There’s much debate about which dating app delivers the best results, and Tinder usually falls low in the rankings. But when Lincoln Johnson and Canyon Schmerse met on the app, their connection proved everything wrong. “Guess it can work out for some people!” shares the couple, both full-time content creators who also run a joint account. “We both were living in Los Angeles at the time, and when we matched, we found out that we both happened to be from Utah,” Canyon shares. “We had so many similar experiences growing up and just ended up being glued together ever since.”
Lincoln had always dreamed of proposing on the Amalfi Coast, so when they planned a last-minute trip to Italy after four years of dating, he knew he had to make it happen. “As quickly as possible, he got in touch with a boat tour guide to assist in finding a dreamy location on the Amalfi Coast to pop the question on the tour,” Canyon says. “When the boat reached a beautiful spot by the cliffs, Lincoln pretended like he wanted to grab a photo together at the bow. He then proceeded to kneel down and propose. It was magical, and lots of tears were shed!”
After Canyon said yes, their boat stopped at Conca del Sogno for lunch, and by the time the meal was over, they’d decided they wanted to get married there. “It was such a beautiful memory for both of us; we knew it would be the perfect venue for our wedding,” Lincoln shares. The restaurant is located in a secluded bay in a small town on the coast and only accessible by boat; it was ideal for their intimate, laid-back wedding vision.
The coastal setting—rocky, sandy land and wide blue sea—set the tone for everything from decor to fashion. “We knew we wanted to go a little against tradition,” Lincoln shares. “Both of us are huge fans of the designer Jacquemus, and so we had been searching for suits through his new collection. We found two linen suits that complemented each other so nicely.” Lincoln opted for a double-breasted blazer and Canyon a single, but both suits had a boxy, oversized feel. “We wanted to lean into the laid-back yet luxurious atmosphere of the Amalfi Coast, so we opted to leave out a shirt and button up our suits.” Guests wore neutral linens, too. “We love the look of white, tan, and brown linens, and given that our suits were tan and brown, we had no issue with our guests in white.”
The duo put all their faith in the event coordinators at Conca Del Sogno to bring their vision to life on May 24, 2023. “Prior to arriving in Italy, we had only texted with the coordinator at Conca Del Sogno, who was organizing all of our vendors for us,” they say. “[We sent] her a few photos for inspiration, but just had to have our fingers crossed and hope for the best!” When they arrived, the results took their breath away. “The flowers and arch turned out better than we could have even imagined.”
Live mandolin and guitar players strummed classic love songs like Billie Holiday’s “All of Me” and “Canon in D,” as the grooms walked down the aisle with their mothers. “The ceremony was small and intimate, consisting of only our immediate families,” Lincoln recalls. “It was incredibly special for us because our reason for wanting to get married was just to express our love for each other.”
Exchanging personal vows was their favorite part of the service. “We had each spent the week prior planning our vows,” Canyon explains. “Sharing those vows with each other as well as with our families created this sacred memory for both of us, and emotionally touched us in ways we didn’t even anticipate.”
Rather than a traditional reception, the grooms hosted their families for a sunset meal overlooking the entire Amalfi Coast. “We had a large dinner with multiple courses, all very Italian, which gave us lots of time to talk and share our favorite memories,” Lincoln says. But they made the night their own, too. “While waiting between courses, we all decided to get up and dance, so we danced for a few songs, and then we’d eat our following course, throughout the whole night.”
The big show came at the end. “Following dinner, we had cake and sgroppino, which is an Italian celebration dessert; it’s made out of fresh lemon sorbet topped with vodka and Champagne,” Lincoln describes. “There was a whole performance for making the dessert with a saxophone player, lots of dancing, spraying Champagne, and sparklers. It was the perfect way to end the magical evening.”
