Photography: Irina Morina
MUAH: Yana Ermakova
Event Planner: @wowitaly_events

We are used to believing that we control our own destiny, plotting routes on maps and in our phones. But love has its own navigation system. It finds us exactly when we are ready — and exactly where we are meant to be. We can make wishes while watching shooting stars or plan years ahead, yet true happiness often waits just around the most unexpected corner — perhaps on the next street, or perhaps on the other side of the world.

From Novosibirsk to the Capital of Classical Music to Meet Love

Daria was born in snow-covered Novosibirsk. Thousands of kilometers away, in Germany, Daniel was growing up. At first glance, what chances could a girl from a distant Siberian city and a young man from Germany have to ever meet and create their own universe? Yet a few years ago, Daria moved to Austria to study at a university in Vienna. It was there that fate brought our newlyweds together.

For more than two years, Daria had been following our wedding Instagram account. She watched our couples and quietly dreamed of her own Italian fairytale. When Daniel proposed, the question of the wedding location was already decided — it had to be Italy. At first, they dreamed of sharing the day with their loved ones, but logistics had other plans: bringing together family from Siberia and Germany in one place at the same time proved almost impossible. That was when Daria and Daniel made the most meaningful decision — not to give up on their dream, but to make the day deeply personal. A wedding for two: their rhythm, their vows, and their Italy.

The Town of Tivoli — a Timeless Gem

The beginning of their family story unfolded in Tivoli — a town just 30 minutes from Rome, rightfully considered a gem of the Lazio region. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Tivoli feels like a living setting from a historical novel. The town is famous for its cascading waterfalls and magnificent villas once favored by Roman emperors and cardinals. Here, time seems to slow down, and in its narrow streets you can still sense the breath of authentic, non-touristic Italy. This atmosphere of noble antiquity and seclusion became the perfect backdrop for their intimate celebration.

The wedding day began in silence. We carefully designed the timeline so that the morning would be filled with calm and relaxation. While Daria was in the caring hands of her stylist, Daniel had time to enjoy an Italian coffee and quietly reflect on the words of his wedding vows.

Vows Beneath Ancient Frescoes and the Magic of Rome

The official ceremony took place at the Tivoli town hall, in an 18th-century hall whose walls are adorned with authentic ancient frescoes. The registrar’s words were spoken in melodic Italian, with simultaneous translation into German, creating a beautiful symphony of languages. Despite the absence of guests, Daria wished to preserve meaningful traditions: there was a wedding dance and the cutting of a white cake — their first shared dessert as husband and wife.

After the official ceremony, we headed to Rome. The Eternal City welcomed us with soft evening light. A photoshoot at Rome’s panoramic viewpoints is always pure magic, but that day had something even more special in store. Daria had a dream — to toss her bridal bouquet, passing on the symbol of happiness. We planned to gather a few random tourists on one of the squares, but the Eternal City had a surprise of its own.

At the very moment Daria was ready to throw the bouquet, an incredible scene unfolded right beside us: a young man dropped to one knee and proposed to his beloved. The symbolism was so powerful that Daria, without hesitation, approached and handed her bouquet to the bride-to-be — a gesture from someone who had become a wife just an hour earlier, someone who had only moments before said her own heartfelt “Yes.”