Creating the Perfect Recommitment Ceremony

It was 2005, and we had survived some tough years in business, raising five children and trying to keep everything together. One of us mentioned how great it would be to renew our vows, and before we knew it, I was on the job, looking for the perfect way to make it all happen!

We wanted a memorable experience, but we didn't have an unlimited budget. Neither of us will ever forget the wonderful experience we created!

I started out googling 'romantic destination weddings' so that I could narrow down a great place for us to go. In the back of our minds, we both knew we always wanted to go to Italy at some stage - it had long been a dream to get the kids off our hands and perhaps spend a few months of the Australian winter in a villa in Italy. So when it popped up as a potential destination for a wedding, I dug deeper.

I found a few companies that could do it all for us - but they all seemed expensive and quite rigid, and we didn't have the kind of budget where we could just spend what we wanted. We wanted the whole family to be there, so watching the dollars while not scrimping on the special things was important.

In the end, and after weeks of internet researching, I put together what ended up being a complete fairy tale at what I felt was a reasonable cost.

Firstly, I managed to pick up 'companion' business class airfares for all of us. These fares are like two- for- one, only not exactly half price - more like two-thirds, which is not bad. We chose Japan Airlines and have since often flown with them as we enjoyed it so much! The kids felt like Trust Fund babies as they sat in the enormous business class fares and had flight attendants fussing over them :-)

I had originally thought of Tuscany, but as I live on the Central Coast of NSW, a bushland setting didn't really appeal (although I completely get the romance that Tuscany presents!) Then I came across the Amalfi Coast, with its breathtaking cliff faces and stunning blue ocean views, and I was sold!

Our first choice, Positano, was expensive and out of our price range, but Praiano, just 7 km out of Positano, had wonderful villas at a good price and an easy bus right into Positano. We ended up with a fabulous, small, former convent which suited our crowd perfectly. It had a gorgeous rooftop garden, perfect for our ceremony. Nearby was a quaint little seaside restaurant that agreed to host our small wedding dinner. They were so helpful in so many areas, even giving me the contact details of a local celebrant and making us a true Italian wedding cake!

Our children (now all grown) still talk about our wonderful time in Italy - the pizzas, our day on a private boat to Capri, the trip out to Vesuvius, and our mock 'hens' and 'bucks' night, drinking Chianti and local beer on our balcony as we looked over the azure sea. And not to forget our 'wedding night' - my sister, who had come along, looked after the kids as we headed into Positano for one fabulous night in the hotel Covo de Saraceni. There were even fireworks that night to top off a wonderful day!

Let us know if you would like a similar experience - and let us take care of the details for you!