A number of people take credit for the meeting of Rebecca Elise Driver, who works in special events for Van Cleef & Arpels, and Joseph Nathaniel Scuderi; however, they clarify that they first connected at a mutual friend’s birthday party. “I found out that Nate was dis-invited to my birthday dinner earlier that summer, which we laughed about,” Rebecca remembers. “It’s a wonder to us that our paths did not cross sooner.”
He asked for her number that night, and they adventured off to get ice cream on the following Monday. And after more than a year together, Nate proposed during a surprise trip to Ireland. “I did not think it was going to happen,” Rebecca remembers. “It was pouring rain and hurricane force winds. People were literally on their hands and knees crawling up the side of the cliff. However, when we got to the top of the clearing, the skies cleared for us, and we could see the Cliffs of Moher perfectly.” At the top of the watch tower, he dropped to one knee and asked Rebecca to marry him with tears in his eyes.
As Nate’s grandfather was born in Sicily—and the couple often find themselves drawn to bodies of water—they knew their wedding venue was to be somewhere in Italy by the sea. “Villa Astor was the perfect venue, mixing the charm of the Mediterranean and historic allure of the villa’s rich history which goes back to the Astor family in New York,” Rebecca shares. “Since Nate and I met in NYC, it felt like a nice connection.”
Ahead of traveling to Italy for their spring nuptials, the couple brought on photographer Gianni Di Natale to lens every moment, and Stationery Stories set the tone with a colorful invitation suite.
Wanting to thank everyone for traveling to Sorrento for their celebration, the couple and their planner, Anna of Sposiamovi, kicked off the festivities with a traditional Italian meal at Zi’Ntonio, an authentic trattoria in the middle of town. “We had traditional tarantella dancers, tambourines, and lots of limoncello to set the vibe for the weekend,” the bride shares. To this, Rebecca wore a Silvia Tcherassi dress with Carolina Herrera jewelry and Prada shoes.
On the day of the ceremony, Rebecca got ready with Alessandro Mancino Studios before putting on the Oscar de la Renta dress that her sister helped choose. “Van Cleef & Arpels let me consign a special piece of jewelry for my wedding, which was the perfect accessory,” she shares. And the bride finished her look with Jimmy Choos and a bouquet by Armando Malafronte. Later that evening, she switched into an Alice & Olivia sequined mini dress for dancing.
Rebecca surprised Nate with a vintage Alfa Romeo red convertible for his dad to take him to the ceremony—an epic entrance to Excelsior Vittoria. “I’m so glad Nate and his dad got to share a special, private moment together before the wedding. . . and don’t forget, they got lost on their way to the venue,” Rebecca laughs. “Our sweet wedding planner was so worried calling Nate to figure out his whereabouts. . . The groom has gone missing!”
On May 26, 2024, the groom did make it to the ceremony, which was officiated by his brother, Louis. And Rebecca and Nate exchanged their own vows. “I don’t think I have smiled so much in my entire life,” Rebecca beams. “Well besides when Nate was saying his vows, and I was crying, otherwise I never stopped smiling. I was rotating smiling and crying all night.”
After an aperitivo in the gardens, an authentic alfresco Italian dinner was served at one long table by the water at sunset. His and hers pastas were a hit. And as a nod to their first date, a gelato cart supplied dessert, alongside the millefoglie.
From then, the dance floor escalated with the 10-piece band, Start Artist Project, and the couple ended up crowd surfing. “After midnight, the town of Sorrento requires us to stop the music—we heard that our wedding was heard throughout the town,” Rebecca laughs. “We continued the party at nearby Syrene, which we arranged for everyone to truly party the night away at until the wee hours of the night. The whole weekend was an absolute dream come true!”
