Denielle and Alex's Italian wedding was nothing short of magical. We had the pleasure of strapless a-line gown with detachable lace sleeves for the stunning bride and she looked incredible. We wish the bride and groom a lifetime of love and happiness and were so honored to have been a part of their big day. 

The unexpected

"My father passed away when I was in high school, so I knew the day would one day come with many emotions. I wanted to include him in a beautiful way so we asked the Neopolitan quintet to play his favorite Beatles song “Let It Be” as I walked down the aisle. As another nod, we folded Beatles sheet music into cones and filled it with rice for guests to throw as we exited the ceremony. But what was truly unexpected was during my mom’s welcome speech. She had revealed that he was walking me down the aisle the entire time in a special way. She asked me to search inside my bouquet and what I found was a necklace engraved with a portrait of my dad and I. Her surprise left no dry eye in the house and was an unexpected, yet meaningful surprise." 

A moment to relive

"It may seem the most obvious, but standing at the altar with Alex during the ceremony, would be the moment I wish to relive time and time again. The emotions, feelings, and even fears, of standing in front of everyone was an aspect of the wedding we discussed a lot during planning. Because we kept the guest list small, we were able to have a wedding of quality - one where we connected with everyone and also enjoyed the moments together. We had hoped it would feel less like a show with an audience, and more of an intimate moment surrounded by love. That’s exactly how the moment felt. I remember feeling an overwhelming amount of intimacy with Alex at the altar. A closeness I can’t explain. We were both existing in that moment, and the surroundings, although insanely beautiful, melted away. Those moments are burned into my memory forever. Id be remiss if I didn’t mention how much fun we had on the dance floor with our guests ;)"

Finding THE dress

Finding the right dress was definitely difficult for me. I was a bride that tried on almost every style and silhouette so that I would have reassurance when I found the right one. I didn’t initially have an idea of what I wanted style-wise either, which didn’t help. I just knew that years from now, I didn’t want to look back and think I chose something trending. I wanted a timeless look with a unique twist. What that twist would be, was an evolving journey - just ask my mom! I come from a family of very talented Italian seamstresses. My nani passed on the art of sewing to my mom, who then passed it down to me. A special time in my childhood was watching my mom sew my beautiful dance costumes. I even helped design with her, which was such a special experience. We were a team. A lot of my wedding dress journey was heavily influenced by the fact that we could be a team again to help create the perfect look - together. We decided on a classic silhouette with a strapless modified scoop neckline by Antonio. The beautiful mikado silk made me feel classic and timeless. I felt amazing in it on the big day. The romance was added next and very very last minute. With only 2 weeks remaining to the wedding, we found the perfect delicate chantilly lace to complete a romantic and very “Italian” final look. My mom custom made a cathedral length veil and delicately hand-stitched the beautiful lace along the edge. With the same lace, I custom made gloves that opened to a flare wrist, adding a dramatic touch. The combination of classic and romance made for the perfect dress in our Italian setting. 

A quote to remember

Alex’s parents welcomed everyone at our pre-wedding Pizza Party with a beautiful speech I will always think back on and smile. In the speech they detailed how years ago (before we met), Alex suffered a very serious stroke that left his family and friends worried about his future. It was a fearful time in his life that came with many struggles and dark days. Thankfully, he made a full recovery and lives with very minor hinderances. His dad finished the speech by thanking me. He shared that since meeting me, Alex’s life has immensely improved, and that I helped bring Alex back to life. It was such a sweet dedication. I now know more deeply how much my contribution meant to their son’s happiness and to them.