Portofino Elopement at Belmond Hotel Splendido — Rosemary & Zach

Choosing Portofino for Their Italian Riviera Elopement

For Rosemary and Zach, Portofino felt like a jewel of Italy — a place of rare beauty, intimate in scale and utterly distinctive in character. They were drawn to its glamour and the idea of somewhere unexpected: a more private corner of the Italian Riviera, away from the more familiar routes.

Overlooking the bay, Belmond Hotel Splendido offered exactly the setting they had imagined. Its terraces and sweeping sea views brought a sense of occasion to a celebration designed for just two people — making it the perfect choice for a portofino elopement at its most refined.

A Personal Symbolic Ceremony Overlooking the Bay

Their symbolic wedding ceremony took place on a dedicated terrace at Splendido, with the beautiful bay of Portofino below them.

An abundant floral arch, created with seasonal flowers in shades of white and pink, framed the ceremony. The soft colours complemented the setting and Rosemary’s long lace wedding dress, bringing a deeply romantic feel to the terrace.

Alongside planning and coordinating their elopement, I had the pleasure of serving as their wedding celebrant. Working closely with Rosemary and Zach, I created a personalised ceremony script that reflected their relationship and the connection they shared.

This was one of the most meaningful parts of the day. Both were moved to tears during the ceremony, and the warmth between them was a joy to witness. With just the two of them present, there was space to take in every word and truly enjoy the moment together.

Exploring Portofino by Ape Calessino

After a celebratory toast, the day took on a more playful rhythm.

An Ape Calessino was waiting at the hotel to take Rosemary and Zach through Portofino’s winding streets. This characterful Italian vehicle added a lovely touch to the celebration — turning the journey into an experience of its own and giving them a chance to take in the village at their own pace.

Their ride brought them to Portofino’s famous piazzetta, where the next part of their afternoon was waiting: a boat trip aboard a traditional Ligurian gozzo.

A Sunset Boat Ride on the Italian Riviera

Taking to the water gave Rosemary and Zach another way to experience the beauty of Portofino.

In the golden light of early evening, their traditional gozzo became the setting for a romantic photo session at sea. They enjoyed a toast on board as the photographer captured the coastline, the light, and the two of them together.

The boat ride brought a sense of freedom and movement after the emotion of the ceremony. Their natural energy as a couple, the evening light, and the Ligurian coastline made this one of the most memorable moments of their portofino elopement.

Two Bridal Looks Connected by Lace

Rosemary brought her own sense of glamour to the celebration with two distinct bridal looks.

For the ceremony, she wore a long lace wedding dress that suited the romantic terrace setting beautifully. For the evening, she changed into a short white lace cocktail dress — lighter in feel, effortlessly elegant.

Lace was the thread connecting both outfits, while the change in silhouette gave her evening look a fresh and playful character. It was a lovely way to carry her personal style through the different moments of the day.

A Romantic Private Dinner at Belmond Hotel Splendido

The celebration ended back at Belmond Hotel Splendido with a private dinner on one of the hotel’s terraces.

Overlooking Portofino’s bay, Rosemary and Zach enjoyed an intimate evening together — a quiet, unhurried close to a day that had moved through ceremony, celebration, and sea. The terrace provided a beautiful final setting: a romantic dinner for two, with the view they had fallen in love with still before them.

Planning a Portofino Elopement with Leoeventi

The connection with Monica, founder of Leoeventi, began during our very first call. Rosemary immediately recognised the experience behind our work, and a warm rapport developed from the start.

That trust became the foundation for everything that followed. We organised and coordinated the entire celebration — bringing together the hotel setting, floral arrangements, personalised symbolic ceremony, Ape Calessino, boat experience, and private dinner.

Being both their planner and celebrant made this elopement especially meaningful to me personally. I had the opportunity to get to know Rosemary and Zach during the planning process, and then stand with them for the most emotional part of their day.

What I remember most is their connection — the warmth, the energy, and the way they shared each experience together. It was this that gave their glamorous portofino elopement its truly personal character.

If you are dreaming of your own elopement on the Italian Riviera, we would love to help you create something just as memorable. Get in touch to begin planning your celebration in Portofino or anywhere along this extraordinary coastline.