Sunshine, Suit Pressing, and Pre-Wedding Magic in Sorrento

There is nothing quite like waking up on the Sorrentine Peninsula. We kicked off our day with a delicious continental spread—savouring fresh Italian pastries, cooked meats, cheeses and salad—before taking the hotel lift down the cliffside directly to the beach. Standing by the water, the morning air was crisp and clear, offering breath-taking views across the shimmering Bay of Naples straight to the silhouette of Mount Vesuvius.

A Morning Rescue Mission & Strolls in the Sun

After soaking in the seaside vistas, we headed back up and strolled into the heart of Sorrento. The weather could not have been more perfect: cloudless blue skies and temperatures hovering comfortably in the early twenties.

Just as we were enjoying the morning warmth, my phone rang. It was my younger son, Lewis, facing a classic pre-wedding dilemma—he urgently needed an iron for his wedding suit shirt, and their hotel didn’t have one! At least he hadn’t left it until the day of the wedding. We promptly walked back to make sure everything was sorted. Before long, Lewis and Lucy arrived, and we got down to pressing the suit to crisp perfection.

Crisis averted, it was past 1pm. We all wandered back into Sorrento’s lively streets and settled down at one of the town’s charming pizzerias for an authentic slice of local wood-fired pizza and pasta.

Rehearsals, Traditions, and New Connections

With lunch finished, we slowly made our way back to the hotel to meet up with the wedding party for the official rehearsal booked for 4pm with Margarita, the wedding planner. We walked through the ceremony flow and practised the entire procedure two or three times to make sure everyone felt confident. A particularly special highlight for me was taking part in the Filipino tradition, walking alongside Josh during the procession.

Following the rehearsal, we finally got to spend quality time with Angel’s wonderful family and friends who had flown in all the way from Canada—Fely, Andrew, Odie, Virgie, Mark, Kara, Jordana, Simon, and Aunty, alongside OJ, whom we’d had the pleasure of meeting previously. Bringing both sides of the family together in such a beautiful setting made the upcoming wedding feel all the more real.

An Unforgettable Evening at Ristorante Cafe Latino

To round off a memorable day, we strolled over to Ristorante Cafe Latino for an evening surrounded by lush lemon trees, fantastic atmosphere, and a very cheeky Italian waiter.

Toward the end of dinner, I had to give my pre-prepared speech. Angel had requested that all parents say a few words. Standing up to speak surrounded by everyone was deeply moving. It was one of those rare, magical moments where time slows down—surrounded by love, laughter, and incredible food under the Sorrento stars, my heart could not be fuller ❤️.

The end of the evening was spent back at the hotel, listening to a duet sing and play some well known songs, including one of my all time favourites – “Volare” by Dean Martin.

A perfect end to the day 💒 💍❤️.