Jennifer + Stephan

A destination wedding in Bolzano, Italy.

Editorial-style bride and groom portrait captured on the grounds of Castel Hörtenberg.
A father and bride walking arm in arm outdoors during a destination wedding ceremony. The bride is in a strapless white wedding dress holding a bouquet of white flowers, and the groom is in a dark suit with a boutonniere.
A woman in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet of flowers, standing in front of a textured wall.
People gathered at an outdoor event under hanging paper lanterns and string lights, with trees and a clear sky in the background.
A woman sitting on a couch, writing her vows in a notebook with a pen. A handwritten letter and a smartphone are also on her lap. The woman is wearing a white lace-trimmed top.
A bride and groom sharing a kiss outdoors on a sunny day. 
The Story

My first international wedding, and somehow also a full-circle moment. Three years earlier, Jennifer and Stephen trusted me to photograph their first wedding—a small civil ceremony in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. They were my first wedding couple. So when they asked me to photograph their celebration in Bolzano, Italy, there was no question. This time: a Gothic Renaissance castle, the Dolomites in the distance, and nearly fifty of their favorite people gathered from around the world.

Jennifer and Stephen rented the entire Castel Hörtenberg for a weekend of celebrating. Friday started with a welcome dinner, old friends, new friends, and eventually the groom being pushed into the pool—followed by the bride and, eventually, a very committed group of guests.

Saturday brought sunshine, an intimate ceremony beneath a floral arch, portraits around the castle grounds, Italian aperitivo, dinner, and dancing late into the night.

Castel Hörtenberg was everything you could want from a destination wedding in northern Italy: historic architecture, beautiful courtyards, warm September light, and the Dolomites rising behind it all.

But as spectacular as the setting was, the photographs I love most are still the same ones I always look for—the people, the in-between moments, the laughter, and everything that made the weekend feel like Jennifer and Stephen. You can read and see more on my blog here.

Planning a wedding in Italy, the Dolomites, or somewhere else entirely? I'd love to come along, I'd love to connect.

A groom in a tuxedo with a boutonniere stands against a textured beige wall, smiling and looking to the side.
A bride and groom holding hands and walking outdoors on a cobblestone path during daytime, with the bride wearing a white wedding dress and holding a bouquet of flowers, and the groom in a black suit.
A black and white photo of a dining event seen through a natural opening in bushes. The image shows a guest table with people seated, illuminated by hanging lights above. There is a doorway in the background with large mirrors reflecting the room.
A woman dressed in a white wedding gown holding a bouquet of white lilies and green flowers, standing against a beige textured wall.
Couple dancing at a wedding reception, with guests around them, including a woman with short red hair and a woman taking a photo on her phone.
A newlywed couple stands in a doorway with open shutters, backlit by sunlight, with trees and greenery outside. The groom wears a black tuxedo with a bow tie, and the bride is in a white wedding dress, holding a bouquet of white flowers. They are looking at each other.