Sam Chermayeff and Stella Roos are planning a day-long wedding party for 250 people in an abandoned Fascist-era villa in Rome, originally built as Olivetti offices. The couple, who live in Berlin but have no family there, decided on Rome for its festive appeal. They initially considered joining the Catholic Church to secure a venue but ultimately arranged to hold their ceremony in a ruined church on the Appia Antica, with artist Tacita Dean asked to officiate. The party venue, inherited by a friend of a friend, sits near the Baths of Caracalla and features overgrown gardens and dusty rooms. Invitations were designed by their friend Leo of Something Fantastic, and the couple's mood board includes whimsical details like an ice sculpture, tiny potatoes, and a flower chain.
This article matters because it offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at how two creative professionals—Sam Chermayeff is an architect and Stella Roos is an editor—approach wedding planning as a collaborative, artistic project. Their process reflects broader cultural trends in personalized, non-traditional celebrations that blend art, design, and community involvement. The piece also highlights the couple's connections to the art world, including the involvement of renowned artist Tacita Dean, and underscores how personal milestones can become creative expressions within the visual art community.