It’s an Italian love story that involves good food, big families and lots of amore! Vince Vella had just returned from a trip to Europe with his dad after graduating from the University of Missouri to find a beautiful girl in his house. Gabriella, whose parents are of Sicilian heritage, was in town for a college internship at Charlie Gitto’s to learn the restaurant business. “My sister knew a good friend of hers from college, so they hung out a lot while she was in town,” Vince explains. “I got to know her very casually at first, since she was always over.” But by the time Gabriella returned to school at Oklahoma State University, things had gotten serious, and Vince asked her to keep him in her heart. She obviously followed his request, since they were engaged last year in Kansas City, where her family lives.

“We went to Gram & Dun on the Plaza in Kansas City for dinner, and I ended up proposing on the street in front of the restaurant,” Vince says. “People started cheering for us; I was just kind of numb.” He had secretly asked his family to drive in from St. Louis for a surprise celebration at Gabriella’s parents’ house, and Vince says there was a lot of hugging, kissing and crying when they walked in. There were unexpected visitors for him, too. “When I went down to the wine cellar, my godparents were there waiting to surprise me,” he says. “My godmother is Sicilian and my dad is Maltese, so we all just drank lots of wine, ate great food and started talking details right away!”

Since Gabriella’s dad is in the restaurant business (he was born and raised in St. Louis on The Hill), Vince says he is a huge help with knowing what it takes to orchestrate such a large affair, potentially up to 700 guests! A special part of any Italian wedding is the handmade cookies made by family and friends. “There will be a huge table just lined with platters, and everyone will get a box to take some home,” he says.

Gabriella works at her family’s restaurant Garozzo’s Ristorante, in Kansas City, and Vince is an operations engineer and project manager for Young Innovations. He lives in Kirkwood, where the couple will reside after the wedding.

[resources]
Ceremony | Our Lady of Sorrows, Kansas City
Reception | Kansas City Marriott Downtown
Photographer | Andrea Nigh
Caterer | Kansas City Marriott Downtown
Cake | Rama Sola
Dress | Lianocarlo
Florist | Kathleen Sullivan
Honeymoon | Caribbean

[wedding party]
Maid of Honor | Sophia Garozzo
Bridesmaids | Gina Vitale, Angela Scopelianos, Maria Vella, Margaret Mooney, Lauren Vella, Erin Stephan, Caroline Barton, Meghan Dixon
Best Man | John Paul Vella
Groomsmen | Dominic Vella, Bennie Vitale, George Scopelianos, Ted Paletta, Jordan Reich, Michael Malashock, Ryan Edmundowicz, Brad Bené
Flower Girl | Maggie Rose Vitale
Bride’s Parents | Michael and Marguerite Garozzo of Kansas City, Kansas
Groom’s Parents | John and Theresa Vella of St. Louis

Photo: Andrea Nigh