Given that she is the founder and CEO of Bumble, one of today’s hottest dating apps, it stands to reason that Whitney Wolfe knows a thing or two about compatibility and relationships. On September 2, 2017, she entered the world of wedded bliss with a lavish wedding on Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast. Her groom, Michael Herd, is a successful Texas oil heir who also runs a charitable organization in his grandfather’s name. The couple decided on a destination wedding in Positano, which is positioned right on the Amalfi Coast, and by all reports it was perfect from start to finish.
One of the big draws of holding a destination wedding is that it lends itself to privacy. While professional photos of the event were published on Instagram and on numerous blogs, details about the ceremony itself are scarce. Clearly, Wolfe and her groom-to-be wanted to keep it a somewhat private affair. They chose well in selecting the Villa Treville, a stunning estate that is perched on cliffs above the glittering blue waters of the Salerno Gulf. The reception was held on the grounds too, and the pair reportedly was embarking immediately on a honeymoon tour of Italy and France.
It’s easy to see why Whitney Wolfe and her fiancé selected Villa Treville. Known for its privacy and for its lush, exquisite grounds, Villa Treville consists of several well-designed villas that sprawl across gorgeously landscaped lawns. Featuring a rocky promontory that serves as a remarkable backdrop, the site affords dramatic views of the glimmering Tyrrhenian Sea. The estate is studded with lovely wisteria-laden pergolas, whispering Roman pines, pretty citrus fruit trees and grand expanses of bougainvillea. At every turn, guests of the Wolfe-Herd wedding were greeted with gorgeous surroundings and a truly unforgettable experience.
Specific details about the ceremony itself have not been made public, and that makes sense since it is something of a private moment between the new man and wife. However, Wolfe did appear on Instagram and elsewhere in her gorgeous wedding dress. Designed by Oscar de la Renta, it is bedecked with long, delicate layers of lace into which ornate patterns are artfully stitched. Long, lacy illusion sleeves are joined by a flowing cathedral train that makes a dramatic statement. Wolfe wore her hair up, and her makeup was perfect. By all accounts, she looked utterly perfect as she made her way down the aisle to Michael.
Conveniently, the reception party was held at Villa Treville as well. It took place in a pretty citrus tree orchard, so guests mingled around with lemon trees creating a roof over their heads. Unlike many couples, who opt for tall, dramatic cakes, Whitney and Michael went with a sprawling, single-tier creation that was topped with strawberries and other fruits. Wolfe changed into a slinky cream-colored slip dress with fringe accents for the reception, and it reportedly shimmered delightfully amid all of the candles that had been lit around the grounds.
How did Michael and Whitney get to the point where they exchanged I dos during a lovely ceremony on the Amalfi Coast? The couple actually met on Valentine’s Day in 2014, in Aspen, Colorado. That is just one of the many adorable details about the couple’s story, which sounds pretty much perfect. In July 2016, Michael popped the question during a romantic horseback ride with Whitney at his Texas ranch. Just as the sun was starting to set, he got down on one knee and asked Whitney to marry him. She naturally said yes, and the rest is history.
Whitney Wolfe is well known enough thanks to her work with Bumble, but many people have no idea who her new husband is–at least, people outside of Texas often haven’t heard of him. In Texas, though, the Herd name is well-known. Michael’s grandfather, Bob L. Herd, founded Herd Producing Co., and the company now owns more than 400 gas and oil wells. After graduating from Texas Tech, where he belonged to Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Michael relocated to Tyler, Texas, to pursue a career in the oil industry. He is now the vice president of Herd Producing and is also president of the Bob L. Herd Foundation.
Without a doubt, Whitney Wolfe’s top claim to fame is being the founder and creator of Bumble, a unique dating app that is geared toward women. Wolfe was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and she attended Southern Methodist University, where she majored in International Studies. When she was just 19, she started her first business selling bamboo totes to support relief for the BP oil spill. At 22, she made connections with several tech entrepreneurs on the West Coast and joined Hatch Labs. In 2014, she was approached by Andrey Andreev, founder of European dating app Badoo, to start a dating app for women. That is how Bumble was created.
Why did Bumble make such a huge splash? In the space of just a few years, the app now boasts more than 11.5 million registered users and is worth around $500 million according to Time Magazine. Unlike most dating apps, Bumble only lets people communicate when the woman initiates things. Even if two people “like” each other, the conversation won’t start until the woman starts it. This reportedly makes women feel a lot safer, and this is helped along by the fact the Bumble does an excellent job removing problematic users.
Since it’s only been around for a short period of time, Bumble’s success is truly remarkable. Wolfe could easily focus solely on that project, but she has already worked on expanding upon it significantly. Recently, the company launched BumbleBIZZ, a business networking app that is supposed to compete with LinkedIn. It also debuted BumbleBFF, an app that allows women to find platonic female friends. Reportedly, many Bumble users were already using the app like that to some extent, so Wolfe and her team decided to make a dedicated app. As for Whitney and Michael, they are surely having a grand time on their amazing honeymoon.
Related: In Conversation with Whitney Wolfe
