Sorrento wedding photographer

A wedding in Sorrento

Sorrento looks out over the Bay of Naples from the top of its cliffs. It is home to the lemon groves that give us limoncello, it has drawn travellers for centuries, and for many couples it is the dream destination for a wedding in Italy. It is also the perfect gateway to the rest of the Amalfi Coast.

As a photographer I simply love Sorrento. The town has many breathtaking terraces with sea views, and several beautiful venues where wedding ceremonies can take place. It is well organised, easy for guests to reach, and the wide choice of venues lets you pick the one that fits your needs, your taste and your budget.

The Cloister of San Francesco

The most famous and popular wedding location in Sorrento is the Cloister of San Francesco (the Cloister of St Francis), and it is one I warmly recommend. Once a 14th-century monastery, it has kept its original architecture, and its arches draped in greenery create a wonderfully romantic atmosphere. Ceremonies take place outdoors, in the cloister itself.

A tip from experience: if your ceremony is at noon, it will have to pause for a moment, because the cloister bells begin their twelve o’clock “symphony”. And book well in advance – it is the only way to be sure the Cloister is free on your date.

Civil ceremonies at Museo Correale

Villa Correale sits right on the edge of Sorrento. It was once the private home of the Correale family, who donated it to the city; today it is a beautiful museum where you can still see the original 17th-century decoration. I have photographed weddings here, and it is an ideal setting for a civil ceremony – either in one of the elegant rooms inside the villa or in the gardens, surrounded by magnificent ancient trees and citrus groves.

Villa Fondi, above the Gulf of Naples

Villa Fondi is only ten minutes from the centre of Sorrento and well worth considering. It stands on a cliff with a huge panoramic terrace looking across the Gulf of Naples to Vesuvius, and its botanical gardens are full of olive trees and palms. The ceremony takes place on the terrace, with the sea all around – it is hard to imagine anything more romantic, and it is a magical place to photograph.

Receptions with a view

For the reception, the venue I have come to love most in Sorrento is Villa Antiche Mura: an elegant villa with sea views, courtyards, a lemon garden and private access to the beach, where the cake is cut at sunset. Close to Sorrento, Villa Sabrina offers a beautiful garden where I have photographed many couples. You will find more options, and what each is like to photograph, in my guide to Sorrento wedding venues.

Around the Cloister there are also many restaurants – some with splendid sea views, others set in gardens of lemon trees. Wherever you celebrate, choose the local dishes, and expect the meal to end with a glass of limoncello made from Sorrento lemons.

Photographing Sorrento: terraces, back streets and sunsets

One of the joys of a Sorrento wedding is how much beauty is within a few steps. Right after a ceremony at the Cloister, we can take your couple and family photos in the cloister itself, then walk to the terrace of the Villa Comunale nearby, with one of the most spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples – no long transfers needed.

I also love photographing couples in the old back streets of the town, and in the golden light at the end of the day, when the sea and the sky turn to gold and blue.

Why Sorrento works so well for your guests

Sorrento’s position makes life easy. You and your guests can stay in hotels in town and travel by boat to see practically the whole Amalfi Coast. For many couples this is a big part of the appeal: the wedding becomes a holiday for everyone. Please note that a Catholic church wedding is not possible in Sorrento – ceremonies here are civil, symbolic or, at some venues such as Villa Antiche Mura, Protestant. If a church wedding matters to you, look at Positano. [TODO Adamo: confirm]