Julie and Marc’s Villa Cimbrone wedding was a spectacular celebration on the Amalfi Coast. They invited many high-profile guests and wanted a day that was memorable for its beauty and attention to detail. With their planner, Sabrina Carbone, they created an event with a high level of decoration that enhanced the famous grounds of the villa.
The Wedding Details
- Couple: Julie and Marc
- Venue: Villa Cimbrone
- Where: Ravello, Amalfi Coast, Italy
- When: June
- Guests: 100+
- Ceremony: Symbolic blessing in the Tea Room garden
- Planner: The Extraordinaire
A Wedding Day at Villa Cimbrone
Getting Ready
The day began with Julie, her daughters, and bridesmaids getting ready in the Ernest William Beckett Suite. It is a wonderfully spacious room with views over the coastline. On the way to the ceremony, we passed through the villa’s cloisters, which gave us a chance to take a few quiet portraits of Julie in her Monique Lhuillier dress.
A Ceremony in the Garden
The ceremony took place in the gardens of the Tea Room. This is a location where timing is important. If you start too early, you can get patchy light as the sun shines through the trees, or even have half the ceremony in shade and half in bright sun. By waiting for the right moment, we had beautiful, soft, filtered light for everyone. After the ceremony and some family photos, the guests made their way to the Infinity Terrace for drinks.
The Infinity Terrace
The famous Terrace of Infinity at Villa Cimbrone has one of the most recognisable views in Italy. After the guests had been led to the dining area, we used the terrace for a few couple portraits. This allowed Julie and Marc some time alone while their guests found their way to the reception. We waited until the sun had set behind the mountains, which creates a beautiful, even light across the terrace and the coastline beyond.
Dinner in the Crypt
Once their guests were seated, the couple walked from the terrace to the Crypt, passing through the wisteria tunnel. The dinner setting was incredible, with roses appearing to climb the vaulted ceilings and chandeliers hanging from the arches. After the speeches, Julie and Marc had their first dance under a chandelier before cutting their cake. Entertainers then arrived, dancing with guests and leading everyone with a walking band to the party, which continued late into the night in a custom-designed party room.
Photographing at Villa Cimbrone
Villa Cimbrone has many well known locations, but each presents its own challenges for photography.
The Ernest William Beckett Suite is a great backdrop for getting ready photos, but its south-facing windows mean the room becomes very dark as the sun sets in the west. We bring our own equipment to create perfect lighting, so we can use the beautiful room to its full potential.
On the Infinity Terrace, the key is to wait. For portraits, it’s best to hold off until the sun is behind the mountains. This ensures the terrace is in the same light as the coastline behind the couple. It creates a much more balanced and beautiful exposure as the dusky colours appear in the sky.
Planning a Wedding at Villa Cimbrone?
If you are planning a wedding at Villa Cimbrone, or a day like this on the Amalfi Coast, write to me.
