Maria + Michael’s picture perfect Puglian wedding
If La Lista was in the movie business, we are pretty sure this would be a true romance blockbuster. Starting with the ‘meet-cute’ thanks to the Michael’s mother’s match-making persistence, the US/Italy family heritage and Maria’s childhood dreams of marrying in sentimental Puglia at their final chosen venue Masseria Salamina. Finally the muted styling nailed by Wiskow & White, complimenting the bride’s exceptional choice of gown….we are in love!
Maria isn’t just an ace with her fashion decisions, but passes on clever money transfer and budgeting advice helping future American couples out. “One word of advice for American brides, factor in the additional costs of wiring money and consider the exchange rate when doing so! If the exchange rate is good, it might be beneficial to send certain payments sooner rather than later. And if you can wire a combined amount or combined payment, try to do that as those extra costs add up over time. Of course, if you can pay in cash once you're in Italy, even better.”
SUPPLIER TEAM
Planning and Styling: Wiskow and White | Dress: Anthropologie | Grooms Suit: The Black Tux | Flowers: Amsicora Fiori | Stationary: White Vines Studio | HMU: Tania Nitsak | Photographer: Studio Chloe David | Video: Cap71043 | Venue and Catering: Masseria Salamina | Band: The Gloves Band
The Dating
“I actually met Michael's mother and grandmother on a safari in Africa in 2015. I went on safari with my mother, and we were paired together in the jeep for the game drives. As we were all from America (they were from LA, we were from Detroit), the conversation was flowing and we all got along great! After that trip, we became Facebook friends, and sort of thought that was it. For the next few years, his mother would occasionally message me about coming out for a visit and meeting her son who she thought I would be perfect for. Eventually, I made my way out to LA, and met Michael for the first time. Turns out, his mother was right, and we really were a match made in heaven!”
“The joke was on me, and the heavens opened up a short rain shower (with clear blue skies) just as my bridal party and I were walking down the aisle.”
“Once I saw Masseria Salamina, I couldn't imagine getting married anywhere else. I just had that gut feeling that that was the place I wanted to get married, and the decision was made!”
The Engagement
“We were in Cabo, Mexico, to celebrate Michael's 30th birthday party. His family was there and my family was there and on the first night he surprised me with a beachfront proposal! What I thought was his birthday celebration dinner ended up being our engagement dinner, and to say that I was surprised is putting it lightly. Although my spider senses should have been tingling, I truly didn't think he'd pop the question in Mexico! The genius part was I had essentially planned the trip with our families, so little did I know that my plan would actually end up being a celebration for us!”
Why Italy?
“Italy has always been special to me and my family. My grandma is from Puglia, and was the only one from her family to come to America. I have a lot of family still in Italy and Puglia has always held a special place in my heart, so there was no question I wanted to get married there. Ever since I was little, it was my dream to get married where my grandma and family are from!”
Did anything go wrong?
“Of course! Things even went wrong on our wedding day! But you just figure it out and try not to sweat the small stuff :) At the end of the day, it will be perfect even if things go wrong! And sometimes, those things that go wrong make the day even more special, and you will have even more special memories from the day! When things go wrong in the planning process, just adjust and think of creative solutions, and don't be afraid to ask for help or advice.”
Stand out supplier
“I loved all our vendors, they all made our day so so special in different ways. For us, Chloe (Studio Chloe David) was one of the most memorable, as she was our first true "vendor" that we hired (minus the venue). I found her through La Lista, and am so glad we went with her! Photos were one of the most important things to me, as those will be lifelong reminders of our special memories, and I really wanted someone to capture the beauty of Italy, our wedding, and the special, intimate moments in a non-traditional way. I feel as though I can relive the day and relive the emotions and memories when looking through photos, and I have Chloe to thank for that! ”
Best styling feature
“My wedding styling was largely centered around my dress, so everything felt tailor-made and fit perfectly with that aesthetic. I loved incorporating the colors, and my dress had Jane Austen quotes embroidered on it that I subtly included in different elements, like on the menus. I loved how romantic and intimate our wedding felt, and I think the styling and design had a lot to do with that. All the styling credit goes to Wiskow & White, who really created the perfect aesthetic using the venue and my dress!”
“Honestly, at the end of the day, I'm not sure what the total amount was when you consider all elements of the wedding. By a certain point, we just said "yes" to everything just to make the process easier or to ensure we got what we wanted! But, I do know we weren't far over our budget and our 3-day event was still more affordable than an average wedding in the USA, which is crazy!”
Top piece of planning advice
“Patience is key! Especially when dealing with Italian vendors, sometimes the communication isn't as clear or as frequent as you may like. Different time zones, different languages, and different cultures can all add an extra level of stress to an already stressful experience. Everything will come together, and it will be beautiful no matter what. Make sure you're planning your wedding and not someone else's! People will share their opinions about how they think your wedding should go or how they might plan it, try to tune out opinions and focus on planning your dream wedding!”
SUPPLIER TEAM
Planning and Styling: Wiskow and White | Dress: Anthropologie | Grooms Suit: The Black Tux | Flowers: Amsicora Fiori | Stationary: White Vines Studio | HMU: Tania Nitsak | Photographer: Studio Chloe David | Video: Cap71043 | Venue and Catering: Masseria Salamina | Band: The Gloves Band
Maria + Michael found their dream wedding venue through La Lista. We vet our directory, so you know the venues and suppliers listed are trusted and fully capable of delivering your epic wedding just how you picture it. Find your Venue today.
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