An ELLE Editor’s New York City Wedding Celebrated Her Italian Roots

For Rose Minutaglio and Chris Marazzo, the dream was for their wedding to have the same energy as the night they met. They both loved the downtown Manhattan Italian restaurant Forlini’s, which has since closed, and Chris introduced himself to Rose during one of the many Friday nights he spent there with a large group of friends. Months later, they danced together and exchanged information. “We wanted to recreate the magic of that night at our wedding,” Chris says.

Rose, ELLE.com’s senior editor, features & special projects, and Chris, a senior investment strategist at Invictus Capital Partners, brought so much of themselves to the wedding. Their shared Italian heritage shaped the food, the music, and the venue, while the bride’s love of fashion came through in her meticulously crafted outfit choices, and the couple’s devotion to New York City was apparent in every moment.

The Rehearsal Dinner

The couple had their rehearsal dinner in Greenwich Village, at the underground Italian-American social club Tiro a Segno. Baked clams, penne alla vodka, pollo alla cacciatore, and veal scallopini were served. The bride’s mother brought the heart-carved cacti that served as table centerpieces on the plane from Texas, where Rose grew up and her family still lives.

The couple chose to read their vows at the dinner, as they aren’t included as part of a Catholic ceremony. “One thing we’ve noticed in a lot of weddings is that there aren’t many opportunities to hear from the bride and groom about their relationship, and this intimate dinner allowed us to do just that,” Chris says. After dessert, guests went down to the rifle range in the basement.

Rose wore a 1998 Gucci skirt suit from Tab Vintage with Rene Caovilla heels, and Gigi Burris created a custom ecru top hat that incorporated the groom’s mother’s veil. “Rose’s vision was so clear that it was truly one of my favorite custom bridal pieces that has ever left the atelier,” Burris says.

The Morning Of

The bride worked with Lauren Holovka, of the Brooklyn couture bridal store Le Laurier, to create a custom robe and slip dress to wear while getting ready for the wedding. She had her makeup done by Isabel Rosado, while Glamsquad did the bridesmaid’s hair and makeup. Her hair colorist Lucille Javier, of Mark Ryan Salon, made her color shine.

Something Borrowed

Rose was thrilled to be able to wear the same dress that her mother had worn—and made!—in 1984. “In the months leading up to the wedding, my mom altered the gown to fit me perfectly, including de-puffing the ’80s out of the sleeves and modernizing the neckline,” she says. “Walking down the aisle in a dress that, not only did my mom wear to marry my dad 40 years earlier, but that she made herself and tailored to fit me, is a layered level of special. Looking at our pictures side-by-side makes me hopeful for my marriage.”

She wore the family heirloom with Gucci heels and a veil from Monvieve, which was cathedral-length and raw cut with lacework inserts. Her custom ruby engagement ring was designed by Grey and Davis. She also wore a blue topaz ring given to her by her parents, and a custom gold comb with roses carved from red coral, which in Neapolitan culture is thought to bring good luck, from the Italian coral workshop Antonino de Simone.

Chris wore a Isaia Napoli tuxedo, cowboy boots from Dan Post, silk socks from Gammarelli (a favorite of the Pope’s), and a coral Antonino De Simone pendant given to him by Rose. “Isaia Napoli is a storied Neapolitan heritage brand, whose symbol is red coral. The pairing of that with black snakeskin cowboy boots, to me, signified coming into the fold with Rose’s Italo-Texan family,” he says.

A New York Moment

The wedding day was full of New York City institutions. The ceremony was held at St. Ignatius Loyola, which was featured on Succession and also serves as the location where Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ funeral was held. As guests arrived, the organist played “Toccata” by Widor on the church’s organ. The bride had eight bridesmaids, who all wore gold gowns, most of which were second-hand for sustainability reasons. She walked down the aisle with her father, who wore a Giorgio Armani tux and Gucci bow tie. The groom’s uncle served as a concelebrant.

A Change of a Dress

After the ceremony, Rose changed into a custom tiered tulle dress from the Spanish couture brand Sophie et Voilà, that she wore with a cape from the brand along with vintage YSL heels. “Rose’s dress couldn’t be a typical wedding dress; it had to surprise in a serene manner, be elegant without losing its fresh flair, and, above all, it had to reflect all of Rose’s fashion expertise,” says designer Sofía Arribas. “That’s why the dress is sprinkled with references from Dior, in its small tulle ruffles, to Schiaparelli in the chiffon hood, and even Cristóbal Balenciaga in the silhouette.”

Later, she put on a custom red velvet dress from LG Project in Brooklyn, that was inspired by a famous portrait of Sophia Loren, her fashion icon.

An Italian-American Affair

Rose and Chris said they worked with their planner JoAnn Gregoli of Elegant Occasions to “ensure that [their] wedding was a success in three categories: food, family, and fun.” They held their reception at the townhouse, where the Columbus Citizens Foundation is housed. During the cocktail hour, singer Vanessa Racioppo and accordionist Cory Pesaturo performed a set of all Italian-language love songs. (Pesaturo holds the Guinness World Record for longest continuous playing of the accordion.)

Guests traveled from the cocktail hour to the reception via a gilded staircase. Members of the Giglio Marching band stood on the steps and played “Volare” by Dean Martin as Rose and Chris entered. Their first dance was choreographed by the bride’s mother, Holly Williams, who was a founding member of Brooklyn’s Mark Morris Dance Group and served as the Senior Associate Dean in the College of Fine Arts of the University of Texas from 2014 until 2022.

The dance, which incorporated multiple dramatic dips and a spinning lift, was set to “Buona Sera” by Louis Prima. “Prima, an Italian jazz singer, holds a special place in our hearts, because I (“Rose Angelina”) am named after the Prima song, ‘Angelina,’” says Rose. “On a trip to New Orleans last year, we had the honor of meeting Prima’s daughter, Lena Prima, at the Hotel Monteleone.”

During dinner, which included a pasta course, chicken marsala, swordfish agrodolce, and giant meatballs, the singer and sax duo “Stiletto and the Saxman” performed hits from the 1950s. “They were so fantastic—and so engaging—that our guests started dancing during dinner instead of post-dinner as is custom! Everyone was walking around, hugging, waving napkins, and belting out lyrics to their favorite oldies,” Rose recalls.

As they left the reception, the couple gave a surprise performance. In honor of her all-star basketball career, the bride rapped the “Basketball” song from the 2002 movie Like Mike, with the groom serving as a backup singer and dancer. As a farewell, everyone sang “New York, New York,” just like the way nights at Forlini’s always ended.

A Late-Night Diner Special

Guests left the reception and headed to the couple’s favorite diner, EJ’s Luncheonette, which they had rented out. The restaurant served an after-party menu of salted caramel and Baileys milkshakes, crunchy french toast fingers, mini grilled cheese bites, and slices of chocolate peanut butter pie. Paper diner hats hand-stamped by the bride were passed out, while confetti poppers and a fog machine created a club-like environment that went until 2:30 A.M. (The playlist included a remix of “Tom’s Diner” featuring Britney Spears.) As the groom put it: “Name something more iconic than a late-night conversation at a diner.”