A Chinese Wedding in Ravello, Italy

Trending Videos

bride and groom stand outside wedding venue — Bottega 53

Good food and great company brought Rachel and Jimmy together for the first time almost seven years ago. After noshing on some of his signature dishes—like bourbon BBQ ribs and sea urchin risotto—at a friend's get-together, Rachel caught Jimmy's attention and the two quickly hit it off. After a few weeks of dating, though, Rachel told Jimmy about her plans to move to continue her education. Once they agreed that they were up for the challenge, the couple then embarked on two years of a long distance relationship that spanned from Los Angeles to Shanghai.

Distance proved to be no issue—their cross-continental romance remained strong, and they decided to take the next step in July of 2018, during a summer vacation in Europe. However, the journey to their engagement did have a few bumps along the way. "Jimmy cunningly planned his proposal and rented a yacht for the day to take us from Capri to Positano where he would propose during sunset with Positano's mystic cliffside architecture as a backdrop," Rachel shares. But after their luggage, which held their sea sickness medicine, didn't make it to their first stop in Naples, the future bride felt so sick on the boat that she almost didn't want to get back on. Luckily their suitcase arrived in Capri and she decided to try again. "We boarded our private yacht, headed towards Positano, and paused about 500 yards from the beach for a photo session at the bow," Rachel recalls. "With John Mayer's 'Gravity' playing in the background, Jimmy dropped to one knee."

From there, it was was smooth sailing—so smooth, that they ultimately decided to host their nuptials in Italy as well, and chose Villa Cimbrone in Ravello as their venue. "We wanted to bring all of our family and friends to the place that we felt was most special—the Amalfi Coast," the bride notes. The duo's big-day plans came to life with the help of Events by Paulina as they celebrated with 85 guests on October 7, 2019.

Watch Rachel and Jimmy's wedding video by Dolcevita Wedding Cinema.

01 of 22

A Gold Touch

raw edge gold print stationery suite — Bottega 53

Letters by Ann—the couple's calligrapher—hand-wrote each guests name in gold script when addressing their invitation suites. As for the hand-torn notes' finishing touch? The duo also designed their own crest, with a "J" and "R" enclosed with the outline of a lemon and vines.

02 of 22

Lady in Red

bride wearing detailed lace bell sleeve red dress — Bottega 53

Rachel donned a symbolic red dress by Chauntel Bridal for the couple's traditional Chinese tea ceremony.

Our Favorite Colorful Dresses from Real Weddings

03 of 22

Tea Ceremony Time

groom kisses bride on forehead — Bottega 53

Villa Cimbrone's pavilion garden served as the perfect spot for Jimmy and Rachel's tea ceremony. "The medieval pavilion architecture was decorated with traditional Chinese red banners, seat cushions, and floor mats for us to kneel on," Rachel notes. The couple gave personal speeches to each other's parents—thanking them for raising them and promising to commit to their marriage and families.

04 of 22

Cheers to Forever

bride popping champagne bottle with bridesmaids wearing robes — Bottega 53

Rachel's advice for brides- and grooms-to-be? "Plan ahead and have some fun in the process. But most importantly, tell each other—before you arrive at the venue, even if it is a day before the wedding and you have a list of rehearsal activities to attend to—that the planning is over and you must enjoy the moment. Nothing else matters," she shares.

Six Things to Plan for on the Morning of Your Wedding

05 of 22

Bridal Bliss

bride smiling for portrait wearing wedding dress with veil and minimal pearl necklace — Bottega 53

Chantilly lace-embroidered florals and pearls defined Rachel's Marchesa wedding dress. The frock brought tears to her eyes when she first tried it on during a shopping trip with her sisters. The bride completed her big-day look with Christian Louboutin shoes, a Chauntel Bridal veil, a Diamond Foundry necklace, and a matching set of Tiffany & Co. pearl earrings and necklace, which was an engagement gift from Jimmy's parents.

06 of 22

Party of Five

bride with bridesmaids wearing tea length orange dresses under floral wedding arch — Bottega 53

"The bridesmaids wore simple, yet elegant gold midi-dresses that were fitted to their silhouettes," Rachel shares of the Petal & Pup ensembles. "The color of the dresses really blended in well with the color theme, and more importantly, the midi-length allowed the bridesmaids to be comfortable enough to walk around and dance through the night."

07 of 22

Delicate Blooms

bride and groom embrace holding white floral bouquet — Bottega 53

The bride held a white bouquet with matte, rustic greens. Her bridesmaids all carried similar posies.

What Should the Bride and Bridesmaids Do with Their Bouquets After the Ceremony?

08 of 22

All Laughs

groom smiling with groomsmen wearing navy blue suits — Bottega 53

Jimmy sported a custom-made dark blue velvet jacket with black satin lapels and tuxedo slippers embroidered with the couple's crest. His groomsmen donned matching ensembles and wore gold horseshoe cuff links for a bit of luck.

09 of 22

A Reveal to Remember

bride stands behind groom covering his eyes before first look — Bottega 53

After some convincing from their event planner, Paulina Corvi of Events by Paulina, the pair decided to have a private first look. "It was just the two of us in a very private, intimate moment away from the crowds and all of the day's tasks," the bride reflects.

Is a First Look Right for You? Consider These Pros and Cons

10 of 22

Breathtaking Views

outdoor wedding ceremony with white seating and floral decor — Bottega 53

The ceremony took place against the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, in the venue's Garden of Two Fountains.

11 of 22

Whimsical and White

white floral lined wedding aisle with white seating — Bottega 53

Rachel and Jimmy kept the ceremony décor simple, opting for white chairs and simple potted arrangements—which were composed by Malafronte Fiori and filled with delphinium that reached the tips of the seats—that ran along both sides of the aisle.

Real Weddings with White Ideas

12 of 22

Awe-Worthy Arch

white floral wedding arch outside — Bottega 53

A towering arch filled with white hydrangeas, orchids, and roses defined the altar.

13 of 22

Windswept Walk

bride and father walking down path outside to wedding alter — Bottega 53

Walking down the aisle arm-in-arm with her father—to the gentle sounds of a quintet—is one of Rachel's fondest big-day memories.

Can the Bride Walk Down the Aisle Alone?

14 of 22

Sealed with a Kiss

groom dips bride during recessional surrounded by guests — Bottega 53

After exchanging vows that honored their journey and love over the better part of the last decade, the two marked the beginning of their new chapter as husband and wife with a romantic kiss.

15 of 22

Wedded Bliss

bride and groom smile outside walking away — Bottega 53

Following the ceremony, the couple posed for a few private portraits then met back up with their guests at the Infinity Terrace, which highlights the "surreal backdrop of the Amalfi cliffs and Mediterranean Sea," Rachel shares.

10 Amazing Pieces of Advice from Real Couples

16 of 22

Custom Seating Cups

drink seating chart cards on distressed wooden table — Bottega 53

Ahead of dinner, the couple's attendees found their seating arrangements—and their first drink of the night (limoncello shots doubled as their escort cards!).

Insanely Creative Escort Cards and Seating Displays

17 of 22

Romantic Seating

long white linen covered reception tables under hanging white floral decor — Bottega 53

Come the reception, dangling white wisteria vines hung over the long imperial tables, filling the space with sweet fragrance; small, pink-centric centerpieces, placed in gold vessels, defined the tabletops.

18 of 22

The Gold Standard

white and pink floral centerpieces reception table decor — Bottega 53

At each setting, guests' names were written on agate stones, and placed on top of custom menus—which Letters by Ann designed to mimic the invitation suite.

Table Cards and Place Cards: What's the Difference?

19 of 22

Floral Confection

three layer white frosted pink and white floral accent wedding cake — Bottega 53

Villa Cimbrone created the duo's chocolate wedding cake, complete with vanilla icing. A few flower buds completed the confection.

20 of 22

First Twirl

groom dips bride during first dance with sparkler backdrop — Bottega 53

For their first dance, Rachel—who changed into a star-covered GALA by Galia Lahav number—and Jimmy's swayed to "The Way You Look Tonight" by Tony Bennett. The duo marked the moment with sparklers, which went off in front of the band.

When Should Your First Dance Take Place?

21 of 22

Cozy Favors

"Based on historic weather trends, we knew that it would get chilly in the evenings, so we procured 85 gray cashmere scarves and ironed them with our embroidered logo," the bride shares of their favors. "The scarves were also placed in customized burlap bags for guests to use throughout their vacation."

22 of 22

Sources

bride and groom share a moment overlooking the water — Bottega 53

Photography, Bottega 53
Venue, Catering, and Cake, Villa Cimbrone
Wedding Planning and Event Design, Events by Paulina
Videography, Dolcevita Wedding Cinema
Flowers, Malafronte Fiori
Invitations, Day-Of Paper Goods, and Calligraphy, Letters by Ann
Bride's Gowns, Chauntel Bridal (red dress and veil), Marchesa (ceremony), GALA by Galia Lahav (reception)
Bride's Jewelry, Amelia (engagement ring and wedding bands), Diamond Foundry, Tiffany & Co.
Bride's Shoes, Christian Louboutin
Hair, Alessandro Mancino
Bridesmaids' Dresses, Petal & Pup
Guest Book, Be Golden
Music, Wedding Music
Rentals, FG Eventi
Lighting, RMS