Julia and Samir’s wedding in Portofino felt like a West Village love story transported to the Italian Riviera. With church bells echoing through narrow streets, monastery walls framing formal gardens, and black-tie silhouettes moving through topiary geometry, the entire celebration unfolded with cinematic precision. Beautifully captured on film by videographers WeddingMovieTeam, the day balanced New York polish with old-world ritual.
Location: Portofino, Italy
Style: Classic, Elegant, Timeless
Time of planning: 1 Year
Number of guests: 135
Setting: Church and Abbey
Season: Spring
Julia and Samir’s story started the way many New York love stories do, quietly unfolding in the background of everyday routines. For more than a year, they had been seeing each other around their West Village neighborhood, often crossing paths during early mornings at Equinox without ever actually meeting.
Everything changed one summer evening when they ran into each other at a bar with friends. What began as a casual conversation quickly stretched into hours of talking, the kind where the rest of the room slowly fades away. From that night on, they started spending time together regularly, and a trip to California soon confirmed what they were both beginning to realize: the connection they had found was something rare, and it was only just beginning.
Welcome Day
The inspiration began with the destination itself, starting with a welcome dinner hosted at the Michelin-starred restaurant Cracco Portofino, where guests gathered for exceptional cuisine and, of course, pizza, all set against the iconic harbor views of Portofino.
Julia set the tone for the weekend in a shimmering sequin-covered dress, its delicate beading catching the warm Riviera light and reflecting the effortless glamour of the setting. Around them, florals echoed the colors of Portofino itself, with citrusy shades of peach, coral, and soft orange mirroring the pastel façades and sunset tones of the harbor.
Playful details added to the relaxed atmosphere of the evening, including a charming gelato cart where guests gathered throughout the night, turning the welcome dinner into a lively Portofino street scene filled with laughter, music, and the unmistakable feeling that the celebration had only just begun.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Julia started building her bridal look from the details. She paired the outfit with Amina Muaddi heels, which felt perfectly in sync with the Riviera setting. One of the most meaningful pieces she wore that day were the diamond earrings gifted by her mother-in-law. The two of them designed the earrings together, turning the accessory into a personal keepsake woven into the wedding day.
Julia wore Oak Essentials Violet perfume, a scent with notes of Italian lemon, saffron, and warm woods that instantly reminded her of Italy the moment she discovered it weeks before the wedding. It quickly became the fragrance she associated with the entire celebration.
The couple carried the same soft aesthetic into their stationery by Shasta Bell, whose delicate design set the tone for the weekend from the very beginning. The pieces felt light, romantic, and refined, mirroring the atmosphere of Portofino itself.
For beauty, the bride kept everything effortless and luminous. Her makeup was natural and glowing, while her hair was styled in a polished updo that was slightly loosened to create a softer, more relaxed feel that moved beautifully throughout the day.
Her gown by Stéphane Rolland brought the full bridal look together. Sophisticated, glamorous, and romantic, the couture silhouette stood beautifully against the historic Italian setting, while her bouquet of white lisianthus and bouvardia echoed the traditional orange blossoms once used in classic wedding bouquets. Julia moved through the day calm, joyful, and fully present, describing the experience as living through “a dream within a dream.”
Groom’s Fashion
For the ceremony, Samir wore a custom midnight-blue tuxedo by J. Mueser, crafted in their own West Village neighborhood. The two of them chose the fabric together, settling on a rich Loro Piana wool-silk blend that complemented Samir’s complexion beautifully while keeping the silhouette classic and timeless.
He completed the look with velvet slippers by Stubbs & Wootton, adding a subtle touch of personality, and silver Hermès Marine knot cufflinks, a refined nod to the seaside setting of Portofino.
Ceremony
The wedding day began with a ceremony in the tiny Catholic church of Chiesa del Divo Martino, one of Portofino’s most iconic landmarks. Set against striped stone walls, gilded details, and a dramatic checkered floor, the space carried the unmistakable atmosphere of a Catholic baroque ceremony.
One of the most memorable moments of the day happened even before the ceremony began. Rather than arriving by car, Julia walked to the church with her parents through the narrow streets of Portofino, passing locals and curious tourists along the way. In true Italian fashion, the moment drew smiles, applause, and a sense of shared excitement from everyone who witnessed it.
As Julia and Samir explain, choosing a traditional Catholic ceremony in Italy felt completely natural for them. “We are both deeply religious, and there is something about Italy, its culture, its language, and its history, that creates a feeling you simply can’t replicate anywhere else.”
Inside the church, the couple intentionally kept the floral design restrained. Elegant arrangements of ivory and white flowers framed the aisle without competing with the extraordinary architecture of the space. “We didn’t want to take away from the beauty of the church itself,” the couple explains. “Walking down the aisle surrounded by centuries of history and art makes the ceremony deeply emotional and spiritual.”
A final touch connected the ceremony to Italian wedding tradition: delicate tulle bags filled with confetti, the classic Italian sugared almonds. Given in sets of five, they symbolize endurance and carry five wishes for the couple, health, wealth, happiness, family, and a long life.
Moments Together
After the ceremony, the celebration moved to Abbazia della Cervara, where the reception unfolded within the monastery’s historic gardens overlooking the Ligurian Sea. As guests arrived, the clouds from an earlier rain shower cleared just in time for sunset, revealing a sky washed in soft cotton-candy pink tones.
Before joining their guests, Julia and Samir spent a few quiet moments wandering through the terraced gardens of the abbey with photographer Matteo Coltro, and videographer of WMT, capturing portraits against the dramatic backdrop of stone walls, sculpted greenery, and the open sea beyond.
Cocktail hour unfolded in the abbey cloister as guests enjoyed drinks while live music filled the space, setting the tone for the evening ahead. The relaxed atmosphere allowed Julia and Samir to finally embrace their friends and family after the emotion of the ceremony. One of the most memorable details of the hour was a live casaro cheese maker, a special request from Julia that quickly became a guest favorite.
“We were finally able to hug everyone and really take in the moment,” the couple recalls. “After the excitement of the ceremony, it felt incredible to simply celebrate together.”
Reception
Dinner unfolded within the historic gardens and cloisters, where candlelit tables were surrounded by soft, romantic florals. The arrangements blended roses, lisianthus, hydrangeas, and snapdragons with delicate greenery, creating a palette that felt light, timeless, and perfectly at home against the monastery’s stone architecture and manicured gardens.
Guests were welcomed with signature cocktails while acoustic saxophone music floated through the cloister, setting a relaxed yet elegant tone for the evening. The atmosphere gradually shifted from quiet Riviera sophistication to a more celebratory energy as dinner began and friends and family shared heartfelt toasts that had more than a few guests reaching for tissues.
Food was an important part of the celebration, reflecting the couple’s love for Italian cuisine. Alongside the dinner courses, guests enjoyed beautifully presented bites including delicate tartlets and a generous dessert display filled with sweet treats that quickly became a favorite stop throughout the evening.
When it came time for their first dance, Julia and Samir chose Shining Star by The Manhattans, filling the garden with the warm sound of classic soul. Later in the night, the cake moment unfolded to L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole, a fittingly timeless soundtrack for the celebration.
As the evening transitioned into dancing, Julia changed into a second look that felt lighter and perfect for the party ahead, while the dance floor quickly filled with guests celebrating late into the night under the abbey’s ancient walls.
Advice from the couple:
• No matter how organized and planned everything is in the year leading up to the wedding, there will be little things, or big (changing locations for the party!) that come up in the days leading up to the wedding.
Staying calm and trusting in the expert planners is so important. The most important part is staying present for your loved ones who came to celebrate you.
VIDEOGRAPHER Wedding Movie Team | PHOTOGRAPHER Matteo Coltro Weddings, MStudio Wed | PLANNER Tala Design Events | VENUE (WEDDING DAY) Abbazia della Cervara | VENUE (WELCOME RECEPTION) Cracco Portofino | FLOWER STYLIST (WELCOME RECEPTION) Jessica Tua Flower Stylist | FLORIST (WEDDING DAY) Figli dei Fiori Como | MAKEUP & HAIR Alessandro Mancino Studios | WEDDING INVITATIONS Shasta Bell Calligraphy | GELATO CART Vincenzo Dascanio Café | BAND Musica Evento | DJ The Soundtrackers
