How to Elope in the Amalfi Coast
Having your wedding in the Amalfi Coast is romantic at it’s finest. You have the historic and beautiful architecture of Italian buildings, delicious food, panoramic sites, clear blue oceans and so much more. If you are considering getting married here, read on because we have lots to talk about!
How to Get There
You will want to fly into Naples, Italy and from there it is about an hour and half drive. I use sites like Google Flights or Apps like Hopper to help me book flights.
Personally I do not think you need to spend time in Naples; rather I would recommended spending your time in Pompeii or take a day trip to Rome to see historic and touristy sites.
There are a couple ways to get to the Amalfi Coast; you can rent a private car service, take an Uber, rent a car or take public transportation.
Be ready for a beautiful yet windy road to the coast. The roads are not wide and the turns can get pretty sharp. Locals will lightly honk on a sharp turn around the mountain to warn oncoming drivers and scooters.
Private Car Service
We went with a private car service that can be scheduled ahead of time which was extremely helpful; they meet you at the airport exit with a sign with your name on it.
We used Welcome Pick Ups and you can visit the site here to take you from the airport to your destination. This is about 220 euros. Be mindful that the taxi drivers are very comfortable with the roads and will drive pretty fast to get you to your destination. You can also schedule your return pickup to the airport from your lodging.
Uber
From the airport you can order an Uber although they are not too popular. The fee is around 170 euros. Uber/Lyft and other ride share apps are not popular and pretty non existent outside of the major cities. You will take other taxis at designated taxi pickup areas or public buses.
Taxis
Taking taxis around the city is most likely your best option. Although, there seems to be no regulation with the cost and they tend to be on the expensive side. You can find taxis in the main squares of town, at the port or by hotels.
Most, if not all, taxis require cash, so be prepared to have euros handy. Tipping is welcomed but not expected for your taxis- they will make up for it by overcharging. Keep in mind that taxi drivers see hundreds of tourists a day and around town and are not the more welcoming or friendly.
While they are professional, we definitely didn’t feel hospitality like you would in other countries or in the U.S.; personally I wouldn’t say they are rude, just busy and treating it like a job.
Public Transit/Shuttle
Taking the shuttle or public bus is cheap. You can buy bus tickets at nearby convenience stores close to bus stations. The bus schedules can get a little confusing depending on where you are going so it is always best to ask the convenience store clerk when they will come and show up early; sometimes the buses arrive early or a bit late. I wouldn’t recommend taking a public bus from Naples to Amalfi, but around town is perfect!
Buses will take you everywhere around the Amalfi Coast and are pretty comfortable and affordable; around 2-3 euros each way. It is best practice to ask the driver if they are stopping at your destination tp ensure you get on the right one. Some buses require you to wear a mask but not all.
Where to Stay
From a photographer’s standpoint, getting an Airbnb will give us a lot more room to shoot in and be more creative. However, if you choose to stay in a hotel there are plenty of gorgeous ones that will provide the same thing; plus you most likely will be able to shoot, or even get married, around the grounds.
Be prepared to climb stairs…a lot of stairs. The coastal towns like Positano, Amalfi, and Atrani all have stairs throughout so bring comfortable shoes to walk in. The towns are decorated with cute shops for clothing, souvenirs, and lemon everything. Lemons are famous in the Amalfi Coast so don’t forget to try their Lemoncello, lemon sorbet and lemon cake!
It is recommended to stay in town if you don’t want to climb a lot of stairs. If you stay in local Airbnbs or Hotels in town then you will have a great experience as everything is within walking distance and you won’t need to take as many taxis or buses. If you stay outside of the main square, you will need to catch the buses or taxis; again, be mindful that taxis are pretty expensive there.
Positano
Positano is the visual you have when you picture the Amalfi Coast. The huge hill decorated with different colored buildings is a gorgeous site to see, especially at night. The amber lights illuminating from the city is beautiful for sunset dining or a little picnic at the beach (I recommend Positano Spiaggia).
The town, like the others, has shops, restaurants and boat tours from the port. When you first arrive, the main strip is accompanied by local artists selling paintings, drawings and cure figurines. You will definitely want to pick up a couple small souvenirs to remember your trip by.
Like most European countries, dinner usually starts later than we are used to in the U.S.- around 7:00pm or 1900 as they go by military time.
Amalfi
Amalfi is the heart of it all and in my opinion, the best place to stay! The main square is big and has a ton of shops, restaurants, gelato, and more! You can find a pharmacy, ATM, boat excursions, scooter rentals, and a small beach in this town. You are greeted by a big church when you first walk into the square and the main road has a ton of shops to see. Grab your lemon sorbet as you walk down to the pier before enjoying the freshest fish dinner you’ll ever have with an ocean front view.
The main square has a big bus station that you can take to Positano, up hill, Atrani and Ravello.
Atrani
Atrani is a cute little town with a more secluded beach. This is a great stop to make on a Vespa or if you rent a vintage car!
What to Bring
Along with your wedding essentials- here are a few key items to bring on your trip. Plus- check out my Amazon List linked below!
Small backpack
Extra pair of shoes for walking
Phone portable battery charger
Collapsible water bottle
Vow Books
& more - click on my Amazon list below!
What to Do
One of the main things to do on the coast is to get out on the water! Take a tour to Capri, site see on the Amalfi Coast or to different cities!
One of my couples did a cooking class! This was an awesome experience to enrich yourself into the Italian culture. We made homemade tiramisu, ravioli, and mozzarella- to say it was delicious is a severe understatement.
The class we did was booked through Airbnb, which if you didn’t already know, Airbnb has experiences on their site along with finding the perfect place to stay. Our experience was on a farm so the couple got to tour the farm, pick local ingredients and got to pet all of the animals.
Capri
If you visit Capri, you are able to go to the highest point via chart lift! It is super cheap- running about 12 euros up and down, and is a lot of fun! The single rider chair takes about 5-7 minutes to go up an at the top you are able to see the total panorama views of the island. There is a small cafe on the top to get drinks and food along with a short hike around the top.
Capri also has a really cute town when you first arrive at the port. You can walk around the safe neighborhoods and enjoy late night gelato.
Hotel Ceremonies
If you choose to have your ceremony at a hotel, you will be amazed at the sites. The hotels I shot at were gorgeous with beautiful architecture and fun, vibrant colors all around. The staff is so accommodating and very friendly to help you with whatever you need. The shot above was at the NH Collection Grand Hotel located in Amalfi.
The second hotel I shot at was in Capri at the Hotel Caesar Augustus - just 15min from the main port; close to the chair lift!
And that’s it! That is all you need to know before eloping or having your small wedding in the Amalfi Coast. I am here to help with any questions you have or planning if you choose to elope there. The Amalfi Coast is breathtaking, relaxing, delicious, fun and exciting! You can’t go wrong eloping here or coming here on your honeymoon!
About Nick Patton
On the boat ride back to shore I remember looking around the dusk filled canyon trying to soak in as much of the landscape as I could. With the chill in the air and the water lightly showering my face I was stuck in state of amazement. I wanted to keep what I was feeling inside of me like a note in a bottle; opening it when I wanted to remember the sense of accomplishment and fulfilling exhaustion from that day. I caught myself replaying the experience from the day in my head over and over again while fighting to still live in the moment. This was how I felt after my first elopement. This is when I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.
I am here to help guide you throughout the entire elopement process from start to finish. There is so much you can do and it is my job to fuel you both with ideas so you may cherry pick what you want to do on your big day!
My services include:
Finding your exact ceremony location & other locations to shoot at.
Officiate your wedding while still capturing everything. Click here to see how I do it.
Locating local vendors for you (florists, hair & make-up artists, rentals, etc.)
Building your elopement day timeline & figuring out travel logistics.
