The Dress With Charlotte Stavrou

Yasmine Naghdi and Riccardo Ghezzi got married on Saturday 02 September 2023 in Tuscany, on the estate of Tenuta Corbinaia. The villa and its magnificent gardens are surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, the perfect fusion between the elegant, refined environment and natural beauty of the Chianti hills.

The Journey

It didn’t take me long to find my perfect wedding dress because I knew exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a traditional wedding gown with a long train and classic veil but with a contemporary twist. I looked at many international wedding dress designers but the moment I saw the “Sara” wedding gown, designed by the world renowned, all female-led Ukrainian bridal brand Milla Nova, founded by sisters Zoryana and Iryna Senshyn, I instantly knew that was the one: a satin strapless wedding gown with a long train, in ivory colour, with a rushed “Mikado” bodice, and a draped multi-folded floor length skirt with a high slit in the middle to reveal a mini skirt underneath. I also asked to personalise my veil and embroider “Always in my heart” on it.

The Decision

I discovered the internationally renowned bridal brand in Vogue UK magazine. When a few months later I saw a CNN documentary about Milla Nova, I heard how Zoryana and Iryna Senshyn had helped relocate seventy members of their team, along with their family members and small children, to a new and safe facility over the border in Warsaw, I just knew I had to support them. It was the strong social responsibility taken by this company, 95% are women with young children, that made me decide I wanted my two wedding dresses, and my Dress Rehearsal bodice, to be designed by Milla Nova. I sent them my detailed measurements, used by the costume designers at the Royal Opera House. Once my dresses arrived in London, I asked Rosana Rosa of the Alterations Boutique near Marble Arch, to make a few adjustments to the length and folds of my gown to get the perfect look and fit.

The Style Support

For styling support, I relied on my mum and sister Tatiana because they have an impeccable taste and a sharp eye for details, and they instinctively know what works and what doesn’t. They always get it so right.

The Accessories

Shoes: once I had chosen my two wedding dresses and Dress Rehearsal outfit the hunt was on to find the perfect heels. I knew exactly what style of heels I wanted to wear with my wedding gown: strappy white satin open toe sling backs. I just needed to find them… A few months before my wedding I was invited to The Wedding Edition Christian Louboutin event in Mayfair, and it was at this event that I found my two pairs of wedding heels. I had also spotted the stunning “Sandale du Desert” and I knew straight away they’d be the perfect pair to go with my second wedding dress.

Jewellery: I wore a gold Vintage Alhambra necklace with matching bracelet and diamond teardrop earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels, my engagement ring – a round diamond with a Pavé band- paired with my Eternity ring, as well as a sapphire ring, a present from my future sister-in-law so… “wearing something blue” was also there.

The Evening Look

I changed into a second wedding dress, also designed by Milla Nova, for the Wedding Cake cutting and Party. Riccardo is not a Fred Astaire and I feared he would step on the train of my wedding gown during our First Dance, and I could just imagine a disaster waiting to happen. I chose the “Dorothy” mini dress, adorned with 3D flowers, a sweetheart neckline and puffy mini skirt. I paired the dress with Christian Louboutin colourful “Sandale du Desert” in crepe satin Melancholia. Once the party was in full swing, I swapped my delicate Louboutin heels for a pair of customised high top, white bridal Converse. The satin laces were imprinted with “Mrs Ghezzi“, and our wedding date “02.09.23” was printed on the back of the Converse. I danced the night away until the early morning hours!

The Dress Rehearsal Look

The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted in Firenze. It was attended by our Italian and Belgian family, as well as close friends. It was the perfect occasion for everyone to connect with each other, and share the excitement for our wedding the following day. I went for an all-white outfit and choose a stunning off-shoulders semi

transparent white top embroidered with rhinestones and 3D- flowers, with a lace-up closure on the back, designed by Milla Nova. I paired the top with Nadine Merabi’s white crepe and satin flowing trousers, and wore classic peep-toe, camel satin pumps, embellished with Swarovski crystals called “Ayres”, designed by GINA.

Advice For Brides

I’d say do not feel pressurised by anyone nor by any wedding trends. It is your wedding, and you need to feel 100% happy and comfortable. Stay true to yourself and to your personal taste, this is your moment to make a statement about who you are and what you stand for. Your individuality and personality must shine true.

Favourite Photo Of The Dress

My favourite photo was taken at a very specific moment in time: the sun was slowly setting over the hills and the sky was tinged with a thousand shades. All the guests were already seated in the magical “Giardino Il Crystal” where candles and sparkly chandeliers created a magical feeling. Through the open windows blew cooling evening breezes enabling the guests to immerse themselves in the surrounding greenery of the gardens. This enchanting atmosphere came fully to life as the night was falling and my wedding photographers Damiano and Donatella captured that moment in a stunning black & white photo, just as Riccardo and I were walking down the stairs of the main villa before entering the “Giardino Il Crystal” to join our guests for dinner. The photo reminds me of those glamorous 1950/60’s Hollywood photos. The photo has a very specific look in both lighting and contrast, as well as the composition and is incredibly evocative of that precise moment in time. It really sums up all that our wedding stood for. We love this photo so much that we had it enlarged and printed on brushed aluminium: this adds texture and depth to the photo as the whites are not printed out so any white areas of a photo shines through in eye-catching metallic silver, and the reflective surface gives the photo a high definition appearance. It’s a real work of art and the photo perfectly captures our happiness!