Rebecca + Scott- Welcome Party By Alice Mahran

The most rewarding part was designing not just a single day, but a series of experiences.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Rebecca: I’m a Product Designer at Meta. My career actually began in marketing—with roles at Vogue and Tumblr—before I transitioned into UX design, working across companies like Morgan Stanley and Verizon Media.

Scott: I’m a Vice President at Perform Properties, a Blackstone platform company that owns and redevelops office buildings across the country.

Anyone who knows us would probably describe us as passionate about travel, art, and design. We love exploring architectural homes around the world, collecting vintage treasures—clothing (Scott runs a vintage account, @casestudygoods), art and photography books, and vinyl records. Scott’s collection is over 3,000 strong and documented on @_vinylstyle. At home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we love hosting family and friends—usually over good music and great sake. Weekends often revolve around cooking, long dinners, watching old films (especially Italian cinema), or wandering the neighborhood for new inspiration.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

Scott: We like to think our story began at a small indie rock concert in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—fewer than a hundred people—just a month before COVID shut the world down. We were both there that night, unknowingly sharing the same space. (We still look back at photos and videos trying to spot each other!) It wouldn’t be until eight months later that we’d have our first proper date, after connecting on a dating app in November 2020. Life has a funny way of bringing people together. Our first date took place in the thick of COVID, when NYC still had strict curfews. We met at Pokito, a small Japanese bar in Williamsburg. I had scouted it earlier in the day—a tiny ten-person outdoor setup—but by the time Rebecca arrived, every seat was taken. Luckily, I had a backup plan and brought a bottle of Japanese sake and two cups. We ended up sitting on the stoop across the street, talking for hours about travel, family, vintage, music, books, design, and dining. The restaurant actually forgot about us—but it worked out even better that way. It was freezing, but we didn’t notice. That night led to date #2, and the rest is history.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.)

Rebecca: We wanted the wedding (and events) to feel vibrant and modern, but still connected to the beauty of Puglia. The inspiration came from some of our favorite artists—Luis Barragán, Picasso, Miró, Calder, and Georgia O’Keeffe—pulling from their use of color, form, and simplicity. The idea was to create something joyful and alive, yet grounded and timeless. Choosing Puglia felt like an easy fit for us. Travel has always been a big part of our relationship, and we wanted our guests to feel that same sense of discovery we love so much. Most had never been to this part of Italy, and it felt special to gather everyone somewhere that was both remote and soulful. The landscape—whitewashed towns, terracotta fields, and endless olive groves glowing in golden light—set the tone for everything we envisioned. Our ceremony took place in an ancient olive grove, where the trees themselves felt like sculptures. That space became the heart of our design approach—we wanted everything to feel like a natural extension of it. The florals were soft, organic, and sculptural, designed to blend into their surroundings so nothing felt over-styled or forced. In the end, we wanted it to feel artful, emotional, and true to us—something that reflected both the environment and the joy of the moment.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

Rebecca: The combination of the natural landscape and the bold, thoughtful details really made everything come together. The setting itself—a white, minimalist masseria surrounded by olive trees—was so striking that we wanted each element to feel in dialogue with it rather than competing. Because the setting was so neutral, color became a big part of the story. We chose terracotta tablecloths to bring warmth to the courtyard, echoing the tone of an old red door behind the tables. I didn’t want the tables to just have flowers—I wanted them to feel alive and textured—so we mixed in fruits and vegetables like passionfruit and radicchio, two of my favorites for their color and shape. The florals were sculptural and organic, their shapes adding movement and texture while still feeling grounded in the environment. Nunzia, our florist, completely understood the balance I was going for, and Lucette, our planner, tied everything together seamlessly. She oversaw every detail—from the flow of the events to the guest experience—with such care and creativity. Together, they created something that felt effortlessly cohesive, artful, and alive.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

Rebecca: The most rewarding part was designing not just a single day, but a series of experiences. As a designer, I loved the challenge of translating that creative process into something real and sensory—the welcome party, beach party, and wedding each had their own mood and energy. Scott and I are both inspired by art and architecture, so we treated each event like a curated experience—letting the spaces, colors, and atmosphere lead the way. The welcome party at Borgo San Marco was intimate and nostalgic, with a 1950s–60s Italian feel and films like La Notte and L’Avventura projected onto the square’s wall. The beach party at Calderisi Mare was modern and playful, inspired by spots like L’Étoile de Mer and Tuba Club in Marseille, complete with custom artist-designed tablecloths. The wedding itself was the centerpiece—vibrant, artful, and connected to the landscape. Planning can definitely feel overwhelming, but my biggest tip is to trust your planner. Lucette was incredible at bringing our vision to life. Giving her the space to interpret our ideas not only made everything more beautiful but also made the process genuinely enjoyable.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

Rebecca: We were blown away by Nunzia, our floral artist. Her creativity and thoughtfulness across all three nights went beyond anything we could have imagined. Every arrangement felt alive—rooted in the natural landscape yet sculptural and refined. I’ll never forget walking into night one and seeing mushrooms on the tables! I had mentioned the idea to my planner in passing, but seeing them there was such a surprise—one of many thoughtful details she brought to life. Our photographer, Alice Mahran, is someone I had followed for years—long before we were even engaged—so having her document our wedding felt incredibly special. Her work has such soul and sensitivity; I’m still in awe of our photos. Beyond her talent, Alice brought a calm, grounding energy that kept me at ease through all the emotion and excitement of the weekend. Through Alice, we also met Rein and Robin of Plus Two Films, who captured our events beautifully on film. They share that same quiet artistry and emotional depth, creating an intimate, timeless record of our celebration that we’ll treasure forever.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

Rebecca: Wedding dress shopping felt a bit intimidating at first. I visited a few boutiques—sometimes with friends or my mom, sometimes alone—so I wouldn’t feel influenced. I was genuinely surprised when I ended up at Vivienne Westwood and fell in love with one of her corset gowns, a designer I hadn’t initially considered. The dress had presence without ever feeling overpowering. Being comfortable and confident was so important on a day where I wanted to be fully present and move freely.

Scott: My tuxedo and shirt were custom-made by J. Mueser in the West Village, recommended by a photographer friend who shoots their editorial work. My shoes were Giorgio Armani, my bowtie Tom Ford, and my cufflinks vintage YSL. I wore a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch gifted by Rebecca’s family.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Rebecca: I debated between an oval and an emerald cut, but the emerald felt right—timeless and elegant, yet a little unexpected, just like us. Scott purchased both our rings from Zoland Jewelers in Midtown Manhattan.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Rebecca: Music was incredibly important to us, and I trusted Scott to take the lead. I knew he would put his heart into making each night feel like us and set the tone for our guests.

Scott: I wanted each night to feel distinct and memorable.

Night One was intimate and relaxed, with a local Puglian band, The Macaroni Trio, paired with a playlist of Italian and European classics I curated—we still play it at home today.

Night Two amped up the energy with four members of the Rome-based DJ collective Maledetta Discoteca Records, spinning Italo Disco, ’70s and ’80s Funk, and Boogie that kept everyone on the dance floor all night.

Night Three was the grand finale. After weeks of research, I found Aurora, a hidden gem from Prague led by the incredible Uliana. We collaborated closely to create a set that avoided typical wedding pop and instead focused on disco and Britpop. One of my favorite moments was our first dance in the square at Masseria Calderisi—“How Deep Is Your Love” by the Bee Gees transitioning seamlessly into “When 2 Become 1” by the Spice Girls.

For the after-party, we transformed the masseria’s olive cave into a disco—complete with a mirrored DJ booth and colorful custom floor inspired by NightMoves, one of our favorite Brooklyn bars. Claire-Marie, a DJ we’d met there the year before, delivered an incredible set that kept everyone dancing until 3 a.m.—the perfect ending to a weekend that felt entirely us.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

Rebecca: Earlier in the year, I had lost my grandfather, so having my whole family travel to Italy for the wedding—as the first grandchild—was incredibly meaningful. One of the most magical moments during the ceremony came after a brief rain shower, when the sun broke through—almost as if my grandfather was there, watching over us. Later, a rainbow appeared, making the day feel even more special.

Another favorite was surprising our guests with unexpected moments. For the cake cutting, our Millefoglie wedding cake was assembled live by the chef, right in front of everyone—it was so fun to watch their reactions. Immediately after, we incorporated a Persian tradition called Gol Baroon, where guests showered us with flower petals to symbolize blessings, love, and prosperity. Just when they thought the surprises were over, fireworks went off, capping the sequence with a little magic. Seeing everyone laughing, celebrating, and sharing in those moments is something we’ll treasure forever.