most and dancing the night away. 

Are you planning a destination wedding of your own? Whether you’re headed to an Italian vineyard or anywhere else in the world, I’d love to be there for you!

Hi there! I’m Rachael Crowe of OkCrowe Photography. Although I’m a wedding photographer based in New York City, I’m always more than happy to travel to wherever you need to make your dream wedding come to life. Ready to get started? Just head to my contact form and let’s chat!