Vow renewal in Italy, on the Amalfi Coast and in Puglia

Why renew your vows in Italy

A vow renewal is a celebration without the pressure of a wedding. There is no paperwork, no long list of suppliers and no rush – just the two of you, and perhaps your children, family or a few close friends, in a place that makes the day feel special.

Italy makes that easy. The light, the food and the landscapes do half the work, and the day can be as simple as a few words on a terrace at sunset, or as complete as a ceremony followed by dinner with everyone you love.

Renewing your vows on the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento is a natural choice for a vow renewal: the terraces above the Gulf of Naples, the lemon groves and the old streets of the centre are all within a short walk. Positano, with its houses climbing up the cliffs, is perhaps the most photographed village on the coast, and Ravello, high on the hill, offers gardens and views that seem to go on forever.

If you married on the coast years ago, coming back to the same church, villa or terrace is a beautiful way to close the circle – and to take the photographs you might not have had time for the first time.

Renewing your vows in Puglia

Puglia is where I live, and it is a wonderful place for a quieter celebration. A masseria in the countryside, with its whitewashed walls and olive groves, gives you privacy and space for a long dinner with your family. On the coast, Polignano a Mare and Monopoli offer the sea, and Ostuni, the white city, is magical in the evening light.

Because the region is less crowded than the Amalfi Coast, it is easy to find a corner that feels like your own.

The ceremony

A vow renewal is a symbolic ceremony, so you are free to shape it as you like: your own words, a reading from a friend or one of your children, a celebrant, or simply a quiet moment between the two of you. If you would like a blessing in a church, the options depend on the town and the venue.

Many hotels, villas and masserie host small symbolic ceremonies on a terrace or in a garden. Tell me what you have in mind, and I will point you in the right direction.

With your children and family

Some of the most moving vow renewals are the ones where the children are part of the day – walking their parents to the ceremony, reading the vows, or simply laughing in the family photos afterwards. Those are the images that families keep for generations.

I photograph the whole day in the same photojournalistic way as a wedding, so everyone can relax and enjoy it, and I make sure the family portraits you care about are covered.

How I photograph your vow renewal

My coverage goes from a few hours to the whole day. For a vow renewal that often means the ceremony, portraits of the two of you in two or three places nearby, and the first part of the dinner. The golden hour before sunset is the best time for the portraits, so a ceremony in the late afternoon works beautifully.

Afterwards you receive a private online gallery with all your high-resolution photos, within a few days up to three or four weeks, depending on your package.

Planning your vow renewal

A few things to decide first:

• The area – the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, or Puglia
• The setting – a hotel terrace, a villa garden, a masseria or the beach
• Who will be there – just the two of you, your children, or family and friends
• The time of day – late afternoon, leading into the golden hour
• Send me your date, and I will send you my information package