| I DO x 2 THE STORY OF STEFANIA AND DEAN - A Tale of Family, Care, Support, Sicily, and a Love That Lasts a Lifetime. |
Chosen for Its Soul:
Villa Bibbia and the Sicilian Roots of Stefania and Dean
Villa Bibbia and the Sicilian Roots of Stefania and Dean
A request came to the OhmySicily team from a couple in Australia who were planning to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in Sicily. At the time, we had no idea what an extraordinary story this family carried with them — or how deeply it would move us.
Stefania, the bride, chose Villa Bibbia, an authentic estate near the town of Noto. She dreamed of having a vow renewal in a place where the history of Sicily could be felt in a truly special way.
Stefania, the bride, chose Villa Bibbia, an authentic estate near the town of Noto. She dreamed of having a vow renewal in a place where the history of Sicily could be felt in a truly special way.
Both Stefania and Din have Italian roots, but for Stefania, celebrating this anniversary in Sicily — the place where her family’s story runs deep — was especially meaningful. And for such a request, it’s hard to imagine a location more fitting than Villa Bibbia.
Every detail of the villa, every glass, decanter, or side table in the living room carries a history that feels as though it comes to life before your eyes. The owner of the villa has masterfully and tastefully blended antiques with modern elements. The cozy courtyard with its lawn and a view of the ivy-covered historic building feels as if it were created specifically for an intimate ceremony surrounded by the closest and dearest.
Every detail of the villa, every glass, decanter, or side table in the living room carries a history that feels as though it comes to life before your eyes. The owner of the villa has masterfully and tastefully blended antiques with modern elements. The cozy courtyard with its lawn and a view of the ivy-covered historic building feels as if it were created specifically for an intimate ceremony surrounded by the closest and dearest.
Photographer Daria Mangione
A Moment We’ll Never Forget:
A heartfelt glimpse into a family whose love turns moments into memories.
A heartfelt glimpse into a family whose love turns moments into memories.
The bride’s morning unfolded in a relaxed, intimate rhythm, surrounded by her closest loved ones. While the makeup artist brushed soft strokes across her face, children ran around Stefania, laughing, playing, filling the villa with life. In the kitchen, Stefania’s mother brewed Italian coffee — rich, aromatic, unmistakably Sicilian.
The entire morning felt less like a traditional bridal preparation and more like an ordinary day in a big Sicilian family: lively conversations, laughter spilling from room to room, a home warmed by love.
The entire morning felt less like a traditional bridal preparation and more like an ordinary day in a big Sicilian family: lively conversations, laughter spilling from room to room, a home warmed by love.
Stefania spoke to us with deep affection about her sons — Roman and Rio. Both boys kept slipping into the room from time to time just to give their mother a kiss.
The younger son, Rio, is a very special presence not only at the celebration but in Stefania and Din’s life. He has autism, and he is an extraordinary child: sweet, lively, energetic, and deeply touching.
Stefania:
"One of the most emotional moments was having Rio with us — seeing him light up, surrounded by family, joy, and celebration. Traveling and being part of something so big wasn’t always easy for him, but that day he thrived. It reminded us that love really does make everything possible. Our vow renewal wasn’t just a celebration of our marriage — it was a celebration of family, resilience, and how far we’ve all come together."
The younger son, Rio, is a very special presence not only at the celebration but in Stefania and Din’s life. He has autism, and he is an extraordinary child: sweet, lively, energetic, and deeply touching.
Stefania:
"One of the most emotional moments was having Rio with us — seeing him light up, surrounded by family, joy, and celebration. Traveling and being part of something so big wasn’t always easy for him, but that day he thrived. It reminded us that love really does make everything possible. Our vow renewal wasn’t just a celebration of our marriage — it was a celebration of family, resilience, and how far we’ve all come together."
Make-up Artist: Ilonamuah
The Veil and My Son
A touching story behind the bride’s choice of look.
A touching story behind the bride’s choice of look.
Stefania:
"My veil was chosen with a lot of heart. I wanted something timeless but meaningful, something that felt like me. What made it even more special was that our son helped choose my bridal look —
a small moment that carried so much love. Seeing his excitement and pride was everything; it made me feel like the day belonged to all of us, not just to Dean and I."
"My veil was chosen with a lot of heart. I wanted something timeless but meaningful, something that felt like me. What made it even more special was that our son helped choose my bridal look —
a small moment that carried so much love. Seeing his excitement and pride was everything; it made me feel like the day belonged to all of us, not just to Dean and I."
stefania and dean
A Sicilian Vow: Heritage, Heart, and Home
Every detail — from the villa’s charm to the family-style moments — honored generations past.
Symbolic thread connecting the past and the present.
For the final touches to the bride’s look, a special space was curated with sentimental details — delicate sewing tools and an open spread from a documentary book on Sicilian garment ateliers of the last century. This décor was no coincidence: it was a tribute to Stefania’s great-grandmother, a seamstress from Messina. In this way, a subtle, symbolic thread wove together the generations of her family on this day.
Stefania:
"The women in my family have always been my quiet inspiration — strong, creative, and deeply connected to tradition. My grandmother was a dressmaker and my grandfather was a tailor and having that small corner with the book of the sewing machine, identical to the one they had, felt symbolic — a thread that ties the past and present together.
It reminded me that everything we build as women — families, love, and art — is its own kind of craftsmanship."
"The women in my family have always been my quiet inspiration — strong, creative, and deeply connected to tradition. My grandmother was a dressmaker and my grandfather was a tailor and having that small corner with the book of the sewing machine, identical to the one they had, felt symbolic — a thread that ties the past and present together.
It reminded me that everything we build as women — families, love, and art — is its own kind of craftsmanship."
Dean
Meanwhile, Dean spent much of his time with the boys — keeping them laughing, playing with them, and doing everything he could to make this day unforgettable for them as well.
Stefania:
"Dean and I met in the most unexpected way — the kind of meeting that feels effortless, like the universe quietly nudging two souls together. What’s always made our bond unique is how natural it feels to just be together — through every phase of life, we’ve always found laughter, friendship, and strength in one another. After fifteen years, our love has deepened into something beautifully steady and true, built on shared dreams, family, and an unspoken understanding that we’re always on the same team."
Stefania:
"Dean and I met in the most unexpected way — the kind of meeting that feels effortless, like the universe quietly nudging two souls together. What’s always made our bond unique is how natural it feels to just be together — through every phase of life, we’ve always found laughter, friendship, and strength in one another. After fifteen years, our love has deepened into something beautifully steady and true, built on shared dreams, family, and an unspoken understanding that we’re always on the same team."
stefania:
Choosing to renew our vows in Italy was more than a dream...
... it was a way to honour my Sicilian roots and the generations before us.
A Timeless Sicilian Ceremony
As mentioned earlier, the heart of this wedding day was family, connection, and a return to one’s roots. During her first call with the OhmySicily team, Stefania made it clear that she envisioned a minimalist ceremony design and trusted us completely with the choice of location and creative direction.
We crafted a setting that highlighted the authentic beauty of the historic Sicilian villa, opting for white roses arranged in a soft crescent shape and candles placed in an asymmetrical composition.
The ceremony unfolded with extraordinary tenderness: the story of Dean and Stefania is captivating on its own, but paired with genuine, unfiltered emotions — love, joy, tears of happiness, and heartfelt smiles — it left no one untouched.
We crafted a setting that highlighted the authentic beauty of the historic Sicilian villa, opting for white roses arranged in a soft crescent shape and candles placed in an asymmetrical composition.
The ceremony unfolded with extraordinary tenderness: the story of Dean and Stefania is captivating on its own, but paired with genuine, unfiltered emotions — love, joy, tears of happiness, and heartfelt smiles — it left no one untouched.
A Taste of Sicilian Tradition
The evening came to a warm and elegant close with a garden dinner, where the couple chose to honor tradition by embracing classic Sicilian cuisine. Surrounded by candlelight, lush greenery, and the soft hum of the countryside, the table was filled with authentic regional dishes - simple, flavorful, and deeply rooted in local heritage. It was the perfect finale to a day devoted to family, love, and the timeless spirit of Sicily.
Making Magic Together
As the wedding planners, We want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to bringing this celebration to life. Each member of the team poured their talent, passion, and heart into every detail — from the delicate design touches to the seamless coordination that allowed the day to unfold with such elegance and ease.
It was a privilege to work alongside professionals who not only understand the essence of Sicily, but know how to translate it into an experience filled with beauty, warmth, and authenticity.
Thank you for your dedication, artistry, and unwavering support in creating a day that Stefania and Dean will cherish forever.
Wedding planning/styling: @ohmysicily
Photography: @dariamangione_ph @vanessaruggeri_fotografia
Video: @velver_luxury_wedding_content
Mua/hair: @ilonamuah
Celebrant: @claracorallocelebrante
Venue: @bibbia_countryhouse
Dress: @oksana_mukha_official @raffaeleciucabridal
Veil: @mwbridalstore
Shoes: @lanawilkinsonofficial
Jewellery: @culturesse
Photography: @dariamangione_ph @vanessaruggeri_fotografia
Video: @velver_luxury_wedding_content
Mua/hair: @ilonamuah
Celebrant: @claracorallocelebrante
Venue: @bibbia_countryhouse
Dress: @oksana_mukha_official @raffaeleciucabridal
Veil: @mwbridalstore
Shoes: @lanawilkinsonofficial
Jewellery: @culturesse
