Location: Stresa & Rocca di Angera, Italy
Style: Bohemian, eccentric, romantic, medieval, archival
Time of planning: 1,5 years
Number of guests: 180
Setting: Medieval fortress
Season: Summer
They always knew their wedding needed to feel fun, bohemian, and completely true to who they are. They chose Lago Maggiore to stay close to Michelangelo’s hometown of Varese, and while they initially dreamed of a small, intimate celebration, their big families quickly made that impossible. They joke that a medieval fortress became their version of “small and intimate.” One element, however, was non-negotiable: flowers. Both come from families with deep gardening roots, and nature has always been a central part of their lives.
Antigone shared that gardening has been part of their story from the beginning. “We did some gardening on our first date — I was so impressed he was composting on a roof in NYC.” Flowers are a constant in their home, and they create small gardens wherever they live, from their New York rooftop to the patch of soil outside their apartment. Their shared love of nature made florals one of the most meaningful elements of the wedding design.
Photo: Alice Plati (1,2,7), Monica Leggio (3,4,5,6)
Arrival
The weekend began with a relaxed welcome gathering at Camelot, a medieval-style pub filled with moody lighting, armor-clad knights, and carved wooden mushrooms. Antigone wore an archival Missoni F/W 2000 two-piece embellished with Swarovski crystals. “I had seen it on the Archivio Missoni website after looking through tons of fashion shows from the 2000s,” she shared. Both this look and her after-party outfit were once worn by Gisele Bündchen—yet, despite the glamour, she added, “I really felt like myself when I tried on both pieces.”
Michelangelo brought his own meaningful touch to the evening. He chose a shimmery gold S/S 2001 top and white trousers from the menswear collection designed by his father, Luca. “It felt like a really sweet nod to my father, to be able to wear the clothes that he designed,” he said.
Welcome Event
For their welcome event, Antigone and Michelangelo chose Ristorante Italia on Isola Pescatori. The rustic atmosphere felt instantly familiar to Antigone, whose family has deep fisherman roots in Cyprus, and Michelangelo loved that, by coincidence, they ran into his cousin Ottavio there while first exploring the island, a moment that “confirmed” it was the perfect place to begin the celebrations.
Antigone wore a dress by Arcina Ori, choosing it for its fisherman-net–inspired details — a subtle nod to Isola Pescatori and her mother’s roots. Her look was completed with deeply personal pieces, including her grandmother’s earrings and the Cyprus-shaped pendant she has worn since she was a baby. Later in the evening, she changed into a custom two-piece created from iridescent Missoni fabric gifted by Luca, transformed by her Brooklyn tailor into an effortless, up-cycled set.
Michelangelo chose a striped blazer from the Missoni Archives and custom trousers by DePlano, but the most meaningful piece was his shirt — the same ruched linen shirt his father wore at his wedding in 1983. He completed his looks with Christian Louboutins, a rare splurge, but as he said, “these matched perfectly.”
"The best part of our welcome event was the massive risotto, an essential component of our love story.”
Photo: Alice Plati
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Antigone’s wedding dress by Cinq was “one of the first dresses I ever saved on Instagram, even before we were engaged,” and despite trying dozens of gowns afterward, she said, “I kept coming back to it, just to be sure.” She loved how ethereal it felt – the embroidered flowers, the basque waist, and a skirt that turned “slightly sheer in the sunlight.” The whimsical gloves, scarf, and cathedral-length veil added a vintage touch she adored. She completed the look with soft gold Fendi kitten heels and Chanel Gardenia.
Her traditions were deeply personal: “For my something blue, I had two little evil eyes painted on my ring fingernails, one to protect each of us.” Her something borrowed was her mother’s vintage Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti earrings with a small pearl on top, her something new was a delicate gold Cartier necklace gifted by her parents, and her something old was three intricate gold bangles from her grandmother, Antigone.
Her bouquet, created by Profumo dei Fiori, was artfully wild and softly colorful, echoing the same spirit as the one she made herself for their civil ceremony at the New York courthouse, complete with touches of blue delphinium.
"Putting everything all together, I felt like I was floating, ready to meet the love of my life down the aisle.”
Groom's Fashion
Michelangelo’s wedding suit was created from a textile he fell in love with at Archivio Missoni. “I actually never planned to wear a white suit, but when I came across this textile, I knew it was the perfect one,” he shared. He brought the fabric to DePlano, a local tailor in Varese, who crafted the suit with a clean, modern silhouette. His shirt was custom-made by P. Johnson in New York — a detail that felt even more special because his father had a matching one made. He completed the look with handmade Bontoni loafers and a single accessory: a gold necklace with an evil-eye pendant, gifted by Antigone’s parents before the wedding.
"Putting everything all together, I felt like I was floating, ready to meet the love of my life down the aisle."
First Look
Their first look was one of the most emotional moments of the day. As Antigone stepped into the room, everything seemed to pause: the planning, the nerves, the details. Michelangelo later said, “The moment Antigone walked into the room, I forgot about every single detail.”
Ceremony
The ceremony took place in the Sala di Giustizia, surrounded by breathtaking 14th-century frescoes. The aisle was lined with their favorite flowers and, most importantly, moss. At the front of the room stood an old wooden staircase leading up to one of the medieval towers — the perfect structure to adorn with delicate streams of flowers, wired arrangements, and draped textiles.
The design blended Mia Sylvia’s fabrics with fringe and textiles from Archivio Missoni, creating a setting that felt enchanted and deeply personal. As Michelangelo shared, “We loved how the fabrics, moss, colors, and flowers came together — it felt so warm and aligned with who we are.”
They chose the orchestral version of Enya’s “Only Time” for Antigone’s aisle walk, a song they adore, and lovingly joke that makes them feel like “a fairy and an elf frolicking amongst the fields.” The moment carried even deeper emotion as Antigone was walked down the aisle by her father. “It was a very emotional moment being walked down the aisle by my father, Kleon, who is truly the rock of our family and has endlessly supported me alongside my loving mother, Kleopatra,” she shared.
Their wedding rings were engraved with “fairy” and “elf,” connected by an infinity symbol, a detail that echoed the whimsical thread running through the entire celebration. The flower girl outfits, one of Antigone’s favorite discoveries from Petite Maison Kids, carried the same story. Their medieval-inspired design and ruched sleeves felt perfectly in tune with the setting. Michelangelo’s sister, Jenny, walked her two daughters down the aisle as flower girls, with her son as the ring bearer, a sweet family moment woven beautifully into the ceremony.
They had a Greek Orthodox ceremony filled with meaningful personal touches, including reading their own vows from hand-rolled scrolls. One of the most symbolic moments was the traditional crowning ritual, where delicate crowns connected by a single ribbon are placed on the couple’s heads. The joined crowns represent the enduring bond that ties them together, a gesture that felt both sacred and deeply intimate.
As they exited the ceremony, guests showered them with petals, filling the room with color and laughter. Surrounded by love and happiness, Antigone and Michelangelo stepped into the next chapter of their story with pure joy.
Cocktail Hour & Moments Together
The aperitivo took place in Rocca’s medieval garden, one of the main reasons they chose the venue. The garden is arranged in a series of square plots that still grow the same plants cultivated in medieval times, including sections for healing herbs and even plots for poisonous plants. Guests enjoyed a welcome drink among the garden paths just before the reception began, taking in the historic atmosphere and the beauty of the setting.
Seating mixed bamboo chairs with Missoni poufs from the archives, while the tables were dressed in layered textiles that tied the whole setting together. The aperitivo was full of their favorite treats, from a cheese station to a ravioli bar and crudo with their favorite tuna, creating a warm, beautifully curated start to the celebration.
Concept, Planning & Inspiration
Michelangelo shared that the entire wedding concept began with Archivio Missoni. Having access to the archive felt like “a surreal dreamscape,” full of textiles and artifacts that carry the history of his family. With the help of his father, the Archivio Missoni team, and planners at Guastini Style, they incorporated these fabrics throughout the wedding. Textiles draped tables, vintage pieces were revived, and poufs and fabric-lined mirrors were brought from the archive to live temporarily inside the medieval world of Rocca. Together, they created an atmosphere that felt imaginative, meaningful, and entirely their own.
Antigone explained how special it was to collaborate with textile designer Mia Sylvia, whose work added movement and emotion to the decor. The idea to use archival fabrics grew from a romantic New Year’s trip to Venice, where they were inspired by the textures and colors inside the Fortuny House. They carried that inspiration into the wedding through repurposed textiles, organic draping, and a palette of earth tones mixed with deep Renaissance burgundy.
Florals by Il Profumo Dei Fiori became an essential part of the vision. Michelangelo joked about Antigone’s “increasingly abstract” ideas, from wanting “moss everywhere” to seeking the “fluffiest pieces,” all while blending in her love of Japanese Ikebana. He knew the best approach was to let her imagination lead.
Reception Decor
Dinner was served at two long tables overlooking Lago Maggiore, styled in the spirit of a Renaissance feast. Each table was layered with a mix of Archivio Missoni textiles, thoughtfully arranged by Mia Sylvia. No two areas were the same; every few seats revealed a different fabric and a new vignette, from stacked mushrooms nestled in moss to vegetables intertwined with flowers. As a party favor, each guest received a scarf made from upcycled Archivio Missoni fabric, crafted with care by the Fizzotti family.
Some of the floral arrangements featured roses that resembled the varieties named after Antigone’s grandparents, Rosita and Ottavio. Her grandfather, Demetri, had always tended lovingly to his own rose garden, making this detail a heartfelt tribute to both families.
Antigone loved the moss, the porcini and trumpet mushrooms, the sculptural vegetables wired into place, the sunflowers shaped into a little mountain, and the playful stacks of blooms that reminded her of Dr. Seuss. Even the candles had flowers rising from them. One detail that made them smile afterward was how not a single porcini was left behind. Michelangelo’s Italian side of the family knew exactly what to do with them and happily took them home to cook.
Reception
Dinner was catered by Scotti Ricevimenti and began with one of their favorite dishes: zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and saffron. As Michelangelo shared, saffron is his “go-to herb that I brew most mornings before coffee,” making the dish feel both personal and comforting. The next course was risotto, their beloved date-night meal. To them, risotto is “a true act of love,” a dish that requires time, care, and attention. They are already looking forward to making their porcini risotto this fall with the mushrooms they plan to forage together.
One of the most memorable moments of the entire wedding took place during dinner. Antigone said, “The most special part of the evening was the performance by my grandfather and brother.” Her grandfather, the legendary bouzouki player and Cypriot wedding singer Stelios Kyprios, performed with her brother, music producer Stelios Phili.
Michelangelo added, “When Antigone’s grandfather and brother performed for us after dinner, we had an impromptu first dance to our favorite song, ‘S’agapo Poli,’ which means I love you very much. Pretty much everyone watching was in tears.” The music continued with Zeibekiko, the traditional “drunken sailor dance,” where Michelangelo gave his best performance, later dancing again as they were showered with dollar bills in true Greek wedding tradition.
Special Touches
Antigone shared that “every choice was picked with so much intention, linked to who we are as people,” which made choosing a favorite detail nearly impossible. Still, touches like the custom matchboxes featuring their cat coat of arms and two mushrooms forming a heart felt especially meaningful, even if the groomsmen had to empty 200 matchboxes before the flight and refill them once in Italy.
Their beloved cats, Minnie and Manly, appeared throughout the stationery, menus, and guest tote bags, another intentional nod to their little family. “Some may say we love our cats too much, but I don’t think we could possibly love them enough,” Michelangelo said. Minnie even travels with him to Italy, roaming the prealps, which made honoring them throughout the celebration feel even more special.
Into the Night
Their official first dance earlier that evening was to “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green, a nod to their shared love of soul music. Afterward, Antigone changed into a glittery archival Missoni dress from SS 2001 and strappy Fendi heels to start the Greek dancing night. The reception featured live music from their incredible band, Cosmic, and a late-night DJ set of 2000s R&B, hip-hop, and house favorites. One of Antigone’s favorite touches was the gelato served from her favorite gelateria, Buosi in Varese. Sharing that with their guests made the night feel even sweeter.
Advice from the couple:
• Antigone: We got a lot of advice from people leading up to the big day, and a few themes emerged–stay present, stay by each others’ side, a million things will go wrong, and that’s okay, and make sure you eat. I’m grateful to say we did all of the above–and we definitely made sure we ate, as we were so excited about the food. Being by his side all night, surrounded by the people we love, was truly a magical feeling.
• Michelangelo: No matter what’s going through your head or the little details that you think are off, just be present and in the moment. That’s what really matters at the end of the day.
PLANNING Stefania Guastini | PHOTOGRAPHY Monica Leggio Weddings | SECOND SHOOTER Donatella Corriero | VIDEOGRAPHY Lenny Pellico | VENUE Rocca di Angera | TEXTILE DESIGN Mia Sylvia | FLORAL DESIGN Il Profumo dei Fiori | HAIR & MAKEUP Paola Bianchera Hair & Makeup, Mich Cosmetics, The Real Beauty Glam Services | BRIDAL GOWN Cinq | BRIDAL PARTY DRESS & FRIDAY TWO-PIECE Missoni | BRIDAL SATURDAY DRESS Arcina Ori | TAILOR & CREATOR (SATURDAY PARTY OUTFIT) Tailoress BK, Nat Vision | ARCHIVIO MISSONI FABRIC Archivio Missoni | GROOM SUIT Missoni | TAILOR (GROOM SUIT CONSTRUCTION) Sartoria Deplano | CATERING Scotti Ricevimenti | LIGHT DESIGN Pitagora Service | BAND Cosmic via FixTheMusic | VIOLINIST Eleonora Montagnana | GELATO Buosi Gelato | ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY Ale De Costanzo, Alice Plati
