When wedding dreams come true… we love that Alicia and Arcady went from joking about what a great wedding venue the majestic Belmond Caruso would make for their very hypothetical Jewish wedding to tying the knot there four years later!
Not that you need a sentimental reason to justify a venue as outrageously gorgeous as this one — it’s basically everything the words “Amalfi Coast” probably conjure up for you, and then some. With a sweet floral chuppah overlooking the sea and an intimate outdoor reception with some serious Midsummer Night’s Dream vibes, and Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Gianni di Natale’s photos are pure, glorious eye candy. We love Gianni SO much!
Oh, also, how sweet is it these guys brought their beloved Maltipoo, Tesla, with them all the way from San Francisco to Ravello — and then they brought him along for their honeymoon, too! Now, if that’s not devotion, we don’t know what is.
Now over to Alicia, who looked simply smashing in her sleekly elegant Pronovias dress…
How we met
Alicia, the bride: We are one of the last of our generation that met the old fashioned way, through mutual friends at a birthday party in Brookline, MA, way back in 2010. Sparks flew, and the night was filled with dancing in the street and a very romantic first kiss in a pile of fall leaves. We eventually started dating, and within 6 months decided to move to San Francisco together to start exciting jobs and go to graduate school.
A Wedding in Italy
We visited the wedding venue four years ago while on vacation in Italy. While having a martini on the balcony, we looked over and spotted a beautiful wedding taking place. The views were breathtaking, and we joked about having our own wedding here one day. Four years later, while brainstorming ideas for a destination wedding, we remembered that moment and set our hearts on the Belmond Caruso.
Classic European
We decided to have a small intimate gathering (about 55 people) with understated classic European luxury with a bit of modern appeal. We chose subdued colors that would not take away from the breathtaking views of the venue.
Calligraphy
We used Flourish Artistic Design. Mikealee’s work is custom calligraphy and very similar to some of the far more expensive custom calligraphy services. The invitations included Italian references, including olive branches, cream colors, and a splash of light green.
Hair + Makeup
My friend, Carla Malia of Carlafornia Blonde, is a professional hair and makeup artist, and she helped me out.
A Pronovias dress
I wore the Vicenta dress by Pronovias. I purchased this dress second hand via Still White, from a bride in Santa Barbara. I also plan to sell or gift the dress to make another future bride happy. I tried on countless dresses over many months and this was the most comfortable but elegant look, the perfect balance of modest and sexy.
Roses and Crystals
I wore a veil, a crystal headband, and small fresh white roses.
Bella Belle Shoes
My shoes were from Bella Belle Shoes, a small designer that I found on Instagram.
The handsome groom
Arcady wore a dark blue Hugo Boss tuxedo with Ted Baker tuxedo shoes. The cufflinks were a present from me the day of the wedding, and they featured the date and the latitude/longitude of the wedding location.
Bridesmaids in Pink
I had 5 bridesmaids, who wore pale pink dresses and floral crowns. Again, I went for understated colors that would blend well with the mountain and Mediterranean Sea views.
A Floral Chuppah
The florist came up with the chuppah structure – we had roses, peonies, and hydrangeas, on top, in white, pale/ dusty pink, and peach.
A Very Special Member of the Wedding Party
The ketubah was signed after sundown the night before at the rehearsal dinner. The ketubah signing and the ceremony was conducted by Rabbi Batshir, our rabbi from San Francisco. We also included our 4-pound white Maltipoo, Tesla, in the wedding. Tesla then traveled across Italy, Greece, and the South of France with us during their honeymoon!
Everything
We had a harp and violin duo for the ceremony. Then for the reception, some of the songs our DJ Marco di Oz played were:
Bride and groom’s first dance – Every Breath You Take – The Police
Bride and grandfather James dance – Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
Groom and mother dance – Everything – Michael Bubble
Fly Me To The Moon, by Frank Sinatra, Instrumental
In addition, we created an extensive playlist for the DJ to pick from/take inspiration from. It helped him get an idea of our and our guests’ eclectic tastes in music (rap, trap, edm, R ‘n B classics, oldies, Jewish and Russian classics).
Pale Flowers
Our florist was Armando Malafronte. For the color scheme, we had pale/ dusty pink, peach, and white.
For the tables, we had roses, peonies, and hydrangeas in vases, plus tall gold candelabras, gold vases with white and pale pink flowers at the bottom and candles in clear/ gold vases in different sizes.
My bouque had white peonies, peach David Austin, dusty pink David Austin, black-eyed anemones, greenery and viburnum berries.
The bridesmaids had flower crowns instead of bouquets!
Our Fabulous Photography
Planning from afar, I did my research online and found our photographer first. I found another wedding that also took place at Belmond Caruso, and Gianni di Natale was the photographer.
From there I started following the Ravello and Amalfi coast vendors on Instagram to get a sense of what I liked and didn’t like. I am a visual person so this was the easiest way for me to easily gather ideas in one place.
Millefoglie Cake
The catering and the cake were provided by the hotel Belmond Caruso. The cake was tiered and it was a millefoglie cake filled with traditional chantilly cream and strawberries. It was white on the outside, decorated with fresh greenery.
Instrumental Music
For the rehearsal dinner, we had a duo with a guitarist and a mandolinist playing live music. For the wedding, we had a harp/violin duo at ceremony and a DJ for the reception.
Local Favors
As all of the guests came from other countries, we had welcome baskets filled with local products: ceramic dishes, olives, and hand-painted glass bottles filled with in-house made Limoncello. All favors were sourced locally in Ravello.
Bringing the Dog
We brought two adorable Maltipoos – our own, Tesla, and Arcady’s parents’, Bailey – with us from the US to the wedding.
Honeymoon in Europe
We went to the Greek islands (Mykonos and Santorini) for a week for some romantic relaxation, followed by a week in the South of France. In the South of France, we spent time in Antibes, Cannes, and took a day trip to Monaco for the Formula 1 race.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Once the day comes, enjoy the little moments. Have a glass of champagne, make jokes with your bridesmaids and groomsmen, and don’t worry about everything being a bit late. No wedding is perfect, so just let the time pass by slowly in your head and try to remember the little moments.
Alicia and Arcady’s little white book
Photography – Gianni di Natale
Wedding planner – Primavera Dreams
Venue – Belmond Caruso
Bride’s dress – Pronovias purchased at Still White
Bride’s shoes – Bella Belle Shoes
Groom’s attire – Hugo Boss and Ted Baker
Flowers – Armando Malafronte
DJ – Marco di Oz
Invitations – Flourish Artistic Design
