We moved from Chicago to Dallas and it was our first time living together. After only a few months, the country went into total lockdown. It was a little scary at first, but it ended up being so great for our relationship. We grew even closer and learned so much about one another. With so many unknowns in the world at that time, it really put it into perspective how much we wanted to do life together.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
AV: I’m a senior manager at an American petroleum corporation. I’ve been with the company for six years and counting.
SV: I work for Sacred Heart Collections. It’s a collegiate fashion house based out of Dallas. Our loves include our two bulldogs, Winnie and Hannibal, traveling, eating well and going to see live music as often as we can.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
SV: We met through a mutual friend in Chicago in December of 2014. I thought he was so attractive and so fun to be around, but he was just visiting so I didn’t think much into it at first. By the end of the weekend, I had a feeling we would be seeing a lot more of each other.
AV: I thought Summer was beautiful and so fun! And spunky!
When did you first realize that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
AV: It clicked one day during the lockdown of the pandemic where I just knew I wanted to marry her.
SV: We moved from Chicago to Dallas and it was our first time living together. After only a few months, the country went into total lockdown. It was a little scary at first, but it ended up being so great for our relationship. We grew even closer and learned so much about one another. With so many unknowns in the world at that time, it really put it into perspective how much we wanted to do life together.
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
SV: In November of 2020, Aleksey took me for a long weekend along the East Coast for my birthday. When we arrived in Portland, Maine, we decided to go on our own little tour of the top five lighthouses in the area. At the second lighthouse, as I was distracted by the beautiful scenery, he got down on his knee and proposed. It was a complete surprise and so romantic! It was perfect!
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…
SV: Very early on we decided we wanted an intimate and romantic wedding. Italy was at the top of our travel bucket list, so a destination wedding just felt like the perfect opportunity to have an epic vacation with our closest friends and family in the most romantic country in the world.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
SV: The location! To be married with the breathtaking Amalfi Coast as the backdrop was worth every penny.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
SV: My best friend was in charge of holding our wedding bands and she accidentally forgot them in the Airbnb in the next town over. We didn’t have time before the ceremony to go back and get them, so we borrowed bands from our friends to get by. She felt terrible, but honestly, I was just so happy and relieved she didn’t forget my vows! We were so enamored by the day, I truly don’t think anything could have phased us.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
SV: I actually fell in love with my wedding dress a year or two before even getting engaged. I always knew I wanted something unique and felt white was too harsh for my skin tone, so the blush Bellina gown by Galia Lahav felt so perfect. Galia’s gowns are custom and she only makes one sample of each gown, so I had to pay quite a bit to safely ship it from Israel to Chicago just to try it on. My bridal consultant told me so many people inquired about that same gown, but would never follow through with the shipping. Something in me just knew I was going to love it even more in person, so I took a chance. I am so glad I trusted my instinct. I felt like I was wearing art – it was a dream fairytale moment.
Ceremony + Reception Location: NH Convento di Amalfi, @nhcollection / Photographer + Videographer: Pinewood Weddings, @pinewoodweddings / Celebrant: @brophydaniels / Entertainment: Gruppo Arechi, @gruppo_arechi_live_band / Styling + Planner: LaLindi, @lalindi_bryllup / Hire: Allestimenti Le Rose, @allestimentilerose; Set Up My Table, @setupmytable / Flora: Sartoria Floreale, @sartoria_floreale / Catering + Beverages: Ristorante dei Cappuccini, @deicappuccinirestaurantamalfi / Registry: Crate and Barrel, @crateandbarrel / Wedding Gown: Galia Lahav, @galialahav purchased at Bella Bianca, @bellabiancabridalcouture / Welcome Party/Couple’s Shoot Dress: V Chapman, @vchapmanstudio / Wedding Tux: The Black Tux, @theblacktux / Welcome Party/Couple’s Shoot Suit: Calvin Klein, @calvinklein / Ring/s: J.L. Johnson Fine Jeweler, @jljohnsons / Shoes: Vince Camuto, @vincecamuto / Earrings: Maria Elena Bridal, @mariaelenaheadpieces / Makeup + Hair: Valeria Yermak, @valeria.makeup.hair
