Giana had a blank space when she crossed paths with Brian in high school at none other than a Taylor Swift concert that a mutual friend brought them to. A love story began that day, one that would eventually lead Brian and Giana to a scenic outlook over Italy’s Amalfi Coast, where they’d make one of the biggest actions of their lives. 

“From high school sweethearts to growing up in big Italian-American families, we knew we wanted our wedding to be truly special and unique, and a place where many of our friends and family had never been,” Giana says. 

The cliffside village of Ravello won the couple over on a joint family trip they took in 2019. Giana’s brother was adamant that the group make a day trip to Ravello, and, pivotally, everyone listened. 

“The moment we arrived at Hotel Villa Cimbrone and wandered through its breathtaking gardens, taking in the sweeping cliff-top views, we were completely in awe, and instantly knew we had to return,” the bride says.

Ultimately, the factors that shifted Giana and Brian’s desire to simply return to this majestic hotel and, instead, actually get married there were twofold. For one, opting for a wedding across the globe meant a lot of guests probably wouldn’t be able to attend, naturally making the celebration more intimate. And secondly, the couple wanted to properly honor their Italian heritage. 

“Over the years, we discovered that both of our great-great-grandparents were from Tricarico, just a few hours away from Ravello,” Giana tells us, “making our celebration feel like a beautiful return to where our story truly began.” 

Early on, the couple knew no amount of excitement for their decision would remove the reality of the challenge before them. Planning a wedding from California, across thousands of miles and a language barrier, wasn’t exactly the easiest task. Storia Mia Events, a wedding planning company with roots in both Los Angeles and Naples, came in clutch for Giana and Brian, though. They arranged two site visits in the months leading up to the wedding at Hotel Villa Cimbrone and handled the extensive logistics with grace.

“Storia Mia Events was an incredible help with our wedding planning,” Giana says. “Being from California and having a planner based in Los Angeles, but also from Naples, Italy, made it tremendously seamless to communicate our needs, connect with vendors, and navigate any language barriers.”

With a planning team chock-full of local contacts and a razor-sharp attention to detail, the couple moved forward, selecting a décor scheme intentionally understated to highlight the impeccable sights of the Italian coast. 

“The venue truly speaks for itself,” the bride says. “Its enchanting atmosphere naturally lends itself to romance, so we envisioned a candlelit dinner that would enhance and not overpower the setting.”

The floral palette was all white, accented with touches of soft blue to reflect the sea, complement the signage and invitations, and even to echo Giana’s Manolo Blahnik shoes. Delicate greenery was woven throughout to highlight the natural beauty of the gardens and hillside. 

On a clear-sky day in May, Giana and Brian woke up, ready to promise forever to one another. In a tear-jerker of a ceremony, Brian’s aunt and twin sister to his late mother officiated, weaving stories, prayers, and blessings into the wedding rites. 

“In loving memory of Brian’s mom,” Giana says, “we included a charm with her picture on my bouquet and on Brian’s tux, and reserved a special seat at our wedding to honor her presence in spirit.”

Later, guests were invited to enjoy cocktails and conversation all backdropped by the bright blue waters in the distance. A plethora of hydrangeas, peonies, roses, and gardenias then welcomed everyone to a reception hall that looked like it was plucked out of a romance/fantasy novel. It was there, under stone arched ceilings, that Giana and Brian soaked in every moment and danced into the night. 

Looking back, the couple says the thing that truly made their Ravello destination wedding such a hit for them and their guests was the moments in between the wedding. “We had an amazing welcome party at Ristorante Torre Normanna the day before,” Brian says, “followed by swimming in the Mediterranean and dancing the day away.”

Giana and Brian say they also discovered how important it is to embrace the local culture and location when going the destination wedding route. “It not only enriches the ceremony, but also gives your guests an unforgettable experience and memories of a lifetime.”