Real Wedding: Shannon & Stephen, Castore, Sorrento, Italy
A Sorrento wedding planned in under six months (and nobody panicked)
Picture it: a legal ceremony in the historic Cloisters of Sorrento, a wedding car up into the hills, and a reception at Castore with the Gulf of Naples, Capri and Ischia laid out below like someone had ordered the view off a postcard. That was Shannon and Stephen's destination wedding in Italy, and it's one their guests are still talking about.
The best bit? They pulled it off in less than six months, from the UK, without a single meltdown. Pop the kettle on, this one's a joy.
Meet Shannon and Stephen: a UK couple with a tight timeline
Shannon and Stephen are a UK-based couple who decided they wanted to marry in Italy, and fairly soon, thank you very much. Less than six months from first chat to "I do" is the sort of timeline that makes most people reach for a paper bag to breathe into.
Shannon describes herself as a "type-A girlie in every facet of my life". The kind of person with a spreadsheet for her spreadsheets. So the real plot twist of this wedding is that she got to be a type-B bride: relaxed, present, and actually enjoying it.
Their bridesmaids, groomsmen and family all noticed how calm the pair were in the run-up. Ask them why and you get the same answer every time: "it's because of Gemma", their planner.
Castore Terrace
Why they chose an all-inclusive wedding package in Sorrento
With six months on the clock, there was no time for chasing forty suppliers across two countries. The Castore all-inclusive wedding package bundles the lot into one straightforward booking, with a personal wedding planner based in Italy from the moment you book.
Here's what was taken care of, so Shannon and Stephen didn't have to:
Town hall documentation, translation and the legal ceremony at the Cloisters, with a celebrant and translator
A planner meeting on arrival, plus your planner at the ceremony until the meal begins
Hand-tied bouquet, buttonhole, floral arch, rose petals, white carpet and white chairs
A violin and cello duo for the ceremony, and a sax player for the aperitivo
Four hours of professional photography and four hours of videography
Bridal hair and make-up
A wedding car for the bride, then for the newlyweds from the Cloisters up to Castore
Guest transport from central Sorrento to the venue, and back again at the end of the night
Prosecco and finger food, a three-course wedding breakfast, Italian wedding cake, fountains and sparklers, fairy lights and a resident DJ
The couple's only job? Picking the fun bits: ceremony layout, menu, songs, cake flavours and table decorations. Honestly, that's the dream.
Castore Gardens, Amalfi Coast, Italy
The legal ceremony at the Cloisters, Sorrento
Shannon and Stephen said their vows at the Cloisters, Sorrento's town hall ceremony setting, right in the heart of town. It's a fully legal civil ceremony, so you come home properly married, certificates and all.
The Cloisters bring the history and the romance: shaded stone arches, a quiet courtyard, and that hush that makes everyone sit up a bit straighter. Add a floral arch, white carpet, rose petals and a violin and cello duo, and it's goosebumps all round. Ceremonies run at midday or 1pm, which leaves the whole afternoon and evening for celebrating.
The paperwork is the bit most couples dread, and it's all handled within the package: town hall documents, translation to meet Italian law for UK residents, and a celebrant and translator on the day. Your multilingual wedding certificates are sorted for you too.
Top tip for UK couples: plan to be in Sorrento at least three full working days (Monday to Friday) before a legal ceremony. It gives you time to meet your planner and run through the final details, and it's a perfectly good excuse for an extra gelato or three.
The Cloisters, ceremony venue Sorrento, Italy
Up the hill to Castore: sea views over the Gulf of Naples
Once the rings were on, the newlyweds hopped into their wedding car for the short drive (about 17 minutes) up into the Sorrento hills, near the village of Sant'Agata. Guests followed on transport from a central Sorrento meeting point, so nobody had to haggle with a taxi in their best shoes.
And then, the view. Castore sits high above the coastline, looking out over the Gulf of Naples, Capri and Ischia. Panoramic terraces, lush gardens and vineyard-covered hills do the rest. It's the sort of backdrop that makes your photographer quietly very happy.
Guests were greeted with a flute of Prosecco, a sax player and a spread of finger food: bruschetta, Parma ham and melon, mini caprese salads and shrimps rolled in lemon leaves. Very Sorrento. Very hard to stop at one.
The feast, the cake and the party
Inside, fairy lights twinkled across the ceiling of the dining room while the in-house chefs served up authentic Sorrentine cooking. Couples pick up to three dishes per course for guests to choose from, think Ravioli Caprese, sea bass acqua pazza and a proper tiramisu, all finished with a shot of limoncello.
Then came the cake. Italian sponge, a filling of your choice (lemon cream, anyone?) and two cold fountains plus sparklers for the cutting. Cue every phone in the room going up at once.
The resident DJ took it from there. And yes, Gemma did have to round up a few wandering guests along the way, as you do when the view is that distracting and the limoncello is that good. At the end of the night, one coach whisked everyone back down to Sorrento together. No stragglers left on the hillside. Mostly.
Capturing it all were photographer Pippa Carvell and videographer Gianluigi Palomba, both included in the package, and both now firmly in the couple's good books. In Shannon's words, "we love Pippa so much", and the same goes for Gianluigi.
Why Castore is perfect for medium-sized weddings
Castore is a genuine hidden gem: tucked away in peaceful countryside, yet only around 20 minutes from Sorrento town centre. It's exclusive use, so the whole place is yours for the day.
It's ideal if your guest list sits somewhere between "intimate" and "the entire extended family":
Packages start from 40 adults, with room for up to 100, including the couple
The main dining room seats around 70, with an adjoining room opening up for bigger parties
Choose a legal ceremony at the Cloisters, or a symbolic ceremony at Castore itself
Accessible, child-friendly and with covered outdoor areas, just in case the weather has ideas
Naples airport is about 1 hour 15 minutes away, with plenty of direct flights from the UK
Accommodation isn't included, so guests book their own stay in Sorrento and simply meet the transport on the day. Easy.
Terrace Drinks, Castore, Italy
In their words
"We had the wedding of our dreams because of your hard work, attention to detail, dealing with some wandering guests, and dedication. And it's a day we will cherish for the rest of our lives!"
"As a type-A girlie in every facet of my life, I cannot begin to thank you and offer you my eternal gratitude for letting me be a type-B bride."
Shannon and Stephen
They're already planning an anniversary trip back to Sorrento, and we can't wait to raise a glass with them.
Planning a Sorrento wedding? Quick answers
Can UK couples have a legal wedding in Sorrento? Yes. A civil ceremony at the Cloisters is fully legal, and the documentation and translation are handled in the package. Plan to arrive at least three working days before.
How many guests suit Castore? From 40 adults up to 100, including the couple, which makes it a brilliant fit for medium-sized weddings.
How far is Castore from Sorrento? Around 20 minutes from Sorrento town centre and about 17 minutes from the Cloisters, with guest transport included.
Is accommodation included? No. Guests stay in Sorrento or nearby hotels, and the wedding-day transport collects them from a central point.
Fancy a wedding like Shannon and Stephen's?
If a legal ceremony in Sorrento and a sea-view party in the hills sounds like your cup of tea, let's make it happen. Explore Castore, check your date, or book a free 30-minute call with the WedAwai team. Your destination wedding starts here.
