Dove Cameron and Damiano David are officially married! As Vogue exclusively revealed, the couple said “I do” at a private ceremony in Tuscany this weekend. Just four days before the wedding festivities, we joined Dove in Rome for a visit to the Valentino atelier and one last look at her wedding dress before the big day.
“Ciao, Vogue!” says the singer and actress before her final fitting, sitting at an outdoor café and reflecting on the experience of planning a wedding. “When I was a little girl, I never really imagined what my wedding would look like. I think back then I wanted to rent Carnegie Hall, show up in a big black feathered dress, and have a 32-piece orchestra,” she says with a laugh. Although she jokingly describes herself as “completely unprepared” for what lies ahead, Dove adds: “All of this feels right. Natural. Easy. Like a natural and beautiful next step. I don’t know how else to describe it. I’m in love, and we’re throwing a big party.”
Related: Dove Cameron and Damiano David on love, music, and making life across two continents work
Photo: Antonio Giancaspro
Soon it’s time to head to the atelier at the Italian fashion house’s headquarters, just steps from the iconic Spanish Steps. Dove lets her stylist, Marc Eram, lead her into a wood-paneled room, softly lit and filled with antique furniture. When she opens her eyes, she is speechless.
“Oh my God!” she exclaims. “I’ve never seen it all together before, with the veil on the mannequin. Every time I see it, I honestly feel like I’m seeing it for the first time.”
Designed by Alessandro Michele, the dress is made from lustrous silk satin and layers of flowing silk chiffon. A structured bodice defines the upper half, while a lavish train of additional layers of white chiffon extends behind her. A row of silk-covered buttons runs from the middle of the back to the end of the train. Left undone, they create the effect of a deep slit and a flowing, fan-like movement.
“More than anything, I wanted the dress to be simple but special, and to feel like myself in it,” Dove explains. “It’s so romantic.”
Photo: Antonio Giancaspro
Still, the detail that draws the most attention is the four-metre-long silk tulle veil, hand-embellished with tiny crystals and beads arranged like constellations. The celestial motif is no coincidence: Celeste is the bride’s middle name. “I wanted something truly special and unique, and they turned it into a work of art,” says Dove. Crystal-embellished Valentino hairpins fit perfectly into this starry story.
As soon as Dove puts on the dress in front of the Valentino team, her eyes fill with tears of joy. “It’s really hard for me to feel like myself in a dress, and this one makes me feel exactly like myself,” she says. “So thank you from the bottom of my heart.” What comes next? Calls to her mother and grandmother, of course. “You look beautiful,” her grandmother tells her over FaceTime, beaming with happiness.
Dove admits that she and Damiano may initially have underestimated how intense wedding planning would be. “It’s all been so intense, and I couldn’t have imagined how chaotic it would actually be,” she says. Still, there was never any doubt about one thing: she knew she wanted to wear a Michele design. “Creating a wedding dress with a fashion house you admire so much was a special experience for me… Valentino was my dream when it came to a wedding dress,” Dove continues. “Every time I come here, I cry. Everyone has been so wonderful to me and has truly given it their all.”
It’s time to celebrate.
Director: Filippo Castellano
Director Of Photography: Enrico Valoti
Editor: Michael Suyeda
Producers: Teresa Garcia-Boente Fernandez, Rashida Josiah
Associate Producer: Anisa Kennar
Assistant Camera: Stella Lorusso
Gaffer: Matteo Maiori
Audio: Alessandro Boscolo
Production Assistant: Mario Antonini
Stylist: Marc Eram
Hair: Jacob Rozenberg
Makeup: Kale Teter
Production Coordinators: Laura Ragazzola, Tanía Jones
Production Managers: Kristen Helmick
Senior Line Producer: Jen Santos
Assistant Editor: Justin Symonds
Post Production Coordinator: Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Kameron Key
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Global Entertainment Director: Sergio Kletnoy
Executive Producer: Rahel Gebreyes
Senior Director, Digital Video: Romy van den Broeke
Interim Director, Creative Development, Video: Ella Mielniczenko
Senior Director, Programming: Linda Gittleson
VP, Video Programming: Thespena Guatieri
Special Thanks: Bar Frattina