A Look Inside Celina & Daniele’s Wholesome Italian Celebration | Real Weddings
Sometimes, life’s a whirlwind, and you just have to find the right person to grab onto
“In the end, against all odds, love finds a way to bridge even the greatest of distances,” says Celina of the whirlwind early years of her relationship with her now-husband, Daniele. Celina, the Dubai-based founder of Tete a Tete, a marketing and public relations consultancy, while Daniele is a music producer, one half of the DJ duo Fideles, and an interior designer from Puglia, Italy.
They met very briefly at a gig in Dubai, yet there was enough of a connection in that fleeting moment to signal that this was a person they needed to stay in touch with. They spoke constantly but didn’t meet again until six months later when Covid restrictions had lifted and they could reunite in Lebanon, Celina’s home country.
“That night, as we looked into each other’s eyes and exchanged smiles, we shared an unspoken understanding that we were meant to be together,” Celina recalls. They were one of the lucky couples for whom the pandemic proved to be a blessing in disguise. With Daniele’s tour schedule cancelled and Celina able to work remotely, they could close the gap in their long-distance relationship and both be in Italy, where they could spend quality time together.
Their bond was further strengthened when Daniele’s tour schedule resumed and Celina joined him for a life on the road (or, more accurately, in the air). “We started travelling together a lot more, to nearly every gig he had. Over the course of almost three years, we defied the physical distance and managed to be by each other’s side when it mattered most,” Celina says.
Daniele proposed in Dubai. “We went to the beach during sunset. The ocean has always held a profoundly special place in our hearts, symbolising endless possibilities and boundless love,” Celina says. After he popped the question, “We laughed; I cried.”
Celina quickly planned the wedding – she wanted to be an autumn bride, and time was running out. So the whirlwind continued. “With the very little window we had during our favourite month of the year, we set the date on 30th September: four days after the end of his three-week United States tour and 10 days before his South America tour,” she tells us.
Eighty guests joined them in Manduria, Puglia, “With its rustic charm and captivating landscapes, it was the unequivocal choice,” Celina says. The church ceremony took place in Chiesa della Madonna del Rosario. Celina smiles, “The minute our eyes met, we shared the same smile we did when we first met. It was one of the most magical moments of the day. The ceremony was in Italian, and as I shared the canonic vows in Italian, my friends applauded me with screams and whistles – something the priest wasn’t too happy about!”
The wedding dinner was prepared by chef Pietro Panna, followed by a garden party and a surprise DJ set by Daniele. “He couldn’t resist taking over the deck and made everyone dance ‘til morning,” she says. “Our three inspirations were: modernity, poetry and otherworldly beauty. These words encapsulated our love story and served as the guiding lights that led us to create an event that would transcend time and space, leaving an indelible mark on all who joined us.”
Bride’s Black Book
Dress: Lazaro, @lazarobridal
Bride’s Shoes: Prada, Prada.com
Hair: Francesca From Elisir. Parrucchieri, @elisir.parrucchieri
Makeup: Elio Vittore From Bari, @elio_vittore
Bride’s Party Dress: Antoine Kareh, @antoinekarehcouture
Bride’s Party Shoes: Amina Muaddi, Aminamuaddi.com
Groom’s Suit: Bottega Veneta Shirt With Balenciaga Pants And Sneakers, Bottegaveneta.com And Balenciaga.com
Cake: Dazero Offelleria, @dazero_offelleria
Flowers: Fabrizia
Photographer: Gradisca Poretento, Gradiscaportento.it
Venue: Vinilia Wine Resort, Manduria, Italy, Viniliaresort.com
Photography By Gradisca Poretento