This Artist Bride Designed Her Own Dress for Her Wedding at a Medieval Polish Castle
It was a classic Bushwick meet cute for photographers Miria-Sabina Maciągiewicz and Maximilian Thümler when the two creatives both happened to be at their favorite Brooklyn bar Bossa Nova Civic Club in 2014. Maximilian approached Miria to compliment her houndstooth fur coat and, as the couple says, “The rest was history!” While Maximilian made the first move, the pair decided to enter the next big stage of their relationship as a partnership while on a trip to Yakushima, Japan. “We both decided to get engaged as we were taking a self-portrait standing on a rock in a banyan forest,” they share.
The first item on the wedding planning agenda was choosing a venue. Rather than select a location close to home, they decided to plan a destination affair and tie the knot at a medieval castle in Poland on August 3, 2024. “Dominance Castle was loaned to us by our dear friend, Polish musician and actor Maciej Musialowski, who is already in the works of transforming the space into an art foundation,” share Maximilian and Miria. While planning a celebration so far away created some challenges, the couple noted it was an incredibly rewarding experience thanks to their community, who all contributed their talents. “After choosing to work with our amazing planners at Slodkave, we enlisted a dedicated army of friends to help bring our vision to life,” they say. “It truly became a joint effort filled with love, creativity, and teamwork.”
One project Miria took on herself was crafting her wedding gown. “I set out to design and sew my own wedding dress, drawing inspiration from the elegance of 17th-century fashion, but without the frills and embellishments typically associated with that era,” she explains. “My dress underwent several transformations, each time refining and rebranding the design until it perfectly captured my unique style—timeless yet modern, with a nod to the past.” The result was a strapless dress with a corset-inspired bodice and a full skirt. The new design was paired with a necklace borrowed from her mother and a veil designed with white and (something) blue ribbons that paid homage to traditional Polish folk headwear. “Maximilian chose a timeless, elegant look for his wedding day with a three-piece linen suit,” shares Miria. Another special part of their ensembles was their wedding bands. “Our matching rings were deeply meaningful—Max’s ring was my late father’s, and my mother gifted me my ring,” she says.
The bride and groom arrived at the castle a week early to prepare the property for their nuptials. “Each day was filled with planning, working together, and enjoying candlelit dinners and Prosecco-filled evenings in the dimly lit, beautifully weathered space,” share the couple. “The castle—with its creaky floors, cobwebbed corners, and ancient tile stoves—had an undeniable charm. Each morning, we woke to the sight of peeling frescoes and sparrows nesting in the inner courtyard—a reminder of the deep history and beauty surrounding us. We’re incredibly grateful for the time, effort, and love our friends put into making our dream wedding a reality. It was truly a labor of love, and we couldn't have done it without them.”
The wedding ceremony took place at a park below the castle, where they exchanged their vows at an elevated altar. The bride notes it was an emotional moment, even if the pair were beaming with excitement and happiness. “We descended the long stairs of the park to the hauntingly beautiful sound of Kate Bush, my favorite musician,” shares Miria. “Our dear friend Mandy officiated the ceremony, sharing heartfelt words as we exchanged vows in front of our loved ones, sealing our promises with a kiss under the watchful gaze of stone columns around us.”
After saying their “I dos,” the newlyweds were whisked away on a ride throughout the village on a four-horse-drawn carriage by their friend Piotr before returning to the reception. “Upon arrival, we were greeted with a traditional Polish offering of bread, salt, and vodka—a warm and symbolic welcome,” they share. “The celebration continued with a Romani band leading guests to the ballroom, where a Champagne tower awaited and toasts were raised.”
The reception moved outdoors where long tables were illuminated from above with custom chandeliers designed by FjellLab that nodded to the couple’s love of electronic music. “The chandeliers created a unique atmosphere, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the warm glow of the lights,” share the newlyweds. “After the reception and dancing, we opened up the dungeons of the castle to a rave with multiple DJs ’til the wee hours of the morning!”
Reflecting on their destination wedding, Miria and Maximilian emphasize how grateful they are to their community. “The homemade cake, the DJ (who was seven months pregnant!), the florals, the horses, the venue, and even the multiple photo and video team was all a collaboration among friends,” they share. “We owe it to them for our fairytale wedding.”
Photo: Weddings by Nato1/38Domanice Castle—the home of our dear friend, Polish actor and musician Maciej Musiałowski—was the perfect place to host our wedding celebrations with its un-manicured charm and raw beauty. Maciej purchased the partially ruined castle relatively recently and plans to restore it, turning it into a space filled with art and creativity.
Photo: Weddings by Nato2/38We were really drawn to the centuries-old crumbling walls revealing frescoes, the family of sparrows nestled in the courtyard corners, and the compelling artwork placed throughout the castle grounds. This sculpture is by Krzysztof Renes.
Photo: Weddings by Nato3/38Our friends showered us with love by helping us prepare for the festivities. Many of them took it upon themselves to get involved, doing so with minimal creative direction from us. We truly loved letting them take the reins and seeing everyone embrace their creativity and excitement for a celebration we’ll all cherish for years to come.
Photo: Natura Collective4/38One of our favorite and most treasured memories is the love and dedication of our friends helping us. Seeing them gallivanting around the castle with their floral creations, rearranging furniture, folding napkins, setting up the dungeon rave room, cooking communal meals, bringing each other coffee (or Polish limoncellos for those feeling a bit frisky), preparing our joint bachelor-bachelorette parties, doing each other’s makeup, playing the piano, and pouring prosecco with smiles on their faces will forever bring us a sense of love and warmth. Here, you can see Ciara Vesely and Dayna Marie Offenbacher looking to place their next tableau of florals and fruits.
Photo: Cly by Matthew5/38Finding a place to get dressed in a house full of people was a fun challenge!
