Setting the Scene

The soft, sunlit hills of Tuscany - dotted with cypress trees and endless vineyards - set the tone for a 3-day celebration. It was here that Amsterdam-based creative director and event stylist Anthea van Marle (formerly Bronwasser) and DJ and producer Arthur van Marle gathered their loved ones for a weekend of regional food, music and dancing.

To bring their vision to life, they collaborated with a local planner who had assisted with previous weddings of the van Marle family, a local florist, and Henriëtte Linens - Arthur’s sister-in-law’s brand. Each table carried Anthea’s personal touch: embroidered napkins for every guest and custom linens adorning the dessert table, where the tiramisu was later served. The evening’s dining experience was curated by Galateo Catering - known, among others, for Millie Bobby Brown’s wedding - whose approach combined culinary finesse with striking visual detail, even down to the waitstaff’s attire.

Anthea wanted to evoke “a sense of romance, timeless elegance, and that old Italian chic charm with a modern twist.” She wanted it to feel personal and warm.

Sarah, ALTA Studio’s director, says about the wedding: “This wedding felt really special, because I had such a great connection with Anthea from the beginning and she’s one of the sweetest humans I have met. I worked with my assistant photographer Ash Bean, who is really talented, hard working and I’m very grateful she was with me. We scouted the location the day before and got a sense of the venue and layout, though the heat on the wedding day still took everyone by surprise (35+ degrees Celsius). We had to improvise due to timeline (and light) shifts and adapt to how the couple felt - but I always make sure I communicate very clearly the captures we have, what we still need and what our possibilities are.”

Photographer: ALTA

Info, Approach and Gear

“As usual, I brought my entire kit with me,” Sarah says. “I shoot a lot of film and actually prefer it in most situations - especially Medium Format -, but I also take digital images and usually start with these first. I have to admit, though, that focusing on one medium is easier than giving both equal attention.

It definitely helps when you have an assistant dedicated to loading and handling film - making sure the 120 rolls are taped and labelled, for example - but that’s not a luxury you have at every wedding. My second shooter assists with loading film and mostly captures everything digitally to create a backup and alternate angles, while also shooting a few rolls. This was the case here.

I truly believe that working as a team leads to the most diverse and beautiful results - similar to how campaigns and studio shoots are a team effort - and it’s important to remove ego from the process. It’s almost impossible to find someone who sees the world exactly as you do, so you have to collaborate with someone who understands your vision and adds their own strengths to it, while also meshing with you and bringing positive energy to the day. We shot this wedding very intuitively.”

Coverage: 2 days, 10hrs for the Wedding Day and about 45min Pool Party

Team: Photographer Sarah Astner and Assistant Photographer Ash Bean

Cameras:

Film Stock: Portra 400 scanned on Noritsu HS-1800

Drone: DJI Mavic 3 Classic

The Getting Ready

Arthur and his groomsmen got ready nearby at Villa La Barone, taking a dip in the pool to cool off in the scorching heat. They were in no rush to get dressed, wanting to enjoy this time.

“We simply let it all happen naturally. I always try to break the ice by arriving earlier than intended and saying hello to everyone, having a cheers or perhaps even assisting with whatever is needed at the time,” Sarah says. “Later on, we photographed them helping each other and took some time for group shots and groom portraits. Anything that can be done organically earlier in the day helps ease the schedule - things often run late, which can even happen with planners involved, and it’s usually the photographers’ time that gets cut short.”

“I love capturing the chaos and the honest details - an empty coffee cup, shorts thrown over a planter, shoes on the ground - it tells a story. A story of how it was and felt. My second shooter understood this. When there’s time and space, I enjoy getting creative with details and arranging them in an unexpected, fashion-magazine-inspired way. But I’m not the type of photographer who’ll line up your stationery in a grid. I think you’ll cherish these printed memories, tucked away into an album, so much more.”

The Ceremony

It was a truly special moment when Anthea came down the stairs and saw Arthur for the first time. They were both overcome with emotion - it was just as they had imagined it. A close friend, who also was Arthur’s best man, officiated the ceremony.

“The ceremony space was on a hill, which already tilted the composition, so you had to shoot in a way where it didn’t feel off-putting. The bench was positioned closely to the front and the speakers, so we decided to split up left and right and floated around - also covering the back angle. We were able to capture guests close-ups and Anthea and Arthur’s reactions, but my favourite shots ended up being their hug and the wide shot from the back.”

Guests Mingling and Reception

Impeccably dressed guests gathered by the pool, their flowing dresses catching the late afternoon light. The atmosphere was relaxed yet chic, with laughter and the clinking of glasses by the water. Oysters, Parmigiano Reggiano, and prosciutto were served alongside Negronis, setting the tone for an evening that blended effortless style with Italian indulgence.

“It was easy to take great guest pictures throughout the evening. A lot of guests were used to cameras, open to posing, and at that time of the day everyone already had a few drinks - ready to move on to the dinner. While Ash was still with them, I captured the dinner space, particularly with my Mamiya 645AF. The light was just hitting the tables right at that point, though the sun had mostly vanished behind the hills. I opted for non-flash photos, it didn’t feel right to cancel out the ambient light, and only moved onto flash once the environment was too dark.”, Sarah says.

“The light quickly faded and the evening turned into a love-fest of emotional speeches, local dishes served by Galateo’s waiters and tiramisu - with their A&A logo on it.”

“I like the look of off-camera flash, held slightly higher, for that cinematic spotlight effect. During the day, I mostly keep it on-camera since there’s already so much gear to manage, but I love what it adds to the final gallery. I tend to use it more in the evening - or have my second photographer handle it, like in this case during speeches.”

“Since it was so hot during the day and the timeline was running over, we decided to sneak in couple and solo portraits with flash when we could later on.”, Sarah says.

“I didn’t direct much, and I usually don’t direct much - especially with couples who know how to pose -, I mostly suggest small adjustments, like leaning on something (or someone), correcting posture, or shifting weight to one leg. When there is opportunity for it and my clients are openminded, I do like to involve props such as chairs or couches, but that wasn’t the case at this wedding. I adore the moments that happen in between and organically. They are often my favourite captures.”

Bouquet Toss, Dancing and DJ’s

Anthea and Arthur had several artists playing at their wedding, including AGELESS. It truly was a party - freshly made pizzas were served, a bar had been set up in the castle courtyard and everyone was dancing. Anthea decided to do a traditional bouquet toss somewhere in-between.

“It was an iconic moment, especially in the way they chose to do it - from upstairs. I focused on Anthea and Arthur, I opted to focus on the digital images to make sure I got the moment (it did end up looking like an image on film after grading), while Ash was downstairs capturing the guest catching the bouquet on film. You don’t see these traditional elements much anymore, but I think they can be absolutely beautiful when they align with who you are as a person and are done right. It’s also entertaining your guests.,” explains Sarah.

“I knew Anthea loved black and white, and I prefer dance floor shots in black and white as well. It gives it a bit of a nostalgic, timeless feel. So this part in the gallery is very monochrome, with a few splashes of colour.”

Closing Thoughts From The Photographer & Couple

“This wedding was everything I hope for - clients who radiate love and kindness, and who trust my vision. There was not really a shot list, just priorities. A stunning venue, a focus on fashion and meaningful details, and above all, creating a fun experience for their guests. Anthea and Arthur took great care of us, as well as Galateo - we got to eat their incredible food at our own table around the same time as guests, and got served beers, wine and their tiramisu (which happens to be my favourite dessert). It’s not a given, and I appreciate it.

When you build a day around what you love and give attention to every element that makes it dynamic and authentic, great images follow. Every couple has different goals, but I think the social media aspect and the desire to be featured can sometimes overshadow what really matters and skew your own expectations. In the end, it really is just about love, capturing that, and nothing else. For Anthea and Arthur, their wedding was the truest reflection of that.”, says Sarah.

Anthea recommends couples “to stay a bit longer, wherever you are, before you come back to reality. Give yourselves time to unwind and reflect on the weekend before heading back to reality.”

Vendors

Photographer: ALTA Studio
Photo Assistant: Ash Bean
Styling: Anthea van Marle
Videographer: Lukas De Groott
Wedding Planner: Tie The Knot Wedding Planner
Catering: Galateo Ricevimenti
Flowers: Marie Lou Fiori
Linens: Henriette Linens
Stationery: Every Form of Poetry
MU/H: Iacopo Volpini

Style

1st Dress: Danielle Frankel
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Suit: OGÉR