Intimate wedding at the Museo Correale in Sorrento, Italy
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Kate & Eoin had planned a large wedding but due to Covid happening, they downsized to a very intimate wedding of just 12 people at the gorgeous Museo Correale in Sorrento, Italy.
Sorrento is a picturesque coastal town perched on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples in southern Italy. Known for its charming historic center, lemon groves, and stunning views of Mount Vesuvius, it is a blend of scenic beauty and Italian charm. Sorrento’s narrow streets are filled with traditional trattorias, boutique shops, and artisans selling locally-made products, particularly limoncello, which is crafted from the area’s famous lemons.
Why Did the Couple Choose Sorrento, Italy for Their European Wedding?
From Kate, the bride: I am from Wiltshire, Eoin is from Ireland and we were living in Newcastle upon Tyne. We had looked at various locations across the UK and Ireland but hadn’t seen got ‘that feeling’ from any of the venues that we had seen. We decided that as the majority of our guests were going to have to travel to attend our wedding, then they might as well travel to a warm and beautiful location abroad.
We love to travel and after visiting Naples a few year before, we fell in love with the Italian culture, beautiful scenery and of course the amazing food. We had previously attended a family wedding abroad in southern Spain and it was such a brilliant experience that we thought we’d enjoy this for our own wedding.
What Makes Museo Correale in Sorrento Special for Destination Weddings?
From Kate: We chose to have our ceremony at Museo Correale as it is a beautiful outdoor space perfect for a private wedding of any size. It had the most spectacular archway creating a unique walk down the aisle.
Villa Silvana was perfect for our reception as it has multiple different areas to host various aspects of the reception, the most gorgeous sea views, private access to the marina down a picturesque mountain-side stairway and is a very short walk from Museo Correale.
Can You Get Legally Married in Italy?
From Kate: We had a civil ceremony here. One of the perks of getting married in Italy is that you can have a legal ceremony.
What Sustainability Considerations Were Made (if any) For This Wedding in Sorrento?
From Kate: This isn’t something that we actively considered; however, many of the table decorations were provided by Cheryl who reuses them at other weddings, and any additional items that we purchased were given to Cheryl to reuse at future weddings.
Did the Couple Incorporate Any Cultural Aspects of Italy into Their Wedding?
From Kate: We had our wedding ceremony outside in the luscious gardens of the beautiful Museo Correale followed by the reception on the balcony of a family owned Italian villa overlooking the bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. We travelled in style in an open top vintage Fiat 500 driven by the most relaxed and stylish chauffer (the car needed a bit of a jump start from staff at our hotel to get going but this didn’t phase him!).
We also had the most delicious Italian three course meal, which of course consisted of a gorgeous local pasta dish, a lemon wedding cake and plenty of Prosecco to wash it all down. We also had local musicians playing during each part of our day – a string quartet at the ceremony, guitarists during the welcome drinks and canapes, and finally the band for the party at the end of the day.
What Was the Couple’s Experience with Getting Married in Sorrento During the month of September?
From Kate: I recommend this time of year. The weather was warm and sunny but not too hot.
What Are the Best Tips for Planning a Destination Wedding in Italy?
Kate: Hire a wedding planner! Our wedding planner, Cheryl Pagano owner of Bella Sposa based in Sorrento, was absolutely instrumental in meticulously planning all aspects of our wedding day. She even translated our ceremony from Italian to English. Our wedding was postponed twice due to COVID and throughout this Cheryl was so supportive and accommodating – rearranging all components and helping us to create our dream wedding.
Cheryl took the stress out of wedding planning and nothing was too much trouble….Cheryl was even able to arrange a TV screen last minute to play a video message from Eoin’s brother who was living in Australia and so unable to join us due to COVID travel restrictions.
From Sasha, the photographer: Definitely hire a local wedding planner, like Cheryl at Bella Sposa who planned this wedding. A planner will know many vendors, help with permits, navigate language barriers and handle all the logistics, so you can relax and enjoy the experience.
How Did the Couple Personalize Their Wedding at Museo Correale in Sorrento?
Kate: Despite our wedding being abroad were able to choose every aspect including the meal choices for our reception, the welcome sign and stationary, flower arrangements, table decorations, musicians and song choices.
What Challenges Did the Couple Face While Planning Their Wedding in Italy, and How Did They Overcome Them?
Kate: Like many couples, our wedding had to be postponed twice due to COVID – our original wedding date was at the height of the pandemic.
We had originally planned a wedding of around 80 people; however, to prevent further delay and due to frequently changing travel restrictions we decided to have a small wedding of just 12 people.
What Advice Would the Couple Give to Others Planning a Wedding in Sorrento?
Kate: Hire a well-reviewed wedding planner and, if you can, travel to Sorrento to meet you planner and visit venues. The day that we visited venues was absolutely magical and helped to create further excitement for our big day.
Sasha, the photographer: Plan early and visit at least once beforehand if possible. Work with a local planner who knows the area well. Also, embrace the local culture! Incorporate Italian touches like a traditional menu, limoncello favours, or a Vespa send-off for an authentic Sorrento experience.
What Made Museo Correale Perfect for a Small, Intimate Wedding?
Kate: The Museo Correale gardens were perfect as they are very private and there was access to a private walkway down to a veranda overlooking the sea, which was ideal for a post-ceremony photography session.
What Were the Most Memorable Moments from This Wedding?
Kate: The whole day was so unique and memorable, it’s difficult to narrow this down to just a few! Walking down the aisle to the string quartet playing in the absolutely gorgeous gardens of the Museo Correale, our photography sessions in the beautiful town or Sorrento and down by the marina followed by the most delicious dinner and party on the balcony of Villa Silvana overlooking the bay of Naples.
Why Is Sorrento One of the Best Places to Get Married in Europe?
Kate: Sorrento is the most beautiful town with fantastic places to eat and drink, spectacular places close-by to visit and a great selection of hotels and villas for guests.
Sasha, the photographer: I love the stunning coastal views, relaxed vibe and of course the amazing food! Also the blend of beautiful scenery and charming streets.
