Sarah & Leonardo’s Wedding
A French-Italian love story, a romantic proposal in the Dolomites, and a beautiful celebration in Veneto, inspired by La Dolce Vita.
Sarah and Leonardo dreamed of a wedding that truly reflected who they are: elegant, warm, and centred around their loved ones. From an intimate civil ceremony in northern France to a summer celebration in Italy, the couple chose to celebrate their love on two special occasions.
For her Italian wedding, our bride wore Victoria, a HARPE wedding gown featuring a delicately pleated halter neckline, an elegant draped open back, and a beautifully flowing silhouette. A dress that felt like the perfect choice from the very first moment, having already trusted the Maison for her civil wedding look with the Chamade skirt.
How did you meet?
We met when we were students. Leonardo was spending his Erasmus year in Paris, and one evening, I tagged along to a party thanks to an Italian friend. It was in that nightclub that I met Leonardo for the very first time!
A few weeks later, he was due to move into a student residence, which happened to be the very same one I was living in. What an incredible coincidence!
Becoming neighbours certainly made things easier, and that's how our love story began.
How and where did the proposal take place?
Leonardo proposed at the top of a mountain, in a restaurant nestled in the heart of the Dolomites in Italy.
When dessert arrived, the waiter lifted a silver cloche, and to my complete surprise, I discovered a ring nestled inside its box.
It was such an unexpected and magical moment, in an absolutely breathtaking setting!
Tell us a little about your wedding.
We're a French-Italian couple: I'm French and Leonardo is Italian.
We knew it would be difficult to bring all our loved ones together in one place, so we decided to celebrate our wedding in two parts: a civil ceremony in northern France, followed by a symbolic ceremony in Veneto, Italy.
It was particularly important to me that my grandmother could be there. Some of my friends had also recently had babies, so having two celebrations allowed everyone to choose the occasion that suited them best.
Our civil wedding took place on May 16th, 2026, and two months later, on July 4th, 2026, we gathered again for our Italian ceremony.
We knew that Italy would provide an enchanting setting, both for us and for our guests. We instantly fell in love with Villa Giusti del Giardino and its beautiful shaded garden, right in the heart of Bassano del Grappa.
The venue played a huge part in creating the Dolce Vita atmosphere we wanted our guests to experience.
Colourful flowers, lanterns, a warm and joyful atmosphere, and of course, a traditional Italian menu… We wanted our celebration to feel elegant, but above all relaxed and welcoming, where everyone could truly enjoy themselves.
How did you choose your wedding dress?
For our civil wedding, I had already chosen the Chamade skirt by HARPE.
For our Italian ceremony, I dreamed of a flowing, elegant and minimalist gown. As I tried on different dresses, my vision became clearer, and I found myself increasingly drawn to halter-neck designs.
I was eagerly awaiting the new HARPE collection, as Marina had mentioned that several of the new designs would perfectly match what I was looking for.
And then I tried on Victoria.
The moment we fastened the very last button, I just knew. It was such an emotional moment — I knew this was the one!
It had absolutely everything I had been searching for, with those subtle details that make all the difference: the side slit, the softly pleated neckline, and above all, the stunning open back enhanced by beautiful draping.
I couldn't have dreamed of a more perfect dress for my wedding.
What were the most important things to you when planning your wedding?
Above all, we wanted an elegant, understated wedding that truly reflected who we are.
We chose to invite our closest friends and family so that we could genuinely enjoy their company and take the time to share meaningful moments together.
Food and wine were also incredibly important to us. It's a passion we both share! We made a point of personally tasting and selecting everything that would be served to our guests.
Another essential element was the atmosphere. We dreamed of a celebration filled with warmth, happiness and plenty of dancing.
We're lucky enough to have a close friend who is a DJ, and whom we absolutely adore. We knew he would create a unique atmosphere and, most importantly, bring our two cultures together on the dance floor.
What advice would you give to future brides?
Don't let yourself be too influenced by trends or by recommendations from wedding vendors who might encourage you to keep adding more and more.
It's your wedding, and above all, it should reflect who you are. That's what will make it truly unique.
Wedding Credits
Wedding Dress: HARPE — Victoria Gown
Civil Wedding Outfit: HARPE — Chamade Skirt
Photography: Dieffe Photo Studio
Catering: Agora Ricevimenti
Wedding Venue: Villa Giusti del Giardino, Bassano del Grappa, Italy
