Ravello sits more than three hundred meters above the sea, on the quieter side of the Amalfi Coast. La Rondinaia clings to the cliff just below the town, and for about thirty years it was the home of the American writer Gore Vidal. Stand on its terrace for a minute and you understand why he stayed so long, and why a Ravello wedding here feels like nowhere else.

A swallow's nest

Rondinaia means more or less "swallow's nest", and the name is accurate. The villa holds on to the rock, the gardens step down toward the drop, and in front of you there is nothing but sky and the Tyrrhenian Sea. It's not a place you decorate. You add a few flowers and get out of the way.

The ceremony

The ceremony arch was all white flowers, set right at the edge of the garden with the sea behind it. Guests sat among the plants and the old stone walls, and the groom walked down the aisle to a single violin. When the music changed for the bride, he didn't even try to hold back the tears.

Light on the Amalfi Coast is strong, especially in summer, and it bounces off the sea. A late afternoon ceremony is kinder to everyone: to the bride, to the guests in suits, and to the photographs. For portraits we look for open shade under the pergolas and wait for the sun to drop behind the mountains.

The details

Ravello has its own palette. Many floors here are covered in majolica, the hand-painted ceramic tiles of the coast, and from above they make a wonderful background. We photographed the groom and his friends standing on them, looking up at us. The tables were dressed with white and blush roses, simple and right for the place.

Night on the coast

When the sun goes down, the whole coast lights up below you, one village after another. Dinner, speeches, then a dance floor full of people who had clearly been waiting all day for that moment.

Planning a wedding in Ravello

• The center of Ravello is pedestrian, and many villas are reached on foot. Suppliers carry everything by hand, so build extra time into the setup.
• Naples airport is about an hour and a half away by car. The coastal road is narrow, so use small shuttles rather than coaches.
• Summer days are hot. Plan the ceremony late, keep water and fans for guests, and save the long portraits for golden hour.
• Book early. The best villas on the coast are often reserved a year or more in advance.

Watch the wedding film at La Rondinaia. If Ravello or the Amalfi Coast is where you see yourselves, tell us about your plans.