An intimate Mediterranean celebration at a private villa in Corfu
A Wedding That Felt Like Coming Home
They didn’t stage a spectacle. They invited people they love to a place that matters to them and let the day be itself.
I. & T.—Vienna by origin, Zurich by life—opened their private villa on Corfu and set one clear intention: make it easy for everyone to feel welcome. The result was a slow, generous celebration where conversation ran long, the wind carried the vows, and nothing felt performative.
Place, not production
The villa sits above the Ionian, stone and shade and the kind of light that edits for you—soft morning, bright noon, honeyed evening. The landscape dictated pace. Guests arrived without rush; the ceremony began when the chatter settled; the day kept breathing.
People first
They were present in the simplest ways: making sure grandparents had shade, topping up a friend’s glass, moving between tables without the usual wedding choreography. Their devotion to each other was obvious—quiet, steady, the kind that makes a room softer. Photographing that level of care changes the pictures. You don’t chase moments; they meet you.
Design that belonged
Nothing shouted. The palette felt native to the island: linen on long tables, olive sprigs, candles in lived-in holders, and citrus—grapefruit and the small, bright kumquats Corfu is known for—tucked into the styling. Texture did the work. Form followed feeling.
Ceremony, unamplified
Hands held. Voices wavered a little. The sea handled the soundtrack. No choreography, no “now look at each other” prompts. They didn’t need an audience; they had witnesses.
Dinner the way it should be
Al fresco, long and late. Food passed down the table. Laughter that shows up on film. Speeches that were actually listened to. The light slipped into blue and no one looked at a timeline.
How I worked
I stayed close enough to feel it and far enough not to bend it. Digital for range, film for tone and restraint—the pace of film keeps me honest. I looked for the things that outlast fashion: a thumb tracing a wrist under the table; the minute after the vows when they finally exhaled; the table after the first toast—wax softening, citrus oil on fingers, linen creasing.
If you want to be in your wedding rather than perform it, this is the way I photograph: quietly, attentively, with room for the day to be itself.
For couples planning a destination wedding in 2026
Let the place lead. A strong location will simplify every decision.
Keep the list true. The more you know your guests, the better the day feels.
Design with what’s already there. Local materials, seasonal color, functional beauty.
Protect the margins. Buffer minutes create the photographs you’ll keep.
Hire for presence. Choose vendors who disappear into the moment and return with proof.
Credits
Location: Private villa, Corfu, Greece
Styling notes: Local kumquat, grapefruit, olive, linen, candlelight
Photographs: Victoria van den Hoven
Booking 2026 (Italy · France · Greece · beyond)
If this pace feels right—human, artful, quietly joyful—I’d love to make something honest with you.
→ Inquire about 2026 dates