The story of Dominique and Francesco pulls at the heartstrings. It is a destined romance. Most importantly, at its core, it is about true love: for each other, family, and tradition.

Frankie (as Dominique lovingly refers to him) had known members of Dominique’s family since childhood in San Diego. The couple met at a club where 50 Cent was playing; Dominique attended with her sister and her best friend, who is Frankie’s cousin. To continue the unexpected family reunion post-show, an afterparty at Sidebar Nightclub, of which Frankie is owner, ensued, allowing the opportunity for Dominique and Frankie to chat. “By the end of the night, he asked for my number. Of course, I said no… but Frankie was not having it. He just smiled and said, ‘I know your sister, mom, brother, nephew…’ …and, well, the rest was history!”

The proposal came in their favorite city of Las Vegas. It involved precisely planned, progressive surprises for Dominique that began in their hotel room, each shared in a red envelope, lovingly and unexpectedly presented by Dominque’s and Frankie’s parents, siblings, and nieces. “(When we arrived at the hotel), something felt off,” Dominique explained. “I was unpacking, chatting away, and suddenly… Frankie was gone! I called him repeatedly, no answer. Then I spotted a red envelope on the table. Inside was the moon necklace he gave me for my birthday our first year as a couple. The calligraphed card read: ‘Hi Babe, I need you to meet me downstairs at the spot where I first told you I love you. I have left you plenty of time to get ready and a few surprises along the way. Take your time, enjoy every moment, and just trust me—this is just the beginning of a night you will never forget.’” After adventures with family at the couple’s favorite bar and over blackjack, the official proposal came at The Primrose Garden at Wynn Las Vegas, where Frankie was waiting for her. It was first presented in a red envelope by Dominique’s niece/goddaughter, Valentina. “We opened it together: ‘Titi, will you marry Babers?’ I walked up to Frankie, and he asked me the most beautiful question of my life.” The magical night concluded at Bruno Mars’ Pinky Ring Lounge, entertained by The Dirty Thirty. Dominique shared, “We said to our family ‘We have to get this band for our wedding!’ and we did!” The planning for their April 2025 nuptials had already begun.

With their relationship built strongly in their Italian family heritage and community, the individual elements of their wedding were incredibly important to Dominique and Frankie. To achieve their exact vision, they partnered with prominent wedding planners Bre Priest and Jenna Benitez of You’re Invited Events and renowned florist ArtQuest Event Design for a theme centered on classic black and white, even requesting that their guests wear black to complete the look. “At the heart of it all, I wanted the celebration to feel timeless, just like the love we share.” When it came to choosing the ceremony and reception venues, the couple knew they had to be somewhere close to their hearts, where they both grew up. “We wanted places that felt rooted in tradition, with old-school elegance and a luxurious touch. Above all, it had to feel intimate, like gathering at your nana’s house for Sunday pasta with the whole family, surrounded by warmth and love.” Without hesitation, Our Lady of the Rosary in Little Italy and The US Grant were selected.

Our Lady of the Rosary is a church that has deep roots in the couple’s shared history; it is where generations of their loved ones celebrated milestones. It was tastefully adorned with arrangements of white roses to enhance the intimate, sacred atmosphere. “The ceremony was the heart of the day. It was such a special moment to walk down the aisle with my dad—something we dreamed of for years–knowing we were continuing a legacy of faith and family that has been passed down.” She chose the instrumental version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Andrea Bocelli which she has listened to with her nana for decades. Frankie walked down the aisle with his parents, a meaningful gesture further highlighting the strong bond he and Dominique have with their families.

Dominique was perfection in a customized Leah De Gloria “Marie” wedding dress (Dominique’s mother’s name), a sleek, fitted couture gown with intricate beaded embroidery. She wore bespoke matching gloves and a graceful Galia Lahav chapel veil to perfectly compliment the aesthetic and carried a stunning bouquet of white roses. Her bridesmaids wore floor-length black dresses. Frankie’s tuxedo was custom made in black for the ceremony (and white for the reception) by J&D Custom Clothier.

The reception at The US Grant was the timeless vibe the couple sought and was masterfully captured on film and video by the incomparable Roodi Zuhair Films. Long family tables and intimate rounds were adorned with floor length white linen and stylish ghost chairs. The lush centerpieces danced in candlelight with all white floral, highlighting roses, spray roses, and hydrangea. The head table was framed with stunning white draping and floral, lit to perfection with crystal chandeliers. A black and white checkered dance floor welcomed everyone for dancing.

Dominique and Francesco created personal touches that spoke to their personalities and their love of tradition. During cocktail hour, they played a vintage black and white video that shared footage from their engagement trip and photo shoot. Culinarily, the couple spared no expense. A massive charcuterie board created by The Charcuterie Girls adorned the center of the room so people could gather on both sides. “I wanted guests to feel like they were stepping straight into Italy. It was a true representation of Italian charcuterie, filled with the most authentic meats, cheeses, and flavors, but with an elevated, refined aesthetic that felt both elegant and welcoming. To make it even more special, we used my brother’s handcrafted artisanal salumi, P. Balistreri Salumi, which he personally creates. It was a true family touch, and I could not have been prouder to feature it at the table. My sister took charge of the design, and she absolutely nailed it, making it feel like we had brought a little piece of Italy into the room.” A unique activation around the couple’s signature drinks was offered. Ice luges for Carajillos (Frankie’s selection) and Filthy Martinis (Dominique’s selection) were playful yet elegant. To tie it together, the signage and presentation complemented Frankie’s two bars, Gaslamplighter and Sidebar. “Since Frankie is a fourth-generation bar owner, of course, we wanted to make sure the drinks were just as meaningful as everything else. As a personal touch, we placed mini-Don Julio 1942 Tequila at each guest’s seat with a tag that read ‘Always & Forever’.”

After a gourmet dinner provided by the incomparable chefs at The US Grant, guests enjoyed homemade, fresh cookies from family members. “Frankie’s mom was the true MVP here. Her house literally became a cookie factory. It was a labor of love.” Along with wedding cake, guests also enjoyed treats from Holy Cannoli served on the dance floor by The Cannoli Guy to the tune of the Italian classic “Che La Luna.”

Dominique, Frankie, and their guests danced the night away to The Dirty Thirty and late-night music spun by DJ Metro. “Throughout the night, we incorporated music that was meaningful to us, including a mix of old school Italian songs that reminded us of our roots. Our wedding song, “Al Di La”, is a romantic Italian love song that we both grew up dancing to. My mom had brought the song up at dinner one night and Frankie remembered it from when he was younger. After that, it is all we could sing, and were words we could not forget. We knew that it was our song!” To keep the party going, fresh, hot Sideburgers from Sidebar were delivered straight to the dance floor.

Dominique and Frankie enjoyed a magical honeymoon throughout Italy, visiting Sicily, Capri, Florence, and Lake Como among their travels. ❥