A Glamorous Destination Wedding on the Island of Capri in Italy

A decade after graduating from the University of Texas, Jessica Latham was surprised to get a call from Ryan Brooks, a former classmate. “I was working at Vanity Fair and Ryan was producing a documentary called Inocente. He called to talk about partnerships with the magazine, and I ended up joining the film as an associate producer,” Jessica remembers. “I helped the team with their awards campaign. The film won an Oscar, and Ryan and I ended up engaged!”

Jessica and Ryan love to travel, and they have a special place in their hearts for Italy. Once they decided on a destination wedding abroad (they also considered Marfa, Texas!), they settled on the stunning island of Capri, and invited 100 guests to join on July 30, 2016. There, they exchanged vows in a private garden before partying at their all-white wedding reception overlooking the island’s famous rocky cliffs. A local planner, Sugokuii Events, helped the couple manage all the details from across the Atlantic, though they did bring a few stateside pros with them, namely photographer Erich McVey.

Keep reading to see how this all-white wedding in Capri is total #weddinggoals.

Is there anything better than a warm and sunny wedding, compete with dramatic views and stunning blue water?

A white and gold palette was perfect for Ryan and Jessica’s invitation suite, which featured swirling calligraphy, an illustration of the island of Capri, and an elegant beveled edge.

Instead of picking a single dress, Jessica had her bridal party choose their own gowns in shades of blush, gold, and cream. They carried simple bouquets of local lavender for a fragrant trip down the aisle.

The ceremony took place in a private garden in the hills of Capri. “Our planners are very close with the owners of the property. They cleared wild trees, created an open and flat space, and planted gorgeous flowers to turn the natural lot into a stunning garden,” says Jessica. Guests sat on bamboo chairs dressed with bunches of bougainvillea, and rugs served as the path to the aisle. With vine-wrapped trees growing among the chairs, guests were seated in a more natural formation. The wedding party and family members were seated in the round, surrounding the couple as they exchanged vows.

The bride looked breathtaking in her Vera Wang gown, which featured a fitted bodice and a billowy skirt accented with sequins. She accessorized diamond earrings, borrowed from her sister-in-law (jeweler Jo Latham), blue wedges, and a flowing veil.

Her bouquet combined soft pink peonies with draped greenery that caught the ocean breeze perfectly.

The couple’s all-white wedding reception, overlooking the ocean and Capri’s cliffs, was absolutely breathtaking. Traditional centerpieces were replaced with cascading overhead installations of white roses, white bougainvillea, and hanging Edison bulbs. The bare tables were set with striped white glassware, and hundreds of candles glowed in perforated votive holders.

Each place setting featured a white charger with a gold rim, an embossed leather menu, and gold flatware. Each guest’s seat was marked with a linen napkin embroidered with their name.

Jessica and Ryan had a traditional Italian wedding cake. “The chef actually built it in front of our guests during dinner!” Jessica says. Layers of pastry, cream, and local wild strawberries were assembled, then the couple lit the cake with sparklers before slicing.

A DJ played everything—from Guns and Roses and Arcade Fire to Beyoncé—for the rest of the night, only to take a short break around 3 a.m. for pasta. “The chefs brought a stove onto the dance floor and passed out late-night bowls of spaghetti," Jessica says. "It is some of the best I’ve ever had, and definitely prevented a few hangovers!" The party wrapped up at 5 a.m., when the newlyweds grabbed celebratory gelato (so fitting for their venue!) and headed to bed.