#realchicbride Gabriella Wore Monique Lhuillier Alexadra Gown at her Wedding in Umbria

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

Ben and I met in a CPR class we both, as well as my best friend Victoria, took while working at a mental health clinic in Delray Beach, Florida. A year later in 2017, we were both transferred to the same building and reconnected. At the time, Bentley (my dog) was only a couple of months old, and I would bring him to work so the patients could play with him. We bonded over the respective love for our dogs, Bentley and Hemingway, and made plans to meet at a local dog park outside of work. Ben and I (and Bentley and Hemingway) were instantly inseparable, and the rest is history!

Fast forward to 2023, we bought our first home, with a yard and pool so the dogs could play outside every day. I wanted a house before a ring, but I did know the ring was coming! Then in October, Ben made plans for us to go visit the Flagler Museum, using the excuse that it was a "bye week for the Vikings" so I would not be suspicious. We started with an iced cappuccino at Saint Ambroeus, a typical relaxing Sunday morning. Before entering the museum, Ben got down on one knee and proposed. 

When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision? 

We got engaged in October of 2023 and originally wanted a “slow start” to planning. Once I realized that venues and vendors were booking out into 2025 and 2026, I realized I had to get moving! My vision for the wedding was romantic, baroque, elegant, renaissance-age beauty. I wanted light pink and white roses, candles, and light pink linens. I would say my planner, Roberta, executed this vision flawlessly and it was just as I had dreamed of! I would recommend her to anyone getting married in Italy!

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

One thing that was really important to us is that we did NOT want to do a private first look. We were both very adamant about the first time he sees me in the dress is when I come down the aisle. In Italy, the tradition still stands that the groom should not see the bride, so it worked out perfectly since that is what we wanted. Ben obviously had no idea what my dress looked like, so it was all just such an incredibly sweet moment. We also chose to write personal vows and deliver them during the ceremony. I am not being dramatic when I say there was not a dry eye in the room. It was really special for our guests to hear the love we share, and the promises we were making to each other. If I could go back time and time again, I would do both of these things exactly how we did it.

 How did you decide on the location? 

Originally, we started looking at venues in Florida. We toured The Breakers, The Boca Resort, The Colony, and the Flagler Museum. I was searching for something that gave me a feeling like I was in Europe. I wanted that elegant, baroque feeling that comes from an Italian museum. On Christmas, my dad said to me “why are you looking for something Italian in Florida, just go to Italy!”, and to Italy we went! I met with a couple of wedding planners before I chose Roberta, and I could not be happier that I went with her team to bring my wedding dreams to life. When we were venue hunting, I told her I wanted four things: a pink building, fountains, rose garden, and Cypress trees. My dad was right, and I had dozens of gorgeous Italian villas and venues to choose from! Ultimately, we chose Villa Valentini Bonaparte in Umbria, and it was just so perfect!

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

Before I was engaged and I was just mindlessly Pinterest shopping for what I would want my wedding dress to look like one day, I had a very specific style in mind. I wanted a classic, simple, satin ballgown and a long veil. The second I got engaged, however, it was like my mind instantly changed and I could not see myself getting married in that. I immediately started looking at lace dresses and fell in love with Monique Lhuillier’s Alexandria gown. I went into Chic wanting to try this dress on specifically.

My bridal attendant, Marisol, gave me plenty of different shapes and styles to try on. Everything was so beautiful, and I could have worn any of them. However, she kept Alexandria for last, and before I was even zipped into the gown, I was tearing up. It was exactly what I envisioned. I wound up going with the matching bolero, which I wore during the ceremony and photos, and I also chose the matching veil with lace trim & blusher.

Wearing this dress in my Italian villa, I felt just like a princess. I am not really a traditional girl, but it was the vision of classic Sicilian bride that I was looking for. I know this is for Chic’s blog so it might come out as biased, but I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude for CP. From the first time I walked in, I felt welcomed and supported. I thought I was going to have trouble finding a dress that I loved on myself, but I truly had the magical wedding dress moment at CP. For each fitting, they were kind, took their time, and it was evident that they really care about their gowns and their brides. I also want to thank CP for allowing me to relive my wedding through these questions!

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

I am someone who really enjoys planning and putting things together, so I did a lot of my planning by myself and with Roberta. Victoria, my best friend, did a lot to support me throughout the process- she’s the best maid of honor ever! I am extremely blessed to have an amazing set of friends and family who travelled thousands of miles to celebrate me. Even before the wedding, I was in Florence with my cousins and some friends, and we all got together for drinks, dinner, and karaoke. The entire trip was just completely unforgettable, and I am so filled with love and gratitude for every person who contributed to that.

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

There were so many points of the day that were just special in their own ways. I had a sleepover with my bridesmaids the night before the wedding that was so fun. Being that we all were staying on property, I knew avoiding my groom was going to be impossible. We wound up enjoying cappuccinos and breakfast in the morning with some of our guests and then went for a little walk and sat in the garden, quietly chatting and soaking up the beauty and serenity of our wedding morning. Following this, I led a small yoga flow with my girls with a stunning view of Tuscany behind us. I felt grounded, calm, and full of love as I started getting ready for the best day of my life.

Honorable mention for our first dance. We danced to Future and Miley Cyrus’s “Real and True”, which is not exactly a traditional wedding first dance song, but it was us. We did not choreograph a dance, barely rehearsed, but we had fun singing and dancing to a song that has been special to us since our very first date.

How did you decide on your hair and makeup look? 

I am not someone who wears a lot of makeup, so I knew I would not be comfortable in a full glam-style look, even though it is beautiful! For my makeup, I really wanted a natural looking base, with some pink blush, and very light eyebrows. For my eyes, I chose individual false lashes, just to enhance my natural lashes, and a simple, pink-toned shadow look. My makeup turned out exactly how I wanted it!

The way I decided on my hair look is kind of funny. Per a recommendation by the woman who cuts/tones my hair, I was trying out different hairstyles when I would go for my dress fittings. The first time, I wore my hair all down in a blow-out style. The next, I did half-up, half-down, with curls and face-framing loose tendrils. The next, I did a low, loose up-do with curls and loose tendrils. For my FINAL fitting, when I picked up my dress, I wore my hair in a low, slick-back bun. This was not something I ever even considered, and frankly, I only wore my hair like this to this appointment because it was dirty and I was too lazy to style it. However, when I was looking at the photos I took at the appointment after the fact, I realized that the slick-back bun complemented my dress so well, and I loved the way it looked with my bolero and veil!

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

All of our vendors were seriously amazing. Benito Sauro (DJ), Kyrios (live saxophonist), Giuseppe Giovanelli (photographer), Gaetano DiGiacomo (videographer), Roberta Sabbatini (planner and florist), Villa Valentini Bonaparte (venue), Preludio (catering), Angelo Nenna Pintor (MUA), along with all of the staff were truly who helped make our wedding spectacular. The music was some of my favorite parts of the day. I think having a saxophonist perfectly curated the exact vibe I was looking for. He covered Tears for Fears’s “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” as I came down the aisle, and we had Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” play as we came back down the aisle together. For cocktail hour, our DJ live performed classic Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Nat King Cole-era songs, with the saxophone perfectly accompanying him. Into the night, Kyrios also stayed on the dance floor, with the saxophone adding an unforgettable vibe to the party. 

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

We checked out of the villa, and made our way to Ischia, a small fishing island off the coast of Naples. We spent the week there, splitting our time between two amazing resorts: Hotel Continental Mare and Botania Relais & Spa. It was quaint, romantic, and relaxing- just what we were looking for after planning a destination wedding for the past 16 months! Before returning to the states, we spent one night in Rome, enjoying one final dinner together as newlyweds, and then meeting some friends and family for a night out on the town! All of that being said, there really was no “best part”. From the start of the trip, where we spent a couple nights in Florence, visiting our favorite spots and restaurants, going out with friends and family, and shopping, to the 3-day wedding weekend, to Ischia, then Rome, the entire trip just felt so magical.

Dress, Veil, Bolero: Monique Lhuillier

Photographer: Giuseppe Giovannelli 

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Rings: Diamonds by Raymond Lee

Invitations: custom by me! :) 

Music: Benito Sauro

Saxophone: Kyrios  

Venue: Villa Valentini Bonaparte 

Caterer: La Dispensa del Preludio 

Planner & Florist: Roberta Sabbatini 

MUA: Angelo Nenna Pintor 

Videographer: Gaetano diGiacomo