A Castle WeddingWhere the SeaMeets a Thousand Years of Stone.
Twelve centuries of history, a Norman tower rising above the courtyard, and the Tyrrhenian coast stretching beyond every terrace. You didn't choose this castello to blend in - and your photos won't either.
Castello Lanza Branciforte wasn't designed for events. It was built in 827 AD as a fortress, lived in by Norman lords, expanded by Arab architects, and loved by Sicilian princes for over a millennium. The fact that you can celebrate your wedding here — in the same courtyard where a thousand-year-old Ficus tree has witnessed centuries of history — is what makes it extraordinary.
I live thirty minutes from this castle. I've seen it in every light, every season. I know that the Arab Gardens at 6 PM in June are where your couple portraits will take your breath away. I know that the Norman Tower at sunset becomes a silhouette your grandmother will frame.
What I bring: not just a camera, but twelve years of knowing exactly where this coast puts on its best show.
The Norman Tower & Inner Court
The secular Ficus tree in the centre, the tower rising behind — this courtyard is a world unto itself. Morning light here is soft and diffused, perfect for the getting-ready details and first look.
Terrazza del Principe
The terrace that overlooks the entire Tyrrhenian coast. At sunset, the sky turns copper and the sea becomes a mirror. Your ceremony here writes its own story.
The Arab Gardens
Ornamental plants, water features, and a silence that feels deliberate. The light filtering through the garden canopy creates a dappled, painterly quality in portraits that no studio could replicate.
The Sea-Facing Lawns
Description: Three terraced meadows sloping towards the water. During golden hour, the grass turns warm and the coastline stretches endlessly behind you. This is where groups shots become art.
Where Norman architecture meets the Tyrrhenian coast - every image carries a thousand years of atmosphere.
Who Thinks in Centuries
I Live on This Coast
Castello di Trabia is thirty minutes from my door. I've watched its light change across hundreds of visits — not just on wedding days, but mornings, evenings, storms, golden hours. That knowledge doesn't come from a single site visit. It comes from a life lived here.
"Alex khew the castle better than the staff. Every photo felt planned but completely natural" — Julia & Thomas, USA
Stone and Skin Deserve the Same Reverence
Castle walls, bridal lace, your partner's expression — they're all textures that deserve the same editorial attention. I shoot Kodak Portra because the way it renders warm tones against ancient stone is irreplaceable.
"Every image feels natural, timeless and deeply emotional". — Chiara e Luca, Italy
Your Castle Wedding, Not a Castle Photoshoot
It's easy to get lost in the architecture and forget the people. I never do. The castle is the frame - your emotions are the painting. Every decision I make on the day serves your story, not the venue's Instagram.
"He captured us, not just the location. That's the difference." — Anna & Mark, United Kingdom
Castello di Trabia sits on the coast road between Sicily's two most captivating towns. Your guests have options most venues can't offer.
A morning in Cefalù - the medieval old town, the Norman cathedral, the beach that inspired a thousand postcards. An afternoon in Palermo - street food in Vucciria, the mosaics of Monreale, an aperitivo on a rooftop overlooking the old harbour.
I photograph the day-before and the morning-after as naturally as the ceremony itself — because the best wedding albums aren't about a single day. They're about the entire journey.
No Surprises
- Full wedding day coverage - 8 hours of uninterrupted attention
- Two professional photographers working in harmony
- 300 - 500 beautifully edited images, each one a moment you'll relive
- Private online gallery via PicTime - share with everyone who matters
- Premium 30x20cm wedding album - your story, bound and timeless
- High-resolution files with full print rights - your images, your freedom
- Pre-wedding consultation & Castello di Trabia location scouting with me
- Sneak peek within 48-72 hours - because you can't wait, and I understand
Bespoke Enhancements
Every story is unique. Tailor your experience — all options detailed in your personalised proposal.
“No packages.
— Alex Cinisi
No templates.
Just your story, your way.”
From Hello to “I Do”
Connect
Fill out the form below. I respond within 24 hours with tailored questions about your vision and celebration.
Discover
We jump on a video call to understand your story, your style, your wedding. This is where the magic begins.
Proposal
Within 48 hours you receive a bespoke proposal — clear pricing, coverage options, timeline. Everything transparent.
Celebrate
Pre-wedding planning, location scouting, timeline consultation — I'm here to make your entire experience effortless.
This Work
Hi, I'm Alex. I fell in love with wedding photography not because of cameras or compositions — but because of people.
There's something sacred about being invited into someone's most important day. The nervousness before the ceremony. The father's eyes when he sees his daughter. The way you two look at each other when no one's watching.
That's what makes me feel alive.
I grew up in Sicily, surrounded by extraordinary light and endless stories. My approach is quiet, intuitive, human. You live your day — I capture it unfolding naturally.
Need to Know
Very well — it's thirty minutes from where I live. I've photographed there across seasons and know every corner: the way afternoon light enters the Arab Gardens, the exact angle from the Terrazza del Principe that captures the full coastline, and the courtyard timing that makes the Norman Tower glow at sunset.
The castle itself doesn't offer guest rooms, but there are excellent hotels and B&Bs in Trabia, Cefalu (20 min east) and Palermo (30 min west). Many couples organise a shuttle service between the hotel and the castle. I can recommend options that past couples have loved.
Music and dancing are permitted until 2:00 AM - generous by Sicilian venue standards. The castle team manages everything in-house, including catering, so the evening flows without external coordination issues.
Music and dancing are permitted until 2:00 AM - generous by Sicilian venue standards. The castle team manages everything in-house, including catering, so the evening flows without external coordination issues.
The castle hosts civil and symbolic ceremonies on-site. For Catholic ceremonies, the nearby Santuario di Gibilmanna in the Madonie Hills is a popular choice — it's a stunning drive through the mountains and I can photograph the journey as part of your story.
Up to 400 guests across the various outdoor and indoor spaces. The Terrazza del Principe, the three sea-facing lawns, and the internal halls offer flexibility for everything from intimate celebrations to grand receptions.
Remaining
To ensure every couple at Castello di Trabia receives my complete creative attention, I accept a carefully curated number of weddings each year. I live thirty minutes from this castle - your pre-wedding walkthrough is always included.
Check Your DateThe Conversation.
Please use the form to check availability for your date. I respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.
You'll Open This Album
And Fall In Love Again
That's not a promise — it's the standard. Every image I create is designed to make you feel exactly what you felt in that moment, forever.
Begin Your Story →