An Editorial Wedding at Villa Astor: Timeless Elegance in Italy Captured on Analogue Film
Villa Astor Wedding Photography in Sorrento, Italy
Villa Astor wedding photography is made for imagery that feels romantic, cinematic and quietly transportive. Perched above the Bay of Naples in Sorrento, Italy, Villa Astor carries the feeling of another era — old-world architecture, layered gardens, sea air, and a sense of beauty that feels both grand and deeply intimate. Travelling from Margaret River in Western Australia, arriving here felt like stepping into a place where history, atmosphere and light were already telling the story.
This editorial, created with Wed Vibes and an extraordinary international team, became a study in analogue film wedding photography: the texture of 35mm film, the softness of 120 medium format film, and the way digital imagery can sit beside both with intention.
A Villa Astor Wedding Editorial on 35mm and 120 Medium Format Film
For this Villa Astor wedding editorial, I photographed with my trusted Mamiya 7 II for 120 medium format film and Contax G1 and Contax T2 for 35mm film, alongside a digital setup. The mix allowed me to document not only what the day looked like, but how it felt: the tactile grain of film, the softness of the Sorrento light, the movement of fabric, and the quiet in-between moments that make an image linger.
The morning of the shoot, I shook off the travel weariness with a swim beneath ancient castles built into the cliffs. From that first glimpse of the coast, every corner of Villa Astor felt alive with texture — stone, sea, shadow, greenery and old-world detail.
Why Villa Astor Is a Dream Wedding Venue in Sorrento
Villa Astor is more than a wedding venue; it feels like a character within the story. Its cliffside position, historic interiors, botanical gardens, terraces and views across the Bay of Naples give every frame a sense of place. The estate’s gardens stretch across more than 20,000 square metres, moving through exotic plants, ancient ruins and sea views that feel almost painted into the landscape.
For couples planning a Villa Astor wedding, this is the kind of setting that does not need to be overworked. The beauty is already there. My role is to observe it with feeling, guide when needed, and create imagery that feels natural rather than performed.
Fashion, Florals and the Atmosphere of the Day
The fashion moved beautifully through the setting. Lisa May Jolley wore gowns by Murashka Official, each one bringing a different rhythm to the editorial — soft, sculptural, romantic, and at times strikingly dramatic against the old walls and gardens of Villa Astor.
The shoot was produced by Wed Vibes and guided by Angie Maraval Weddings, with florals by Motif Floral, stationery by Idea d’Arte Wedding Lab, and music by Jam in the Jukebox. Every detail added to the feeling of the day — layered, sensory, elegant, and quietly otherworldly.
And then, just as the day seemed already full of magic, the weather gave us a rainbow over the Sorrento coastline. It felt like nature adding one final brushstroke to the story.
Candlelit Villa Astor Reception Details
One of the most memorable details from this Villa Astor wedding editorial was the candlelit reception concept. In place of a traditional wedding cake, a sculptural arrangement of candles created a quiet ritual of its own — intimate, symbolic and softly illuminated. The glow of the candles echoed the warmth of the villa and brought a sense of romance that felt both old-world and modern.
On 35mm film, these details carried a softness that felt beautifully imperfect: warm light, gentle blur, texture, and the kind of atmosphere that cannot be polished into existence.
Analogue Film Wedding Photography at Villa Astor
What I love about analogue film wedding photography is the way it slows everything down. With 35mm and 120 medium format film, every frame asks for more attention — to light, movement, expression, composition and feeling. At Villa Astor, that slower way of seeing felt completely at home.
The result is a gallery that holds both reliability and texture: digital photography for clarity and fullness, 35mm film for movement and nostalgia, and 120 medium format film for softness, depth and a more editorial feeling. Together, they create a record that feels polished enough to last, but still human, tactile and alive.
Planning a Villa Astor Wedding or Destination Wedding in Italy
If you are planning a Villa Astor wedding, a Sorrento wedding, or a destination wedding in Italy, I would love to create imagery that feels atmospheric, artful and deeply personal. My approach is calm and intuitive, with gentle direction where it matters and space for the honest, unplanned moments that often say the most.
I photograph weddings on digital, 35mm film and 120 medium format film, creating galleries that feel both cinematic and sensory — memory held in light, texture and motion. Get in touch here if you would like to talk about your wedding in Italy or beyond.
Vendors That Made It All Possible
- Venue: Villa Astor
- Planner: Angie Maraval Weddings
- Executive Production Team: Wed Vibes
- Concept Development: THC Planning
- Lead Photographer: @haute.weddings
- Videography by Jay and Mack Films
- BTS by Alex Gaidashev
- Content Creation by SO Bridal Social
- Event Design by Pavlina Design
- Florals by Motif Floral
- Rentals by G&G Party Service
- Dresses by Murashka Official
- Make-Up & Hair for Main Couple by Makeup Frankfurt
- Make-Up & Hair for Guest Couples by Elena Gentile Wedding
- Stationery by Idea d’Arte Wedding Lab
- Music by Jam in the Jukebox
- Models Main Couple by @lisamayjolley
- Guest Couple by @elifandmert_
- Guest Couple @nataliavaleriabf
Connect With Me
This Villa Astor wedding editorial reaffirmed my love for the stories that places tell — how architecture, landscape, light and human connection can become part of the same memory. If you are drawn to wedding photography that feels natural rather than performed, tactile rather than overly polished, and romantic without being obvious, I would love to hear from you.