1. Getting Ready at Villa Paola

Erica got ready at Villa Paola, a historic residence just outside the center of Tropea, perched above the Tyrrhenian Sea. The rooms are full of character, all stone walls and tall windows, and the terrace looks straight out over the water toward Santa Maria dell’Isola. I always love shooting getting ready moments here because the light coming through those windows in the late morning is unbelievably soft, it does half the work for me.

2. The Ceremony

Andrea and Erica exchanged their vows right at Villa Paola, with the coastline as a backdrop and the sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola visible in the distance across the water. It’s a setting that barely needs decoration, the sea does most of the talking. Watching Andrea’s face as Erica walked out onto the terrace was one of those moments that never gets old to photograph, no matter how many weddings I shoot.

3. The Photoshoot Around Tropea

After the ceremony we walked through Tropea for portraits, through the narrow streets of the historic center and down to the viewpoint over Santa Maria dell’Isola. That sanctuary, sitting on its own rock above the turquoise water, is one of my favorite backdrops in all of Calabria for couple portraits, especially as the light starts to turn gold in the late afternoon.

4. The Reception

As evening came in, the celebration moved back to Villa Paola’s terrace, with the lights of Tropea starting to come on below and the sea turning from blue to gold to dark. There’s something about dancing outdoors on a warm Calabrian night, with that view, that makes a reception here feel completely different from anywhere else.