Amore In Florence for Lovebirds Melissa & Michel

Supplied by: Savvy Event Studio

We met through a mutual family friend who I ran into casually while visiting Miami, next thing I know she is handing me her phone with Michel on the other end of the line! We chatted for a bit, made all the more awkward by the eyes and ears of my mum and her friends all on me, but we laughed through it, played it cool and he invited me to go out on the boat with friends in a couple of days.

We had chemistry from the start and remained in contact but I was living abroad. I came back, we had a proper first date and were inseperable ever since. Michel proposed in the apartment we live in now whilst it was under construction, it was late night and no lights were fitted yet, but just the two of us in the glow of the moonlight made it so romantic.

I have always known I wanted Silvia Tcherassi to design my wedding dress one day, even before I was ever dating anyone! She's a family friend and also from Barranquilla, Colombia. We agreed to design something feminine and delicate, ideal for a wedding day. I also wanted a touch of sexy too, so we opted for the low-back design to show some skin. The dress also had a hint of a blush colour, it was so soft and subtle and absolutely perfect. I also opted for a designer from my hometown for my shoes and went for an Aquazzura design. I admire this designer so much and wearing them on my special day was a tribute to my roots and to Colombian talent.

Vacations in Italy were so common for me during my childhood that it felt like the ideal location for my wedding. I wanted to share a bit of the 'La Dolce Vita' lifestyle with my closest friends and family. It was the perfect combination of carbs, wine and dancing! Thanks to our fantastic wedding planners, Savvy Event Studio, there were no bridezilla moments from me! They were always only a phone call away and really took the time to discuss and choose every little detail with us. They do it with so much love and it really shines through in their work.

We had a light and bright venue which we dressed with muted whites and blushes, along with sprays of greenery and gold details to lift the palette. Having trails of fairy lights hanging from the ceiling really set the scene and added a romantic glow to the venue. Everything looked so fantastic!

A really sweet moment for me was walking down the aisle to 'Somewhere Only We Know' by Keane as it is a song me and my dad always blast full volume and sing along to in the car. Having it played on the strings was a great choice to fit in with our wedding day and I felt like a princess floating down the aisle towards my true love. When it came to the first dance, we chose something a little different. We danced to 'ADMV' by Maluma and had the composer Vicente Barco as a wedding guest so he kindly sang live for us. The audience simply couldn't take their eyes off this moment, it felt like something out of a movie.

THE DREAM TEAM

BRIDE: MELISSA DAES @MELISSADAES GROOM: MICHEL DACCACH @CMDZ PHOTOGRAPHY: @BARBAROSSA_ STUDIO EVENT PLANNING: @SAVVYEVENTSTUDIO VIDEOGRAPHY: @LUIGIDEGREGORIO WEDDING VENUE: @VILLA_IL_GAROFALO WELCOME EVENT VENUE: @SOCIETA_CANOTTIERI_FIRENZE_ CATERING: @GUIDILENCICATERING FLORALS: @FLOWERSLIVING LIGHTS & AUDIO: @GBAUDIO_SERVICE CAKE: @SUGARCUPS_CAKE_ DESIGN BAND: @ALESSANDRODEANGELIS ENTERTAINMENT: @VISIONAIREVENTS WEDDING GOWN: @SILVIATCHERASSI MUAH: @LIZA_MAKEUP_FIRENZE PHOTO BOOTH: @OVERTHEBOXITALIA TENT: @TENTICKLE_ITALIA DJ: @CRISMATTDJ SPECIAL GUEST: @VIBARCO