Mark Miller photoblog

What a fantastic day – great location, great weather, great people.  Just fantastic!

The Mayor of Piano Di Sorrento married Rebecca and Scott at the Villa Fondi.  There were brightly coloured parasols everywhere, protecting people from the gorgeous (but very hot) sunshine.  The ceremony was beautiful, with Scott and Rebecca exchanging their own vows.

The reception was held at the Villa Antiche Mura, a private villa overlooking the Bay of Naples with Mount Vesuvious in the distance with a couple of yachts and even a Cruise Ship anchored just beneath the villa.

I was introduced to an interesting phenomenon today  - Blue Steel – it comes from the movie Zoolander.  We were pulling Blue Steel posses all day!  See if you can spot the Blue Steel picture below.  If you’re not sure how to Blue Steel, just look here.

Rebecca and Scott have been the loveliest people to work for, with great friends and family.

If you’re thinking about an overseas destination wedding, you should seriously consider Sorrento – truly gorgeous.

Today was a planning day with Rebecca and Scott.  We drove to the cermony location – the Villa Fondi in Piano Di Sorrento (I couldn’t find a website for it, but this google search produces a few links).  Scott was very brave and sat in the front, although I did invite either of them to let out a little scream if the Italian roads got a bit too much for them.

After a good look around, we set of for the reception venue – the Villa Antiche Mura.  (Scott chickened out and sat in the back this time). The venue is gorgeous, absolutely stunning, with amazing views over the Bay of Naples.

I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Sorrento, which included seeing a British wedding (with an Italian photographer) and bumping into a couple from Saltburn by the Sea (where I do a lot of my pre-wedding shoots).

Here are some of today’s pictures.

I’m here in Sorrento for Rebecca and Scott’s wedding later this week.  My plan for today was just to travel safely from home to my hotel in Sorrento.  Of course, given that I had two flights (including a terminal change at Gatwick), plus – and this is the significant past – an hour’s drive on Italian roads – I didn’t think that was too much for one day.

The journey in the UK was fine – new camera bag (The Think Tank Airport International V2) made it on both aircraft as hand baggage – even the tiny plane I was on from Newcastle to Gatwick.  I’ll report more on it’s performance as the week goes on.

Hiring the car was interesting.  I’d pre booked everything on line, but I still expected the whole walking round the car looking for dents/this is how you switch the lights on experience, but not a bit of it.  “Sign here” said the car hire operative and that was it.  I was very concerned though that the form detailing damage to the car said “No Damage”.  No Damage!!  This is Italy!!!  Frighteningly it was correct – I have a nearly new Fiat Punto with not a scratch on it.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  The pressure is on.

Driving on Italian roads is an experience that every adrenalin junkie should take part in.  Sadly, I am no longer (if I ever was) an adrenalin junkie, so in short the whole experience was terrifying, but a monumental achievement.  I now feel that I could drive anywhere!

The pictures below were my first view of the Sorrento Coast.  Not bad is it?

The Hotel Il Nido, where I’m staying is lovely (here’s the webcam from the hotel). The last picture in this post is the view from my hotel window.  In fact, it’s actually the view from my pillow – that’s Mount Vesuvius in the background, Naples is to the left. 

WOW!