Wedding story of Caitlyn & Stefan

November 28, 2024

As hopeless romantics with a love for travel, Caitlyn Chase and Stefan chose to elope in the hills of Tuscany and later bring those vibrant Italian vibes to their family and friends by hosting a “La Dolce Vita”-themed party on the rooftop of the Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills. With stunning views of Los Angeles, custom cocktails & family-style Italian dinner by Dante, intricate florals and decor, vintage dishware, handmade Italian lace linens, and over 1,000 flickering candles – a rooftop transformed into a homage to Italy. Keep reading to uncover every detail of the celebration.

Could you share your story? How did the proposal unfold?

I met my husband, Stefan, in April 2023 on a dating app, and he was the first and last person I ever went out with from it. Before our first date, he sent a bouquet to my house, arranging everything through a florist to keep the surprise intact. His thoughtfulness shone through from the very beginning, and to this day, he hasn’t let a week pass without bringing me flowers — even planting a rose garden at our new home. From the moment we met, we felt an undeniable connection, talking for hours on our first date and knowing almost immediately that we had found “the one.”

By the end of the year, Stefan proposed during a quiet morning walk on my favorite childhood beach in Malibu, where we often take our dogs for a walk. After setting up a cozy spot on the sand, he asked me to join him, then got down on one knee and surprised me with the most heartfelt proposal. It was intimate and perfect, just the two of us in a place that holds so much meaning for me. Only later did I learn he had sought my dad’s blessing just weeks after we met, sharing the secret bond.

Please tell us a little bit about your location for the wedding. Why did you and your husband choose it?

I’ve always known that a big, traditional wedding wasn’t for me. When Stefan and I first got engaged, we decided to explore different options, just in case my mind changed. We researched nearly thirty venues around the world — from Ireland and France to the UK, Mexico, and even Kenya! We went back and forth between the idea of a small destination wedding and a larger celebration stateside. But in the end, nothing felt quite right, and the process honestly felt more stressful than fun.

We both agreed that my original instinct was spot on. As hopeless romantics who love to travel, we wanted something intimate and personal to reflect our vision of love and adventure. So, we decided to elope in Tuscany.

We still wanted to celebrate with our loved ones, so after our time in Italy, we hosted a big "La Dolce Vita" themed party in Los Angeles, where we live. The event was all about celebrating our marriage — there was no ceremony since we’d already exchanged vows in Italy. Instead, we created a beautiful, elegant dinner party with delicious drinks, great food, and plenty of dancing.

What was the inspiration behind this incredible celebration?

Stefan and I knew we wanted to create something truly special to celebrate with our loved ones, so we enlisted the help of the incredible event producers at Savoir Agency to bring our vision of Italy to life in Beverly Hills. We wanted our guests to feel like they were right there with us in the place where we’d just exchanged our vows a few months earlier. After much thought, we decided that the rooftop of the Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills would be the perfect venue — offering some of the best views of Los Angeles, with catering by the amazing Dante.

The Maybourne Hotel has a special place in our hearts — it’s where Stefan and I had our second date, and it’s been our go-to spot for weekly date nights ever since. It felt like the perfect place to celebrate.

Can you tell us about the personal touches you added to the event, like the decor, music, or food choices?

I poured my heart into planning every detail of the event, curating a team of talented, female-owned small business vendors to bring the celebration to life. Since we had already had our ceremony, we were able to focus solely on the fun and joy of the evening. I wanted everything to feel personal and authentic.

Guests were greeted with custom cocktails created by Dante, who, as many know, was named the best bar in the world in 2019. Once everyone took their seats at the dramatic 60-person long tables, they were surprised to find personalized tambourines with their names calligraphed on them, waiting for them at their places. When Stefan and I made our entrance, the band played “Che La Luna” and the entire room stood, tambourines in hand, to welcome us. The energy in the air was electric.

We transformed the rooftop pool deck into a vibrant, colorful setting that paid homage to the charm of Italy. Vintage blue-and-white Italian dishware, handmade Italian lace linens, and intricate floral arrangements with white dahlias, roses, tuberose, and peonies, complemented by fresh lemons, grapes, and tomatoes, all came together beautifully. There were over 1,000 candles flickering throughout the space, creating the most magical atmosphere.

For dinner, Dante served a family-style, five-course Italian meal that left everyone raving. We had all the classics — burrata caprese, arancini, cacio e pepe prepared tableside in a cheese wheel, pizza from a wood-burning oven, organic chicken, wild-caught salmon, and for dessert, granitas served in fresh lemons. It was a feast for the senses.

As the night went on, a live band played during dinner, and guests couldn’t help but get up and dance between courses — just like the supper clubs on the Amalfi Coast. We danced late into the night, under the moonlight of Beverly Hills. It was the most unforgettable celebration, and I’m so grateful to everyone who made it so special.

Do you have any morning-of-the-wedding tips or life hacks for brides?

One of my biggest tips is to stay true to yourself throughout the process. I found that by trusting my instincts and making decisions based on what we, as a couple, truly wanted, I was able to avoid stress and fully enjoy planning both our elopement and wedding celebration. Instead of letting outside opinions sway us, we focused on our vision. Once we shared our reasoning with loved ones, they not only understood but were incredibly supportive and excited for us.

Another piece of advice is to carve out time for just you and your partner on the big day. Stefan and I intentionally shared breakfast together before getting ready separately. We took that moment to talk about what we were most excited about for the celebration ahead, what was making us nervous, and everything in between. It was such a special time to connect before the day got hectic.

Why did you choose Tennessee gown, and how did that decision come about?

For my elopement in Italy, I chose a very traditional wedding gown, so for the celebration, I wanted something more modern and unique — yet still elegant and classic. I had discovered Milla Nova years ago, long before I was engaged, and had saved some of their stunning gowns to my Pinterest board. When it came time to pick a dress for the celebration, I knew it had to be Milla Nova.

The Tennessee gown was the perfect fit— it was a two-piece set, which I loved. The boned corset detail reminded me of my wedding gown, as it too was corseted, and I was captivated by the pleated silk skirt made from Italian fabric, a subtle nod to where we had gotten married. The Tennessee gown was everything I wanted for the night: comfortable, flattering, and timeless.

The vendors:

Planning: @savoiragency

Tabletop: @archiverentals @jennifermariefoxdesign

Florals: @orlafloralstudio

Linens: @bbjlatavola

Candles: @socalcandlerentals

Venue: @themaybournebh, @dantebeverlyhills

Calligraphy: @trulymadlyink

Photobooth: @onemoreshotevents

Music: @downbeat.agency

Photo: @jasonseanweiss

Video: @bradantoigo

BTS: @moousemedia

Wardrobe: @millanova

HMU: @glamsquad