An Enchanting Mediterranean Wedding at Palazzo Avino in Ravello, Italy

Christie Held and Douglas Acker met on July 31st, 2017 through mutual friends at a pool party in Bayville, New York. For a month prior, Christie’s friend had been trying to introduce the two, but plans never worked out; she even had to “trick” Christie into attending the pool party, knowing Doug would be there.

Initially, Christie was skeptical about her new acquaintance. But as day turned into night, she and Doug started forming a true connection – some would even say it was “love at first sight” by the end of the evening. As they parted ways, Doug kissed Christie good night and told her he was going to marry her one day. The two have been inseparable ever since.

The engagement took place the following year, when Doug proposed on the cliffs of a beautiful winery, overlooking Long Island Sound. He popped the question while down on one knee; and after Christie happily accepted the custom engagement ring, the wedding planning process began.

Christie’s dream wedding unfolded beautifully, which included a wedding dress by Galia Lahav and a destination wedding in Ravello, Italy. After searching endlessly for a destination wedding planner who shared her vision, she immediately clicked with Simona Guida, who expertly pulled off an enchanting experience. Simona planned every detail with precision, from the boat trip to Capri, to the centerpieces on the dinner tables months ahead of schedule.

On the wedding day, the bride and groom went their separate ways early in the morning to get ready. Before the ceremony, the couple shared a first look, which made for a beautiful photo moment with views of the Amalfi Coast. Afterwards, Christie and her father made their way down the aisle to the tune of a live violinist, and the couple exchanged vows in front of friends and family.

As cocktail hour commenced, guests were in awe of the landscape and celebration space that was revealed to them. During the reception, a 25-person table was situated high on a cliff with impeccable views of the Mediterranean. Dinner included dishes that were cooked to perfection, with each course being expertly paired with a different wine. Following dessert, the newlyweds shared their first dance to John Legend’s “All of Me,” performed by a guitar and soprano singer duo.

The next day, Doug and Christie traveled to a beautiful villa in the town of Furore to make authentic Italian brick oven pizza from scratch. They then continued to Florence, where they stayed in an 1800s castle outside the city walls and dined at La Giostra – one of the best restaurants in Florence. Their Italian wedding experience concluded in Rome, and they enjoyed learning about the city’s fascinating history before returning home to their dog and two cats.

WEDDING TEAM