Lawyer Ana Luiza Kadi married Pedro Felmanas on Saturday night in Sao Paulo, wearing a dress she spent approximately 1,300 hours hand-embroidering herself.
The wedding ceremony took place on the night of Saturday, August 29, at the Sao Paulo mansion of the groom's mother, Karla Felmanas. Felmanas is an executive who serves as vice-president of Cimed, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Brazil. The wedding party featured a live musical performance by popular singer Ivete Sangalo as well as the distribution of themed party shirts known as abadas.
Sao Paulo is the primary financial center and most populous city in Brazil. Cimed is a major Brazilian pharmaceutical manufacturer known across the country for its health and wellness products. Ivete Sangalo is a celebrated axe and pop singer who is among the most famous musical artists in Brazil. Abadas are custom-printed tunic tops traditionally worn at carnival celebrations and large festive events throughout the country.
Crafting the wedding gown
Kadi devoted roughly 1,300 hours over more than a year to planning, designing, and stitching the wedding dress and veil for her special day. She developed the elaborate project in collaboration with Atelier Natalia Rios, an embroidery school and creative workshop in Brazil where Kadi was both a student and a close friend of owner Natalia Rios.
During the preparation process, Kadi and Rios traveled together to France to select and purchase the finest embroidery materials available. They returned to the atelier inspired by their trip to produce the initial sketches, drawings, and material samples for the custom bridal look.
Kadi wanted a geometric design covered entirely in decorative stonework. The intricate embroidery incorporated sequins, micanga beads, glass beads, bugle beads, and silk threads set in shades of off-white, pearlescent, satin, and transparent tones. The intricate creation combined multiple manual needlework techniques with specialized Luneville crochet.
Luneville crochet is a historic French embroidery technique developed in the town of Luneville during the nineteenth century. The method uses a small, barbed hook to attach beads, sequins, and threads to fabric from the reverse side, enabling artisans to craft intricate haute couture patterns with precision.
Shared on social media
The Atelier Natalia Rios profile shared details of the creative journey on social media, describing the project as a story of love made by hand and a dream come true alongside Kadi. The atelier noted that after months of joint preparation, the team knew Kadi was capable of hand-stitching the dress and veil for her wedding.
