As modern love stories go, Kate McGrath and Spencer Foust first met on a dating app. “I used to be embarrassed but now it feels pretty normal!” Kate exclaims. After nearly four years together, Spencer proposed on a boat in front of the famous arches in Capri. “Our driver immediately popped a bottle of Champagne and gave us the cork as a memento.”
The engaged couple decided to return to Italy for their summer nuptials. “When we saw Villa Cetinale, we fell in love,” Kate shares. “We drew inspiration from the gorgeous architecture and mix of antique detailing and modern touches for the wedding aesthetic and kept the vibe of the events chic and sophisticated.”
To bring their vision to life, Kate and Spencer turned to Over The Moon The List Planner smith + james. Over The Moon The List Photographer Norman & Blake and videographer Dear Vincent captured every special moment. Amber Moon Design set the tone with a sleek invitation suite.
For Kate’s wedding wardrobe, she enlisted Gabrielle Hurwitz to style the weekend with six dresses and her bridesmaids’ ceremony looks. Gabrielle also helped Spencer with five of his outfits.
The weekend began with a welcome dinner at Antinori. “It was awesome to take everyone on an experiential wine tour and tasting along with dinner,” Kate reflects. To mimic the setting, the bride wore a Lanvin dress with a unique hemline. Spencer wore a custom green linen Brunello Cucinelli suit.
On August 29, 2023, Kate got ready with hairstylist and makeup artist Trine Juel and put on a beaded Elie Saab wedding dress. “I felt beautiful, romantic, and ethereal,” she remembers. Spencer looked handsome in a custom Tom Ford tuxedo.
Between two rows of cypress trees, the bride walked down the aisle with her parents to meet Spencer in front of a sprawling arrangement by Siren Floral Co. Rain started drizzling mid-ceremony, as smith + james passed out parasols. “We tried to hold off as long as possible but ended up grabbing one as well and finished our vows under a shared umbrella,” Kate remembers. “Now when I look back on it, it feels so romantic—the idea that we will love each other through rain or shine.”
Once officially wed, the newlyweds treated their guests to an Italian jazz band and a spritz bar. Dinner followed with two pasta courses and a wine pairing and concluded with a millefoglie.
Kate and Spencer shared a first dance to “Feeling Good” by Michael Bublé. “Because of the rain, we ended up moving dancing inside,” the bride explains. “Our planners transformed the old Limonaria on property into a club, and our band absolutely killed it, keeping the dance party going non-stop.”
For the after-party, Kate changed into a beaded Markarian dress with Jimmy Choo platforms and Jennifer Behr earrings. “I wanted to really be able to dance, and as soon as I put it on, I just wanted to shimmy and twirl,” she shares.
At the end of the night, everyone staying at the villa jumped into the pool and kept the revelry going, fueled by espresso martinis. And after the wedding day came to a close, Kate and Spencer headed down to Positano with 20 of their friends and family. The bride concludes, “We rented a sailboat for the day for everyone and sailed around Capri, taking us literally full circle from our proposal.”
