Pop Culture Inspirational Real Wedding stories

Rustic-Eclectic Wes Anderson-Inspired Beach Wedding at The Ritz Carlton in Dubai

Elis Bechir and Raffy Etyemezian’s love story began in the heart of Dubai, where the two first met at a rooftop lounge overlooking the Arabian Gulf. What started as a few chance meetings quickly evolved into something deeper. The pair found joy in each other’s company, often sharing lighthearted ...

Industrial Vibes Meet Disco Fever at This Wedding at 74Wythe in Brooklyn, New York

Bianca Volpetti and Dillon Balsamo’s love story is one deeply rooted in family ties and longer-than-life connections. As Bianca would say, “Our story runs deep.” Their grandfathers shared an enduring friendship, having grown up together in Brooklyn. “They were best friends their whole lives,” Bia...

A Vibrant "Havana Nights"-Inspired Wedding at The Bath Club in Miami Beach

A simple swipe on a dating app led to something extraordinary for grooms Frank and Alex. “Sparks flew for us, igniting a connection that transcended screens and pixels,” Alex recalls. Their bond only grew stronger, evolving from late-night conversations to shared dreams and adventures. Twelve yea...

Comedian Naomi Ekperigin Weds in Laid-Back Nuptials at The Fig House in Los Angeles

Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman met over a decade ago while taking improv classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City; the beginning of the perfect rom-com if we’ve ever heard one (and very fitting, as Naomi is a stand-up comedian in addition to being an actress, writer an...

Disco and Carnival Vibes Filled This Vibrant Pink Wedding at 501 Union in Brooklyn, New York

Molly Sprick and Andrew Reid’s story began at George Mason University, where the world of theater brought them together. “Andrew was a playwriting major, and I was close friends with many of the theater students, so our meeting was inevitable,” Molly recalls. Their first encounter happened in the...

A Fun-Loving Couple's Autumn Wedding at the Inn at Taughannock Falls in Trumansburg, New York

Meeting through mutual friends, Jane Blatz and Ryan Meissner felt a spark of connection that was rekindled time and again at various gatherings and events. Over the years, their paths crossed often enough that a deep familiarity grew between them. It was during one such intersection at a Buffalo ...

A Dazzling Disco Wedding at The James Museum in Saint Petersburg, Florida

Cruises and music: These two seemingly disparate things just so happen to be the perfect ingredients for love. For David Bevis (33, a real estate advisor) and Brian Gay (31, a real estate agent), fate brought them together on the open seas. The couple’s meet-cute embarked seven years prior to the...

Pastel Blue and Purple Set an Enchanting Tone at This Wedding at Cactus Moon Lodge in Dripping Springs, Texas

The unlikely beginning of Mikaela Volpicelli and Britton Gammons’ love story unfolded in the heart of San Diego. Mikaela recalls, “He was my neighbor. I essentially got hollered one day off his balcony, and the rest was history.” This serendipitous moment marked the start of an undeniable connect...

A Bright and Boisterous Beach Wedding at The Cape in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

During the middle of the pandemic, many sought entertainment and solace online. This was true for Darsie Williams Maddox and Alex Maddox, whose love story began on Bumble in November 2020. Darsie recalls the instant she met Alex, "It just felt like meeting an old friend!" This sentiment laid the ...

This TikTok Influencer's Garden Wedding at Wave Hill in the Bronx Could Inspire Fairytales

99% of the time, “swiping right” on a dating app won’t get you to forever—but all you need is that one time. And for Kelly Procida and Andy Stranick, it was the first time! “He was my first and only Hinge date; talk about efficiency!” laughs the bride. Their relationship blossomed, and on a chill...

Disco Cowboys, Prepare to Swoon Over This Retro Wedding at The Addison Grove in Austin, Texas

A chance encounter at a local dive bar in Kenmore, Washington, sparked the beginning of Nikki Lang and Dustin Bowman’s forever. Fast forward to a magical moment at Disney World, where Dustin planned a surprise that would forever change their lives. “He proposed in a secluded enclave at the France...

The Legend of Zelda Inspired This Couple's Magical Wedding at Cielo Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California

Sometimes, the hallowed halls of your university are an idyllic place to form a love connection. Peyton Pierce reminisces on the start of her relationship with Mathew (Mat) Paton, "We met in college at what Mat would like to say was a party, but it was really a sorority fundraiser." Sparks flew o...

Romantic Meets Edgy at One Couple’s Personalized Wedding at Valentine in Downtown LA

“Ryan recognized me from Tinder as a fellow Chapman University alum, but I had ignored him on the app,” laughs Syndey Westra, recounting the day she met her future husband, Ryan, at a bar in Los Angeles. Only minutes into their conversation, Ryan asked Sydney to a concert the very next day. They ...

This Wedding at Basilica Hudson in Upstate New York is a Masterclass in Rocking Bold Colors

Brittany Hicks and Manny Sevillano’s love story is a testament to the power of friendship, laughter and dance. Their journey began in college, where they had many mutual friends but didn’t know each other very well. They reunited in New York City after graduation and quickly became close friends,...

Calling All Wes Anderson Fans—This Quirky Wedding at The Cracker Factory in Geneva, New York, Is for You

Jenny and Steve Manganaro’s love story began with a serendipitous introduction by the bride’s cousin and his wife. What started as a simple friendship became a romance transcending geographical barriers. The pair remained committed despite Steve’s relocation to Los Angeles to pursue his career in...

Inside Influencer Sean Taylor's Elopement With a Campy, Vintage-Inspired After-Party at The Village Café in Richmond, Virginia

Within the last few years—and with a global pandemic that set every event back a year or two—some sweethearts have been electing to elope or host microweddings before a larger sequel wedding. Sean Taylor (a style influencer and a season-one contestant on Netflix’s "The Circle") and Eric Carlstrom...

An Interior Design Influencer’s Bright, 1970s-Inspired Wedding at Gather Greene in Coxsackie, New York

When both the bride and groom are musicians, you can expect a distinctive, rockin’ style in every wedding detail. “I wanted the decor to truly feel like us,” Jessie Ruane—a musician, actor and interior design influencer—says. “Our apartment in Brooklyn has retro vibes, so we wanted to use that as...

This Hollywood Couple Hosted a Star-Studded Desert Wedding at Merv Griffin Estate in La Quinta, California

Growing up in Los Angeles, Chloe Sonnenfeld, daughter of American filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld, inevitably developed some favorite haunts. So, when it came time for her beloved—Peter Brunette—to pop the question, he knew just where to do it. “I spent a lot of time at the Hotel Bel-Air with my famil...

A Retro Tie-Dye Wedding for Two “Deadheads” at The Langham Huntington in Pasadena, California

After Casey Regan made a sweet comment about Monique Gray’s job after the two matched on a dating app, they met up at a wine bar in Orange County, California. Spontaneity followed the couple throughout their relationship: all the way through to the proposal date. “The proposal happened in the bac...

How One Film Director Created a Celebration of Cinema for Her Wedding at Hotel Peter & Paul in New Orleans

When moving back to her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, during the pandemic, Jaclyn Bethany—a writer, director and actor known for her work in Indigo Valley and The Delta Girl—probably didn’t expect to meet her future husband: Brian Chadwick. “Brian and I had a lot of crossover growing up, but ...

Pops of Color Wowed at This Three-Culture Wedding at Casa de la Guerra in Santa Barbara, California

For graduate school sweethearts Tara Mohseni and Rishi Gupta, wedding planning was all about focus. “Start your planning with a couple of high-level intentions for your wedding day and when you inevitably get bogged down in details, come back to those,” Tara advises of future couples. For them, t...