Florence Elopement Photographer
Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world for an elopement or intimate couple session. The combination of Renaissance architecture, quiet gardens and iconic viewpoints creates a setting that is both timeless and deeply personal.
I am Riccardo Pieri, a destination wedding photographer based in Tuscany, and I have photographed elopements and intimate sessions across Florence for over 15 years.
The Best Locations for an Elopement in Florence
Florence offers an extraordinary variety of settings for intimate photography. Each location has its own character, light and atmosphere, and choosing the right combination depends on the time of day, the season and what the couple wants to express.
The Boboli Gardens offer a rare combination of privacy and grandeur. The Renaissance layout, the statues and the terraced views create a backdrop that feels both elegant and intimate. The light in the gardens changes beautifully throughout the day, offering soft shadows in the morning and warm tones in the afternoon.
San Miniato al Monte is one of my favourite locations in Florence for couple sessions. The Romanesque church, the cypress lined paths and the panoramic view over the entire city from above create images that are impossible to replicate anywhere else. At golden hour the light here is exceptional.
Ponte Vecchio and the Oltrarno area offer a completely different energy, more urban, more spontaneous. The narrow streets, the reflections on the Arno and the iconic silhouette of the bridge create photographs that feel alive and full of atmosphere.
Florence Elopement Photography: My Approach
I work in a natural and unobtrusive way. My goal is to document the emotion and the atmosphere of your time in Florence without interrupting it. I use prime lenses and natural light exclusively, which means the images feel honest and real rather than staged.
Most couples tell me afterwards that the session felt more like a walk through the city than a photoshoot. That is exactly the experience I aim to create.
Combining a Florence Session with a Venue Elopement
Many couples choose to combine an outdoor session in Florence with an elopement at a nearby venue such as Belmond Villa San Michele in Fiesole or Villa Cora in the city itself. This gives you the best of both worlds: the intimacy and beauty of the city streets and gardens combined with the elegance of a private venue.
I have photographed this combination on multiple occasions and the results are always among the most varied and expressive collections I produce.
Planning Your Florence Elopement Session
The best time for photography in Florence is early morning before the tourist crowds arrive, or late afternoon into golden hour. Spring and autumn offer the most balanced light and the most comfortable temperatures, though Florence is beautiful in every season.
I recommend planning the session around the light rather than the locations. Once we know what time of day works best, we can build an itinerary that moves naturally through the city and captures the atmosphere as it changes.
What is Included in an Elopement Package
My elopement packages typically include four hours of photography coverage, a selection of carefully edited images, a personal online gallery and delivery within 45 days. Every package is tailored to the couple and the location, so if you have something specific in mind I am happy to discuss what works best for your day.
You can find more details on the packages page or get in touch directly to talk about your plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are planning an elopement or intimate session in Florence and would like to know more about availability, I would be happy to hear about your plans.