Thursday, 6 July 2023

Hotel Santa Caterina - Amalfi - Raffaella & Chris

Raffaella and Chris' intimate Amalfi wedding was so much fun. It was a day filled with laughter, love, and meaningful details and events that were truly important to them both.
I am also a strong believer that weddings are about BOTH the bride and the groom, and I loved that in a very natural way, I got to spend lots of time with Chris and the groomsmen capturing their day. 
The boys started the day with a surprise getting ready session in the morning. Raffaella's brother organized a team of barbers from the Italian town where their family was originally from (before moving to the USA). In true Italian style he also arranged a giant tray of pastries for everyone, homemade espresso, turning the morning into an event in itself. The bride's brother also had pocket squares and fabric to decorate Raffaella's bouquet made from their late father's suit. Anyone would be lucky to have as thoughtful a brother as Raffaella's.
     I then met Raffaella and the moms at the beautiful Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi where their team Piero Mansi and Zoe Graham were pampering them.
We did a first look with Chris and his mom while Raffaella finished getting ready. It is important to note that this was a quick part of the day, it only took 5/10 minutes, but I can guarantee that making time for special family members both makes them feel like an important part of your day and creates pictures that you will keep coming back to look at again and again. So when you are planning your getting ready locations it is best to keep them separate enough that you don't have to worry about being seen by your partner, but close enough your photographers can pop in and out for important moments.
    Then Raffaella and Chris did a first look, and we hoped into a powder blue vintage Fiat Jolly. The cutest wedding car ever.
The Amalfi coast florist team decorated the car with colourful blooms matching Raffaella's bouquet. We headed into the center of Amalfi for golden hour pictures at the Amalfi duomo and the piazza. Another one of my favourite locations on the Amalfi coast for bold architecture and the most beautiful golden light.
    Just before sunset we joined the guests back at the Hotel Santa Caterina for a garden ceremony officiated by Raffaella's brother.
Raffaella's mom walked her down the aisle as the harp and violin music floated through the garden creating a dreamy atmosphere. 
The mothers shed a few happy tears, Raffaella and Chris exchanged vows and rings, and everyone threw rose petals to celebrate the happy couple.
    After the ceremony delicious cocktails and canapès were served in the garden during the sunset hour. We cut the cake covered in colourful fresh flowers, and did a first dance before moving to the Al Mare restaurant for an intimate candlelight dinner.
    I feel so honoured to have met Raffaella and Chris (as well as their lovely families) and to have had the privilege of capturing their perfect Amalfi Coast wedding.


Amalfi

Groom and groomsmen getting ready with barber team

Barber team getting groomsmen ready

Groom getting ready

Groom getting ready morning photo session

Groom getting ready

Groom

Groomsmen getting ready

Groom on wedding morning with barber team

Santa Caterina Hotel Amalfi

Hotel Santa Caterina Amalfi

Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi

Santa Caterina Hotel in Amalfi

Tyrrhenian Sea

Wedding Shoes on Amalfi coast tiles

Wedding dress and bouquet

Bride getting ready at Hotel Santa Caterina

Bride getting ready at Hotel Santa Caterina

Makeup brushes

Amalfi seen from Hotel Santa Caterina

Bride getting dressed in wedding dress

Bride getting ready at Hotel Santa Caterina

Bride getting ready at Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi

Bride getting ready

Bride getting ready at Hotel Santa Caterina

Groom getting ready

Groom getting ready at hotel Santa Caterina

Groom getting ready at Hotel Santa Caterina

Wedding at hotel Santa Caterina

Groom opening groom's gift

Mother of the groom

First look with mother of the groom

First look with mother of the groom

Mother of the groom

Groom at hotel Santa Caterina

Groom with mother

Groom hugging mother

Groom with mother

Bride and groom in vintage Fiat Jolly

Bride and groom with vintage Fiat Jolly

Bride and groom with Amalfi view and vintage Fiat

Amalfi wedding with vintage baby blue Fiat

Amalfi wedding with vintage Fiat Jolly

Bride and groom with vintage Fiat in Amalfi

Vintage Fiat wedding car

Bride and groom driving to Amalfi

Bride and groom in Amalfi

Bride and groom at Amalfi duomo

Bride and groom at Amalfi Duomo at golden hour

Amalfi wedding

Golden hour wedding portrait in Amalfi

Groom at Amalfi Duomo

Bride and groom at Amalfi duomo

Amalfi duomo wedding

Amalfi wedding

Bride and groom in Amalfi piazza

Bride and groom in Amalfi piazza

Bride and groom in Amalfi

Bride and groom in Amalfi

Ceremony setup in garden at Hotel Santa Caterina

Ceremony fans and flowers

Family members waiting for the ceremony

Garden ceremony at Hotel Santa Caterina
Guests and groom watching bride walk down the aisle
 
Garden wedding ceremony

Mother walking bride to the altar

Wedding guests

Garden wedding ceremony

Wedding ceremony

Mother of the groom during wedding ceremony

Bride laughing during wedding ceremony

Garden wedding at Hotel Santa Caterina

Bride and groom during wedding ceremony

Exchanging wedding rings

Mother of the bride crying during wedding ceremony

Bride and groom exiting wedding ceremony with flower petals

Bride and groom exiting the ceremony

Garden wedding at Santa Caterina

Wedding guests

Bride with her brother

Cocktail hour at Hotel Santa Caterina in the garden

Cocktail hour with wedding guests

Wedding cake with fresh flowers

Bride and groom cutting the wedding cake

Amalfi view from the gardens of the hotel Santa Caterina

Bride and groom laughing with wedding guests

Wedding guest being silly with multiple wine glasses

Wedding guests

Wedding imperial dinner table with hanging tea lights

Wedding dinner table at Al Mare restaurant at Hotel Santa Caterina

Wedding dinner table with sea view overlooking Amalfi

Wedding tablescape with white flower garland

Seaside wedding table with hanging tea lights

Wedding confetti

Garden cocktail hour at Hotel Santa Caterina

Bride and groom in Santa Caterina garden
  
Bride and groom first dance while mothers take pictures on their phones

Bride and groom on Santa Caterina balcony

Bride and groom entering dinner with musicians

Candlelite wedding dinner
  Seaside wedding dinner
  
Wedding dinner

Wedding dinner party

Planner: Ravello-wedding
Venue: Hotel Santa Caterina
Florist: Amalfi Coast Florist
Music: Amalfi Coast Wedding Music
Hair: Piero Mansi

MUA: Zoe Graham