Postponed Wedding? Here my tips to store your Bridal Dress!

People always talk about weddings, weddings, weddings…. What about your engagement party? Your fiancé popped the question and you said a massive ‘Yes, I will!!!’ Your wedding will be held next year, you haven’t chosen the date yet… but it’s already time to celebrate!

Once your engagement news comes out, everyone will want to congratulate you and an engagement party will sound perfect! I’m pretty sure a few questions about the planning of your engagement party are probably swirling around your brain. Read on to find out everything you need to know about planning the flawless engagement party…

When having your engagement party?

Generally, the engagement party falls within a few months of the proposal, that moment in your life you’re just-engaged and you start thinking about the Wedding planning. In case you’re going to have your engagement party on Amalfi Coast, the beginning of September or the Spring season are without a shadow of doubt the best periods.

Who throws the party?

Traditionally, Bride’s parents are expected to host the first official celebration, but you don’t necessarily have to follow the rules. Nowadays, anyone can throw the engagement party and you can throw your own party… your parents, friends and relatives may join the party just as guests. It’s really up to you!

Where should it take place?

Regarding the location of your engagement party, you may decide to have your party in your own city or hold it in the country you may choose for your destination wedding. It is also true that many couples celebrate with different engagement parties because their friends and family are spread all over the World, so you could celebrate in two different places! You just need to think about the vibe you want to create: a more elegant and original setting or a casual and informal one? For example, our Coast boasts a huge variety of hotel terraces or private beaches where you can hold your unforgettable party.

Need to send invitations?

You or whoever is going to throw the party should send official engagement party invitations. Go for plain and informal paper invitations or even opt for digital invites. And don’t worry if you haven’t chosen your wedding color palette or even your wedding date, the engagement party invitations don’t have to match with the rest of your stationery.

Who should be invited?

Following the rules, everyone who will be invited to your engagement party must be invited to your Wedding too. By the way, engagement party guest list expectations have changed! Engagement parties can definitely include people who aren’t invited to the wedding, so feel free to invite all the people you want to share the big news with or whoever you want to have at your side. For a destination engagement party, I suggest you invite just a few people!

What about decorations?

Don’t rush into choosing your wedding colors or theme so that your engagement party can match with details, themes and decors: candlelight, balloons, confetti and floral arrangements are always the best choice!

In short, an engagement party is a great way to share the exciting news and get family and friends together to celebrate… Why not celebrate it on Amalfi Coast?

I’m waiting for you!

Alessandra

“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.

Have you ever been to a bridal fitting of a dear friend of yours? If you’ve been there, then you surely know that the moment a Bride-to-be first wears her Wedding Veil with her gown is one of the most emotional moments. A white veil is a simple accessory, but once worn will give that fairy-tale touch to your entire look and you will feel to all effects a Bride!

Here, my Top-Tips to make the right choice when it comes to your Wedding Veil.

Consider your Wedding Vibes

First of all, think accurately about your Wedding Vibes! All Brides think they should wear a Wedding Veil according to custom, but if it’s not in line with your ceremony don’t feel like you have to wear it. Sparkling tiaras, fresh flower garlands or hairpins are another good alternative.

Matchy or not?

Once you find your Bridal Dress, you should choose a veil that enhances your gown. The Wedding Veil should complete your look in line with other accessories and never draw attention away from the Bride and her dress.

Focus on your Venue

If your ceremony is taking place in a majestic Church, you might consider a traditional long Wedding Veil. On the contrary, if you’re going to tie the knot outdoors, you could go for a shorter one, the fabric of the veil could easily be ruined on a lawn or on a beach.

Don’t forget your hairstyle

Before choosing your hairstyle, you should keep in mind your Wedding Veil. Most Wedding Veils work well with down hairstyles, but if you’re thinking about keeping your hair loose, hence, you should choose a plain veil that fits with your hairstyle.

Which kind?

Last but not least, let’s talk about the style of your Wedding Veil. There are so many types of veil, some are simple others are full and voluminous. Traditional Veils are the most versatile, instead, Spanish ones, also known as Mantillas, are simple veils trimmed in delicate lace and fastened to a comb or even Embellished ones, are veils embellished with lace, embroidery, silk petals, or beading. It’s up to you.