“We love the challenge of blending creativity with real moments, finding the beauty in small things and capturing them in a way that feels exceptional yet somehow effortless.”

In the heart of Venice, just before Christmas, Haute Weddings embraced the romance of the city in winter and let that shape the story of Cassandra and Umberto. A wedding full of intimacy and grandeur, candlelight and history. Low light didn’t mean any photo limits. It meant romance and mood. And the result? A gallery that shows off creative risks, quick instincts, planning and a mastery of light. Every frame a memory that leans into the heritage and opulent style of Venice while staying real in the small moments and emotion of the day.

Photographer: Haute Weddings

Venice in winter feels like a secret. Exclusive. Close. Romantic. And that was the energy of Cassandra and Umberto’s wedding we wanted to lean into. Old-world elegance with a quiet intimacy.

The wedding was planned around everything that makes Venice iconic: a historic church for the ceremony, a boat ride through the canals for portraits, and an opulent reception at Palazzo Pisani Moretta, where a low-lit dinner unfolded beneath the incredible ceilings and red velvet walls. The colours were rich, romantic and classically Venice - all beautifully designed and put together by The Wedding Boutique Italy.

We spent time with the planning team the day before, walking through the space, planning a few shots, and preparing how we would deal with the low light and really capture the feeling of the place. We tested a few settings and lighting scenarios in the low light so we could be quick and confident on the day, focussing on the moments happening instead the technical side of things.

Cassandra and Umberto hosted their welcome drinks at the iconic Hotel Gritti Palace. On the way there, we walked through Piazza San Marco and stopped for a few portraits in the dark. We used the street lights and some construction lighting nearby where we found little pockets and angles that would work! These low light portraits in an empty San Marco square feel mysterious, romantic and exclusive. Though we had to be constantly mindful of our iso, and shutter speed in the very low light.

We love to capture the getting ready stages of the wedding day and being to build to vibe and aesthetic of what it’s all about. The rich tapestries on the walls at Hotel Baglioni provided an amazing spot to hold the getting ready stages. And the green shoes? It hit a perfect colour palette for us.

We always arrive once makeup is mostly done, still with plenty of time left before the bride needs to leave. We then love to prepare and produce some more elevated make up shots. We love the last shot of this section with the brush coming in from the side of the frame. A make up portrait if you will.

Umberto got ready nearby in a darker hotel room. So we had to lean into some direct flash as our way of elevating the look. After getting dress, he and his groomsmen walked 20 minutes along the canals to the church. We followed and with Venice as the backdrop, we had a great time capturing moments along the way.

The ceremony took place inside the beautiful Santa Maria del Rosario, a grand Venetian church with soaring ceilings. What you don’t see is how freezing cold it was inside.

Our plan with two shooters is always to have one near the altar to capture Umberto’s view. The other following Cassandra’s entrance from the back. One focused on digital (at the front) the other also shooting a few film frames. This allows us to capture the important moments, but with different vantage points and textures.

Straight from the church, we boarded a boat with the couple and made our way through the canals toward the reception. We stopped along the way, at a few iconic Venician spots to be the backdrop for a few portraits. However, being on a closed-top boat meant angles were tight so we had to find creative ways to make the portraits work.

One of us got off and shot from a bridge. Sometimes we focused on the landscape instead of the couple, letting Venice itself carry the frame. Those images — slightly softer, with the couple out of focus — brought something special to the gallery. Less posed. More poetic. The couple had brief us about important it was for the to be getting married in Umberto’s home town so we had full permission to lean into everything Venice.

The candlelit dinner inside the palazzo was the winter wedding reception of dreams. Maroon florals, red tapestry walls, soft light. The atmosphere was dripping with romance, warmth, and the feeling of a time gone by. But there were the modern twists too. The stationery. The sculptural floral design. And it all came together.

We wanted to enhance this mood, and never overpower it. Direct flash was tempting but always used sparingly. Most of the reception was captured using ambient light. At times, we used the modelling light on our flashes to softly light a subject without disrupting the atmosphere. It gave just enough lift, staying perfectly in balance with the existing light in the room.

One of our favourite elements was the opera singer, positioned in the centre of the tables. His presence opened the door for dramatic, documentary-style frames that felt totally in step with the setting.

We ended, of course, with the party. And a quick set of portraits of Cassandra in her party dress. Some of our favourite shots are of her standing on the furniture. Even if we got told off afterwards.

Our goal with photographing weddings is always the same: making photos that feel natural but elevated. And the final result we hope? A gallery that doesn’t just document the day — but actually feels like it.