Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Ischia, where the gentle Tyrrhenian breeze mingles with the timeless allure of terracotta facades, Sergio and Victoria's wedding unfolded like a fairy tale. The celebration, infused with elegance, romance, and the vivid colors of the Italian coastline, spanned several days, embodying a true celebration of love, family, and tradition. From intimate pre-wedding moments to a spectacular after-party, every detail was meticulously curated to reflect the couple's unique style and the enchanting charm of the island. Join us on a journey through a wedding that perfectly captures the essence of Italy – effortlessly chic, exquisitely glamorous, and truly unforgettable. Enjoy a beautiful wedding film from our members Romavera.
Our Love Story
The Day We Met
I worked at The Mark Hotel for five years prior to joining Fouquet’s, and I met Sergio at our annual holiday party in the Mark Penthouse. The Mark is one of his longtime clients, and we had worked together on a few projects over the phone and through email for months prior to meeting in person. We are still confused as to why he was invited to the holiday party, as it was for top guests and travel agents. Regardless, I was very happy to see him there. We continued to work together for a year and would have the occasional run-in downtown until he finally asked me on our first date.
The Proposal
Sergio proposed on June 24th, 2023, at The Mark. He had planned a dinner at The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges, and I truly did not suspect anything. He was so calm, and it seemed like a typical Friday date night. However, after dinner, I tried to order dessert, but he said we had to go see the “artwork he installed” in one of the suites. It then hit me that he was about to propose.
We proceeded to have the most awkward elevator ride of our lives, both of us too nervous to speak. The suite was set up with flowers and champagne, and he got down on one knee. My sister and a few of our friends came to the suite afterward, and we ordered truffle pizza and celebrated over martinis and champagne. Sergio and I spent the night at the hotel, and after a lazy morning, we walked through Central Park and went for lunch at Tavern on the Green, still in our clothing from the night before. It was the perfect New York proposal.
The Engagement Ring
It was a marquise diamond with a gold band. I have wanted this diamond cut since I was in high school – I was inspired by Victoria Beckham’s marquise engagement ring.
Our Wedding
The Vision
Terracotta everything! We played into the colors of the hotel and its surroundings. We wanted every moment of the weekend to be glamorous – from the decadent Neapolitan food spreads to the late-night disco under the hotel’s tower, to the Aperol spritzes being served at every minute – we wanted our guests to feel like they were in a movie.
The Location
The first family trip that Sergio attended was at The Mezzatorre in August 2019. My family is from the region of Campania, and we have a house about two hours from Ischia, so we grew up going to the island in the summers. We decided then that we would get married there. We could not imagine anything more special or beautiful than a wedding against the hotel’s iconic terracotta facade. Naturally, I always wanted to get married at a hotel and loved the idea of all our friends and family roaming the halls throughout the weekend – adult summer camp!
The Ceremony
The ceremony was on “Terrazza Vittoria,” the hotel’s private terrace overlooking the sea. We love the signature pink umbrellas at The Mezzatorre and tried to incorporate them where we could. We made sure to have them open at our ceremony (for both aesthetics and much-needed shade), and then we printed everyone’s table numbers on the inside of a miniature pink umbrella. We also matched the pink of the umbrellas with pink anthuriums along the aisle.
My bridesmaids walked down the aisle first, followed by our two ring bearers, and then my dad walked me down the aisle while a string quartet played “Your Song.” The officiant was a former Italian priest, and we had asked to keep the ceremony short and sweet. My mom recited a prayer she had written for us during the ceremony. We recited traditional vows, but we said a speech together during the reception where we shared words we had written to each other.
The Reception
After the ceremony, the guests went to have cocktails, and Sergio and I took photos together and with family and our wedding parties. We joined our guests at cocktails, and this was one of the most memorable moments of the wedding day. The front of the hotel is my favorite area – it is straight out of a Wes Anderson movie. We then all went to the seaside of the hotel for the reception dinner. One of our dear friends, Jake Smith (stage name “Big Wet”), introduced Sergio and me and then performed “Say a Little Prayer” while Sergio and I walked down to meet our guests. I do not think we have ever smiled so hard.
My dad’s only request for the wedding weekend was that we not have the reception under a tent, and after much pushback from me and our wedding planners, he ended up being right. It was so incredible to all dine in the open air with the trees surrounding us. We had a few speeches, and Sergio and I had our first dance (Macy Gray’s “I Try” – Sergio had taken me to see her on Valentine’s Day a few years ago, so it is a sentimental song to us). I also danced with my dad, and he with his mom.
We then moved down closer to the sea for the cutting of the cake. The cake was a classic Italian millefoglie with caramelized peaches. In the very final hour of wedding planning, we had decided to do fireworks while we cut our cake. I really had no expectations and did not watch any of the videos my wedding planners had sent me. The fireworks were truly incredible – in Italy, they are so loud and dramatic. The DJ was blasting “Tu Vuo Fà L'Americano,” and everyone was screaming in excitement. We then had an after-party in a large gazebo on the property, which we transformed into “Bello’s,” a nightclub with a full bar, disco ball, and neon sign. We had pasta alla ruota served as a late-night snack.
The Special Touches
Sergio’s last name is Bello (beautiful in Italian), which is the ideal last name for an Italian wedding, so we could not help ourselves but incorporate it in cheeky ways throughout the weekend. We decided to host the Thursday dinner at “Portobello,” and our wedding logo was “BELLO” in a martini glass, with the O as an olive. Our wedding hashtag was #CheBello (how beautiful!).
Our Favorite Moment
At Friday night’s Glamour Italiano dinner, we had the custom tambourines with each guest’s name on ribbons hanging beside the bar for them to come and cut down. An Italian folk band came out after dinner and prompted everyone to shake their tambourines while they performed classic Italian songs and led traditional Italian group dances. Afterward, we all danced the night away under the hotel’s tower, and it was the most glamorous evening of my life. The DJ played the opening theme song from “The White Lotus,” which was incredibly fitting for the location. My friends serenaded us with Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” which was a huge highlight for me (Sergio, not so much).
Our Style
The Bridal Looks
For getting ready, I wore a blue Khaite slip dress with netted floral flats, also by Khaite. I thought this was the perfect “something blue” moment. I always knew I would do a sleek bun for the wedding day – I just think this is so timeless and elegant. We tried four different bun placements during my trial and landed on this low bun – it felt very elevated and a bit more formal. Makeup was minimal and dewy – it literally stayed put all day and night (through a lot of tears!).
My dress was a custom Brandon Maxwell. When Bailey and I first met to discuss the wedding, I showed him a few inspirational images of dresses I loved, and we were both specifically enamored by the idea of a boat neckline. It is just so timeless and elegant, yet unique and not overdone – you do not really see many gowns with this neckline. We then discussed the overall aesthetic, and we wanted to work with a designer who we thought would best interpret my personal style – very tailored and minimal, but with special touches that make it unique. Brandon Maxwell came to mind, and Bailey had great experiences working with him and his team in the past.
We had a first brainstorming session with Brandon and came up with the concept of the dress right there. We loved the juxtaposition of the super low back with the high neckline in the front. We thought it would be a surprise to guests to see the back when I walked down the aisle, as it really is so unexpected. We wanted a subtle drop waist, and then Brandon added incredible pleating and buttons all along the back, which were both such chic touches. For shoes, I had white slingbacks from The Row. My veil was actually two pieces – a blusher in the front with a long veil in the back, both by Gigi Burris.
For the cake cutting and fireworks, I added a sheer cape over my dress, also by Brandon Maxwell. I had tried this on during our first brainstorming session (before it was ever released), and we always knew we wanted to incorporate it at some point in the evening. For the after-party, I wore a Nensi Dojaka dress that I had pre-ordered and that came in the nick of time, with Amina Muaddi heels and Julietta earrings. Again, I loved the idea of the dress matching the hotel and the colors of the wedding.
The Groom Looks
For the wedding day, Sergio wore a custom Tom Ford tuxedo.
Our Bridesmaid’s Looks
My bridal party was in tones of yellows and marigolds. I helped them each choose a dress. My sister and maid-of-honor, Giulia, was in Costarellos, and the bridesmaids' dresses included gowns from Proenza Schouler, Christopher Esber, and Rachel Gilbert. My mom wore an orchid off-the-shoulder gown from Lela Rose. I also gifted them dresses from Eiko Ai to wear to get ready. My best friend, David, wore a pink anthurium on his tuxedo as a very contemporary boutonniere.
Vendors
Photography: La Dichosa
Videography: Romavera Films
Wedding Planner: Capri Moments
Wedding Stylist: Bailey Moon
Venue: Mezzatorre Hotel
Florist: Capri Blossom
Stationery: Stationery Stories, Bello Projects
Music: Max Wieland
Hair & Makeup: Nelli Made
Style
Bridal Dress: Brandon Maxwell
Bridal Shoes: The Row
Groom: Tom Ford
