Their story feels almost inevitable: Ariela, raised as a missionary kid in Eastern Europe, and Vinny, growing up among the flatlands and steppes of Central Asia, connected by lives shaped across borders and cultures. Their families’ histories intertwined long before they fell in love, rooted in a friendship formed by their grandparents during missionary work in Papua New Guinea. Though they had known each other their entire lives, their relationship blossomed during high school and college, carrying with it a deep sense of intention, faith, and shared calling that shaped every choice of their wedding day.

When Eastern Europe and Central Asia Meet

Designed with a refined, old-money Slavic aesthetic and captured through a film-inspired lens, their wedding was a true missionary-kid gathering, beautifully multicultural and deeply symbolic. The ceremony followed Slavic Orthodox tradition, filled with sung worship and the powerful moment of their first steps together beneath a connected crown. The celebration continued with Eastern European table spreads, a cake cut with a Kyrgyz knife, and thoughtful cultural details woven throughout. For their grand exit, Ariela and Vinny changed into classic Eastern European tracksuits, ending the day with joy, humor, and a reflection of the many cultures that shaped their love.