This Couple Returned to the Spot They Got Engaged—the Amalfi Coast—for Their Destination Wedding

cara david wedding couple holding hands walking
Gianni Di Natale

The moment Cara met Dave in Los Angeles, a voice in her head told her she just met her husband. "Of course, I thought I was crazy!" she remembers. But as the two got to know each other over the next few weeks, going on dates to concerts and football games, that voice got louder.

The only catch? Dave lived in Sydney full time and was about to head back home to Australia. The duo kept in touch and spent most of their time messaging and Skyping. Ultimately, they both couldn't deny that they wanted to see each other again and decided to book a trip to Hawaii for their grand reunion. The week was full of romance and fun and by the end, Cara and Dave both knew that they wanted to make a long-distance relationship work.

After three years, Dave was sure he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Cara. He proposed on a private boat tour on the Amalfi Coast—the moment was followed by honking and cheering from other boaters who had seen the happy moment unfold. Two years later, the couple returned to Positano, Italy, with 50 of their nearest and dearest (family and friends flew in from all over the world!) to celebrate their wedding. The event took place at Villa San Giacomo, a dreamy Italian venue that overlooked the water—an appropriate setting for a couple whose wedding journey began on a boat.

Watch Cara and Dave's wedding video by Gianni di Natale.

01 of 17

Invites to Italy

cara david wedding invites
Gianni Di Natale

Cara and Dave's invites were meant to give guests a sneak peek into their destination wedding weekend. The letterpressed suite had an old-school Italian look; the heavy paper notes were wrapped in vellum and sealed with a blue cord and silver wax. Each card had a faint watercolor background meant to reflect the grottos around the Amalfi Coast.

02 of 17

An Amalfi Affair

cara david wedding italian coast
Gianni Di Natale

For their big day, the couple wanted to invite their closest friends and family to Positano, Italy. "If guests were able to come, we wanted them to come to one of our favorite places and have an amazing holiday they'd always remember," says the bride.

03 of 17

A Venue Over the Sea

cara david wedding venue
Gianni Di Natale

The couple's ceremony was held in the garden at the beautiful Villa San Giacomo, a venue that overlooks Positano and the sea.

The theme of the couple's day was "La Dolce Vita" (the good life!)—and they incorporated it into every aspect. "The color palette was meant to reflect the scenery, the different blues of the grottos and the sky. The blush for the bridesmaids was a similar shade to the weathered pink of our gorgeous villa," remembers Cara.

04 of 17

Blushing Flowers

cara david wedding bouquet sitting on antique mirror
Gianni Di Natale

The bride's bouquet featured a mix of English roses, hydrangeas, and peonies in shades of white, blush, and peach, with some natural greenery mixed in.

05 of 17

The Wedding Dress

cara david wedding bride in front of greenery
Gianni Di Natale

Cara chose a beaded lace wedding dress by Moira Hughes Couture, which she found in Paddington, Sydney.

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The Bridesmaids

cara david wedding bridesmaids
Gianni Di Natale

The bridesmaids wore blush Vera Wang dresses of their choice.

07 of 17

The Groom

cara david wedding groom
Gianni Di Natale

Dave wore a three-piece navy suit by Tom Ford; his tie and black shoes were from Isaia.

The groom asked two best men to stand by his side on his big day: His oldest friend, Dean, and his brother, Paul.

08 of 17

The Rings

cara david wedding rings in decorative boxes
Gianni Di Natale

Both Cara's engagement ring and wedding band were designed by Cerrone Jewelers. Dave's sterling silver ring, complete with a black ceramic inlay, was created by Bulgari in collaboration with Save the Children; a portion of the ring's cost went to the charity.

09 of 17

The First Look

cara david wedding first look
Gianni Di Natale

Both Cara and Dave agree that their first look was their favorite part of the day. "Having that private moment together, it calms you both down and is very reassuring," Dave says. "We knew it was finally time to have fun and enjoy everything we had spent so much time planning for."

10 of 17

The Entrance

cara david wedding ceremony on cliff
Gianni Di Natale

The couple worked their favorite hits into their ceremony, including "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve for the bridesmaids' entrance and "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles for the bride's debut.

11 of 17

The Vows

cara david wedding ceremony rings
Gianni Di Natale

The couple wrote their own vows; their ceremony was officiated by Dave's longtime friend. "It was so moving to hear what Dave had written to me, and then to share what I had written to him," remembers Cara.

12 of 17

A Lovely Day

cara david wedding ceremony recessional
Gianni Di Natale

The couple recessed back up the aisle to cheers from friends and the song "'Lovely Day" by Bill Withers. "It seemed like the perfect song for the moment," says Dave.

13 of 17

A Musical Cocktail Hour

cara david wedding musicians
Gianni Di Natale

After the ceremony, guests remained in the garden to enjoy cocktails and modern music by Areacustica Duo.

14 of 17

Italian-Style Dinner

cara david wedding reception table setting
Gianni Di Natale

Guests sat at one long imperial table, set with taper and votive candles and small vases of flowers. A calligraphed bottle of limoncello marked each attendee's spot.

15 of 17

A Meal Under the Stars

cara david wedding reception
Gianni Di Natale

Under the Positano stars, celebrants enjoyed a three-course dinner featuring risotto and sirloin.

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The Cake

cara david wedding cake
Gianni Di Natale

For dessert, the couple served a traditional Italian Millefoglie cake (a treat made from custard and puff pastry!) with fresh berries on top.

17 of 17

Sources

cara david wedding couple sitting on steps above coast
Gianni Di Natale

Photography and Videography, Gianni di Natale

Venue, Villa San Giacomo and Il San Pietro di Positano

Event Planning, The Amalfi Experience

Catering, Cake, Rentals, and Lighting, Regency, Villa San Giacomo

Flowers, Armando Malafronte

Stationery, The Distillery Lettepress

Calligraphy, Karyna Gutsalyuk

Music, Areacustica Duo, Cherubino

Bride's gown, Moira Hughes Couture

Groom's attire, Tom Ford

Hair, Tonino

Makeup, Alessia

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