Cassandra & Will: A Colourful Destination Wedding in Cilento, Italy
Real wedding · Campania

Cassandra & Will: A Colourful Destination Wedding in Cilento, Italy

From Florida to the Italian countryside, a wedding at Domus Laeta brought together vibrant summer flowers, open air celebrations and the unmistakable joy of getting married in Southern Italy.

Couple from
Florida, USA

Wedding Planning & Design: Elisabetta Picardi, Say Yes in Italy | Photography: Mackenzie McNeil

Cassandra and Will in sunglasses, close together, with a peach and cream bouquet

Cassandra and Will travelled from Florida to celebrate their wedding at Domus Laeta in Giungano, a small village near Agropoli in the Cilento region of Southern Italy. With the surrounding hills as their backdrop, the couple exchanged vows in a garden filled with flowers in shades of peach, coral, pink, butter yellow and pale blue.

Their wedding was planned and designed by Elisabetta Picardi of Say Yes in Italy, who brought together a celebration that felt personal, colourful and wonderfully relaxed. From the garden ceremony to dinner beneath a vine covered pergola, the day made full use of the Italian countryside and its late afternoon light.

A Wedding at Domus Laeta

The setting was central to the celebration. Domus Laeta offered Cassandra and Will an outdoor space overlooking the green hills of Cilento, where guests could gather for the ceremony and remain close to the landscape throughout the day.

The bride at the edge of the terrace looking out over the Cilento hills, with flowers and rattan chairs in the foreground

Rows of rattan chairs lined a grassy aisle, with abundant floral arrangements creating a colourful path towards the couple. There was no elaborate structure competing with the view. Instead, the flowers framed the ceremony, while the hills and expansive blue sky provided a beautiful natural backdrop.

Hydrangeas and roses beside the ceremony chairs, with a guest holding a white parasol
Guests seated along the flower-lined aisle during the ceremony, with the hills behind
Cassandra and Will holding hands during their vows

The bride wore an ivory gown with delicate straps, a fitted bodice and a softly structured full skirt. Her veil added a traditional bridal element to the otherwise contemporary look, while the groom chose a cream dinner jacket, black trousers and a black bow tie.

Together, their style felt elegant without being overly formal, particularly against the vivid colours of the flowers.

Cassandra holding her bouquet among coral and pink flowers
Cassandra smiling, holding a blue and peach bouquet

A Garden Ceremony Filled with Colour

Floral designer Vincenzo Fontanella Flower created arrangements that were both generous and natural in appearance. Roses, hydrangeas, dahlias and other seasonal looking blooms appeared in varied heights and colours, with flowers arranged directly along the edges of the aisle.

Cassandra and Will exchanging vows, with flowers and the hills behind
Pink hydrangeas and red dahlias beside rattan chairs

The palette was particularly effective against the green lawn and the surrounding countryside. Pale pink and cream flowers softened the brighter coral and orange tones, while touches of blue and lilac introduced a cooler contrast.

The wide ceremony view down the aisle, with guests seated among the flowers

During the ceremony, guests sat close to the couple, with the floral arrangements forming a garden around them. The photographs capture the intimacy of the occasion, from the couple holding hands during their vows to the moment they walked back down the aisle together, smiling as their guests applauded.

One photograph in particular captures the spirit of the day: Cassandra raising her bouquet as she and Will make their way through the flowers, surrounded by friends and family.

Cassandra raising her bouquet beside Will as guests cheer
Cassandra walking through the flower-lined aisle with the hills behind
Cassandra from behind, gathering her skirt among hydrangeas with the hills beyond
Cassandra turning in her gown among flowers
Cassandra smiling among snapdragons and hydrangeas
Cassandra walking away through the flowers with the hills beyond
Cassandra laughing among pink hydrangeas and peach roses

Dinner Beneath the Pergola

For the wedding reception, the celebration moved to a dining area beneath a wooden pergola dressed with white fabric and greenery.

A long reception table beneath a vine-covered pergola, with flowers and the hills behind

Long tables were arranged with pale linens, glassware, candles and an abundance of flowers. The same colours used for the ceremony continued into the reception, giving the wedding a consistent visual identity without making the arrangements feel repetitive.

The table beneath the pergola with colourful flowers and the hills behind
A long white table with flowers beneath the white draped pergola
The long reception table beneath the pergola draped in white fabric

The rattan dining chairs were finished with colourful silk scarves tied around their backs, an unexpected detail that introduced a playful, personal touch. The scarves carried illustrations and the words Meet us in Italy, a charming reference to the couple’s destination wedding.

A colourful silk scarf tied to the back of a rattan chair
Peach and orange flowers on the reception table beside glassware and a candle

At each place setting, simple white napkins, delicate tableware and neatly arranged cutlery allowed the flowers to remain the focus.

The overall effect was relaxed Italian garden dining, beautifully considered but never overly decorated.

The reception tables laid out beneath the pergola, with the valley beyond
A tall arrangement of hydrangeas, dahlias and roses beside a reception table

The Beauty of a Wedding in Cilento

Cilento is a different proposition from some of Italy’s more internationally recognised wedding destinations. Its villages, countryside and coastal towns offer couples an opportunity to experience Southern Italy beyond the usual wedding locations.

For Cassandra and Will, Giungano provided a setting where the landscape could become part of the celebration.

Will and Cassandra walking hand in hand along a village street
The couple kissing in a narrow village street

The photographs show the hills stretching into the distance, with olive groves, trees and rural properties visible across the valley. During the day, the light was bright and clear, bringing out the colours of the flowers and the couple’s attire.

Cassandra and Will standing together on the terrace, with flowers and hills behind
Pink dahlias against the evening light

By sunset, the atmosphere had changed completely.

Cassandra and Will raising their arms on the terrace as the sun sets

In one of the most memorable photographs, Cassandra and Will stand together on a terrace, looking out across the countryside as the sun begins to disappear behind the hills. Her gown catches the evening light, while the sky turns warm shades of gold and peach.

It is a beautiful image of the two of them taking a moment together, away from the celebrations below.

A Celebration That Felt Like Them

The photographs reveal a wedding with a strong sense of personality. The floral design was expressive, the fashion elegant, and the setting unmistakably Italian.

There were also moments of spontaneity throughout the day.

Cassandra appears laughing among the flowers, holding her bouquet as she moves through the garden. In another photograph, the couple pose together wearing sunglasses, bringing a playful element to their portraits.

Cassandra and Will laughing in sunglasses in front of an ivy wall
Cassandra and Will walking through the garden, smiling, with a bouquet

Later, the celebrations continued on the dance floor, where the couple were photographed among their guests, enjoying the evening.

Guests dancing under pink party lights
Cassandra and Will laughing together as her veil blows in the breeze
Cassandra and Will dancing as her skirt swirls, with guests watching
Handwritten letters tied with a red ribbon

These are the moments that give a real wedding its character. Beyond the carefully planned details, there is the pleasure of seeing family and friends gathered together, the excitement of the ceremony and the happiness of the couple at the centre of it all.

Planning a Destination Wedding in Southern Italy

Elisabetta Picardi of Say Yes in Italy was responsible for both the planning and design of Cassandra and Will’s wedding.

Her work brought together the location, floral arrangements, reception styling and the wider creative team, allowing the couple to enjoy a celebration that reflected their personalities.

For couples considering a wedding in Italy, the celebration offers an example of how a countryside venue can be transformed through thoughtful design without losing its original character.

Rather than relying on elaborate installations, the design worked with what Domus Laeta already offered: a garden, beautiful views, a pergola for dining and the changing light of the Italian countryside.

The result was a wedding full of colour, warmth and joyful moments, with a distinctly personal interpretation of Italian destination wedding style.

Elisabetta Picardi of Say Yes in Italy, smiling in the garden at Domus Laeta
The bride resting her chin on her hand among flowers and rattan chairs

The Wedding Team

CoupleCassandra & Will
FromFlorida, USA
Wedding VenueDomus Laeta, Giungano, Cilento, Italy
Wedding Planning & DesignElisabetta Picardi, Say Yes in Italy
PhotographyMackenzie McNeil
Floral DesignVincenzo Fontanella Flower
Hair & MakeupGiusy Auricchio
Content CreatorMarina Stories WCC

Photography by Mackenzie McNeil. Wedding shared with 5 Star Wedding Directory courtesy of Elisabetta Picardi, Say Yes in Italy.

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