Nothing could compete with the natural beauty of Ischia and the clear blue Tyrrhenian Sea.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Reed (38) is a Strategy Consultant and Entrepreneur, and Emma (31) is the founder of The Rise Group, a boutique influencer talent agency. We’ve lived in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, for the past six years and are fully in love with our Brooklyn life.
We’re lucky that our work gives us the flexibility to really enjoy our neighbourhood cooking at home, good wine, long dinners with friends, and squeezing in travel whenever we can. We’re always chasing new experiences, whether that’s discovering a new neighbourhood spot or catching a flight to somewhere new.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met late one night at our local neighbourhood bar in Williamsburg called Humboldt and Jackson — sadly no longer around. Funny enough, it was both of our first times there.
First impressions? An instant spark. The best part was how easy it felt – comfortable, safe, and completely natural. There was no performing, no trying too hard. It felt like we could both just be ourselves from the very beginning.
There was enough chemistry that night for Emma to do something very out of character and ask Reed for his number. We went on our first date the very next night at another local spot (@beerstreetnorth), and the rest, as they say, is history.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
Nothing could compete with the natural beauty of Ischia and the clear blue Tyrrhenian Sea. The setting was the statement. We kept the styling simple and let the landscape lead, focusing on elements that complemented, not competed with, what was already there.
Our planner, Manu, totally understood the vision and brought it to life! Manu is the best, and we couldn’t recommend her more!
More than anything, we wanted our guests to feel at home, and that means making everything feel relaxed, intentional, and unfussy.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
We went to Ischia in August 2024 to see venues in person, and what started as a wedding mission quickly became a core memory for us as a couple. We’ve been to Ischia a handful of times, but that trip (aside from our wedding!) was a favourite. It completely set the tone for everything that followed. We knew an international wedding would add complexity, but we were committed as a team to make it work
From that point on, planning felt thoughtful and personal rather than anything transactional. It was fun, collaborative, and something we actually enjoyed doing together. We tried to carry that feeling through the entire process. Fortunately, Ischia is the kind of place where that approach really works. The vendors feel less like ‘vendors’ and more like friends. It really felt like a team – encouraging each other along and collaborating really well. On the wedding night, we even had some of them join us on the dancefloor, which was awesome.
Our best advice to other couples is to just find the fun in it. Let planning be something you share, not something that takes over. Do it together, lean into each other’s strengths, and let it be part of the experience, not just a means to an end. That means really understanding what you want to get out of the experience – photographs, memories, quality time with guests or a big party. Whatever you decide, lean into it and make it yours – that’s what makes it fun.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
Our vendors were incredible. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better team. By the end of the wedding weekend, there were real tears as we said goodbye.
A special shoutout to our planners, Manu and Sara, who were our rocks throughout the entire process. Manu was even ironing Reed’s tux shirt the morning of the wedding after it got greasy on the ironing board and needed to be washed again. Hands-on doesn’t begin to cover it – they were AMAZING
Our caterers, Angelino and Francesco, also exceeded EVERY expectation. The food was amazing (so many guests said so), but more than that, they made us feel like family from day one. From driving us around the island to see venues to hosting our tasting in their family home. They went above and beyond. We already know we’ll be visiting them again on our next trip to Ischia – you should definitely check out their restaurant.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
Feeling like myself was the most important thing. I didn’t want to feel like I was wearing a costume, which I found was often the case with bridal. I visited close to ten designers and boutiques, but nothing felt right. In my gut, I was set on finding something vintage — timeless, but still original.
I spent hours scouring resale and vintage sites. Eventually, I found a vintage Vera Wang on Stillwhite. The description read “for a very petite bride,”- the seller’s measurements were exactly the same as mine. This felt like a sign!!!
The dress arrived with a sweet, handwritten note from the seller (another good sign!) It fit perfectly! I ended up taking it to a tailor to make a few small tweaks, but honestly, I could have worn it exactly as it arrived. While I still have no clue what year the dress is from, my tailor said she thinks it’s been worn at least three times.
My veil was handmade by my Aunt Joan. She’s made hundreds of veils over the years, so I always knew she would make mine. When we met, she brought a few options, including one she told me had been her favourite for years, even though no one had ever chosen it. It was perfect for the dress. She says it was always meant to be mine.
Reed kept things classic, staying true to his personal style. In the week leading up to the wedding, his mother gifted him his grandfather’s cuff links—an heirloom he wore on the day.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
Reed proposed with a ring that belonged to his mother, which made it meaningful from the start. I wear it every day, and it will always remind me of the small beach in Nice where he proposed, and our family values.
Beyond that ring, we always planned to design something together. It was important to find a partner we trusted, and we immediately connected with Jillian at Mociun in Brooklyn. She has a clear point of view and quickly understood what we were looking for.
When it came to the design, I wanted something that fit seamlessly into my everyday style. I love getting dressed and accessorising, and didn’t want the ring to feel flashy or compete with what I was wearing. The goal was something timeless
with a subtle, distinctive detail.
We loved the engagement ring so much that we also designed our wedding bands with Jillian, which made the process simple and fun.
What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
Guest experience was the biggest priority for us. We were asking a lot of people to travel from all over the world, with many of Reed’s friends and family coming from Sydney, so it felt important to make the experience as seamless as possible.
With that in mind, we were happy to invest in food, transportation, and the overall flow of the weekend, making sure guests felt comfortable, well taken care of, and genuinely had fun!
We also prioritised finding a venue that could accommodate both of our families for the full week. Having that time together is rare and meaningful – we wanted to make it extra special for them! It goes back to figuring out exactly what kind of wedding experience you want to have, and shaping everything around that.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
The entire day felt surreal, but two moments really stand out.
The ceremony was unforgettable. It was beautiful visually, with the glistening sea behind us, but also in the details — the music, the words shared by friends and family, and our vows. It couldn’t have been more us. We both felt surprisingly calm and present, like we were exactly where we were meant to be.
Dinner was the second. It was even more beautiful than we imagined, with every detail coming together perfectly – the flowers, candles, linens, all of it. It was also the first moment we really got to relax, look around, and take in the company of everyone we love. We’ve always loved slow dinners with friends, and this was easily the best one yet.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
Being married means being on a team. It’s a partnership, working toward something bigger together. It’s not about keeping score, but about stepping in and carrying the load when the other needs it. It means laughing a lot and finding reasons to celebrate every day.
LOCATION Villa Serao, Ischia, Italy BRIDE Emma, @emburkey GROOM Reed, @reedlangridge PHOTOGRAPHER Lato Photography, @latophotography PLANNER Manuela Speroni of Agnese Sogna Sempre, @agnesesognasempre FLORIST Primula Ischia, @primulaischia CELEBRANT Our friend – Jeffrey Di Costanza, @casaviacosta STATIONERY CUTandPASTE Lab, @cutandpaste_lab ENTERTAINMENT Vincent Martini, @vincentmartini_off HIRE Magno Allestimenti, @magno_allestimenti CATERING Angelino Catering, @angelinocatering RINGS Custom Made – Mociun, @mociun BRIDE’S WELCOME PARTY DRESS Vintage 1930s Lace Dress from Narro, @shopnarro BRIDE’S WELCOME PARTY SHOES Prada, @prada from the The RealReal, @therealreal BRIDE’S WELCOME PARTY ACCESSORIES Bag – Porto, @porto__studio; Earrings – Completed Works, @completedworks; Vintage Pearl Necklace GROOM’S WELCOME PARTY SUIT & SHOES Suitsupply, @suitsupply BRIDE’S CEREMONY DRESS Vintage Vera Wang, @verawang purchased from Still White, @stillwhite BRIDE’S CEREMONY SHOES Prada, @prada from the The RealReal, @therealreal BRIDE’S CEREMONY ACCESSORIES Bag – Porto, @porto__studio; Earrings – Monica Vinader, @monicavinader; Veil – Handmade by the bride’s Aunt Joan GROOM’S CEREMONY SUIT & SHOES Suitsupply, @suitsupply BRIDE’S AFTER PARTY DRESS Bernadette Antwerp, @bernadetteantwerp BRIDE’S AFTER PARTY SHOES BY FAR, @byfar_official BRIDE’S AFTER PARTY ACCESSORIES Bag – Porto, @porto__studio; Earrings – Monica Vinader, @monicavinader BRIDE’S HAIR & MAKEUP Nelli Made, @nelli_made
