An Afterparty-Coded City Wedding in the Heart of Sofia, Bulgaria

Victor and Bojidara’s wedding in the heart of Sofia was a perfectly timed collision of intuition, style, and pure energy. Hidden just behind the National Gallery, their chosen venue held a quiet promise that turned into a vibrant, limitless celebration as night fell. Following their instinct, they designed a single long table stretching through the space. Minimal yet striking, it brought everyone together in an intimate yet electric way. Bojidara’s look mirrored that same clarity of vision: a custom gown that balanced clean lines with delicate lace and a subtle sensual edge. From an intimate church ceremony to a tequila-fueled dance floor, the energy shifted seamlessly into a full-scale party that lasted until dawn. Captured by THE WED member Nina Zverkova, every frame holds that rare mix of intention and spontaneity where style meets feeling and nothing feels overdone.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We have known each other since primary school. Back then, we didn’t pay attention to each other. Later, as teenagers, we became good friends. My husband went to study abroad, and we went our separate ways for a few years. One summer, our paths crossed again on a Greek island, and almost instantly we both knew we wanted to be more than friends. We went through a rough patch of a long-distance relationship, but we never gave up on each other. My husband decided to return from the United States after college (he always says he did that for me). From the moment he returned, we have been side by side, and I don’t think either of us had second thoughts about spending the rest of our lives together long before we got to the actual wedding.

^{The Proposal}

He proposed on Mount Vitosha, our home mountain near Sofia. I was nine months pregnant and, not surprisingly, I didn’t want to go hiking at all that day. It was one of the last sunny days of the year, so it did make sense to go for a short hike, but deep down I knew something was up. Of course, there were clues: a ring of mine had gone missing for some time and then magically resurfaced; most of all, he was far too insistent on going hiking with his nine-month-pregnant wife.

^{The Engagement Ring}

We had both known for some time that we wanted to spend our lives together before the proposal, engagement, and wedding actually happened. Those were simply celebrations of a choice we had already made in our hearts. However, I am a tough nut to crack when it comes to satisfying my taste and sense of style. That being said, I made sure to give clear instructions about my potential ring, veiled behind casual jokes or remarks here and there. My husband paid attention to the clues and delivered exactly what I imagined: a beautiful 1-carat, cushion-shaped diamond on an elegant gold ring.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

We wanted a stylish, chic city wedding. Our main goal was simply to have a great time and celebrate with the people we love. We wanted the day to feel relaxed and fun—basically a big party. Hence the name of the wedding: Love Party. That’s exactly how it turned out—a blast of a party until dawn. I’m generally very decisive and had a clear vision from the beginning, so I never really had a moment of doubt about how, where, or what I wanted for our wedding day.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

Most of the people we worked with were people we know and appreciate. One of the main highlights among our vendors was L'instant Catering, who are exceptional professionals. They adapted to every unexpected hurdle on the wedding day and delivered phenomenal food, just as they promised. Both of us are foodies, so that aspect of the celebration was important to us, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the choice we made.

^{The Location}

Some would say that the choice of venue was a huge gamble. I would say it was a well-calculated bet that turned into a winner. The location is in the heart of Sofia, just behind the National Gallery of Art. The venue used to be a tacky bar that was far from popular. We received “inside information” that the bar was being acquired by a family friend who is notoriously successful in developing bars and clubs. We decided to trust his reputation and booked the venue when renovations began, without a guarantee of the final result. As soon as it opened, it became one of Sofia’s busiest nightlife spots. Located behind the National Gallery and surrounded by a park, the setting is romantic, yet it boasts one critical advantage for party lovers like us and our friends: no noise limit. Nearby, there are only administrative buildings, so there is nobody to complain if you’re loud. We fully exploited that and shook the center of Sofia with disco vibes until the sun rose.

^{The Ceremony}

The main point of the wedding was to celebrate with friends. We decided to keep the rituals to a minimum and focus on having fun. We were both raised Christian, so the church ceremony was the only ritual we wanted. We had our civil ceremony at the beginning of the summer, shared only with our families. The church ceremony took place in one of the most emblematic and oldest churches in Sofia, where both my husband and our daughter were baptized. One of the most heartwarming moments was that the priest who baptized our daughter also, by chance, performed our wedding ceremony.

^{The Cocktail Hour & Reception}

The cocktail hour took place right after the church ceremony. It was the only moment when the atmosphere was calm and people could enjoy conversation with a nice drink. However, there was a hint of what was to come: part of the cocktail hour included a welcome drink in the form of a shot, which set the tone for the night. It ended with 22 bottles of tequila—all consumed as shots. In other words, the cocktail hour and reception were the “calm before the storm” of our wedding.

^{The Special Touches}

We wanted everything to feel very personal and true to us. Instead of following too many formal traditions (something typical for Eastern European weddings), we focused on creating a casual yet stylish atmosphere where everyone could feel comfortable and simply celebrate with us. The most special part was having all the people we love together in one place. We didn’t focus on extensive decorations—the main highlight was a single long table stretching across the entire venue, where we all sat together. Another special touch was our gift to each guest: porcelain hearts, each designed and handcrafted by me.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

We can’t really pinpoint a single favorite moment. The entire day felt special, and each part holds a place in our hearts—from the church ceremony to the cocktail hour and then the wild party. It all blends into a feeling of euphoria that I can almost relive just by thinking about it.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

From the very beginning, I knew exactly what I wanted and didn’t follow trends. I know what suits me and what I like, and I was very happy when I went to Sara, the designer, and she agreed to create the dress entirely based on my vision. I wanted a combination of elegance and a touch of sexiness, so I chose a clean silhouette that highlights my body, with lace and a subtle hint of transparency. For my hair and makeup, I also chose a look that suits me and makes me feel comfortable, beautiful, and like myself.

^{The Groom’s Look}

I was completely behind Viktor’s look, and he trusted me entirely, knowing I have a good sense of style. I wanted his outfit to feel relaxed yet elegant, so we chose a slightly looser-fit suit with no tie or bow tie.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

My advice to couples is to truly do what feels right for them and not be overly influenced by others’ opinions, even those closely involved in the planning. At the end of the day, it’s their wedding and their moment, so the most important thing is that it reflects who they are. It’s also important to find people you trust and whose vision aligns with yours, so you can rely on them throughout the process.

^{For On The Day}

Don’t take things too seriously. Just enjoy your day and, most importantly, have fun!

^{For Post-Wedding}

After the wedding, take some time to slow down and enjoy the feeling of it all. The day passes so quickly, so it’s wonderful to relive the memories through photos and simply appreciate the moment you shared with the people you love.