As if Italy wasn’t already pretty much top of my “Most Romantic Cities I Simply Must Visit” list. Italia Celebrations sent over a Rome wedding they planned, detailed, and captured beautifully. And now I am in love, and ready for my Roman holiday. The couple had just a handful of guests present on their special day, but from the custom gown to the get away Fiat, adorned with the words “Oggi Sposi” (the Italian equivalent of Just Married, for those of us who aren’t so lucky as to speak the language of love), the entire affair was filled with love, style, and passion. Make sure to waltz over to the full image gallery for more of this beautiful day!






I, Meline, am an aspiring actress and Coco, my husband, is a technology entrepreneur from Newport Beach California, met one evening while dining out with mutual friends. After that night, they were pretty inseparable.
I always dreamed of getting married in Italy. I have always had a passion for art history and so Rome’s monuments, architecture and history made it the perfect setting for our wedding day. We wanted something intimate with close family and a vintage vibe was a must for our special day.
Our wedding planner, Brenda Babcock of Italia Celebrations came highly recommended through a celebrity network in Los Angeles and we couldn’t have been happier, we worked so well together. When we started discussing details the movie Roman Holiday came to mind. It is one of our favorites and we loved the idea of darting around Rome on a Vespa just like they did in the movie. For practical purposes the Vespa became a vintage Fiat 500 from that same period. From there we added in my poppy red Christian Louboutin shoes, pink peonies, robin’s egg blue and kraft paper and twine.
Rain was in the forecast, in fact, it rained all week. Brenda prepared us for rain but, miraculously, it did not rain that day. The morning of the wedding no one could locate my mother, she had slipped out to the church down the street from our hotel to pray that it would not rain. We thought this was very funny but then it didn’t rain all day. It was such a relief.
We had a beautiful church ceremony before driving off in our getaway car. Our guests followed closely behind in a minivan. They didn’t know they were in for a tour of the city. We had photos taken around Rome. In Piazza Navona there was a street band and they started playing in our honor! The crowds cheered as our convertible pulled out of the piazza. We felt as though we had been celebrating with everyone in Rome. We went to St. Peter’s Square then up to the top of the Janiculum Hill which has a spectacular view over the center of Rome. On to the Fontanone which is a huge fountain built to honor the spot where an Ancient Roman aqueduct brought water into the city from the countryside. We all got to see parts of the city they would not have normally seen. It was exquisite and unforgettable.
Our reception was at Palazzo Manfreddi on an intimate terrace with a bird’s eye view of the Colosseum. The dining experience with the city lit up at night right in front of us was just incredible. The cuisine was so good that our guests want to go back to Rome just to dine there again. Brenda had blue linen table runners made and a traditional Italian Millefoglie wedding cake done in a way that suited our antiqued wedding topper perfectly. The pink peonies and roses with green hyperium berries were wrapped in an egg shell cloth with natural twine. We had vintage Vespa miniatures for our wedding favors. They were perfect for our theme, really adorable and a fun way to pay homage to the groom and his love of riding motorbikes. It was truly an unforgettable day, with memories we will cherish forever.
Wedding Planning: Italia Celebrations / Photography: Ruggero Farina for Italia Celebrations / Bride’s dress: custom made, silk / Bride’s bracelet: Tami Hickman for Relics / Bride’s headpieces: Erin Cole Couture / Bride’s shoes: Christian Louboutin / Groom’s suit: J.Crew / Groom’s Shoes: Santoni / Cake Topper: Goldbug Studio / Wedding Map: Natty Michelle / Welcome bag, Favors & Printing: Italia Celebrations
This was such a fun wedding. When the groups is small my vendors and I really go out of our way to be sure to make up in charm what the wedding lacks in size. Despite being small no detail was overlooked. And getting 8 of anything custom made was so much easier than 50 or 200. Thank you Meline and Coco for allowing me to share in your special day in Rome!
So romantic and sweet!!
I am so impressed - every detail is divine - flawless - but I am not surprised. Brenda has the most exquisite taste - always just right.
UAO THE "DOLCE VITA" IS ALWAYS IN ROME, DELICIOUS PHOTO, ATMOSPHERE, FOR ME THIS IS THE PERFECT WEDDING STYLE IN ITALY:)
WITH MY COMPLIMENTS
Simply beautiful!
So charming! Roman Holiday is one of my favorite films too! This is like a colorized version of it ;-) adorable.
Stunning wedding! Love the poppy red colour. Love how you've matched the colour of her flowers to the colour of her shoes. every details thought through.... Simply beautiful!
Love the article on my friend, Brenda! She is a master planner.
All details, wonderful places, care of all guests, great food and funny everytime!!
I am really proud to work with Italian Celebrations!
I love to see the wonderful results of Brenda's detailed planning. What a dream wedding!
Beautiful! From the perfectly appointed table, to the bouquet of blooms and the red shoes!! The details are fabulous
Stunning! Every detail was pure perfection!
Looks like a dream come true!
Another gorgeous wedding by Italia Celebrations! Brenda always does a fabulous job;
Brenda ROCKS!!!! What a spectacular wedding. Perfection..
Bellisima!
Another Brenda masterpiece-- attention to detail, an eye for the perfect locale, menu, offbeat touches that make for the couple's hearts desire. Brenda captures the beauty that is Rome and delivers it as a gift to the newly married. Bravo.
beautiful brenda!! once again you pull off a gorgeous wedding. i can never thank you enough for all the time and love you put into our wedding almost 8 years ago... can you believe it?! after seeing this i went and pulled out that old T&C and flipped through the pages for the first time in ages and i can honestly say your attention to detail and loving execution have stood the test of time. makes me feel like renewing my vows just so you can help me plan a fabulous party again!
Troppo carini sulla 500 !!! As usual Brenda plans things as a Mastermind ! And with such style and class which is not so easy to find nowadays. Brava Brenda, go on like this !
Isabella
Gia Moda
I must say, it was an AMAZING week in Rome and my little sister looked beautiful on her wedding day. We have wonderful memories to cherish forever. Brenda's scooter was a hoot!
Hard to beat. It starts with two beautiful people .... a lot of attention to details ... perfect romantic city ... Red shoes, how can we miss! Cathedral, exclusive to the "two" ... the nuptial walk ... and you get to a cozy place, the car .... Yes, all that in Italy. Delicious dream.
Bravissima Brenda! Your attention to detail makes the difference.
What a perfect business card for my city, Brenda!
Rome is not just the Colosseum, find it out with Brenda and feel like the princess Audrey as Meline . Brenda knows Rome better than the roman people. During the past years she spent her free time to explore Rome far and wide looking for the most romantic corners. You can get them with her.
Brenda has also absorbed the Italian style intimately and knows how to plan gorgeous ceremonies!
Bravo Brenda! Masterful planning!
Semplicemente meraviglioso! Simply marvelous! Brenda, you have done a really beautiful event!
And Rome too....
The pictures speak volumes about this romantic event - a single day that inspires a lifetime of great memories. Nice work, yet again, Brenda!
OMG, I know the Bride, Melene, we went to the same elemantary school !!! CONGRATS!!!! you are a very lucky and Beautiful, Happy bride!! God Bless you two. May you live a prosperous life together!!!!
Sooo romantic. Beautiful wedding, but most important is that it is a beautiful family!
beautiful ... and looks like so much fun
What a gorgeous story of romance & unique wedding bliss! My inner voice starting making lists of the places, the specialized detail-oriented accent choices, the photography shots- in hopes for my own one day, THANK YOU for such a special view into this beautiful wedding experience, xo
Congratulations to the Bululian family. What a great way to celebrate a wedding. Very beautiful!
congratulations Meline & Coco! Melanie you were such a beautiful bride. Your wedding was so romantic it makes me want to visit Italy with my husband. Maybe for our 20 th Anniversary next year??
Xo
Tami
Relics jewelry
Rome was not built in one day.
But with Brenda and her Italian Celebrations it's possible too.
Brenda is a perfect wedding planner.
Where there Brenda, there is a wonderful fairy tale to live.
Another breathtaking wedding created by Brenda. She is absolute magic. Congratulations to Meline and Coco. Tanti Aguri!
I've known Brenda forever! Yet, she never ceases to amaze and impress me. Now I look forward to when my 3 adult children to plan their weddings with Brenda. No one does it more magical! Bravo!
Wow!!! Meline this is sooooo amazing!!!This is like a fairy tale wedding. A dream come true!!! You are so lucky! You are a gorgeous bride and your handsome groom. Congratulations to the newly weds. I love it !!! Very classy and romantic. Love the colors the red shoes, the whole scenery. PRICELESS!
Che bel matrimonio! Congratulazioni Meline e Coco! Grazie per aver scelto la nostra Bella Italia! Quanti ricordi.. la 500, la mia prima macchina...
Non mi sono mai sposata, ma mi piacerebbe tanto farlo anche solo per farmi organizzare il matrimonio da Brenda, che sa rendere ogni evento magico ed indimenticabile con il suo amore e la cura di ogni minimo dettaglio... never say never...
Nothing less than perfect for a modern fairy tale wedding. Once again Brenda outdid herself.
Brenda, you've outdone yourself again and made at least 2 people EXTREMELY happy. For those who know Brenda, it's par for the course of your excellent work & exquisite attention to detail.
Play it again, Meline & Coco , on your 10th anniversary !
WOW!!!! Need I say more? Just fabulous. Brenda is Awesome and Inspiring.
Fantastic ! the imprint of "Italia Celebrations" is evident !
So beautiful and romantic!
really a fantastic wedding...another romantic situation!!!
As I am planning my own wedding in Rome, I find this post very inspirational! Beautiful photography!!
Still Love Reading this Story :D
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