The Touching Tale of How Stacey’s Wedding Gown Came to Be.

Discover the story of how Florian stumbled upon the designer who created the stunning wedding dresses for the Silva twins, including the maid-of-honor gown, and brought their dream dresses to life.

Throughout this season of Darcey & Stacey, we witnessed Stacey and Florian’s wedding planning journey, but what we didn’t see was the heartwarming story behind Stacey’s magnificent wedding dress. It all began when Florian stumbled upon Katerina Bocci’s stunning designs and knew they would be the perfect fit for his glamorous bride. Katerina shares the behind-the-scenes of how it all unfolded.

Florian first laid eyes on my dresses at a New York photography studio, where he was modeling for a shoot. The dresses were there for another shoot with Miss Albanian, Ina Dajci, and Florian, being the artistic person he is, was immediately drawn to the gowns’ shape and quality. He admired the fabrics and craftsmanship, and he knew Stacey would love them too. Florian looked up my label on Instagram, and when he discovered that I’m Albanian too, he initiated the conversation.

After showing Stacey photos of my designs, she was beyond impressed and couldn’t find anything similar in stores. It was fate that brought us together to create a custom gown for her special day. We met, and the rest is history!

Thank you! Stacey and Darcey’s gowns are both stunning and unique in their own way. Stacey’s gown is a perfect blend of different styles – it’s romantic, traditional, and Avant garde all at once. The gown features two different silhouettes, which added a touch of versatility to her look. For the ceremony, Stacey wore a detachable white skirt that gave her a timeless, princess-like appearance. Later, she removed the skirt and veil to reveal a fitted gown beneath, creating a completely different look that was perfect for the reception.

The gown was made of silk, which draped beautifully over her curves, and featured an intricate hand-sewn Swarovski stone design on a nude underlay. The delicate shoulder strap, which is Katerina Bocci’s signature, gave the gown an Avant garde feel and added to the overall glamour and sparkle of the dress. Stacey looked absolutely stunning in the gown; it was a perfect fit for her style, personality, and her special day.

Darcey and I met at a restaurant in Miami for dinner and drinks. She began describing her dream dress. I grabbed a napkin because it was the only thing I could find to write on, so I started sketching. She said, “That’s it. That’s my dress.”

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF WORKING WITH STACEY AND FLORIAN FOR THEIR WEDDING?

It was fun! They have so much great energy. Everyone loves Stacey and Darcey because they are so real, kind, and funny. Florian is also hilarious! It was easy for me to see because we can joke together speaking Albanian. He is very wise, too. We really clicked and will forever be friends.

Also, Stacey and Darcey gave me the liberty to use my creativity. Freedom! I interview my brides to find who they are, what their personality is like and ask them to describe the dress of their dreams. I love it when a bride allows me the freedom to make that dream come true, always respecting her and her wishes. Darcey and Stacey were this way — my dream come true!

DID YOUR ALBANIAN CONNECTION MAKE THIS PROCESS FEEL EXTRA SPECIAL?

The connection between Florian and me was truly special. We shared many common experiences, having grown up in the same country and dealt with the same cultural and political challenges. We both had to assimilate into a new country, learn a new language, and adapt to a new culture. It can be a daunting process, but we supported each other through it all.

In addition to our shared background, Florian and I also share a deep and abiding faith. We would pray together, and our beliefs brought us even closer. Florian’s maturity and wisdom, despite his young age, were also qualities that I deeply admired in him. He is truly a great man, and I feel blessed to have him in my life.