Venue review · Manawatū

Villa Candotti, Manawatū: a Wedding Venue Review

A hidden Italian garden near Palmerston North, reviewed by the team who photographed a wedding here, with a bunch of real photos from the day.

5 sections Palmerston North & Manawatū Updated July 2026

A bride framed by the ivy arches at Villa Candotti, an Italian garden wedding venue near Palmerston North — Photo: Ryan Clark, Selah Weddings · Villa Candotti

Villa Candotti is one of those places most people around Palmy have no idea exists, a hidden little Italian garden tucked away in the Manawatū, all cypress trees, ivy arches & clipped hedges. We shot R & B's wedding here & absolutely loved it, so here's a proper photographer's-eye review!

Short version: if you want somewhere that feels like a slice of Tuscany without leaving the Manawatū, & photographs like an absolute dream, you'll want to see this one :)

Villa Candotti

A hidden Italian garden in the Manawatū.

Villa Candotti is a private Italian-style garden near Palmerston North, & walking in genuinely feels like stepping into Tuscany, tall cypress trees, ivy-covered archways, a formal ceremony arbour & manicured hedges everywhere you look.

It's intimate & exclusive, so the whole garden is yours for the day. One of our favourite spots in the region to photograph, the backdrops do half the work for you.

Near Palmerston North
Private Italian garden
Cypress + ivy arches
Intimate & exclusive

● Manawatū (near Palmerston North)

☼ We've photographed here · see the gallery

The ceremony

Vows under the garden arbour.

R & B said their vows in front of the ivy arbour with the cypress standing tall behind, guests either side on timber chairs in the sun. It's such a natural, romantic ceremony spot, you barely need to add a thing.

The whole garden funnels your eye down the aisle to the arch. Beautiful to shoot, & lovely to be a guest in.

R & B, Palmerston North & Manawatū — Photo: Ryan Clark, Selah Weddings

R & B

Portraits in the garden.

For couple photos you don't have to go anywhere, the wisteria archway, the ivy walls & the hedged garden rooms give you endless backdrops in a few square metres.

We love a bit of black & white here too, that Italian-garden light is soft & flattering, & the greenery gives everything so much depth.

The details & the people

Signing the register, the crew & the little ones.

Little moments like signing the register on a wine barrel with the bouquet resting beside it, the bridal party looking sharp against the cypress, & the flower girl in on the portraits, this is the stuff that makes a smaller garden wedding feel so personal.

Everything's close together, so nobody's rushing & everyone's part of it.

The celebration

Confetti, hugs & all the feels.

The recessional back down the aisle through the confetti, big hugs from everyone after, this is where a garden like this really shines, everyone spills out onto the lawn & the party just starts right there.

A genuinely joyful place to end up. We had the best day shooting here.

Your photographer & film team

Getting married at Villa Candotti? We'd love to shoot it.

We're Selah, a Palmerston North wedding photo & film team, & Villa Candotti is right in our backyard! One crew for Photo, Video, & real Super 8 film. If you're planning a day here, we'd be stoked to connect :)

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Common questions

Where is Villa Candotti?

It's a private Italian-style garden in the Manawatū, near Palmerston North. It's a low-key, exclusive spot, so get in touch with them directly for exact location & availability.

What kind of wedding suits Villa Candotti?

It's best for a smaller, intimate garden wedding, think a beautiful outdoor ceremony & relaxed celebration surrounded by cypress & greenery. If you love the Tuscan / Italian-garden look, it's perfect.

Is Villa Candotti good for photos?

Honestly it's one of the most photogenic venues in the region, the ivy arches, cypress avenues & garden rooms give you gorgeous backdrops everywhere without leaving the garden. Soft light & so much greenery.

Last reviewed July 2026. Details change, so always confirm directly with each venue.