For most couples, a wedding is a fundamental social ritual that formalizes their union. But for those with a deep sense of faith, it becomes something more: an intensely meaningful rite of passage, where emotions, traditions, and spirituality are woven together. Every gesture, every word, every place carries symbolic weight, becoming part of a narrative that is at once sacred and intimate.
Tuscany has long been the perfect backdrop for stories like these. Its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage blend seamlessly with an extraordinary variety of wedding venues – renaissance palaces, elegant villas, medieval hamlets, historic synagogues and churches – all ready to become the stage for a couple’s most important day.
In weddings of this kind, videography plays a crucial role: not simply documenting, but conveying the depth of the experience, which often lives in the details and in the rituals themselves. Moving images have the power to capture more than just expressions: they hold the silence, the pauses, the music, the rhythm of the ceremony. Where photography freezes a moment, film preserves the atmosphere, the continuity, the heartbeat of a celebration.
This is the story of Camilla and Yigal, a couple living in Tel Aviv, who chose Florence as the place to celebrate their Jewish wedding. Their decision was not only practical but profoundly symbolic: it brought together their roots, their faith, and their love for Italy. Through their story, we’ll explore the magic of weddings in Tuscany, the grandeur of Florence’s synagogue, the timeless elegance of Villa Corsini, and above all, the value of videography in turning an event into a living memory.
The Allure of Weddings in Tuscany
Tuscany remains one of the most sought-after destinations for couples who choose to marry in Italy. Its charm lies in the rare balance of breathtaking landscapes and a cultural heritage that is unmatched anywhere in the world. Rolling hills, cypress-lined avenues, world-renowned vineyards and olive groves, and that unmistakable golden light create a setting that feels almost cinematic, ideal for wedding films. At the same time, cities such as Florence, Siena, Lucca, and Pisa offer couples and their guests the chance to experience centuries of history through their monuments and architecture. This dual spirit – rural yet refined, intimate yet monumental – is what makes Tuscany unique for couples who want a wedding that will be remembered.
For Italian couples, marrying in Tuscany often means reconnecting with their roots and with a land that embodies the country’s most authentic traditions. For international couples, the region becomes the very symbol of the Italian dream: a fusion of art, nature, and culture that elevates the celebration. It is no coincidence that Tuscany ranks among the world’s most desired destinations for weddings abroad.
On a practical level, Tuscany offers a remarkable variety of venues and services. With countless properties able to host both small, private ceremonies and large-scale events, every couple can find a setting that reflects their style, whether intimate or grand, as in the case of Camilla and Yigal’s 400-guest celebration. Just as important, the region is home to an ecosystem of highly specialized professionals – wedding planners, photographers, videographers – who ensure exceptional quality and flawless execution, even for the most complex events.
Read also: 12 Reasons To Make Tuscany Your Wedding Destination
Camilla and Yigal’s Jewish Wedding: From Florence’s Synagogue to Villa Corsini
Like many wedding days, Camilla and Yigal’s began early in the morning, with the couple getting ready separately alongside their families, friends, and closest attendants. Anticipation, quiet smiles, and small meaningful details marked those hours before the ceremony, while the attentive coordination of Marika Wedding Planning ensured everything unfolded seamlessly. The Jewish ceremony, the spiritual heart of the entire day, took place at the Great Synagogue of Florence, a landmark and a symbol of the city’s Jewish community. Beneath the chuppah – the canopy that represents the new home the couple is building together – Camilla and Yigal exchanged blessings that sealed their union.
They then read the ketubah, the marriage contract that formalizes their mutual commitments. The most anticipated moment came with the breaking of the glass: as tradition dictates, the groom brought his foot down firmly, greeted by applause and an outburst of joy from the guests. This gesture, simple in appearance, carries profound meaning: the fragility of life, the memory of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the wish for a union that is strong and enduring. Through video, we were able to capture not only the ritual itself but also the silences, the restrained emotions, and the tears welling up in the eyes of those present.
After the ceremony, the celebration moved to Villa Corsini in Mezzomonte. Guests were welcomed with an aperitif in the garden, where views over the Chianti hills set a refined, relaxed atmosphere. Dinner followed in the villa’s elegant frescoed halls, where toasts, conversations, and laughter mingled with the history and artistry of the space. The evening closed in true Italian style with dancing and the cutting of the cake in the villa’s magnificent Italian garden, surrounded by intricate boxwood hedges, a joyful moment of togetherness that embraced every guest.
Read also: Three Days of Love in Tuscany: Belmond Castello di Casole Wedding
The Florence Synagogue: A Masterpiece of Art and Spirituality
The Florence Synagogue, where Camilla and Yigal chose to celebrate their sacred union, stands in the heart of the historic center, only steps away from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Its origin dates back to 1868, when Cavalier David Levi expressed his wish for a “monumental temple worthy of Florence.” Architects Falcini, Treves, and Micheli brought that vision to life, with construction beginning in 1870 and culminating in the grand inauguration of 1882. The synagogue was built during a pivotal moment of Jewish emancipation in Italy, when the community sought a place of worship that was both majestic and representative of its identity.
Today, it is regarded as one of Europe’s most important examples of 19th-century Moorish architecture, blending Arabic, Romanesque, and Byzantine elements into a harmonious whole. Its façade combines white travertine with pink stone, walnut wood portals, and copper domes that have aged into a distinctive green, making the synagogue instantly recognizable across Florence’s skyline. Inside, the square-plan sanctuary dazzles with golden arabesques and geometric patterns that draw the eye toward the soaring dome, the architectural and spiritual heart of the building. The Aron ha-Kodesh, encrusted with Venetian mosaics, houses the Torah scrolls, the very center of Jewish liturgy.
To marry here is to weave a personal story into a centuries-old tradition. Every architectural detail enriches the ritual: the dome rising above the couple, the chants of the choir echoing through the space, the light streaming through the windows at key moments of the ceremony. The synagogue is both a house of worship and a vessel of collective memory, imbuing a wedding with solemnity and continuity. For Camilla and Yigal, deeply rooted in their faith, exchanging vows in this sacred place gave their union not only religious meaning, but also cultural and spiritual depth.
Read also: Celebrating Love: The Diverse Cultures Captured Through Our Wedding Videos
Villa Corsini: Renaissance Charm in the Heart of Chianti
Villa Corsini a Mezzomonte is one of Tuscany’s most historic and captivating estates, with origins dating back to the late Middle Ages. Founded by the Buondelmonti family and reshaped over the centuries, the villa took on its present form under the Panciatichi family and was consecrated as a residence for grand receptions by Prince Giovan Carlo de’ Medici between 1630 and 1644. When the Corsini family acquired it in 1644, they preserved its role as a cultural landmark of Florence, enriching it with frescoes by renowned artists such as Giovanni da San Giovanni, Francesco Albani, Baccio del Bianco, and Il Passignano.
Nestled among vineyards and olive groves on the rolling hills just seven kilometers from Florence, Villa Corsini offers sweeping views of Chianti and the Tuscan countryside. Its frescoed halls, celebrating the female figure, pastoral deities, and Italian poets such as Tasso and Ariosto, provide a breathtaking setting for wedding photography and videography. Monumental gardens, limonaie, and terraced landscapes complete the experience, creating enchanting spaces for outdoor ceremonies, aperitifs, and receptions, all while preserving a sense of intimacy and warmth.
For Camilla and Yigal, Villa Corsini became the perfect stage to continue the celebration of their Jewish wedding. After the solemnity of the ceremony at Florence’s Synagogue, the villa welcomed over 400 guests into a setting where history and beauty intertwined seamlessly. Its versatile indoor and outdoor spaces allowed every part of the day – from the reception to the cake cutting in the Italian garden – to unfold with elegance and ease, regardless of the weather. Today, Villa Corsini remains faithful to the original vision of the Medici and Corsini families: a place where history, art, and nature come together to create unforgettable experiences.
Florence, A City of Art That Captivates Couples from Around the World
Florence is a city where history, art, and culture unfold at every corner. Walking its streets, stepping into Renaissance palaces, or admiring monumental churches means immersing yourself in centuries of stories told through masterpieces of architecture and art. Its squares and familiar vistas have inspired poets, artists, and architects across the globe. For couples choosing to marry in Florence , it is not only a breathtaking backdrop but also a city that offers the infrastructure and organization to make weddings of any scale possible.
Thanks to its central location and well-developed network of services, Florence can easily accommodate large events such as Camilla and Yigal’s Jewish wedding, which welcomed 400 guests traveling from both Italy and Israel. Hotels, restaurants, transport, and highly specialized professionals – from wedding planners to photographers and videographers – ensure that every moment of the day is handled with precision and care. This balance between historic charm and modern functionality makes Florence a preferred destination for both Italian and international couples.
Florence is not just a place to admire; it is a living stage for creating lasting memories. Its proximity to regions like Chianti allows couples to combine the vibrancy of the city with the tranquility of surrounding villas and rolling hills, enriching the narrative of the wedding day. The city also carries a profound cultural and spiritual dimension. Historic churches and the Florence Synagogue offer solemn and evocative spaces for religious ceremonies, infusing them with sacred atmosphere and meaning. For couples like Camilla and Yigal, choosing Florence meant weaving together tradition, art, and contemporary life into a celebration that was both deeply personal and profoundly memorable for them and their guests.
The Importance of Wedding Videography
A wedding film is far more than a simple record of the day, it is a complete narrative of an unrepeatable moment in time. Photography captures fragments, single instants of beauty, but videography brings back rhythm, atmosphere, and the emotional flow of every detail. For weddings on the scale of Camilla and Yigal’s – 400 guests and a profoundly meaningful Jewish ceremony – videography becomes essential alongside photography to tell the story in its entirety. Documenting such an event with naturalness requires experience, attention to detail, and the ability to anticipate the pace of the day.
This is where professionals like us at Thirtyfive Studios, together with the photography team of Riccardo Pieri, combine technical expertise and artistic sensitivity. Every frame is carefully composed to highlight the architecture of the venues, the play of natural light, and the gestures and expressions of the couple and their guests, transforming the wedding into an emotional film. Videography also captures dimensions that photography alone cannot convey: the voices of the couple during their vows, the traditional songs that filled the ceremony, the dynamic energy of hundreds of guests interacting, and the fluid choreography of movement.
The result is an immersive, almost cinematic experience that preserves not just the event itself, but also the symbolic and emotional context surrounding it. Choosing to invest in wedding videography means deciding to preserve a complete memory: one that conveys the uniqueness of a couple’s love story, the spirituality of their ritual, the beauty of the setting, and the personalities of those involved.
It is not just documentation, but the transmission of a story, kept alive and accessible for years to come. Ultimately, a wedding film is a gift. It is a legacy not only for the couple, but for future generations, and for those who could not be present yet wish they had been. Through video, the emotions and magic of that extraordinary day can be relived, shared, and cherished again and again.
