When a mutual friend in San Francisco insisted Belyn Lai and Jason Yujuico would become “best friends,” he was right. Their friendship grew for four years before evolving into something deeper. Fittingly, the groom proposed in the very locale that later hosted their wedding: Sorrento, Italy. After a tasting at Villa Silvana, he surprised his bride with a live violinist, white rose petals, and candles arranged on a balcony overlooking the Sorrento Peninsula and Mount Vesuvius.

Italy had long held meaning for the couple. During the pandemic, they learned Italian together and fell in love with Sorrento on their first visit. When wedding planning began – months before they were formally engaged – they prioritized authenticity and guest experience above all else, knowing loved ones would be traveling.

Working closely with their planner, Ester Chianelli, they made every major decision together. Their families were honored through a Chinese tea ceremony, during which the bride wore a custom qipao and the groom donned a traditional barong coat. The couple designed their 80-guest celebration at Villa Astor as a four-act opera inspired by the elements – an artistic concept that reflected their love of nature, music, and culture.

“Once the day arrives, just live in the moment… Not everything will go according to plan, and that’s okay. The only thing that really matters is that you get to marry the person you love.”

Act I, Earth, welcomed guests with moving “living earth” statues who guided them to a candlelit cliffside ceremony framed by towering Gothic arches adorned with white peonies, narcissus, sweet peas, alliums, and baby’s breath. The bride walked herself down the aisle so her parents could walk together, and the pair exchanged vows under the rising full moon, made possible by the date they selected for its auspicious connection to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Before Act II, Water, guests encountered a mesmerizing acrobatic performer who “swam” in a clear water bowl in the villa’s lush banana garden. The second act then unfolded during the aperitivo on the panoramic terrace, where guests enjoyed regional hors d’oeuvres, from raw seafood to zucchini flowers and arancini.

Dinner was Act III, Air, and took place beneath the villa’s pergola at three long tables dressed in soft blush, ivory, primrose, and gold. Flowing drapery and suspended chandeliers created an ethereal atmosphere, while aerialists performed above the tables for a mesmerizing experience. Each place setting featured their guests’ names and the element they resonated with most, a thoughtful detail that deepened the immersion of the theme.

For Act IV, Fire, loved ones returned to the terrace for drinks, dancing, and slices of a white wedding cake filled with strawberry and designed to echo the ceremony’s Gothic arches. The moment the couple cut into it, surprise fireworks ignited the sky – a gift from the bride to honor Jason’s lifelong love of fireworks.

Throughout the day, food reflected the flavors of the region, including two traditional Neapolitan pastas and locally inspired entrées served during the dinner service. Instead of wedding favors, the couple opted for a series of unforgettable performances, believing an experience would be more meaningful.

For Belyn and Jason, the ceremony was the most memorable moment of their day – “a privilege” to speak their vows so honestly before those they cherish most. Looking back, the bride wishes only that she had spent more time taking everything in, as the celebration seemed to go by too quickly.

Their advice: “Make the important decisions together. Once the day arrives, just live in the moment… Not everything will go according to plan, and that’s okay. The only thing that really matters is that you get to marry the person you love.”

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