Melissa Daes and Carlos Michel Daccach first met over the phone, when Melissa ran into a mutual family friend while on vacation in Miami. “The next thing I know, she’s handing me her cellphone with Michel on the line!” Melissa remembers. “It was a bit awkward: He was whispering because he was at work, and I was with my mom and a few of her friends with their ears and eyes on me.” Michel casually invited Melissa on a boat with friends a few days later. “We had chemistry from the start, but I was living abroad,” Melissa shares. “I came back, had a proper first date, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.”
The duo dated for three-and-a-half years before Michel proposed in their under-construction apartment. “It was late at night, there was no lighting yet, and it was just the two of us,” Melissa says. She immediately knew where they’d get married. “I grew up vacationing in Italy, and I wanted to share la dolce vita with our closest friends and family,” she says. “It sounded like the perfect combination of carbs, wine, loved ones, and dancing.” On a trip to see potential venues, she and Michel fell in love with the first one they visited. “Villa Il Garofalo is located on a hilltop overlooking the entire city of Florence and was full of charm,” she recalls. Their ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner reception would be held on the stunning grounds; dancing took place inside the villa. (And, it’s not just any ancient villa: Villa Il Garofalo counts the poet Dante Alighieri and his muse, Beatrice, among its famous residents.)
They called on Savvy Event Studio—“the most magical group of girls,” Melissa says—to plan the wedding weekend. Giacomo Barbarossa captured every moment in editorial style, and Luigi De Gregorio videoed. The two-day event began with a true Italian evening: Pizza and wine at Società Canottieri Firenze. Melissa, a jewelry designer, wore an Erdem skirt, a tulle top of her own design, and a necklace and earrings from her brand, Luna Rossa.
For the big day, however, she turned to another designer. “Before I was even dating anyone, I knew I wanted Silvia Tcherassi to design my wedding dress,” the bride shares. “She’s a family friend and also from Barranquilla, Colombia. We agreed to design something feminine and delicate, with a touch of sexy by exposing the back. The gown had a hint of blush color that was subtle and soft. My shoes were Aquazzura, another designer from my hometown whom I admire so much. Wearing both on my special day was a tribute to my roots and Colombian talent.” She accessorized with Harry Winston studs, a gilded floral crown, and a light yet flawless beauty look by Liza Samokhina. Michel wore a Zegna suit to complement the bride, and bridesmaids donned dresses by Silvia Tcherassi, Johanna Ortiz, and Zimmermann.
On September 27, 2022, the sun set over Florence as their garden ceremony began. “It was supposed to rain, but the sky opened up as we walked down the aisle,” Melissa says. “We decorated with white delphiniums and had a string quartet playing our favorite songs.” She entered with her father to “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane, and met Michel beneath an open floral arch overlooking the city and Duomo. “At the altar, I remember closing my eyes to create a picture memory of the moment,” Melissa shares. “How serene I was feeling, the warm sun hitting my face, deeply appreciating my surroundings, the family and friends who traveled to be with us, and the joy of standing in front of the man of my dreams, and just thanking God for it all.”
And it was only just beginning. After an aperitivo in the garden, guests moved into a tent by Tentickle Italia, lit by GB Audio. Flowers Living created a lush, ethereal fairy garden full of greenery, lanterns, and candelabras. “We had real leaves with the name of each guest handwritten in gold ink for place cards, and an olive green–and–white tablecloth featuring a charming 18th-century rural scene,” Melissa describes.
The meal was Italian, as well. Guidi Lenci served burrata with fresh basil cream, a pear–and–pecorino tortelli in sage sauce, and filet with crispy pancetta in a red wine sauce. The entertainment was next-level: There was live music, a photo booth by Overthebox, and a DJ set from Juan Crismatt. “We had a blast during our dinner with the Alessandro De Angelis band,” Melissa says. “There were a few classic sing-along moments everyone joined in on—we would all get up and dance between courses, then tenors would come in when it was time to sit down and eat.”
Their first dance was a moment of entertainment in and of itself. “We danced to ‘ADMV’ by Maluma and had the composer, Vicente Barco, as a wedding guest, so he sang live for us,” Melissa shares. And the evening had a sweet finish. As dancing wound down, guests headed back into the garden, where the newlyweds cut into a cake from Sugarcups Cake Design, and fireworks lit up the sky.
