Jaw-Dropping Welcome Dinner on the Amalfi Coast

I’m pretty certain Jenna and Shane had the most epic welcome dinner any guest could ever hope to attend. Set on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, the evening began with passed hors d’oeuvres and drinks under the olive groves, followed up by a cozy autumn meal enjoyed al fresco. Ebb & Flow Events planned and Honey and Cinnamon coordinated this Italian soirée while Rebecca Yale photographed one amazing moment after another. Have a closer look in the gallery and sit tight for the wedding reveal coming up this afternoon.

From Rebecca Yale… Jenna and Shane were married on a beautiful Fall day surrounded by 24 of their closest friends and family at the historic Villa Cimbrone, an 11th Century Manor on the Amalfi Coast, in Ravello, Italy. Their wedding celebration was a multi-day affair on the Amalfi Coast and kicked off with a welcome dinner at the Belmond Hotel Caruso. Guests were welcomed to their rooms with a welcome package featuring a program of the week’s activities in a wax sealed vellum envelope, fresh lemons and limoncello, which Ravello is famous for. Guests spent the day exploring the pedestrian only medieval town of Ravello and lounging by the hotel’s famous infinity pool followed by cocktail hour under a grove of olive trees and a dinner on the great lawn overlooking the cliffs of Amalfi as the sunset over the ocean turning the sky around them pink and yellow.

In typical Italian fashion, the best-laid plans went out the window and the original plan for the rehearsal dinner was to use all white marble plates and vessels, but with an Italian shipping error the shipment with the brides items ended up in Lake Como instead of the Amalfi Coast and the bride, who runs a destination weddings and events company, had to improvise along with the floral designer, Mint Design, to create a new tablescape for the welcome dinner. Thankfully the wonderful Federica of Honey and Cinnamon was able to track down the missing rentals and save the day getting them there in time for the wedding the next day!

The bride had brought over some of the essentials in her suitcases and they were able to create a stunning tablescape using autumnal florals and beautiful bottles of limoncello, which guests were able to keep at the end of the night as a favor. It was the perfect introduction to Ravello. Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres, champagne, and a signature punch cocktail under the olive groves while being serenaded by a guitar player who had been flown in from Nashville to accompany singer, April Kry, the following evening at the wedding.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Event Design: Ebb and Flow Events | Event Planning: Federica Beni | Floral Design: Mint Design | Reception Venue: Belmond Hotel Caruso Amalfi Coast | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Hair + Makeup: Manola Spaziani Make up Artist | Bride's Attire: Tamara Mellon Twilight Sandals | Floral Sourcing: Capri Flor | Menus: The Wells Makery | Rentals: Andrea Riccio Weddings Solutions | Runner: Silk and Willow