Enter a magical world of love through the breathtaking union of Madeleine and Daniel at the famous Villa Astor in Sorrento, Italy. Set amidst the captivating beauty of Tyrrenhenian Sea, this celebration of love was nothing short of a fairytale come to life. A testament to the couple's unique love story, every detail is intricately woven into the fabric of their journey – from the bride's one-of-a-kind custom Galia Lahav gown to the enchanting roses that enveloped the day, all exuding an air of timeless romance and modern sophistication. Each flower seemed to whisper tales of love and devotion, creating a picturesque setting above the Tyrrhenian Sea and into eternity, uniquely capured by our talented member, videographer Paramonova Movies.
Tell us a little about yourselves. How did you meet? What do you do for a living? What are your hobbies?
I grew up in Los Angeles, and Daniel is a Chicago native. We traveled thousands of miles back and forth for a few years to see one another before he finally made the move to California. We originally met in Las Vegas! I was attending a fashion trade show as a buyer, and my husband Daniel was there for a finance business meeting. I have a love for anything and everything related to fashion. My husband and I also enjoy traveling and exploring new places together whenever we can. Life is exciting when you have a vacation to look forward to… but also there’s no better place than being at home in bed with one another.
Can you share your engagement story?
My husband whisked me away for a surprise trip to Las Vegas. The other surprise was that my two best friends were joining us for the weekend. When I boarded the plane they were already seated! We all jumped up and down with excitement! It was the best weekend ever!
Did you have any pre-wedding events, like a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower?
We had a few different family celebrations prior. I had an incredible Bridal Brunch at Gucci Osteria in Beverly Hills with all of my girlfriends. Acqua & Ink used Gucci wallpaper to create all of the invitations and name cards. For our rehearsal dinner, we chartered our guests on a tour of the Amalfi coast, ending the evening with a private welcome dinner oceanside at Conca Del Sogno. My husband wore a monochromatic cream outfit by Tom Ford and I wore a mesh pearl Prada set (a work of art)! One of my friends, impromptu took a 50ft swan dive off the Conca Del Sogno railing. The party went wild after that!
Where was your wedding? Why did you choose this venue?
Our wedding took place at Villa Astor in Sorrento, Italy. The talented team at Lake Como Wedding Planners & Rachel Birthistle brought the vision to life. The ceremony took place in front of Villa Astor, which has not been done prior. I chose this wedding venue after I had designed the custom looks with Galia Lahav. The creamy front facade of the Villa matched my wedding gown perfectly. Villa Astor was once a monk monastery prior to Lord William Waldorf Astor’s 1905 purchase of the historic estate, which is now a museum managed by The Heritage Collection. Daniel & I spent our first weekend together as a couple at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. Serendipitously, booking our wedding venue, only to find out months later that we chose the Villa Waldorf Astor in Sorrento, Italy. We are honored to have this connection & the Waldorf will always hold a special place in our hearts.
What was the concept behind your wedding and how did you find your inspiration?
Every design aspect of our wedding was inspired by the design of my custom Galia Lahav wedding dress. The design of the ceremony was to compliment the architecture of the villa. The florals done by Fluidia Designs were exceptional. My dream was to get married at the front entrance of the Villa, together with the design team at Lake Como Wedding Planners & Fluidia, we created an elongation of the aisle to mimic the marble stone steps leading up to the Villa. Fluidia draped the florals to frame the entrance of the Villa and create a semi-arch for the symbolic ceremony. The design was exceptional. The florals draped just as the silk draped from my wedding dress.
How long did it take to plan your wedding? Did you encounter any challenges during the planning process?
I want to say it took 7 months to plan our wedding! I flew to Italy twice beforehand to meet with the Lake Como Wedding Planners. The biggest challenge I faced prior to the wedding would have both my custom Galia Lahav dresses getting lost two days prior to our wedding day! It was a true fashion emergency! The trunk ended up rolling down the aisle as we were practicing our wedding vows the day before.
How many guests did you have? And what was the seating arrangement at the wedding like?
This was a unique, intimate micro wedding, without all of the traditions such as bridesmaids and groomsmen because all of our guests were of honor. It was an intimate wedding experience with 35 of our closest friends and family. We arranged the guest ceremony seating in a unique way with a combination of cascading floral arrangements on modern plinths scattered along the aisle way between guests. For our wedding reception, we had one long rectangular table. Every interaction felt so meaningful and personalized.
Tell us about your outfits. How many different styles have you tried?
I tried on many different styles and wasn’t finding exactly what I was looking for. I knew I wanted a silk satin in a true cream color. I had the opportunity & honor to work directly with Sharon Sever, the creative director and head designer of Galia Lahav, on 2 custom looks. From the second we met, there was an immediate connection. Sharon pulled out his drawing board and we sat together bouncing ideas off one another other and sketched up both of my wedding looks on the spot. The wedding dress silhouette reflects the intentional sharp structural lines, accentuated shoulders, corset waist emphasis – all coming together to create a soft silky flow. Everything about our wedding was based off the design of the dress.
Every wedding vendor immediately fell in love with the wedding dress sketch and felt so inspired. Sharon stayed up all night on the other side of the world to see my first fitting, gasping “She’s Grace Kelly.” The wedding dress pointed ’V’ design element mirrors the mountaintop of Mount Vesuvius. Our first dance accentuates and draws your eye in highlighting the dress as the sun sets over Mt. Vesuvius. With a background in fashion, I chose fashion vendors such as editorial makeup artist and stylists. Stylist Simon Robins & William Thomas curated looks they envisioned to be shot throughout the historic Villa. Weekend looks included Prada, Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, YSL, and Vintage Balmain. Bridal looks included custom Agent Provocateur, custom Galia Lahav wedding dress, birdcage headpiece, cocktail dress & custom Ana Khouri Japanese pearl earrings.
What was your first dance song? Did you choreograph or improvise?
Our first dance song was “Unforgettable” by Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole. It felt so classic and embodied our feelings for one another. We took one dance lesson beforehand, for my husband’s sake, and then winged it! There was too much to worry about to memorize a choreographed dance.
Did you have any special performances or entertainment?
We had live music throughout the night. Elan Artists was an amazing vendor to work with. They took care of all the wedding processions from start to finish, including a ceremonial string quartet, live band, and the after-party DJ. Our favorite addition was the Operatic Tenors belting out classic Italian Bocelli songs.
What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?
The most memorable moment from our wedding day was the champagne shower we had at the after party. After a beautiful ceremony and a night filled with laughter, dancing, and heartfelt speeches, we popped corks. It was a, “We did it,” moment! A perfect, spontaneous celebration of love, unity, and the success of our incredible wedding day.
What advice would you give to couples who are currently planning their wedding?
When planning your wedding, whether it’s big or small, make sure to surround yourself with people who are genuinely part of your life and love story. Focus on inviting those who truly matter to you, who have been there through your journey, and who will continue to support you in the future.
Were there national/religious traditions at your wedding and how did you implement them?
I don’t think I followed any traditions! I walked myself down the aisle as an independent woman choosing to marry the love of my life. We chose not to have bridesmaids/groomsmen because all of our guests were of honor. I wanted my best friends to wear whatever they felt best in! I have yet to meet a bridesmaid dress that I’ve loved- you wear them for the ones you love (with a badge of honor of course).
Did you make a gift for guests, and what was it? What did you give each other as a gift?
Scents remind me of experiences. My husband and I travel often and we typically purchase a different fragrance that embodies the wonderful memories created on those trips. We gifted all of our wedding guests with a customized room fragrance to spray on a porcelain fleur de lis motif (waiting in their hotel rooms upon arrival with the weekend itinerary and a sweet welcome note). A scent to remind our guests of the wonderfully, dreamy weekend we shared together, filled with laughter and love. Acqua & Ink created all of our wedding paper materials and gift packaging. Nora, from Acqua & Ink, added such a special touch with the combination of elevated materials & attention to detail.
What gift from guests do you remember the most?
The most meaningful gift was the presence of my loved ones traveling all the way to Italy to celebrate our wedding!
Bride: Madeleine
Videographer: Paramonova Movies
Photographer: BMSN by Dani Rodriguez & Carolina Sandoval
Custom Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav
Japanese Pearl Earrings: ANA KHOURI
Custom Pre-Bridal Look: Agent Provocateur
Location: Villa Astor , The Heritage Collection
Planning & Design: The Lake Como Weddings
Stylists: Simon Robins , William
MUA: Lottie
Hair: Beau Stone
Paper Materials: Acqua & Ink
Floral Design: Fluida Design
