From Italian Storms to Sunset Vows:The Day my Son Married Angel

There is an old Italian saying: Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata—a wet bride is a lucky bride. Sitting at breakfast on the morning of my son Josh’s wedding to Angel, watching dark clouds roll across the sky, I tried to keep that phrase firmly at the forefront of my mind.

Before long, the heavens truly opened, releasing a series of torrential downpours that felt far more like late-autumn monsoons than the sun-drenched Italian coastal climate we’d all envisaged. Yet, with my wedding outfit neatly packed and accessories in tow, nothing was going to dampen my spirits. Today was the day.

Pampering, Pre-Wedding Panics and a Make-up Mishap

Navigating the rain, we walked over to the spacious three-bedroom Airbnb apartment where Angel, her mother, her great aunt, the bridesmaids, and I were setting up camp for the day until we were shuttled to the Grand Hotel Royal for the ceremony. John and I were greeted at the door by Angel’s cousin, OJ, whose warmth immediately made the place feel like home. John went back to the hotel.

The morning quickly buzzed with quiet hive-like activity:

•  The Prep: The wedding planner was a absolute star, methodically steaming every dress to perfection.

•  The Pampering: OJ kindly offered to do my nails, applying a set of elegant glue-on nails that looked so polished and professional.

•  The Grazing: Between getting ready, we picked at a delicious charcuterie spread filled with cheeses, cured meats, olives, grapes, and crackers.

•  Capturing Moments: I squeezed in plenty of candid photos between the professional photographer and videographer moving silently in the background to document the day’s magic.

My hair was styled first into a neat side bun—a look I absolutely loved. Then came the makeup. When the stylist finished, I looked in the mirror and felt my heart sink slightly. She had drawn around my lips in a heavy brown liner that felt completely alien to me. I felt like I was wearing one of those classic red novelty lips you pull out of a Christmas cracker!

Realising I just didn’t feel like me, I gently wiped it off, grabbed my own trusty pink lipstick, and asked her to apply that instead. Crisis averted, and confidence restored.

The Mad Dash to the Altar

Just as we packed up our things to head back to the hotel where the ceremony and reception were being held, the sun finally broke through the clouds. However, we were running behind schedule—with barely twenty minutes until the ceremony was due to start!

That was when OJ spotted a bunch of flowers sitting quietly behind the hotel reception desk and froze. In the flurry of packing up at the Airbnb, the bridesmaid bouquets had been left behind!

We swiftly enlisted the hotel receptionist to summon an express taxi. Thanks to some remarkably speedy driving, our near-disaster was averted just as guests were finding their seats.

Vows before Vesuvius: A Filipino-Italian Romance

Just before Josh and I stepped out to lead the wedding processional, I had one special, secret task to fulfill. Angel had prepared a keepsake in advance for me to pass on to him in that quiet moment before walking down the aisle. It was a delicate hand-stitched handkerchief containing a message from their beloved dog, Vanilla, who had recently passed away after an illness. Stitched onto the fabric was a tiny heart crafted from a piece of Vanilla’s fur coat, accompanied by a handwritten note from Angel, writing on Vanilla’s behalf, asking Josh to take her for one last walk down the aisle. It was an immensely emotional moment for both of us, and there wasn’t a dry eye between us before taking those first steps.

At a little after 4 pm, the wedding ceremony finally began.

With the magnificent silhouette of Mount Vesuvius looming across the bay, it was a view straight out of a painting. Across the Bay of Naples, the famous volcano stood in the distance, a reminder of the extraordinary landscape surrounding Sorrento. There was something rather special about celebrating such an important family occasion in a place so rich in history, with the Mediterranean scenery all around us.

As mother of the groom, I walked proudly alongside Josh before taking my seat at the front. He continued a little further to where the ceremony would take place.

Next came Fely and Andrew, followed by Grandma Reeve and Aunty as flower ladies. Then the bridal party (groomsmen and bridesmaids) made their entrance in pairs:

● Liam and Jordana

● Mike and OJ

● Lewis and Kara

Finally, it was Angel’s turn.

She made a glorious entrance on the arm of her father, Odie. He accompanied her before taking his seat, leaving Angel to continue towards Josh.

It was a beautiful moment, and all eyes were on the bride as she made her way to meet the man she was about to marry.

Our celebrant, Mark, opened the ceremony by sharing how Josh and Angel had met in Italy exactly eight years ago to the very day. Hearing them speak their personalised promises to each other brought tears to my eyes, but it was the beautiful traditional Filipino wedding customs that made the ceremony feel truly sacred.

The Symbolic Filipino Rites

• Lighting of the Unity Candle: Symbolising the joining of two families and God’s presence guiding their path.

•  The 13 Coins (Arras): Pledged as a symbol of mutual prosperity, stewardship, and shared dedication to their future home.

•  The Veil and Cord (Yal & Cordon): A delicate white veil was draped over Josh’s shoulders and Angel’s head to represent union, bound together by a ceremonial cord draped in a figure-of-eight to signify everlasting fidelity.

As they were officially declared husband and wife, a wave of pure emotion washed over me. Being there as the mother of the groom, watching my son marry the love of his life in such a meaningful way, is a memory I will carry forever.

Thunder, Celebrations and Dancing into the Night

Following the ceremony, everyone toasted the newlyweds with chilled champagne. Guests wrote heartfelt messages on the back of custom postcards featuring photos of Josh and Angel—a lovely, personal touch.

Although the sun was still shining post-ceremony, dark, dramatic thunderclouds were creeping back over the mountains. Earlier, the newlyweds had had to make a tough call because of the weather forecast: keep the dinner outside or shift indoors? They opted for the indoor function room —and it proved to be a stroke of absolute genius. Not long after we sat down, a massive thunderstorm struck outside, heavy rain lashing against the glass as we stayed warm and dry inside.

The grand entrance of the bridal party set the tone for the rest of the night. Delicious courses were served alongside hilarious ice-breaker games that had the entire room laughing. This was the beginning of a truly unforgettable Italian wedding celebration.

The music started, the drinks continued to flow, and before long the dance floor was busy. Everyone was enjoying themselves, celebrating the newlyweds and making memories that would last long after the wedding day was over.

After the months of planning, the excitement of travelling to Italy and the little dramas of the day itself, it was lovely to relax and simply enjoy the occasion.

A day full of love, laughter and memories.

Josh and Angel’s wedding was everything a wedding should be: emotional, joyful, full of personal touches and shared with the people who matter most.

There were a few hiccups along the way, from the unpredictable weather and my make-up mishap to the last-minute dash for the missing bouquets. But none of those things could take away from the significance of the day.

The setting was beautiful, the ceremony was heartfelt, and the Filipino traditions made it especially meaningful. Most importantly, I watched my son marry a wonderful woman who means so much to him.

For me, as his mum, that was the part that mattered most.

Eight years after they first met in Italy, Josh and Angel had returned to the country where their story began to make their promises to one another.

And as I watched them celebrate with their family and friends, I couldn’t have been happier.

A truly special day in Sorrento – one that will stay in our hearts for a very long time.