Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro1/35Our invitation was done by Stephanie Fishwick. The collage had lemons, oranges, kumquats, and jasmine. I wanted the invitation to feel very Italian and appropriate for the setting. Stephanie did a perfect job with that. We hand-delivered all of the invitations in New York.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro2/35The view from our suite at the Villa Treville. Positano is just in the distance. It’s truly one of the most beautiful places you could ever imagine. We stayed at the Treville the summer before. And after we got engaged, when it came time to pick a venue, we immediately knew we wanted to have our wedding there.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro3/35Welcome bags for our guests.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro4/35Reading material in the gift bags. A copy of Cabana magazine’s special collaboration with Gucci (the cover matched the dress that I wore on the first day), a book with John Steinbeck’s essay on Positano from a 1955 issue of Harper’s Bazaar, an issue of Italian Vogue, and reproductions of Stanford’s Map of Italy. We also included lemon soaps from Capri, an itinerary for the weekend, bottles of Campari, and lemon biscotti from Amalfi. Our gift bags were made by Original Marrakech. Each guest’s bag had a special Italian phrase or word in all different colors. Chiara handwrote all the guests’ names on luggage tags.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro5/35Brett and I walk to meet our guests as they arrive. We had boats pick everyone up in Naples and bring them all to Positano. We greeted guests with a glass of prosecco and had an al fresco lunch on the terrace of the hotel. My dress is by Gucci.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro6/35After lunch we all ran to change into swimsuits. I’m wearing my favorite Lisa Marie Fernandez suit.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro7/35My not-so-graceful jump into the sea. This was one of my favorite parts of the wedding and it was such a happy way to kick off the weekend. It was the exact type of moment that we had hoped to create by having the hotel to ourselves.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro8/35Fiona Leahy and her team created the most beautiful tablescape for the welcome dinner. We did one long table that ran parallel to the sea. We hosted the dinner at the Treville Beach Club. Aperol spritzes and Neapolitan-style pizza were served during cocktails while we watched the sunset. Dinner was burrata with local heirloom tomatoes, pasta with zucchini grown at the Treville, and local sea bass baked in a salt block. For dessert, we did homemade lemon sorbetto served in frozen lemons.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro9/35The plates are made by the same family that owns Le Sirenuse—the iconic Positano hotel. Chiara Perano of Lamplighter London did all of the calligraphy for the weekend. She handwrote guests’ names on black rocks and created the most beautiful menu that was inspired by a nearly 1900s-era beach club menu that I found. Fiona Leahy also made the salt and pepper cellars out of oyster shells herself.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro10/35Brett and I walk to the boats that took us to the welcome dinner. I love this dress. I worked with wedding stylist Cynthia Smith, who is a big believer in wearing color throughout the weekend. I am so happy that I did. These are some of the most beloved pieces that I have now—and I can wear them again for other events.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro11/35Our mini flotilla that followed us to the welcome dinner. You can only access the beach by boat and our amazing wedding coordinator, Emily Fitzroy, dressed the boats in bunting.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro12/35My sister Alexandra hosted my bridal luncheon. Fiona commissioned Zsuzsanna Nyúl to block-print the canopy. The lunch was catered by one of my favorite women in Positano: Tanina Vanacore. We ate gazpacho, seared tuna, and watermelon sorbet. The menus were hand-marbled and calligraphed by Chiara. The flowers were little sprigs of lily of the valley, which matched my bouquet.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro13/35My favorite look of the weekend. I wore this Gucci dress to my bridal luncheon.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro14/35The view from my bridal luncheon: one of the perfect beach clubs in Positano.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro15/35My wedding dress was by Dolce & Gabbana. I was so happy that I went with this dress. It was perfect for the setting—and I really wanted to wear an Italian designer. I wore Alaïa shoes and no jewelry other than my engagement ring.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro16/35Bryce Scarlett getting me ready. My sister and Bryce hand-sewed my great-grandmother’s veil into my hair.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro17/35I loved my bouquet. It was exactly what I wanted: a petit bunch of lily of the valley.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro18/35My husband! We had his navy tuxedo custom-made in New York at J. Mueser. My parents gave him antique onyx and lapis studs to wear that day.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro19/35My father and I make our way down the terraces to the ceremony. He very sweetly hand-carried the veil that his grandmother wore at her wedding in 1925 with him on the plane to Italy.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro20/35My brother officiated the ceremony under a canopy of jasmine and wisteria flowers. Brett and I wrote our own vows, which we shared only with each other at the ceremony.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro21/35Our first kiss. I honestly think we both forgot there were 60 people watching us at that point.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro22/35A quiet moment before the reception started with Positano in the background.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro23/35I will never forget walking into the reception. Fiona created something that was more beautiful than I had ever imagined. The hanging lanterns and canopy of wisteria were unbelievable. There were hand-painted Sicilian Moor heads with passionflowers, clematis, and peonies winding down the table.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro24/35The table setting at the wedding. Zsuzsanna Nyúl block-printed all of the linens for the tables and the napkins. She also hand-painted the plates. Chiara hand-painted and calligraphed the menus to match. She also hand-painted each guest’s initials on the napkins.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro25/35At each of our place settings, Brett and I found these silver goblets. They were given to my parents at their wedding. And they were first used at my great-great-great-grandparents' wedding. Each couple's initials are engraved on them. This was a total surprise and was something that made me cry.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro26/35Brett giving his toast during dinner. The dinner was catered by my favorite restaurant on the Amalfi Coast, Lo Scoglio. We served local sea bass crudo, ricotta-filled ravioli with Amalfi lemons, and grilled tagliata. I decided to do a cheese course for dessert with all local cheeses and a moscato wine pairing.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro27/35Our first dance. We brought everyone downstairs to a ’70s-inspired disco. Fiona brought in a giant glittered moon from London that everyone took pictures in all night. There were huge vintage gold palm tree lamps in the corners and the DJ hide was a silver and gold star.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro28/35Our cake was another surprise. My sister designed it and worked with our wedding planner to have it made. I had no idea what we were getting—but I loved it. It was puff pastry, pastry cream, and raspberries.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro29/35For the after-party I changed into a Calvin Klein slip dress with sequins. We danced all night while snacking on mini sfogliatelle and arancini.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro30/35Brett and I arrived at lunch the next morning via our Krissy and Brett gozzo boat. Emily did the most incredible job transforming Da Adolfo for us. My favorite thing: She had plates made. And they said either da Krissy or da Brett. Lunch was served on those pieces.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro31/35I loved this Etro dress. It had little matching bloomers that I wore with it. After having a lunch of double pasta, we jumped into the sea and swam all afternoon.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro32/35Later that evening, Brett’s mother hosted farewell cocktails at Franco’s Bar, which is at the Le Sirenuse. It is one of the prettiest spots in Positano to watch the sun dip behind the town. We served martinis and champagne, along with snacks made by Tanina Vanacore of Casa e Bottega. I am wearing a Dolce & Gabbana jumpsuit with a matching miniskirt.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro33/35My brother’s fiancée, Madison Knudson, and Natalie Obradovich at our farewell cocktails.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro34/35My Dolce & Gabbana tile shoes that match my skirt and top.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristen O'Neill and Brett Shapiro35/35Driving off in our little vintage VW bug after farewell cocktails. The next morning, we headed north to Portofino for our minimoon.
