Alethea has lived in Italy for over a decade, serving as a missionary in Rome and Naples after moving there from California. Dima grew up in Ukraine before moving to Germany, where he’s now a student. The two met at a church retreat, when Dima noticed Alethea asleep on a couch during a group hangout and thought she looked like Sleeping Beauty. He fell for her on the spot, and the next day, they began talking. Two people from opposite corners of Europe, meeting by chance at a retreat, felt like providence. A month later, they were dating, and a year after that, Dima proposed on the coast of Gaeta.
Location: Naples, Italy
Style: Elegant, Classy, Timeless
Season: Spring
Time of planning: 7 months
Number of guests: 110
Setting: Coastal Venue
This Italian wedding was an absolute dream. Nestled in the cliffs above Naples, overlooking the coast, the setting was the perfect place for two people to promise each other forever. The couple knew exactly what they wanted: something elegant and timeless that would still feel intimate despite the larger guest list, and the love in the room, paired with those views, left everyone breathless. Alethea and her sister took the lead on planning the wedding themselves, with her sister, a wedding florist by trade, designing the florals. Their vision came together as classic Italian elegance with a colorful spring twist. Every bit of it was captured by Emma Borushko, whose photography carries a natural, unstaged warmth that made the day feel just as intimate on camera as it did in person.
Fashion
For her dress, Alethea wore a custom, minimalist gown handcrafted by Hadassa Bridal. The morning itself was calm and beautiful; stunning views stretched out around her, and family and friends were close by as she got ready.
The groom’s suit came from Germany and is part of the FlexDon collection by Finshley & Harding London. Their goal for both looks was simple: classy and elegant, nothing more.
First Look & Photos
For the groom, the most memorable moments of the day came during the first look, a private moment that gave the couple time alone together before the ceremony, when he was left completely speechless, and later, receiving a heartfelt blessing from his parents.
"Emma is a total gem! She made the entire experience feel so natural and effortless, never forced or staged. I showed her a few reference photos, and she somehow managed to exceed every single one of them!!! Loved our photos, would definitely recommend!"
Ceremony
The ceremony took place overlooking the coastline of Naples, chosen for a location that could fit everyone comfortably while still feeling private and unique. Cala Moresca gave them exactly that: the perfect Italian setting for the day. Despite a forecast calling for rain, they were blessed with bright, clear skies, amazing food, and views that left everyone speechless. “It was perfection in every sense,” they say.
"The beautiful location, family and friends coming from all over the world to celebrate, spending time with one another the next day, and having friends and family join for the second-day shoot. Dads exchanging “home slippers” so they have shoes to wear when they come over."
Reception
The reception took place in the Cala Moresca room, the decor kept minimalist in a way that perfectly reflected the newlyweds’ own aesthetic. Speeches filled the evening, along with an outpouring of wishes from everyone there, and by the end of the night, Alethea and Dima felt beyond happy.
As the light shifted into golden hour, Alethea and Dima stepped away for portraits, the warm evening glow settling over the coast around them. Later, once it got darker, the celebration moved outdoors again for the cake cutting, a three-tier design that closed out the night just as beautifully as it had begun.
Day Two
Advice from the couple:
• Our advice is to cherish every moment, even the unexpected ones. You won’t remember the setbacks, only the joy. Make this day beautiful and memorable, it’s the day you commit to loving each other for the rest of your lives.
