This Couple Shows Hw a Small Wedding Guest List Allows for Luxurious Michelin-Star Service
Salvatore DiPietro (32, a structural engineer) and Daniel Snipes (38, a data science manager) met online in 2018 and knew instantly that they had a strong bond. The couple’s growing connection resulted in a first date, which involved dinner, a drag show and dancing. What were their favorite moments from the night? “I had just moved to Virginia, and Daniel gave me a personal tour of Richmond. Exploring the city through his eyes made me feel instantly connected,” says Salvatore. Daniel adds, “We were sitting at dinner, and I remember being so enamored by Salvatore. I loved how he had so many interesting stories and opinions to share.” From then on, the two couldn’t get enough of one another.
On June 17, 2022, while on vacation in Los Angeles, Salvatore and Daniel proposed to one another in the most heartfelt and casual way. “It wasn’t a big production, more like a beautiful conversation that naturally turned into a life-changing moment. Once we realized what was unfolding, we headed straight to Rodeo Drive to look at rings,” says Salvatore. After checking out a few stores, the two bought matching rose-gold faceted bands from Graff. “They were timeless, with just enough of a twist to make them feel uniquely ours,” he says.
Salvatore and Daniel had a three-year engagement, which ensured they got the location and wedding date they wanted. During that time, the couple hired their planner, Colleen Cook of CCS Events; picked their 106-year-old venue, The Branch Museum of Design in Richmond; and focused on all the small details in between. “We knew our wedding would be more than one day, so hiring a planner felt like the right choice to help keep everything on track. Plus, as a structural engineer with a deep love for historic architecture, I knew I wanted our wedding to take place somewhere with character and craftsmanship,” Salvatore says.
The couple wanted their event to stand out in bold and unexpected ways, leading them to have a “botanical avant-garde” theme for their May 3, 2025, wedding. Based on a mood board of what they call “sculptural, unconventional floral arrangements,” the celebration’s color palette consisted of vibrant sunset hues for the ceremony and a mix of jewel tones for the reception—a full day-to-night experience for guests. To make their innovative theme come to life, Salvatore and Daniel put lots of thought into their flowers, stationery and menu.
During the ceremony, natural light flooded in through a leaded-glass bay window, and arrangements of yellow and orange poppies, butterfly ranunculus and snapdragons lined the aisle. At the altar, the same flowers sat on white pedestals beside limes, lemons, oranges and mangoes. This display framed the couple as they said “I do” in front of their 59 guests. In addition, neutral drapery, amber uplighting and live trees brought warmth to the intimate ceremony.
For the reception, located in a long gallery room, the color palette transitioned to a sultry and dramatic look. Greenery and dark purple and red peonies, anemones and scabiosa topped tables alongside artichokes, grapes and pears. “We paired the florals with deep red linens, which created a beautiful contrast against the white plates. Cream-colored tapered candles lined the table, adding a soft, warm glow that set the tone for the evening,” says Salvatore.
It was at the reception where the effort the couple put into the stationery really shined. For the escort-card display, they had custom hand-painted books with each guest’s name on the spine—a nod to the bar’s location in the old library. “Guests pulled their book from the shelf, and the table number was displayed as the volume number. It was a fun, interactive moment that tied beautifully into the venue’s character,” Salvatore notes. The menus also impressed guests. “Everyone received a personalized menu with their name on it, along with meal selections tailored to their dietary preferences,” says Salvatore.
The cuisine was as important as the menu design. One of the couple’s cutest traditions grew out of their love of food. On special occasions, Salvatore and Daniel treat themselves to Michelin-starred restaurants, which they say feels like going on a little adventure. “We keep the menus as sentimental keepsakes—they’re paper souvenirs of delicious memories,” says Salvatore. The duo’s foodie connection was a major aspect of their wedding and one reason why they wanted a small affair. “We love food and knew we wanted a reception focused on dinner. To execute the level of service we wanted, we had to have a smaller guest list,” he says. At the cocktail hour, held outdoors as a violin and cello duo played, the couple’s loved ones ate passed appetizers of polenta bites, duck-confit tacos, heirloom tomato tartlettes and much more. At dinner, guests enjoyed an elevated and personal five-course tasting menu; sweet pea agnolotti and cassis mousse were two highlights.
During dinner, the design team transformed the ceremony room into a place to dance and celebrate. “We swapped the neutral drapes for deep red ones and shifted the uplighting to match, fully committing to a bold, color-drenched look. When guests returned to the space, they were wowed—it really felt like stepping into an entirely new world,” says Salvatore. The couple graced the dance floor with a sentimental first dance to the song “Angel Baby” by Rosie & The Originals. “Daniel’s mom, who’s no longer with us, used to sing that song to him when he was a child. Dedicating our first dance to her felt like a meaningful way to include her in the day,” Salvatore says. Soon after, the tempo picked up and the reception turned into, as Salvatore describes it, a “full-blown G-A-Y dance party.”
Salvatore and Daniel ensured every aspect of their wedding was purposeful and had meaning: from a string duo playing “Adore You” by Harry Styles as the couple exited the ceremony to their ring-bearing nieces, who they “couldn’t imagine the day without,” as their only wedding party members. Reflecting on their nuptials, they say one of the most personal (and emotional) parts of the day was their vow exchange. Salvatore spoke about how Daniel helped him see the world in a different way, encouraged him to question the rules and pushed him to be courageous while embracing uncertainty. “Daniel shared how before we met, his life was shaped by struggle and survival, and how our love brought light into places that had long been dark. He said I reminded him that life isn’t just about surviving, but about truly living with joy, hope and an open heart. It was a moment that captured the depth of our bond and the future we’re building together,” says Salvatore.