Suspended between sea and stone, this editorial at old Tonnara feels like a quiet breath held in time. Created by a team of talented professionals, the shoot captures the essence of Sicilian light, texture, and emotion—bringing together refined styling, sculptural florals, and a timeless coastal setting where every detail speaks with intention.
Morning
The day opened slowly at the historic villa, a place where the rhythm of the sea seems to dictate the pace of time. Built in the early 20th century, this historic tuna fishery stands just above the shoreline, offering views of both sunrise and sunset over the water. From the inside, the house feels untouched—sunlight filters through tall shuttered windows, landing softly on vintage armchairs, art books, and checkered floors. Outside, the Mediterranean hums quietly, setting the tone for a morning that felt calm, unfiltered, and entirely present.
The bride leaned out from the balcony in a lightweight white dress, framed by sea-worn stone and sky-blue shutters. Below, he watched her with quiet admiration, with a camera in hand. The couple’s time together that morning was unhurried—walking barefoot through the garden, sitting on a lace blanket surrounded by lemons, calla lilies, and a woven picnic basket. Nothing was staged. The connection between them moved naturally, full of casual intimacy and laughter. Even the family cat lingered nearby, as if part of their world.
As they wandered together through the house and garden, photographing and being photographed, they created a story that didn’t need words. Their energy was light and affectionate. He brought her flowers, she smiled up at him from the blanket, and together they built a moment that felt quiet but full. The simplicity of the setting—the linen dress, the soft breeze, the old fig tree—only made their connection feel stronger.
"Each photograph is thought of as a diary page, an unmailed letter, or a fragment of a carefully guarded memory."
Couple's Look
For the ceremony, the bride stepped into a romantic and sculptural dress by Rosa Alessi, featuring a boned satin corset and a full, cloud-like tulle skirt. The structure of the bodice gave a delicate strength to her silhouette, while the skirt brought softness and movement with every step. Paired with a sheer lace veil, the look balanced classical elegance with contemporary lines. She held a striking bouquet of white anthuriums and astilbe—graphic, minimal, and sculptural in its own right.
Her makeup, by Federica Arrigo, highlighted her features without overpowering them—glowy skin, brushed brows, and lips in a natural rose tone. Oksana Veolait styled her hair into a sleek middle-part bun, letting the veil fall gracefully behind.
"The intimate, romantic, and timeless look was created with the intention of allowing the bride’s essence to shine through: no excess, only balance and harmony with the surrounding landscape.”
The groom’s look was refined and perfectly fitted to the Sicilian setting. Dressed by Salvatore Martorana, he wore a sand-colored linen suit with a white open-collar shirt—sharp but relaxed. The choice of light, breathable fabric felt at home among the sunlit rooms of the villa, and the tailoring brought quiet structure to his presence. A small boutonniere pinned to his lapel echoed the soft neutral tones of the florals, tying his look to hers with subtle continuity. Together, they appeared balanced, elegant, and in sync with the space around them.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place directly on the shoreline, steps away from the historic walls of the villa. Facing the open sea, the altar was created with an oversized arch of pale blue fabric that moved gently in the breeze, echoing the tones of the sky and water. The base of the structure was grounded with weathered stones and softened with loose florals, bringing an organic shape to the otherwise sculptural setting. Designed by Simona Saguto, the layout struck a careful balance between modernity and nature—an aesthetic that made space for emotion without overwhelming it.
The floral design by Maria Mannino played with texture and restraint. Bleached pampas grass, calla lilies, hydrangeas, and branches of limonium stretched upward and outward from the sand as if growing there naturally. Their asymmetrical placement gave the illusion that the wind had shaped them. A narrow mirrored aisle shimmered beneath the bride’s feet as she approached, lined with scattered calla lilies that seemed to bloom from the sand.
The couple held handmade vow books by Valeria Cassone, tied with silk ribbon, the script pressed into textured paper. Their words were exchanged under soft morning sun, with waves marking time behind them. When she wiped her tears and held his hands, the design faded into the background—exactly as intended.
Car Ride
After the ceremony, the couple paused for a quiet moment with a vintage cream Alfa Romeo Spider. Parked beneath fig trees, the car became a frame for tenderness. She leaned against the hood in her tulle dress, her head resting softly on his shoulder, while he wrapped an arm around her waist. The atmosphere felt cinematic—intimate yet composed. They didn’t rush to leave. Instead, they stood together as the wind moved gently through the leaves, allowing the moment to unfold at its own pace.
Alberto Cosenza approached this moment with his signature subtlety—never imposing, always observing. His lens didn’t just document the couple near the car; it translated their connection into visual language. He framed them through layers of light, glass, and shadow, creating images that feel like memories rather than photos. The tenderness, the silence between movements, the emotion behind every glance—it’s all there, but never overstated. His ability to hold space for real emotion while keeping the visual narrative refined is what sets his work apart on this shoot.
Reception Decor & Setting
The reception took place just steps from the sea, with the mountains behind and waves rolling in beside it. A single long table stretched along the stone path, covered in thick taupe linen that puddled onto the ground. The setup felt sculptural from the start—centerpieces were made of stacked white stones, soft coral-like textures, and sculptural calla lilies reaching out at unexpected angles. Pops of deep indigo anemones added contrast, while the whole palette stayed close to the tones of the beach itself.
Designed by Simona Saguto, the scene played with contrasts—elegant but raw, composed but wild. Maria Mannino brought a rare sense of rhythm to the flowers, combining limonium, calla lilies, and blue terracotta vessels that marked the table like pieces of Mediterranean art. Above, chandeliers swayed from white arches draped in tulle, adding movement to the space and casting soft reflections on a mirrored set below. Each place setting featured a single flower resting on thick fabric napkins, with all rentals thoughtfully provided by Criscione Catering.
"From idea to realization, every detail speaks of vision, of care, of an aesthetic that anticipates trends without ever sacrificing personality."
The couple walked into the reception together. She stepped lightly onto the table barefoot, layers of her dress catching the sea breeze, floating between the chandeliers and soft drapes. It felt like everything—the decor, the light, the wind—moved with her. For a moment, the setting transformed from a styled design into something living and weightless, as if the entire scene had been waiting for that exact breath of air.
Cake & Champagne
The cake table was tucked inside a rustic boathouse, surrounded by coiled ropes and old wooden planks. The four-tier cake by Criscione Catering stood tall with textured buttercream and soft botanical details. White anthuriums rose from between the layers like sculptural accents, paired with dried sprigs and smooth white stones at its base. Taupe linen draped to the floor, and a ring of candles added a quiet glow around the table.
Nearby, a tower of silver coupe glasses waited for the champagne pour. The couple stood side by side, each holding a bottle, and let the sparkling wine flow from the top glass down through the stack. The light reflected in the metal, the ribbons of champagne caught mid-air — everything felt effortless, cinematic, and celebratory. And that’s how the day ended — with movement, light, and laughter, just as it began.
"This series of images stems from a desire to tell the story of suspended time, that which precedes a change, a revelation, or simply a moment of truth."
PLANNER & DESIGNER Simona Saguto | PHOTOGRAPHER Alberto Cosenza | FLORALS Maria Mannino | CATERER Criscione Catering | HAIR Oksana Veolait | MAKEUP Federica Arrigo | BRIDAL ATTIRE Rosa Alessi | GROOM’S ATTIRE Salvatore Martorana | STATIONERY Valeria Cassone | CAR Alberto Gandolfo
