Giardino del Belvedere Wedding, Tuscany: Cost & Real Photos

Is Giardino del Belvedere right for you?

Short answer: if you love greenery, yes.

This is a very foresty, very countryside venue. Lots of trees, some ancient, olive fields within walking distance, and plenty of shade. It’s not a manicured hotel with a ballroom. If that’s what you picture, look elsewhere.

But don’t confuse countryside with plain. You can make it as fancy as you like with decorations, and the venue team is very open to whatever you want to do to make the place yours.

The ceremony: a five-minute walk into the woods

This is my favourite part of the venue. The ceremony spot is a five-minute walk from the villa, through the forest and in the shade the whole way. It’s a stone amphitheatre: a semicircle of stone steps in the trees. There are no rows of chairs. Cushions go on the steps, and your guests sit there and look down at you.

The backdrop behind you is the woods. It’s pretty, but it’s a lot of wood and green. If that’s not your thing, budget for some decoration at the ceremony spot (flowers, an arch, fabric) so it doesn’t look like a forest clearing someone forgot to decorate.

The walk itself is a nice moment. Guests stroll through the trees together, and I get photos of everyone arriving that feel more like a story than a lineup.

Dinner in front of the villa

Dinner is set in front of the villa’s main entrance. That’s the spot with the best view, with the house behind the tables, and honestly, I think it’s the only spot there with a view that good. It’s where Emilie and Jake had theirs, and it’s where I’d put yours.

When to have the ceremony

It depends on the month:

• July and August: around 5:00 p.m. It’s hot, and even with all the shade, a later ceremony is kinder to your guests. The sun sets around 8:15–8:50 p.m., so you still get good evening light around dinner.
• May and September: 4:00 p.m. is fine. In mid-September the sun goes down around 7:20 p.m., so a later ceremony would push your portraits into the dark.

Whatever time you pick, leave gaps. The walk to the ceremony and back takes time; people stop for photos, someone needs the bathroom. A 4:00 ceremony is never over at 4:20, and after 350-odd weddings I can tell you the relaxed ones look relaxed in the photos.

The venue team: why you may not need a planner here

The owner, Francesco, and his team run the estate, speak very good English, and do a lot of the planning themselves. They know the local caterers, musicians and other vendors they trust, and they’ll recommend them. For a lot of couples, that means you don’t need a separate wedding planner here, which is rare for a destination wedding in Tuscany.

They’re great to work with, and they’re a big reason Emilie and Jake’s day felt so easy.

Where guests can stay

The main villa sleeps 16 people in 7 bedrooms. The estate also has other houses nearby that you can book: one is close to the main villa, and the others are a few minutes away by car. All in, plan on roughly 15–20 guests staying on the estate. The venue team, who plan the weddings there, will give you the exact numbers for the main villa and the other houses.

Everyone else stays nearby. There are no big hotels right next door, but there are guesthouses and smaller places around Montegonzi and Montevarchi, and the venue team knows which ones to recommend. Driving in is easy, so guests staying further away, even in Florence, can come by car or shuttle.

How much does a Giardino del Belvedere wedding cost?

The estate doesn’t publish wedding prices, so ask the venue for a current quote. A few things to know:

• You rent the whole estate. Weddings are only possible if you book the entire property, so the venue cost is really a stay for you and your closest people, usually over several nights.
• The ceremony and party areas cost extra. The amphitheatre and the other event spaces are booked on top of the stay and have to be requested in advance.
• Outdoor weddings run from late May to mid-October.
• Catering, flowers, music and photography come on top. For a Tuscan countryside wedding, catering is roughly €120–€200 per guest. That’s a general estimate, so confirm with the caterer the venue recommends.

For a sense of scale: Emilie and Jake spent about €45,000–€50,000 in total for 70 guests in 2024. Prices have gone up since, so plan for a bit more.

Getting there

Giardino del Belvedere is near Montegonzi, in the municipality of Cavriglia, about an hour by car from Florence and about 40 minutes from Siena and Arezzo. The nearest airport is Florence (FLR). Pisa and Rome Fiumicino work too if you’re flying in from the US, Canada or the UK, but they’re a longer drive.

Address: Loc. La Selva, Montegonzi, 52022 Cavriglia. Venue website: chianti-farm.com/villas/la-selva

Giardino del Belvedere FAQ

Planning a wedding in Tuscany?

Here’s how I work as a Tuscany wedding photographer, and the dates I’m already in Italy.

If Giardino del Belvedere is on your list, tell me your date and your plans. Happy to help with the timeline before you’ve decided on anything else.