Wedding on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, where the past beautifully meets the present

Berna and Joseph Margulies met five years ago on a small island in Miami, the very same one where Joseph grew up. Berna had just moved from Turkey to take a position in interior architecture, and by complete chance her design studio was located on that same island. It’s a quiet place, without many offices or crowds, which made the coincidence all the more remarkable. Soon we also discovered that we were neighbors in the downtown area,  Berna tells me as she recalls their first date. Our first date was at an art museum. Things fell into place so naturally, it felt like we’d been in each other’s lives for years.

A few years later, they got engaged at Lake Como and had originally planned to return there for their wedding, until their planner, Hannah Terziu, introduced them to Villa Cimbrone on the Amalfi Coast. They soon realized that Berna had, unknowingly, been saving photos of the villa’s architectural details for years, drawn to its Gothic arches, stone ornaments, and lavish atmosphere. The space was filled with fascinating relics they both came to love, and every photo revealed something new. It felt like destiny, Berna and Joseph agree when asked about choosing their wedding venue. Since they had always imagined an intimate wedding in a setting with meaning – one that could transport them somewhere else – the historic Villa Cimbrone, cinematic in its beauty, seemed in every way like the perfect and most natural choice. And it was here that their families met for the very first time. This wasn’t just a celebration – it was the first meeting of our families. Joseph hadn’t met my parents yet, and with the language barriers, the idea of a destination wedding felt not only meaningful but also exciting, Berna explains.

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The quite Italian town of Ravello and Villa Cimbrone

The Italian resort town of Ravello, where the villa is located, was the perfect backdrop, what they both describe as their natural crossroads between Turkey and the United States, between past and future, between two families coming together for the first time. The quiet of Ravello gave us fewer distractions and more time to be fully present – with each other and with everyone who came to share this moment with us. That was exactly the tone we wanted to set for our wedding: to move slowly, to be present, to savor each moment. This intention shaped everything – from fashion to the music that was woven into different parts of the villa. “We wanted the day to feel layered, deeply personal, and rich with timelessness. Our mantra was simple: slow down.

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Villa Cimbrone felt like a place with a soul. Perched at the top of Ravello, high above the Amalfi Coast, it is accessible only on foot – no cars, no noise, just stone pathways and silence. Each of our guests made the climb to stay in the villa with us for the weekend, which made it feel as though we had an ancient city to ourselves. Beyond the town’s atmosphere, they loved that the villa required little additional decoration; instead, their story unfolded upon the atmosphere that already existed, enriched by the memories they created there. We were drawn to the villa’s architectural grandeur and the emotional weight of the space. Every corner carried its own story – each one reflecting a past century. The decorative details were entirely based on the villa’s own settings; we experienced every space not as a backdrop, but as a character in itself. We didn’t want to impose a theme. Instead, we focused on the atmosphere and symbolism, allowing the history of each space to guide us. Nothing was static – the guests moved through arcades, gardens, terraces, and rooms, with the décor shifting along the way. Every element – from texture to sound – was part of a considered progression.

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The Bridal Suite had vaulted ceilings painted with frescoes and a carved fireplace at its center, like waking up inside a painting. Interestingly, this very room once hosted Joan Miró, Virginia Woolf, Greta Garbo, and Jacqueline Kennedy. Berna shares that, for a moment, she felt as though she wasn’t a woman of the 21st century – the feeling was surreal. For their first look, they chose the cliffside garden, drawn to its cypress trees – timeless symbols of wisdom and beauty that also spoke to Berna’s Mediterranean heritage. Nature has always been central to us, and we wanted our moment wrapped in life and lushness.

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There was also the 11th-century rose garden, and walking through it on the way to the ceremony felt like passing through time. It lasted only a few minutes, yet it seemed like hours – just what I had hoped for. The ceremony itself was held in the salon, or tea room, whose Moorish architecture and arabesque mosaics offered intimacy – romantic and deeply rooted in history. We stood beneath a Moorish arch, half-draped in green-blushed buds just shy of bloom, symbolic of loyalty, longevity, and new beginnings. From farther back, a giant umbrella tree shaded our guests. The scene reminded us of a Claude Lorrain painting—both earthly and timeless, Berna recalls.

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The aperitif hour was held on the Infinity Terrace, carved into the rock and framed by Roman statues, offering a view that Gore Vidal once described as one of the most beautiful in the world. Dinner was envisioned and prepared in the crypt – an architectural masterpiece. We embraced its natural ambiance, leaving the space dark but illuminated by hundreds of candles. The entire scene came together organically, like a Renaissance painting.

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Two wedding dresses as the highlight of the entire evening

For the ceremony, Berna chose a handmade lace couture gown by designer Galia Lahav. The lightweight lace was perfect for an Amalfi summer, and the dress reflected the villa’s Gothic details so naturally that it felt less like a choice and more like destiny. I felt a deep connection, Berna says of the gown, which combined a corset, draped cups, and crystal straps with a lavish lace train, allowing her to move with pure elegance. Its lace flowers and embellishments captured the light with romantic precision—delicately yet strikingly. I have always loved the poetry of a long veil, and the cathedral length felt especially fitting. It slowed my steps and gave weight to every moment, letting me fully absorb the experience. She paired the gown with lace Manolo Blahnik shoes and diamond ring and earrings by Material Good. At the welcome dinner the night before, her parents and Joseph surprised her with a tennis necklace, which she shares as a special detail of her jewelry.

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For the second look, she chose a mini dress with 3D roses by designers Nicole + Felicia. Glamorous and sculptural, it was a playful contrast to the weight of the day itself and a tribute to my middle name, Gülşah, which means “Queen of Roses” in Turkish. She paired it with personalized René Caovilla crystal sandals. Joseph wore a custom-made black Tom Ford tuxedo and looked classically elegant.

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The Most Special Moment

As the part of the evening she would highlight, Berna chose the moment of the ceremony in the tea room, which remains the most vivid in her memory. Looking into Joseph’s eyes, listening to the music, and seeing our families beside us—it was surreal. We were both deeply moved by how beautifully our vows connected—personal, sincere, and full of thoughtfulness. They captured the essence of us, and we often replay them in our minds.

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But more than anything, what made the day so precious was watching their two families from different parts of the world come together – and knowing that we were becoming a family, too. Standing there as husband and wife, surrounded by the people who shaped us, in a place that felt truly meaningful, was something we’ll never forget.