Tell us your love story. How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?

I’m from El Salvador and my husband is from Panama. We met in Panama through mutual friends, in the most random way, at a party. We stayed in the “friends” zone for several years – always seeing each other in group plans, events and gatherings, but nothing more than that… yet.

During the pandemic everything changed because of an Instagram story. I posted a “healthy food” story with some peanut butter healthy brownies, and he replied saying how delicious they looked and that he also wanted to get super fit. The funny part is that now that I really know him, I can tell you he doesn’t even like peanuts – so those brownies were clearly just an excuse to start talking. That one DM turned into conversations, then daily messages, and eventually into something much deeper.

Four years after we first met, on our second trip to Japan, he planned the most perfect proposal. He knew how much I love Mount Fuji, so he took me to a famous park with an incredible view of Fuji, very early in the morning. At 8:30 a.m., with a photographer he had secretly hired, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. It was quiet, emotional, and so us – just the two of us, Japan, and my favorite mountain in the background.

When did you start planning your wedding? What did you envision and how close was the reality to that vision?

I always dreamed of having a very close, intimate wedding – which, for us Latinos, is almost a mission impossible. My dads family is originally from the north of Italy, from a small town in Liguria called Zoagli, so Europe has always felt very special and very “home” in a different way.

When we started talking about the wedding, the idea of doing it in Italy made everything click: it was the perfect excuse to keep the guest list small and invite only the people who are truly close to us, while giving them the most beautiful experience possible. As soon as we started looking, everything began to fall into place for that dream: Rome, our date on November 3rd, 2025, the venues, and all the details that made it feel like a once-in-a-lifetime trip for everyone.

What I envisioned was an intimate, elegant celebration in Europe that felt like welcoming our loved ones into a little “casita” of ours, far from home but full of warmth. The reality was even better than what I had imagined – it stayed small, personal and emotional, exactly the way I always dreamed it would be.

What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?

For us, the most important thing was that the wedding felt intimate and intentional. We’re both Latin, so our families are usually used to big weddings, but we really wanted a small, close celebration where we could actually talk to everyone, sit at the table with our friends and family, and be fully present.

We wanted:

A meaningful ceremony where we could really look at each other and feel what was happening.
Amazing food and wine (if you’re getting married in Italy, that’s non-negotiable!).
Music that felt like us – a mix of Latin energy and classic songs that everyone could enjoy.
Time built into the timeline to just breathe and enjoy Rome with our guests.

On the other hand, we weren’t too focused on strict traditions just “because that’s how it’s done.” If it didn’t feel like us, we didn’t force it. The day was about our story, not a checklist.

How did you decide on the location?

Italy has always been very special to me because my family is originally from the north of Italy, from a small town in Liguria called Zoagli. So when we started thinking about our wedding, Europe – and especially Italy – felt like the most natural place for our dream celebration.

Rome ended up being the perfect mix of everything we wanted: history, beauty, incredible food, and easy access for our guests traveling from Latin America and other parts of the world. When we found our venue in Rome, with its old-world elegance and that feeling of “this could only be in Italy,” we knew it was the one.

Even our church ended up being a little miracle. We had originally chosen a different church, but due to changes we had to switch… and everything aligned for us to get married at San Ignazio di Loyola, truly one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Walking down that aisle, under those frescoes, in the heart of Rome, felt like something that had been written for us long before we started planning.

It allowed us to give our guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a destination wedding in one of the most iconic cities in the world, but still intimate and very personal.

Let’s talk dress! Give us all the deets!

My dress was a Monique Lhuillier from Chic Parisien in Miami, and it was truly my dream gown.

I wanted something romantic, elegant and timeless – a dress that would make sense in a Roman palazzo, but also feel very “me.” With the team at Chic Parisien, I found the perfect Monique Lhuillier gown and then we created a little custom bolero to go with it. That bolero completely changed the look and made it feel even more unique and personal.

What I loved most was how the dress moved when I walked and how it photographed – soft, feminine and ethereal, but still with structure and presence. The whole experience at Chic Parisien was so special; they really listened to my vision and helped me build the exact bridal look I had in my head.

How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?

Because we’re from El Salvador and Panama and getting married in Rome, our families and friends were a huge part of the process emotionally.

They supported the idea of a smaller destination wedding, which for Latin families is already a big thing! My family loved the connection to Italy and my roots, and his family was so excited to turn it into a big trip and experience.

During the planning, they were part of the conversations, the group chats, the dress photos, the “Should we choose this or that?” moments. On the actual wedding day, they brought all the energy and warmth – lots of happy tears, laughter, and that loud, joyful Latin vibe that somehow still fit perfectly inside a Roman palazzo.

What’s one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don’t think you’ll ever forget?

There’s a moment I will never forget: right before walking in, the doors opened and I saw him waiting for me in Rome, on November 3rd, 2025, surrounded by the people we love most. For a second everything went quiet in my head – no vendors, no logistics, no timeline – just him, my dress, and the feeling of “this is it, this is our moment.”

Another memory that’s engraved in my heart is when we finally sat down together at the table, looked around and realized:
“We actually did it. We brought everyone we love to Rome and this is our wedding.”
It felt surreal and so, so special.

How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?

I knew I wanted to look like myself, just the most polished, elevated version of me.

Because the dress and the setting were already very elegant, we decided to keep hair and makeup timeless and soft rather than trendy. I went for a classic, romantic look: luminous skin, soft definition on the eyes, nothing too heavy, and a fresh, glowy finish that would look beautiful in photos but also in person.

For hair, I wanted something that worked with the neckline of the dress and my bolero, and that made sense for a long day of hugging, dancing and walking through a historic venue. The idea was: if I see these photos in 20 years, I still want to love how I looked.

Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?

Absolutely: our photographer, Rubén Parra.

He has a way of making you feel completely comfortable, like you’re just with a friend who happens to have a camera and incredible talent. He understood our story, our cultures, and the emotion behind doing such an intimate wedding so far from home.

The way he captured Rome, the light, the little in-between moments, the tears and laughter – it all feels like a movie, but still very real and very us. Looking at the photos, we can actually feel the day again. I would recommend him to any couple who wants emotional, elegant images that tell the full story.

One of my favorite parts was the time we spent with Rubén just walking and taking photos around the venue and nearby corners of Rome. It didn’t feel like a “photo shoot”; it felt like a little pause in the middle of the chaos where we could be together, laugh, breathe, and let the day sink in.

He gave us gentle direction but also let things happen naturally. Some of my favorite images are from those moments – when we forgot about the camera, and he was quietly capturing our reactions, our connection and the magic of being newlyweds in Rome.

Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?

Right after the wedding, we did what we like to call our “pre-honeymoon” in Italy. We stayed and traveled around, exploring little towns, vineyards and beautiful countryside spots. After all the emotion and intensity of a destination wedding in Rome, it felt amazing to slow down, eat incredible food, drink good wine, and just be together with no strict schedule.

But our big honeymoon is actually planned for 2026: we’re going to China for a full month to disconnect and explore. The plan is to visit cities like Shanghai, Chengdu, Hong Kong and more – a long, slow trip where we can discover a completely different culture and create new memories as husband and wife.

The best part is that our honeymoon feels like it has two chapters: the romantic Italian pre-honeymoon right after the wedding, and then this big adventure in China that we’re already so excited about.

La Dolce Vita: Andrea’s Wedding in Rome