We both felt a connection from the beginning.
Sanne – We met at a rooftop party during New York Fashion Week. The host introduced us, and from the moment we shook hands, there was an instant eye connection. Max’s opening sentence was, “I know Dutch people.” Although we didn’t get to talk much, as I was leaving, Max spotted me again in the elevator, and we started talking. As we approached the exit, Max took the initiative and asked if I wanted to grab a drink at the hotel bar. Since it was the end of Fashion Week and I was in a good mood, I said yes, and we spent hours just chatting. We both felt a connection from the beginning.
Max was born in France and has a blend of Japanese and American heritage. I grew up in Zimbabwe and later moved to the Netherlands, my family’s home country. We both started our careers in fashion. Max was a consultant, and Sanne was a model. We both share a focus on wellbeing and a love of matcha. This shared passion led to the birth of our company, Nekohama. We are enthusiastic about travel, wellness, food, and our big golden retriever dog, Katsu.
For our wedding, I wanted to steer away from anything overly extravagant big flowers, big dresses. Oversized doesn’t fit my style. I adore a classic, personal, detailed look. Our wedding was about creating an experience not just for Max and me, but also for our guests. Having trained in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Puglia over the summer, I fell in love with the area. It’s rustic, beautiful, and boasts some of the best Italian cuisine I’ve ever tasted.
When we discovered Masseria Calderisi, we knew Puglia was the perfect choice. We wanted to bring our friends and family to a place none of them had been before and have our ceremony in between the ancient olive trees. On our first night, we had Apulian street food stands featuring local cuisine, so guests could walk around and serve themselves. It turned out to be some of the best food we’ve ever had in Italy
For music, we went with a live classical quartet during the ceremony and kicked off the night with a cover band and a DJ until the late hours. One piece of advice is to invest in a good photographer you trust. Your wedding photos will be cherished forever. Alice Mahren beautifully captured our wedding in such a unique way, and it was the best decision I made.
PHOTOGRAPHER Alice Mahran, @alicemahran / VENUE, HIRE & CATERING Masseria Calderisi, Fasano, @masseriecalderisi / CELEBRANT Best friend, Jason Gorskie, @jasongorskie / BRIDE’S DRESS & VEIL Pronovias, @pronovias / BRIDE’S SHOES Manolo Blahnik, @manoloblahnik / GROOM’S SUIT & SHOES Hugo Boss, @boss / BRIDE’S WELCOME DINNER DRESS Monot, @monotofficial / BRIDE’S WELCOME DINNER SHOES Mango, @mango / GROOM’S WELCOME DINNER SUIT Hugo Boss, @boss / GROOM’S WELCOME DINNER SHOES Local Italian brand / BRIDESMAIDS’ ROBES Shona Joy, @shonajoy / BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES Shona Joy, @shonajoy / BRIDE’S AFTER PARTY DRESS Taller Marmo, @tallermarmo / FLORIST Caterina Ruggieri, @caterina_florist / VIDEOGRAPHER Robin Smit & Rein van Dam of Plus Two Films, @plustwofilms / PLANNER Amber Mollison at Angel Lion Venice Wedding Planner, @angellionveniceweddings / RINGS & JEWELLERY Logan Hollowell, @loganhollowell / CEREMONY QUARTET The Puglia String Quartet, @thepugliastringquartet / BAND Let’s Groove; DJ Jennifer Sunnfors, @sunnfors / CAKE Custom Nekohama Matcha cake by chef Isabella Poti, @isabellapoti
