Amalfi Coast Wedding on a rainy day in Total White

“One of the most enchanting spot of the Amalfi Coast is Ravello, where many rich men live; one of these was extremely rich and his name was Landolfo Rufolo… ” (G. Boccaccio). As we see in the 4th novella in the 2nd day of the Decameron, the scenery and the monuments of Ravello, which was founded by a roman colony in the 6th century A.D., were already famous centuries ago. Perched on a 350 ft high cliff overlooking the blue sea of the Amalfi Coast, it has conserved its historical monuments through the ages in a natural setting which has few equals in the world.

One of the most important monuments in Ravello is the cathedral, a XI century church, founded in 1086, where one can admire the ambo and the pulpit decorated with Byzantine mosaics, relics such as the bust of Sigilgaita Rufolo, the splendid bronze doors by Barisano da Trani and the museum situated in the crypt.

Villa Rufolo

Villa Rufolo’s today looks come mostly from the arrangement carried out by the Scotsman Neville Reid, who owned the Villa in the second half of the 19th century. But the site is much older, as it is given evidence by the remains from the 13th-14th century period of the building. The Rufolos’ splendour reached its peak from the half of the 13th century to 1285 when, according to Wiedemann, the Rufolos were completely ruined because they sided against Angevins during the Sicilian Vespers. During Norman times the Rufolos were already wealthy merchants, well placed in the commercial and cultural exchanges of the Mediterranean, from Northern Africa to the Eastern Greek and Arab speaking countries, which influenced constantly the Southern Campania’s art and architecture.

The Rufolos helped the Angevins to come to Southern Italy and they were rewarded with particular privileges. When their power reached its peak, they built again their “house”, which represented their new political power and therefore, it was gorgeous, princely, rich; at that time it extended as far as the sea. The Rufolos succeeded in finding, out of the Arab and Byzantine influences, an architectural language able to express their social status with an architectural image which had no connection at all with the new sovereigns’ artistic culture, as if it could stress their political autonomy from the Angevins.

These circumstances made Villa Rufolo something unique, creating an image which was handed down by the popular imagination as the “one hundred sixty-five rooms villa”. In the following centuries the Villa slowly fell into decay because of the property subdivisions and of the collapses due to earthquakes and to negligence. Many parts were then lost and some rooms still lie under the present floor. In the 19th century the Villa was bought by Neville Reid, who carried out its restoration, according to the culture of the time, deeply influenced by the romantic taste for ruins. He restructured the principal building for housing, arranged the gardens to create a series of terraces, which often rested on the ancient structures. It is well known that the beauty of these gardens was such as to influence R. Wagner. In 1974 Villa Rufolo became part of public heritage thanks to the Ente Provinciale per il Turismo of Salerno and nowadays it hosts several musical events; it is the headquarters of the European University Centre for Cultural Heritage and of the Piano High School directed by Michele Campanella.

The lockdown is nearly over and nothing can stop us from fantasizing about a dreamy bachelorette party. Your bachelorette is literally one of the most memorable and funny aspects of planning your destination wedding and having your bachelorette party on the Amalfi Coast, makes it even more memorable. As often happens in movies, bachelorette parties generally occur so close to the wedding day, just the night before. This isn’t exactly true, the majority of bachelorette parties happen within the month prior the wedding. Can you imagine anything funnier than your bridesmaids and you, the moon, pizza and the Amalfi Coast as a frame of these hilarious moments? You are Wow.. let’s wow your bridesmaid!

Here’re my tips to have a bachelorette-of-a-lifetime on Amalfi Coast that will make you daydream!

Enjoy Local Experiences

Your first time on Amalfi Coast? Well, you could spend your bachelorette weekend getting to know our Coast with local tours and interactive activities, such as boat rides. While, if you and your crew have an adventurer spirit you could opt for one of the most beaten tracking trails: the so-called ‘Path of the Gods’. No better way to know the breathtaking landscape of our land!

Pamper yourself and your ladies

What better way to get ready for your wedding day than a Spa Day, surrounded by your closest friends? Amalfi Coast offers a number of luxurious spas with all the bells and whistles. Chilling in a Spa or in a private pool is the best idea of relaxation, isn’t it?!

Wine vibes

When it comes to wine, our Coast hosts some of the finest vineyards in Southern Italy and… celebrating your special days with a wine-tasting experience could be the ideal plan! There is a broad variety of wine-tastings all around the hilly area of our Coast featuring delicious Italian wines such as Falanghina, Aglianico, Fenile and more.

A brunch date

Having a brunch with your favourite people is doubtless a great way to spend the day prior your wedding and it’s the opportunity to taste Italian food in luxury places overlooking the sea. Once your brunch is done, you could add that extra touch of sparkle to your bachelorette weekend with a mini-cruise headed to one of the most beautiful island of Italy, Capri, where hanging around and having some maids and bride-to-be time in a gorgeous Italian frame.

Dance the night away

No bachelorette party is complete without a night out. Hence, you and your squad could spend the night in one of the best club of our Coast from dusk to dawn!

Book your Wedding Bond!

Wedding Amalfi Team can’t wait to meet you to design, step by step, your destination wedding and your bachelorette party together. As a wedding gift, I will be happy to put at your disposal a Wedding Bond and freeze my fees for the wedded-to-be 2021 offering them the same fees of 2020. My goal is to make dreams come true!

Alessandra

Are you planning to pop the question and change the rest of your life, forever?? Great, it’s a big thing!

There will probably be so many moments and ideal ways to make your proposal throughout the year, but nothing compares to the magical atmosphere of the New Year coming.

When the countdown starts, the past year will bring back to your mind every single memory and at the stroke of midnight everyone will be mesmerized by the fireworks show, with their eyes staring at the stars and their mind towards the future. Such a unique moment! And… the clock ticking from 23:59 to midnight will set the rhythm of your heart and your desires. It’s not an everyday thing, just like a marriage proposal!

A new year has just started symbolizing the beginning of a journey… and why not embark on it? Grab the moment and run with it, wait for the midnight and get down on your knees! But, wait! Don’t forget to choose a meaningful location to you two – the place where you met or you first kissed – work on your speech, simple but effective, emotions could trick and since it will be an epic moment to your beloved make sure everything goes smoothly. If you want to give a romantic touch: lanterns, candles and flowers will make the atmosphere dreamy all around!

In order to make your proposal-moment even more romantic and breathtaking, involve your family members and close friends in a proposal-party. People are not used to waiting for the New Year alone, so make sure the other guests know all about your proposal-plan in advance. Once the ‘3-2-1’ moment arrives, ask to your relatives and friends to freeze… an unexpected silence will completely surprise your better half, then you will pull the engagement ring out and pronounce the fateful words: ‘Will you marry me?’ … on the ‘Y es, I will!!!’ let the party begin! With this flawless setting, the toast will taste more sparkling this year!

A funny-tip for all those who are forgetful: you’ll hardly forget your anniversary day if it’s on New Year’s Eve!

At last, I wish you a new year full of ‘ Yes, I will’ and a #destinationlove to plan together…

Alessandra