#realchicbride Tiana wears Ines Di Santo at her Elopement in Italy
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Dean and I met at a popular bar overlooking the Miami River during a Gameday Saturday in Miami, where our respective friend groups were there to watch Florida State play Louisville. We met through mutual friends and as the night went on, we exchanged numbers and went our separate ways.
Less than a week later, Dean's impulsive lunch stop near my workplace in downtown Fort Lauderdale changed everything. As I passed by his car at a red light, he recognized me from the previous weekend and felt fate was at play. Dean seized the moment, sending a text that led to our first date a week later—and a start to our unforgettable journey.
Four years later, in 2020, we planned a trip through Greece and Italy, but the pandemic dashed those plans. Undeterred, two years, a new home, and a puppy later, we revived our dream on Italy's Amalfi Coast, and booked a trip to Positano and Capri.
In Positano, our first day unfolded like a dream. We stumbled upon a terrace overlooking the quintessential Positano landscape, and Dean immediately knew it would set the stage for the perfect proposal.
As evening approached, Dean, with a twinkle in his eye, suggested revisiting the terrace. The sun set as he professed his love and asked me to marry him.
I said yes and we celebrated the night away on the Mediterranean.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
Initially, we weren’t quite sure what we wanted. I wasn’t the girl who had her wedding planned out since childhood. Having all eyes on you while walking down an aisle isn’t for everyone, so it was important to make our day work for us.
We fell in love with the idea of tying the knot in Italy, yet we also wanted to ensure our friends and family could easily join us for the celebration. Despite our initial hesitation about a destination wedding, we found a compromise that allowed us to have both the intimate ceremony we dreamed of and a joyous party with our loved ones.
We eloped and exchanged personal vows in Puglia, Italy. A month later, we threw a big reception with all our friends and family in Florida to celebrate.
The reception was stunning! We envisioned neutral colors, curtains, dramatic drapery, and candles for an intimate ambiance, and it turned out exactly as we had hoped.
Although we did things a bit backwards and untraditionally, it worked perfectly for us, and I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Breaking it up into two parts allowed us to have the best of both worlds, and we couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out!
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
We really wanted our friends and family to feel like they were there in Italy with us, so we filmed a video and played it at our reception. It was a special way to share our elopement experience with everyone.
Having attended many weddings ourselves, we knew we wanted the atmosphere to be anything but stuffy. We aimed for a fun and lively celebration of life. To achieve this, we opted for no seating chart and no plated dinner. Instead, we set up food stations and let everyone sit wherever and with whomever they wanted and without a timeline. This created a relaxed, party-like vibe that everyone loved!
How did you decide on the location?
At first we wanted a popular location like Capri or Lake Como, but ultimately decided on Puglia, Italy because it was less touristy and crowded, a place we had never been before and we were up for an adventure!
It ended up being such a dream. I can’t wait to go back for our Anniversaries!
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
I went into Chic Parisien without a clue about what I wanted or even where we were getting married. I imagined my dress would either be big and princess-like or something from Berta. Boy, was I wrong!
My wedding dress was designed by Ines Di Santo, and it was actually the first dress I tried on. With only 15 made in the world, it was truly one-of-a-kind. It had lace, florals, and beading all over with a plunging neckline and low back. Florals ran up the back for a classy tattoo look. I fell in love immediately but still wanted to try on a few more to be sure. Eventually, I tried the first one again, and that’s when Irina, the Chic Parisien stylist, mentioned there was a matching veil. I tried on the veil, and it was a done deal!
For my reception dress, I wanted something with a high neckline that was classy, sexy, and fun. I found the Ines Di Santo Evie Dress, and it was everything! With its high neckline, floral lace and beads to match my wedding dress, and feathers and tinsel on the bottom, it was the perfect party dress!
I’m so happy with both of my dresses and wish I could wear them all the time! Thank you to the Chic Parisien team and Ines Di Santo for being such a fabulous designer!
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
Our friends and family were incredibly supportive throughout our wedding planning journey. While we asked for their opinions and valued their input, we knew it was our special day and wanted to make it uniquely ours. One piece of advice we cherished was to prioritize our happiness and make decisions that felt right for us.
Leading up to the big day, we included our loved ones in various aspects of the planning process. From dress and suit fittings to shopping for accessories and travel plans, their involvement made everything more enjoyable.
We also wanted everyone at our reception to have an amazing time without any stress, so we hired a planner to take care of all the day-of details, as well as decor and design. This allowed our guests to simply relax and celebrate with us, making the day even more memorable.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
Oh my goodness, there are so many unforgettable moments! Our rooftop ceremony was such a beautiful and intimate moment, with just the two of us and a violinist playing our song—it felt like a dream.
Then, driving off into the Italian sunset by boat, sipping Prosecco without a care in the world, was pure magic.
And at our reception, when all of our friends and family rushed the dance floor to hug and celebrate with us, it was the perfect way to kick off the night. We truly felt the love, and that feeling will stay with us forever!
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I wanted a timeless look that I would still love when looking back at photos 30 years from now. To achieve this, I chose a matte, glowy makeup look that accentuated my features without being overdone. For my hair, I went with a half-up, half-down style that perfectly matched the relaxed, Italian vibe of our wedding. It all came together beautifully, and I couldn’t have been happier!
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
Absolutely! There are two vendors I wish everyone knew about.
First, Artonico Stories—a creative photo and video couple specializing in travel, weddings, and elopements. They were so relaxed and helped ease any nerves we had. They weren’t in your face but just went with the flow, capturing every special moment beautifully.
Then there was Micro Miami, who helped plan our reception. Sofia and her team took care of all the decor and design details behind the scenes. They handled everything seamlessly, understanding my vision and the vibe I was going for. They truly hit it out of the park! The round bar at our cocktail hour was such a hit with our guests—they didn’t want to leave!
We are incredibly grateful to both vendors for making our wedding so amazing and unforgettable.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We honeymooned in Taormina, Sicily, and it was an absolute dream! We spent a blissful week relaxing by the pool, exploring the island by boat, strolling through the enchanting streets of the town, and indulging in all the pasta, seafood, and granitas we could handle. The best part, though, was watching the sunset behind Mt. Etna, an active volcano, while overlooking the infinity pool, beach town, and Ionian Sea. It was one of the most spectacular views I’ve ever seen and a moment we'll cherish forever.