A Super-Romantic Destination Wedding in Capri

When Lauren Stoff and Thibaud Dehasque first met in 2009, it’s a surprise they were able to make a connection at all. “I was studying abroad for the summer in Paris," Lauren remembers. "I didn’t speak French and Thibaud didn’t speak English, but I became friends with his group of friends, so we saw each other often!” They were friends for years before people started to wonder why they weren’t together. “Thibaud came to visit my hometown of San Diego twice, and on the second visit, something changed,” she says. In February of 2014, almost five years after they met, the couple had a very mutual engagement. “We moved back to California together, and decided to start planning a wedding," Lauren says. "We even designed my ring together!"

On August 7, 2015, they invited 50 of their closest family and friends to the island of Capri for a chic destination wedding, with a special touch. “My family is American and doesn’t speak French, and Thibaud’s family is French and doesn’t speak English, so we decided to have our wedding in Italy, with the whole thing in Italian,” Lauren says. The pair wed in a stunning private garden ceremony early in the day, then took a private boat cruise before meeting up with guests on the terrace of the Terrazza Tiberio restaurant for an indulgent dinner under the stars. Photographed by Karen Kristian, this über-romantic wedding is straight out of a Sophia Loren film. Keep scrolling for more!

Lauren found her lace Monique Lhuillier slip dress online (and with free returns!) and quickly made the easy purchase. “It turns out my dream dress was ordered online!” she laughs. She paired the simple gown with white roses and a simple veil, plus her rose gold engagement ring. Both Lauren and Thibaud choose all-white shoes: Hers were classic pumps from Dior, while his were all-white sneakers from Common Projects.

The ceremony took place in a secluded garden at the Certosa di San Giacomo, with uninterrupted views of the sea. Thibaud and Lauren wrote the ceremony together in English, then had everything translated into Italian—including their vows!

After their “I do’s,” Lauren and Thibaud headed out for a private boat ride off the coast of Capri. “It was the perfect moment to relax and reflect on the ceremony before we headed back to change for the reception,” she says.

The newlyweds turned on the glam for their nighttime reception. The bride rocked a slate silk Nili Lotan gown and black Alaia sandals, while the groom donned a tux by Dries Van Noten, paired with a Tom Ford shirt. The reception took place on the restaurant’s terrace, with long tables decorated with low arrangements of pink roses and peonies and surrounded by candles.

Though the wedding was in Italy, the pair made sure to incorporate a few French touches, including a cheese course after dinner and French wines on the menu. “We still have a few bottles of Grand Cru Classe Lynch Bage saved for special occasions," she says.

While planning a destination wedding from afar, Lauren admits that she worried it'd be stressful—but she was pleasantly surprised! “I kept waiting for the stress to come, but it never did," she says. "I was overwhelmed with joy, and those are the memories that stay with you. So enjoy the moment, from when you first start planning to the end of your wedding day.”