Sorrento, and the surrounding Amalfi coast of Italy, boasts some of the most picturesque and dramatic coastal landscapes anywhere in the world. The food is second to none, and the locals are the nicest and most relaxed people anywhere. Which was the perfect place to join Chloe, who runs Cakes by Chloe in Raleigh, NC and makes the best wedding cakes you’ve ever had; and Dave, who runs Severance Productions (also in Raleigh, NC) and is an amazing photographer and videographer; and their very closest family and friends for an amazing week of Destination Wedding fun.
Arriving in 4 or 5 days before the wedding allowed us all to explore and bond, and really have a great and relaxing time as we got closer to the wedding day. Everything from a quick train ride up north to Pompeii, to a rented motor scooter ride through town and into the cliffs overlooking the ocean to a bus ride through the Amalfi coast into Positano and Amalfi. And all while sampling the most amazing pizza, pasta, and tomato sauce you’ve ever had. (I’m ruined, as “Italian” food here in the states has now been demoted to being questionable at best). All culminating with a fantastic impromptu dinner at the marina the night before the wedding.
And the wedding day itself was nothing short of perfect. Chloe got ready at the Hotel Villa Garden with tall ships and yachts sailing beneath with Pompeii in the distance. The ceremony was at the famed 8th century Cloisters di S. Francesco. And the reception was on the roof of the Hotel Mediterraneo with a perfect sunset under the watchful eye of Mt Vesuvius. One thing you’ll see in the photos is that Chloe & Dave had a private first dance inside the Cloisters, while the guests were outside. Their parents, Best Man and Maid of Honor, stayed to watch, as the two musicians played an acoustic song for them. It was a really emotional and beautiful moment.
Even though we went well past midnight, the next morning everyone was all smiles (and bleary eyed) for an amazing poolside Italian brunch and lunch at the Hotel Mediterraneo. Once we were filled up, Chloe and Dave put their wedding dress and suit back on and we drove into Positano and Ravello for an extended session of couple photos.
The next morning was a fantastic brunch followed by an extended photo shoot with Chloe & Dave. We set up a driver to take us to Positano and Ravello for some beautiful couple photos that we didn’t have time to do on the day of the wedding. And enough can’t be said for the dedication they showed in finding me as we ran up the endless, long and steep winding and narrow cobblestone mazes of inner Ravello trying to find the top, anywhere, to find a view for sunset. We finally surprisingly reached it, and took the last two photos you see here in about 5 minutes, before it was completely dark. Thanks in no small part to Chloe wearing Nike’s all day!
All of this couldn’t have been done without the fantastic help of Cheryl of Bella Sposa Wedding Planning in the UK and Italy, Francesco of the Hotel Mediterraneo, and the Hotel Garden Villa.
Now let’s take a look at some of my favorite photos from this beautiful destination wedding along Italy’s Amalfi coast, in Sorrento, Positano and Ravello.
