While I love my home in Lake Como, I still am always so amazed at just how much the entire country of Italy has to offer.
Whether you want to see the refreshing greens of cactus for your wedding in Puglia or the rolling hills of Tuscany, there’s something for everyone!
And for this couple, the tropical gardens and gorgeous beaches of the Amalfi Coast hit the spot. They opted for a Villa Astor wedding in Sorrento and completely transformed the space into a magical paradise.
Let me show you what it looked like!
A Fantastic 3-Day Wedding Celebration on the Amalfi Coast
As a destination wedding photographer, I get to see how couples from all over the world plan their weddings and what trends they choose to follow. In fact, I can spot trends coming before they ever make it to Vogue Weddings.
The latest trend, especially for destination weddings, is planning a multi-day celebration, just like this 4-Day Mykonos Wedding Celebration or this Villa Gastel wedding in Lake Como.
And for this unbelievable couple, they opted to do the same thing! Rather than trying to fit all that Sorrento has to offer into one day, they spread their celebration out over 3!
Personally, I absolutely love this trend, and I hope it’s here to stay. Not only does it give couples and their guests a chance to truly enjoy themselves in such wonderful destinations, it also gives me plenty of opportunities to create an absolutely jaw-dropping wedding gallery of photos. That’s exactly what happened for these two and their 150 guests that flew in from Kuwait!
The Welcome Event at Ristorante O’ Parrucchiano
The day before the wedding, the couple and their 150 friends and family members all made their way to one of the best restaurants in Sorrento – Ristorante O’ Parrucchiano. They were greeted with perfectly designed tables among a lemon grove grown right around the outdoor terrace.
The bride’s parents are Kuwaiti fashion designers. And that meant, throughout the entire 3-day celebration, every single second was a chance for someone to have their incredible fashion moment. For this welcome event, the bride wore the most stunning two piece dress that had my attention all evening! From the delicate beadwork on the top to the frills and frays of the skirt, it was absolutely exceptional.
Tropical-Inspired Garden Wedding at Villa Astor in Sorrento:
On the cliffside of the Amalfi Coast, overlooking pristine blue waters, is Villa Astor – the venue for this wedding.
It’s already well-known for its rich, lush green foliage in its gardens. It already has a natural tropical vibe that creates a warmth perfect for weddings. But this incredible couple decided to take it even further and make it more amazing!
The Transformation of Villa Astor into a Tropical Paradise
At the entrance of the Villa Astor wedding venue stands a large wall and gated entrance. Just behind it, full palm trees tower above the gate, which gives just a hint of the natural, exotic aesthetic of the venue.
But to make it even more spectacular, a massive arch stuffed with bright yellow, purple, red, and pink flowers and greenery were placed at the gated entrance. For anyone who walked by, they immediately knew just how unbelievably beautiful this tropical Eden of a wedding was!
The grounds of Villa Astor were just as vibrant. Flowers filled the fountains and floral arrangements in large vases were spotted everywhere I turned.
And, of course, to compliment all of the amazing foliage, tropical wedding decor was used throughout the venue. From emerald throw pillows on lounge seating to green glass vases that held table centerpieces, the wedding couldn’t have been more of a paradise.
A Romantic First Look in the Halls of the Villa Astor Wedding Venue Followed by Couple’s Portraits on the Terrace
I’ve spent years perfecting my skill and craft as a photographer. Now, my clients invest in me to capture their wedding day and to bring my artistic vision to do it!
I got to use that keen-eye for design during the couple’s first look. Rather than choosing a place outdoors or a spot that’s been overdone, I found the perfect location inside the Villa Astor wedding venue – on the stairs, more specifically!
The grand, ornate staircase, with its marble slabs and gold hand railing perfectly accented the bride and groom.
A Luxurious, Black Tie Affair that Would Make the Editors of Vogue Jealous
Remember when I told you that every second was a chance for someone’s fashion moment? The black tie affair would have made Anna Wintour’s jaw drop! The couple’s guests wore some of the most beautiful outfits I’ve seen at a wedding.
Not only that, but the ceremony aisle was a literal red carpet! It was a spectacular event that I’m so excited I got to capture for this couple.
The Blank Canvas that was Transformed into a Garden Wonderland Followed by the Great After Party
Not only did this couple work to transform the Villa Astor wedding venue, they also started with a blank canvas for the reception and turned it into a spectacular garden wonderland.
The tented reception, just as all tented receptions do, started as just blank walls. The couple allowed their planner and designer to create unbelievable works of art with large overflowing flower arrangements and installations.
But what really caught my attention was the bright pops of colors! A bride and groom who isn’t afraid to use vivid, bold colors in their design always make me so ecstatic. It usually creates photos that are so interesting to the eye.
After a sit-down dinner where guests either sat at intimate round tables or long, family-style banquet tables, everyone made their way to the terrace of Villa Astor for the cake cutting.
And it wasn’t long before the bride made her final outfit change of the night so she could easily dance the night away!
A Relaxing Day at the Beach to Follow a Night of Dancing
No trip to the Amalfi Coast is complete without a day at the beach! So on the third day of the wedding celebration, the couple and their guests stayed by the water all day.
From sipping on delicious cocktails while lounging on sun-soaked beach chairs to jumping into the refreshing, crystal blue waters, everyone had the time of their lives living la bella vita!
I loved getting to be a part of this amazing 3-day experience, where I picked up my camera and went into full photographer mode. I floated in between all of the different people, parties, and moments to capture memories for the bride and groom to share for the rest of their lives!
It’s weddings like these that always re-inspire me and get me excited for the next one! So, whose will it be – yours? Get in touch with me so we can start talking about your dream wedding day!
Until then, explore more destination weddings on the blog!
Wedding Day Vendors:
Photography: Lilly Red
Planning and Design: Design Anarchy Studio
Venue: Villa Astor
Videography: Waterfall Visuals
Floral Design: Anthea Studio
Hair and Makeup: Beauty Livery