Reformed Romance: 7 Design-Led Villa Reception Venues in Europe

Curated by The Story Of

Like a blank canvas basking beneath the Mediterranean sun, the design-led villa is fast becoming this year’s leading location for modern wedding receptions. 

Defined by an overall minimalistic approach to architecture, the modern villa presents a contemporary adaptation of alfresco simplicity – think bleached sandstone and wood, an open feeling to the spatial flow, and a rolling sunbaked landscape. Airy and open-minded, its fresh aesthetic marks a departure from the more-rigid, rustic vision of the farmhouse chateau getaway (a leading choice in the pre-pandemic industry). 

Our trend forecast predicts a forthcoming wave of capacious villa wedding receptions, thanks to the fresh aesthetic and endless styling opportunities that they offer. With Europe finally throwing open its doors for visitors, The Story Of. team has curated the ultimate list of villa venues to help you kick-start your search and send you on your way to a stylish wedding in the sun.

NEUENDORF HOUSE

Majorca, Spain

The Location: A 600m² villa situated near the village of Santanyi in the South-East of Majorca, 40 minutes from Palma de Mallorca airport. Located five minutes from one of the most beautiful beaches of Majorca, in the natural Parc of Mondragó, the venue comes hidden in an almond and olive grove of thirty acres.

The Venue: Neundorf House is a modern monastic vision of architects John Pawson and Claudio Silvestrin. The location combines conventions of interior and exterior spaces, playing with the juxtaposition of raw nature and modern architecture with pigments from the Majorcan soil used to create a pink pigment across the building's render.

Accommodation: The venue itself is wedding party friendly, sleeping up to eleven people, comprised of five bedrooms, four bathrooms and one guest bathroom.

Amenities: The grounds feature a courtyard fit for a wedding feast, a swimming pool, sunken tennis courts and garden landscaping. A magical rooftop terrace boasts sea views, while guests can explore organic gardens or relax in two saltwater pools complete with jacuzzis. The venue is child friendly, with a children's playhouse, high-chairs, changing facilities and mini sun-loungers.

Costing: Prices start from 12,000 EUR for one weeks hire.

CASA OLIVI

Le Marche, Italy

The Location: Surrounding by sweeping vistas and abundant Italian greenery, Casa Olivi was originally a farm in Le Marche, Italy. The region stretches for 100 miles along the Adriatic coast, surrounded by rich agricultural land and picturesque Italian villages. It is secluded and scenic for a moment of romantic serenity.

The Venue: Casa Olivi incorporates locality at it’s core, mixing tradition with contemporary fittings - never veering too far in one direction. Architects Wepsi and deMeuron converted the abandoned farmhouse in 2005 ​, maintaining the outside of the house true to its original form while updating its interior with a sense of modernity, flooded with natural light and neutral colours.

Accommodation: The house sleeps 11 in 5 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms and floor-cooling systems. For dinner and events, they can host up to 50 people.

Amenities: The exterior grounds offer an endless infinity pool, several dining locations and a cooking terrace that features a Japanese grill and outdoor cooking area. The hosts can assist with private catering and organised activities such as wine tasting, mozzarella making, truffle hunting and boat trips.

Costing: Costs vary throughout the season ranging from 5,500 EUR per week to 10,500 EUR in high season.

CASA CENTROFINESTRE

Le Marche, Italy

The Location: Another gem in Le Marche, Casa Centrofinestre is ideally located to enjoy the most amazing natural landscapes and the rich and beautifully preserved medieval towns. Situated just 30 minutes from beaches, nature reserves and the airport, this is an area that has it all in abundance.

The Venue: Dubbed as 'a minimalist farmhouse' this beautiful countryside retreat has been restored by renowned architects Studio Pignattai & Rabagli Associati. The location boasts a long, terraced, natural stone pool that boasts 360-degree views of the hilly landscape with rotating plantations.

Accommodation: The casa sleeps 14 people in 5 bedrooms and two sofa beds; 4 bedrooms are in the main building and one in the annex plus, an independent guest house. All bedrooms have air conditioning and en-suites. The master bedroom on the first floor of the main house features a picturesque freestanding bath with views over the rolling hills. A bridal-suite must.

Amenities: Amenities are endless at this well equipped estate. The living room on the ground floor has a vaulted ceiling and is home to the showpiece of the house, the kitchen with a 5-meters long stainless steel cooking island of Arclinea. A second large living room, on the first floor, reveals an ancient fireplace and offers room for 2 additional guests on a sofa bed. Outside in the southwestern part of the garden is a spacious terrace with a large dining table for 12 people. Elsewhere, private chefs, wine sommeliers and much more can be arranged at request.

Costing: Prices vary. 7 nights in June 2023 for 13 people is 6,600 EUR approx. Enquire via nice2stay.com

CASA LUUM

Algarve, Portugal

The Location: Nestled into a boundless background of olive, almond and cork trees, and blooming wildflowers, this 2500m² plot is found in Portugal’s southernmost region of Algarve. A sun-soaked and secluded spot, the space is located at the end of an undisturbed dirt road near the picturesque village of Santa Bárbara de Nexe.

The Venue: Once upon a time, Casa Luum was a dilapidated old ruin. Today, through the vision of architect Pedro Dominigos, it stands as a refined and refreshed space that boldly complements its expansive outdoors with whitewashed walls, concrete floors, wood and hand-woven textiles. With the symbolic integration of locally-sourced materials, floor-length doors and windows that drink in the natural light, and potted greenery, it offers an architectural personification of its natural Portuguese surroundings.

Accommodation: Reflecting its undisturbed location, Casa Luum’s sleeping arrangements are compact and small-scale, housing four spacious bedrooms. Catering to the intimate free-spirit, it presents the perfect space for hosting the after party of elopements and micro weddings.

Amenities: A true haven for the design-led individual, Casa Luum is ceaseless in contemporary amenities. With a top floor living room that connects to a huge roof terrace, plenty of outdoor patios for hosting dinner parties beneath the stars and a vast courtyard that’s lined by a wide open-air swimming pool, guests are invited to flow freely through the multidimensional space. There’s also a fireplace and large kitchen island for alternative hosting environments.

Costing: Prices range from 1,550 — 4,680 EUR for one week’s hire, depending on the season.

IL TABACCHIFICIO

Salento, Italy

The Location: Resting in the green outback of the small town of Diso in Salento, Il Tabacchificio is buried within the lush depths of many silvery olive trees which stand just outside its four walls. Close to a string of sandy beaches (with a distance of 5km from the Adriatic Sea), a stretch of seafront towns, such as Castro and Otranto, and sleepy historic villages, its location presents a unique, alfresco amalgamation of the great Italian outdoors.

The Venue: Having once stood as a 1930’s tobacco storehouse, this villa has been reimagined by architect Raffaele Centonze. Today, it exists as a balanced, seamless space that’s structured by industrial elements such as metal and glass finishes, and quartz concrete floors. Inside, the flowing space is defined by the Japanese concept of wabi sabi – evident through a mix of contemporary and collectable pieces which celebrate the interaction of beauty, simplicity and imperfection.

Accommodation: Suitable for hosting the reception of an intimate ceremony, the home can house up to twelve guests with six spacious ensuite bedrooms. As boundless as it is breathtaking, each bedroom echoes the rest of the home through a stylish blend of cult vintage design and local interior pieces.

Amenities: With various lounge areas both inside and out, the whitewashed interior space is divided by large columns that maintain the flow of the vast space. Guests can follow the open plan corridor to discover a home cinema and indoor eating area (complete with a reclaimed wood dinner table), as well as plenty of private nooks for a quiet moment of reflection. Outside, the landscaped exterior is punctuated by a large pool, professional BBQ, tennis court and ping pong table. Guests can also request a private chef.

Costing: Per week, prices range from 10,000 — 21,700 depending on the season.

MAISON KAMARI

Paros, Greece

The Location: Maison Kamari is a 180m² house built on a 4000m² plot and located in Paros. The love child of the local Greek architects who collaborated on the 2016 build, it can be found in the Kamari settlement of the island – a place that’s culturally defined as a mix of traditional Cycladic energy and the charm of the Greek countryside. Alongside its rolling landscape of rocky hills, olive trees and herbaceous shrubs, it’s a five minute drive from the beaches of Farangas Bay. Also close by is the elegant fishing village of Aliki, boasting a traditional local high street with a bakery, butcher, fish and vegetables stores, and fine traditional taverns.

The Venue: Azure blue meets ice white in the colour palette of Maison Kamari, which can be aesthetically defined as a thoughtful combination of orthodox Greek home design and contemporary, relaxed touches – such as plenty of warm wood, raffia textiles and mid-century pieces that have been sourced from flea markets in Paris and Athens to create an eclectic style. Integrating stone and natural materials with soft furnishings and tonal pieces, the space flows from room to room to present the layered development of a richly refined personality.

Accommodation: The main house offers two ensuite bedrooms and the attached guest house offers a separate bedroom and bathroom, making the space suitable for an intimate gathering of up to six people. A baby bed is also available.

Amenities: From the rooftop patio to the large terrace surrounding the pool, this space encourages an appreciation of its natural surroundings (with the island of Antiparos, the sea and a mountain all resting just behind the house). It has a HiFi sound system, cinema, indoor and outdoor dining areas, and plenty of books and games for some old school entertainment.

Costing: Rates for 6 people range from 2,700 — 8,100 USD depending on the season.

MASSERIA ANGIULLI PICCOLO

Grottaglie, Italy

The Location: An authentic Italian hideaway located five minutes outside of the artful town of Grottaglie (world-renowned for its ceramics and grape production), the country estate of Masseria Angiulli Piccolo is a restored 18th Century vineyard property. Abandoned for years with trees growing inside, it was reimagined by Norwegian architect Kristine Standnes, who embodied the elegantly rural nature of the space through a thoughtful restoration. It’s nestled in the centre of Puglia, disguised by lengths of vines and surrounded by 400 hectares of private vineyards, olive groves and orchards, as well as lavender and organic vegetable gardens.

The Venue: Connecting threads of history and nature with newer thoughts of design and architecture, the home is a harmony of both old and new elements. With plenty of room to breathe, the space is defined by natural materials such as wood and stone, and furnished with tonal modern and vintage pieces that echo the natural surroundings. From the flowing lengths of the canopy beds and the vaulted ceilings to smaller pieces, such as the vintage claw-foot bathtub and tactile ceramics sourced from the local pottery town, Masseria Angiulli Piccolo embodies the humble Italian country life with revered elegance.

Accommodation: The property boasts five ensuite bedrooms that lead out to two large terraces. Close to the pool, the guest quarters present two additional ensuite bedrooms. The estate is recommended to house thirteen guests comfortably. Guests can also use the baby beds.

Amenities: Masseria Angiulli Piccolo is rich in rhythmic flow. Starting with the large courtyard (shielded by a pergola terrace), it expands out to the large countryside-facing swimming pool, lined with sun loungers and overlooked by an outdoor shower. The alfresco pizza oven and open-air dining space is overlooked by the many terraces of the house, all designed to encourage memorable family moments shared over home-cooked meals. Inside, there is a fully-equipped kitchen, spaces to listen to music and watch movies, and access to a daily maid.

Costing: A daily rate of hire ranges from 800 – 1,400 USD depending on seasonal time.

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