Carol Perez and Michael Mendez first crossed paths while attending law school in Miami, and after spending four years together, Michael proposed on a weekend away in Napa. He led her through the vineyard to the grape vines that plied her favorite bottle. While wandering around her favorite vineyard, Carol asked for a photo, and when she turned to pose side-by-side with Michael, she found him on one knee.
The bride always knew she would be married in Italy. She and her mother set out to find Tuscan wedding venues, when they came across San Galgano Abbey and Relais La Corte dei Papi. The ambiance instantly drew them in. Once decided, Carol and Michael enlisted Rachel Santos to photograph the weekend’s events and Taymi Ibarra to plan it all.
“I knew exactly the dress I wanted to wear,” Carol says of her wedding look. Karl Lagerfeld’s iconic 1995 Chanel couture wedding dress famously pictured on Claudia Schiffer was everything the bride envisioned. Gabriela Arango designed four custom pieces to recreate the look, all the while keeping Carol’s style in mind.
“I had a corset, the ball gown skirt, mini skirt, and bolero,” the bride explains. “When making my dress, we were obviously heavily inspired by the original—but we made slight changes catered to my individual style.” On the day-of, she accessorized with pearl earrings and two-toned heels, both by Chanel, and The Porfirio created a beauty look fit for the occasion.
Michael donned a custom three-piece suite by Sartori Amici. Instead of choosing traditional tuxedo, the groom drew inspiration from old Italian magazines and put together a white shawl lapel, black high-waisted trousers with a satin waistband, and Alexander McQueen patent loafers.
To kick the weekend’s festivities off, Mike and Carol hosted a welcome party at the villa where their guests were staying. Sunset mountain views set the scene as everyone sat side-by-side before bright Ginori-clad tablescapes.
To this, Carol also wore custom Gabriela Arango. “I wanted to wear something that matched the backdrop, and I wanted it to be fun,” she notes. “Gabriela found the fabric we used for the dress, it had flowers and written in Italian the name of each flower—it was perfect.”
On October 1, 2023, the bride walked arm-in-arm with her parents down an aisle lined with Stiatti Fiori florals at San Galgano Abbey. “Initially, Mike was emotional seeing me walk down the aisle,” Carol begins. “However, he ended up laughing because my dress kept getting caught on the carpet we had down the aisle, and I ended up having to kick my dress forward in order to avoid falling!”
A dear friend of the couple officiated the ceremony, weaving in personal anecdotes by loved ones that had most everyone emotional. “One of the best days of our lives. We were so happy to be able to share that special moment with our closest family and friends,” the bride remembers. When it was all said and done, Carol and Mike shared a kiss and exited the grand ruins as newlyweds.
Following the ceremony, a string trio played as everyone gathered in the garden for an aperitivo featuring Hugo Spritzes, a smoked salmon station, and a Champagne tower. Then, guests traveled to Relais La Corte dei Papi for the reception. Italian fare was served in an arched room polished with warm gold accents.
The newlyweds danced to Hailey Reinhart’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Carol removed her full skirt revealing her custom Chanel-inspired mini skirt, and the pair cut into their traditional millefoglie wedding cake. When the couple made their first slice, fireworks shot into the sky, and a sparkling 15-minute show ensued. Afterward, Matthew DJ kept the celebrations going on the dance floor.
Ready for the after-party at Club Mendez, Carol changed into her 2007 Chanel glitter boots and took off her bolero. “It was time to party!” she exclaims. “Mike took off his blazer and we danced the night away.”
