Rachel and Winnie planned their Bella Sera wedding as a long-awaited reunion of family and friends. The pandemic lockdown happened shortly after their engagement, giving them little time to celebrate – but that only made their wedding day even more meaningful. Brad Riggio Photography captured the day beautifully, photographing the warm, inviting atmosphere. The decor featured colors designed to stand out against the dark, gray tones of winter, with moody florals by greenSinner – including a dramatic altar arrangement bursting with rich jewel tones. Rachel wore a vintage-inspired gown from Bridal Beginning, paired with a sparkling hair vine, while Winnie donned a suit from Bindle and Keep. Her bridal party also wore complementary suits to match the aesthetic. One of the couple’s most memorable moments came after the ceremony when they set off smoke flares with their wedding party, creating an unforgettable rainbow of color.
About the Couple
Rachel and Winnie met at a Halloween party through mutual friends. At the time, Rachel was in pharmacy school, and Winnie was in dental school at the University of Pittsburgh. Their engagement took place on the black sands of Diamond Beach in Iceland – one of Rachel’s dream destinations. Knowing this, Winnie couldn’t think of a more perfect place to pop the question than on their trip.
About the Wedding
From the couple…
Our main goal (other than getting married) was to create a fun and light atmosphere where our guests could be with us and reconnect – and to make sure they all had a blast. We loved that the dance floor stayed packed until the very last second and that everyone enjoyed the photo booth whenever they needed a break from dancing.
As for inspiration, we knew mid-November is usually dark and gloomy, so we wanted colors that would stand out against the gray – just like our love. We chose emerald green as the main color, paired with moody florals in deep purples, dark reds, and burnt oranges, with gold accents to create a soft elegance and warm atmosphere. The most unique part of our wedding was setting off rainbow smoke flares with our wedding party after the ceremony.
Favorite Moment
Though it’s hard to pick just one, our favorite moment was our first look. In the whirlwind of the day it gave us a moment of stillness to remember what this was all about.
