Micah + Stefan by Melanie Nedelko

We simply wanted to accentuate what already existed with minimal yet stylish florals and candles

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

Micah is from Kansas City, in the Midwest, and Stefan grew up outside of Venice, Italy. We met in Paris during Fashion Week in 2016 and got engaged in Ibiza in the summer of 2024. Both of our professional lives are in fashion. Micah is a celebrity stylist with a high-level roster of Hollywood clients, many of whom attended the wedding. Stefan is a fashion executive who runs Mimchik, a contemporary womenswear brand. We love to travel and to spend time with our golden retriever, Brian, who served as our ring bearer.

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

We met by chance on the street in Paris in 2016. Micah was there for Fashion Week, and Stefan was studying at Sciences Po. We both felt something deeply special for one another, but the distance in geography and age made anything more serious seem impossible. Then, a year later, Stefan moved to Los Angeles, where Micah has lived for many years, and we soon became inseparable. Seven years later, in the summer of 2024, Stefan proposed to Micah in Ibiza.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you?

Having the wedding at Il Borro, the Ferragamo family estate nestled in the Tuscan countryside, we didn’t need much by way of additional aesthetic elements. The property is stunning on its own, and we simply wanted to accentuate what already existed with minimal yet stylish florals and candles to give it a cinematic feel. The weekend was designed to move through the property rather than settle in one place: Le Aie del Borro for the welcome dinner, the Italian garden beside the Dimora Storica for the ceremony, the Villa’s courtyard for dinner, and the Tinaia for the afterparty. The welcome dinner was a candlelit soirée staged to feel like our own backyard, scaled up to the drama of one long, seemingly infinite table. The ceremony took place under a chuppah covered by Micah’s childhood talit. For the after-party, the Tinaia, the estate’s wine cave, was dressed with an installation of baby’s breath and clustered disco balls, with a portrait studio in place of a traditional photo booth, inspired by the Vanity Fair Oscar party.

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

The planning process will inevitably be stressful, but done well, there is a lot to enjoy about it, and it ultimately allows the wedding weekend to unfold seamlessly. We loved spending evenings together dreaming up the details that could really elevate the guest experience. Every idea we had was met by our planner, Chiara Sernesi, with a “can-do” attitude, and in the end the execution was more flawless than we could have dreamed. This underscores the importance of choosing a planner who truly understands you as a couple and with whom you feel comfortable. We interviewed several people, and the moment we met Chiara, we just knew she was “the one.” From there, it’s all about clearly communicating the mood and aesthetic you have in mind, and allowing your team to help bring that vision to life. Also, the more time you have, the better. We planned our wedding for a year and a half. There’s nothing wrong with a long engagement!

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

All of the vendors were incredible, another testament to the quality of a great planner and their roster of trusted partners. The full estate at Il Borro was open to our guests, with spa treatments, horseback riding, morning yoga, and wine tours through the property’s vineyards, so the weekend felt like a summer camp for adults, with the wedding at its centre. The food was a definite standout of the whole weekend. Galateo, the Florence-based catering company, was spectacular, and guests are still talking about how delicious the dinner was. Tommaso from La Rosa Canina brought our vision for the entire weekend to life with his incredibly chic candlelit tablescapes and floral installations. Everything was masterfully documented by our photographer, Melanie Nedelko, and our videographer, Katia Casprini, who both captured moments of joy that words cannot describe.

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

Our one-of-a-kind tuxedos were custom-made by our close friend Laura Basci, a brilliant couturier in Los Angeles whose bespoke clothes are worn by celebrities and notable figures around the world. While our tuxedos were made from the same fabrics, the cuts and styles were different, reflecting each of our personalities and making sure we didn’t look too matchy.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Micah’s engagement ring is a three-carat, emerald-cut custom diamond ring that Stefan designed with Rahaminov Diamonds. We are close friends with the jewellers, who also attended the wedding. Our wedding bands, also by Rahaminov, are simple three-millimetre gold bands.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on?

The bars and the transportation. We wanted to make sure no one ever had to wait in line for a drink or a car!

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

The vows and the ceremony were the most treasured moments of the whole weekend. Our best friend Emily served as officiant and curated a seamless ceremony that honoured Jewish tradition and Italian heritage through a uniquely modern lens. We both cried listening to each other’s vows, and so did all of our guests. The fireworks were another highlight: a high-energy show to close an elegant white-tablecloth dinner and carry the night into the after-party.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

Being married means being chosen, and honouring that by continuing to choose each other on ordinary days as much as on extraordinary ones. Our rituals are simple: we laugh a lot and cherish the quiet moments we have together.