Samantha + Nate by Marta Ilardo - Together Journal

We chose bright shades of pink, greens, and yellows to reflect that natural beauty.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We’ve lived and worked in the Seaport district of Boston for the past five years. We have a beautiful “son” (our dog) named Monte Carlo. We love travelling, especially throughout Europe, and we got engaged in London!

We are very outgoing and enjoy spending lots of time with our family and friends. We both share a passion for the arts—Nate loves music and has performed at many events, while Samantha creates art in a variety of forms and mediums.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met through mutual friends at a restaurant and bar in Boston. On this particular day, we arrived early to watch a big game for our favourite local sports team. When I (the bride) got there, the place was packed, and our friends had only managed to grab a table for four. That’s when I was introduced to Nate. Without hesitation, he stood up and offered me his seat.

We ended up spending the entire day at that table, talking nonstop and discovering how much we had in common, not just with our friends but with everything happening around us. After nearly 12 hours of effortless conversation, we left without knowing if we’d ever see each other again.
My first impression of Nate was that he prioritized me over everything else, making me feel truly special. For Nate, his first impression was that I lit up the entire room and made everyone’s day brighter just by being there.

We didn’t see each other again for an entire month. Over the course of four consecutive nights, we kept running into each other completely by chance. And that’s when our relationship really began.

When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

When we moved in together, got our dog, and started building our little family, it became real that neither of us could ever imagine life without each other.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

For our wedding, we wanted a romantic and timeless atmosphere that captured the beauty and mood of the Amalfi Coast. Ravello, is one of the most romantic places we’ve ever been. The colour palette was inspired by the colourful buildings on the coast, standing out against the sky and the water. We chose bright shades of pink, greens, and yellows to reflect that natural beauty.

The styling details were key in bringing the vision together. We worked with Kathryn Green, who hand-illustrated our wedding invitations, and we used the same colours and designs throughout the day. For example, the wedding crest she designed, we embroidered onto all the linens at the reception. The two long tables were set with candlelit lighting and large chandeliers, adding to the romantic, intimate vibe. The setup made everything feel close, like an Italian feast, which was exactly the mood we wanted to create. We also incorporated our favourite music/musical instruments throughout the day to create the perfect ambience.

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).

Starting with the existing design of the venue, Villa Cimbrone was breathtaking. Everywhere you turned, there was a work of art. We still cannot believe there’s a place more heavenly on earth. The venue was so large that as we moved from place to place for the different events, it felt as though we were transported to a new location each time. The venue itself was perfect, which made it that much easier to complement all the details. The bright flowers stood out, and all the small personal touches we added brought everything together and enhanced the experience.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

What we enjoyed most about the planning process was seeing the vision come together, especially when choosing things like the florals, colours, and styling that reflected the Amalfi Coast inspiration. It was exciting to personalize the details and create a day that felt uniquely ours.

My biggest tip for couples starting their wedding planning journey is to prioritize what truly matters to you as a couple. For example, Nate/Groom’s father was adopted from Italy, so we knew we wanted an intimate destination wedding that held deep meaning for us. Choosing a location that felt personally significant made all the difference.

While planning a wedding overseas came with its challenges, having that emotional connection to our choice made the process more enjoyable and rewarding. It gave us a clear sense of purpose and made each decision feel natural and authentic to who we are as a couple.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?

My wedding gown was Monique Lhuillier, and when I found it, I just knew it was the one. The floral design on the skirt was so unique, and it immediately reminded me of my mom’s cake designs. The first cake she made that really kicked off her business almost 15 years ago had the exact same design, so it felt like a beautiful, symbolic connection. The dress also made the perfect statement to match the large grounds of Villa Cimbrone.

My shoes were vintage Chanel, which I found through an online store called ‘Sororite’. The blush pink colour tied perfectly with the palette of our wedding invitations and details. But honestly, they only ended up being for the photos! On the actual wedding day, I knew I needed to be comfortable walking around, so I found a beautiful pair of pink flat sheer ballet flats from a boutique called ‘The Pink Closet’ in Ravello. They were perfect, and I loved every moment in them!

Later, I changed into a blush two-piece from DATT, a fashion brand from Vietnam. The floral applique on the top reminded me of my wedding dress, which made it feel even more special. The sheer fabric made such a statement on the dancefloor with the lighting and the nighttime ambience.

Each of my looks had its own story and a reason behind it, and fashion is such a big part of who I am. For my husband, we wanted his look to fit the Italian culture, so he wore a tuxedo with an off-white jacket, which felt timeless and just right for the occasion.

What was 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?).

It’s hard to pinpoint just one or two elements because, on your wedding day, every detail feels so important! However, photography was definitely at the top of my (Samantha/Bride’s) list. I booked our photographer, Marta, before even setting a wedding date. As a photography graduate, I had a specific vision and style in mind. When I first met with Marta and learned about her process, it completely aligned with mine. I wanted someone who valued the beauty of the landscape as much as I did and could capture the perfect moments in such a stunning setting.

Floral was another element we prioritized and were happy to invest in. We know florals can be expensive, especially in the wedding industry, but they truly set the tone for the overall aesthetic. We wanted to achieve a romantic, Mediterranean look with lots of greenery and colourful flowers that complemented the Amalfi Coast perfectly.

Lastly, the venue was incredibly important to us. We chose an Italian castle on the Amalfi Coast because everywhere you looked was like a photograph waiting to happen. We didn’t want to feel like we needed to move around constantly to find the perfect backdrop. It was all there and better than we could ever imagine.

Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?

On our wedding day, we decided at the moment to give bride and groom speeches to thank all of our guests who had travelled so far to celebrate with us. As the bride, my speech ended up being way too long and emotional, which delayed the timeline for the evening. This made us late to change into our second outfits, rushed the cake-cutting, and cut down on the dancing time. At the time, we were so stressed about it, but now we laugh because it’s such a memorable part of the day. Even better, our guests still talk about how unique and heartfelt it was—it turned out to be one of their favourite moments!