Giorgia and Alessandro were married at the Parco dei Cimini, in the heart of the Tuscia, with a civil ceremony held right in the middle of the pine woods. A ceremony in the forest, sunset light between the tall pines, portraits by the little lake and a party that ran late into the night, with sparkler fountains on the cake and live music.
It was an autumn wedding, with all the warm colours the season brings to the Tuscia: the terracotta dresses of the bridesmaids, the amber flowers on the tables, the low light filtering through the trees. The Parco dei Cimini is one of those venues where the woods do almost everything on their own, and the photographer's job is simply to keep up with the emotions, which here are never in short supply.
A civil ceremony in the woods of Parco dei Cimini
The heart of the day was the civil ceremony held in the forest. No town hall, no church: the couple chose to say yes among the pines, under a floral arch, with the guests seated on wooden benches and cushions set on the ground. As a civil rite requires, the officiant wore the Italian tricolour sash.
Alessandro waited for Giorgia visibly moved, and when she came down the path the tears arrived on their own. These are the moments I most love to tell, because they cannot be repeated: you only catch them, by staying discreet and ready. During the ceremony Giorgia read her vows into the microphone, then came the exchange of rings and the signing of the register.
Photographically, a ceremony in the woods is a beautiful, tricky challenge of light: the late-afternoon sun comes through the trunks in shafts, and you have to work into the light without losing the faces. When the couple kissed, the sun was already low behind them, and that light turned the kiss into one of the most beautiful images of the whole day.
The confetti exit
Once the ceremony was over, the guests welcomed Giorgia and Alessandro with a shower of confetti and petals down the aisle between the benches. It is the most liberating moment of the wedding, when the tension dissolves into celebration. It pays to be ready for it: I stand at the end of the aisle, with the sun in front of me, and wait for the two of them to come through with their hands in the air.
Portraits at sunset among the pampas and by the lake
In the half hour after the ceremony we stole a little time for the couple's session, making the most of the golden hour. Besides the pine woods, the Parco dei Cimini has open spaces with pampas grass and a small lake that turns into a mirror at sunset.
We worked first among the grasses, with the golden light catching their profiles, then by the water, as the sky shifted to pink. Those minutes away from the guests are almost always when a couple truly relaxes: there is laughter, there are embraces, and the photographs stop looking posed. I always recommend carving them out of the timeline, because the best light of the day lasts only a few minutes and will not wait.
The reception and the party
As darkness fell everyone moved indoors, into a rustic hall with wooden beams, chandeliers and long tables lit by candlelight. The floral design followed the warm tones of autumn: low arrangements of amber and orange flowers, tapered candles and a carefully styled place setting.
After dinner came the cake, cut outdoors with sparkler fountains lighting up behind the couple, and then the real party, with live music from the band and dancing under the lights until late into the night.
Getting married at the Parco dei Cimini: what to know
If you are considering the Parco dei Cimini for your own wedding, here is what I have learned working here as a photographer.
Where it is
The Parco dei Cimini sits in the Cimini mountains, in the Tuscia, in the province of Viterbo, in Lazio, a short distance from the border with Umbria and from the area of Lake Vico. It is a convenient position for a wedding with guests arriving from Rome, reachable in about an hour and a half from the city's airports, and at the same time immersed in nature, far from the traffic and the formality of the city.
A wedding in the woods
The great strength of this venue is the pine forest: very tall trees, filtered light and a silence that gives the ceremony an intimate, gathered feel. It is the ideal place for anyone who dreams of a wedding in the woods, with a civil or symbolic rite outdoors, far from staged décor. Nature is the backdrop, and it takes very little to make it special.
The spaces and a plan B
Besides the pine woods for the ceremony, the Parco dei Cimini offers open spaces for the portraits, with the pampas and a lake, and an indoor hall for the reception and the evening party. Having an indoor space is also the natural plan B in case of bad weather: on that subject I have written a guide on handling rain on your wedding day.
The best time of year
Autumn, as it was for Giorgia and Alessandro, gives this venue its finest character: warm colours, soft light, early sunsets and cool evenings perfect for a party indoors. Late spring and early summer also work beautifully for a ceremony in the woods. I write about it more generally in my guide on the best time to get married in central Italy.
How I photograph a wedding in the woods, hour by hour
- Getting ready. I look for window light for the details of the dress and for the preparation portraits. I always ask for the curtains open and the artificial lights off.
- Ceremony. In the woods the light comes in shafts and from behind: I work with fast lenses and no flash during the rite, to keep the real atmosphere of the pine forest.
- The exit and confetti. I get into position early, with the sun in front of me, to catch the throw at the right moment.
- Golden hour. This is the best window for the couple's session: pampas and lake at sunset. Fifteen to twenty minutes are enough, but they need to be planned in advance.
- Evening. A candlelit hall, the cake with sparkler fountains and live music. I work with mixed light and slow shutter speeds to keep the atmosphere without turning the party into a set.
If you would like help fitting all of this into your schedule, I have written a guide on what to expect on your wedding day, with a timeline. And if you are after an intimate wedding like this one, you might like my guide to the micro and intimate wedding in Italy.
The vendors of this wedding
- Venue: Parco dei Cimini, Tuscia (VT)
- Video: Marco Rompietti
- Wedding planner: Cannella Weddings & Events
- Bridal gown: Blanca Sposi, Terni
- Make up: Lucia Giorgini
- Hair artist: Marica Hair Beauty Lab
- Live music: Clyto Band
- Photography: Manuel Diamanti
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
Can you get married at the Parco dei Cimini?
Yes. The Parco dei Cimini, in the Tuscia in the province of Viterbo, hosts weddings with a ceremony in the woods, a reception in the hall and an evening party. It suits both an outdoor civil rite and a symbolic ceremony.
Where is the Parco dei Cimini?
It is in the Cimini mountains, in the Tuscia, in the province of Viterbo, in Lazio, a short distance from Lake Vico and from the border with Umbria. It is reachable by car from Rome in about an hour and a half.
Can you hold a civil ceremony in the woods at the Parco dei Cimini?
Yes. Giorgia and Alessandro were married with a civil ceremony held in the pine woods, under a floral arch, with the officiant and the tricolour sash. For an outdoor civil rite you coordinate with the relevant municipality.
Is it suitable for an intimate wedding?
Very much so. The pine forest and the gathered atmosphere of the woods make it perfect for intimate weddings and pared-back celebrations, while the spaces also allow for larger receptions.
When is the best time to get married at the Parco dei Cimini?
Autumn and late spring are the ideal seasons: warm colours, soft light and sunsets that make the couple's session among the pampas and by the lake truly beautiful.
What happens if it rains?
The venue has an indoor hall for the reception and the party, which also serves as the plan B for the ceremony in case of bad weather.
If you dream of a wedding like this, in the woods and far from formality, take a look at my portfolio and the other wedding stories, or tell me about your wedding: I answer every message personally.