Elizaveta and Leo’s wedding in St. Petersburg was nothing short of a dream — a celebration that artfully balanced design, intimacy, and joy. Set in the heart of a stunning castle, their big day felt like something from the pages of a fairytale. The ceremony was especially touching, with the couple exchanging vows beneath a heartbreakingly sweet giant blush pink bow, a playful touch symbolizing the unity of their love. The reception continued the heartfelt whimsy, donning a single custom-made infinity shaped dining table, dotted in eclectic pink flowers and tapered candles, for an intimate, romantic ambiance. Elizaveta stunned in her unique bridal look, a blazer with an open back, embellished with their initials and the word "LOVE," paired with a simple cut skirt. Their special day perfectly captured the essence of the couple — romantic, dynamic, and full of love — a celebration that will be remembered as much for its beauty as for its joy.
Our Love Story
The Day We Met
Our story began 10 years ago, when we were both searching for dance partners. It turned out that Leo already knew me since he had coached dancers who competed against me in tournaments. At that time, I turned him down, but over the next few years, Leo asked me to dance with him two more times. While we never became dance partners, that was how our journey together started.
The Proposal
Our engagement took place during our first vacation together in Sri Lanka. I had a feeling the proposal was coming, but I didn’t know when. On one of our last evenings, Leo surprised me by saying, “I came here with my girlfriend, but I want to leave with my fiancée.” Of course, I said yes immediately. That night, the hotel had live music, and we requested a song that now always reminds me of that moment. A year later, I walked down the aisle to that same song at our wedding.
The Engagement Ring
I always knew Leo would propose eventually, so I had been subtly sending him references to rings I liked!
Our Wedding
The Vision
Honestly, the wedding wasn’t something I considered very important. It was Leo who insisted: “When else will we gather everyone together like this?” I didn’t have any vision or references in mind at first. But after scrolling through Instagram for inspiration, we decided that if we were going to have a wedding, we’d make it as amazing as our budget allowed. This is how our talks with wedding planners began.
It was important to hold the wedding in St. Petersburg, even though we had dreamt of an Italian celebration. We wanted to invite more friends for a loud party with a DJ and familiar songs. It was essential to have our relatives there, especially those who couldn’t travel to Dubai, like our grandparents. I wanted a touching ceremony, a refined dinner, and a powerful dance party. We were inspired by Italy’s elegance, and the venue gave us the opportunity to have many parts of the celebration outdoors. We trusted our planners and chose from their recommendations. It was important for us to select the best from what was offered, relying 100% on the expertise of the professionals.
Our Team of Vendors
I had been following “Cheers” for a long time and admired their work. I loved that weddings could be both beautiful, lively, and fun. Likewise, I’m all about aesthetics, and Cheers really resonated with my vision and vibe.
The Location
We had several options in mind, but only had one opportunity to fly from Dubai to St. Petersburg to visit venues in person, and that was during the winter. So, we had just a couple of days to decide. We imagined a lot, looked at many photos, and finally chose the Bip Castle. We loved that the venue allowed us to extend the party until nearly sunrise. And that’s exactly what we did — we partied until 5:30 a.m. It was the perfect choice.
The Ceremony
I believe the ceremony turned out very touching, even though I was so nervous that I barely remember half of it! We exchanged vows and rings, which made it incredibly special. Initially, I had imagined a different location for the ceremony and walking down a long aisle with my dad. However, since we finalized the decor details just a month before the wedding, we had to adjust the plan. It all worked out beautifully in the end.
The Reception
Our reception was exactly what we dreamed of — a blend of elegance, fun, and energy. We started with a beautiful, intimate dinner with our closest family and friends. The atmosphere was warm, filled with heartfelt speeches, lots of laughter, and delicious food. After the formal part, the real celebration began! We had a DJ playing all our favorite songs, and we danced until the early morning hours. The vibe was lively and festive — just what we envisioned. One of the standout details was the beautifully decorated dinner table shaped like an infinity symbol, which truly impressed all our guests.
The Special Touches
There were a few special moments that made our day truly unique. First, we danced to the song Leo proposed with — Lionel Richie - «Hello». This added a deeply personal and emotional touch to the evening. Second, the venue itself was unforgettable. Bip Castle, adorned with a giant pink bow, was at our full disposal for 24 hours, allowing our guests to stay overnight right in the castle without any rush or hassle. And third, our infinity-shaped curved table was a true showstopper. Photos of the table and our wedding spread across popular wedding blogs and social media within days of being posted, making it one of the highlights of the event.
Our Favorite Moment
It’s hard to pick just one favorite moment from the day, but I truly loved how we spent the evening before and how we woke up in the castle on the morning of our wedding. It was such a memorable experience to sit and have breakfast in the courtyard, knowing that in just a few hours, this very place would be transformed into a party in our honor.
Our Style
The Bridal Look
I had three different looks for the wedding day. For the morning photoshoot, I wore a light, semi-transparent dress that felt elegant and airy. My main outfit was a bit more unique — a jacket with an open back, customized with embellishments of our initials and the word "LOVE", paired with a long white skirt. For the disco, I switched the jacket for a corset, as it was much more comfortable for dancing!
The Groom’s Look
Leo wore custom-tailored trousers paired with a cream-colored jacket and a shirt with a bow tie. Everything was made to order by "House of Leo," which was especially meaningful since the name of the atelier matched the groom’s name!
Our Advice
For The Planning Process
Choose wedding planners with whom you feel a connection and trust them. They know this process better than you, and their expertise will help bring your vision to life.
For On The Day
Relax and enjoy the beauty and significance of the day. This is your day — soak in every moment and celebrate it to the fullest.
For Post-Wedding
Make sure to dedicate time to one another. Spend quiet moments together, talk about your plans and future, and savor the beginning of this new chapter!
Vendors
Photography: Pavel Golubnichy
Videography: Vitaliy Shestakov
Wedding Planner: Cheers
Venue, Catering & Cake: Castle Bip
Florist: Luzhaika Decor
Music: Kirill Budaev
Hair & Makeup: Kuzmina Stylist
Style
Bridal Dress: Say No More
Bridal Shoes: Le Silla , Zara
Bridal Jewelry: Wedery.ru
Wedding Ring: Tiffany & Co.
Engagement Ring: Epl Diamond
Groom: HouseofLeo.ru
