Their love story as told my Alec:

Stef and I met at a wedding rehearsal dinner in August 2014 held at St. Maarten’s on the Corner in Charlottesville. During the rehearsal, the bride-to-be told a story about how she knew she was going to marry her future husband the day she met him. Stef went home that night thinking about how crazy that idea was and she recalls saying, “That’s like me marrying that guy that I just met tonight! It just doesn’t happen.” The following evening, we attended the wedding reception at the Doubletree Hotel where we talked and danced the night away. The reception ended at 10PM but we were still chatting on an ottoman outside the ballroom until 3 in the morning. Stef still jokes to this day about how quickly I accepted her Facebook friend request the next day” he literally accepted within 30 seconds, and I’m not exaggerating in the slightest.” Later that month, Stef and I returned to UVA for our 3rd and 2nd years, respectively. What initially started as seeing each other a few times per week quickly turned into daily hangouts and late nights watching Friends (I had never seen the show, but it is Stef’s absolute favorite). During one of those late nights on August 30, 2014, I asked Stef to be my girlfriend and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

We continued to bond over our shared love of UVA sports, movies (anything with Will Ferrell & Melissa McCarthy), TV shows, and food. At a certain point, we adopted the phrase #wats (we are the same) because the number of similarities between us was too many to count. Our biggest similarity was our love for UVA basketball. If there was a home game, you would know exactly where to find us. We would wait outside of John Paul Jones arena for hours waiting to get “our” seats in the third row behind the visiting bench. Our dedication was so strong that Stef hobbled to JPJ on crutches for the majority of the 2016/2017 season and would fight the massive crowds as they all pushed to get to the good seats. I still don’t know how she beat me a few times. Many of our notable road trips have also been centered around sports. We’ve been to North Carolina twice now just for the sports (once for a Duke football game and once for a UNC basketball game) and have been to countless D.C. sports games.

So it only seemed fitting that I would propose while en route to a UVA football game on September 2, 2017. As we were walking to the game, I pulled Stef into Garden V next to the Lawn and asked her to marry me. Thankfully she said yes! That night we celebrated at Lampo, Stef’s number one favorite restaurant. Stef accomplished her life goal of becoming a “regular” when they remembered her order after 4 months of being away from Charlottesville.

There are too many things to say about Stef and what I love about her, but I can try. She is intensely passionate (about Italy, Neapolitan pizza, wine, and developing others/teaching); she is the funniest person I have ever met and can always make me laugh; she is incredibly brilliant and beautiful (even though she never believes me when I tell her); and she cares about me so much (always willing to help me, cheer me up, let me annoyingly watch sports, and do all of the seemingly little things to make me happy). She is incredibly responsible, and I truly believe she is capable of anything to which she sets her mind.

Their love story as told by Stephanie:

On one of our first dates, Alec and I went to Kings Dominion, which is one of my favorite places in the world. I remember coming home that night and explaining to my parents how I had finally met someone who loved roller coasters as much as I did. I told them, “I have really met my match.” What I didn’t know at the time was that my statement was true on more levels than just roller coasters. I had finally met my partner and my best friend. Alec is the kindest, smartest, most passionate person I know. He is always looking out for others and giving 110% to his colleagues, his friends, his family, and me. Even when he is having a bad day, he always puts his concerns aside to make sure I’m having a good day. He not only supports me in every way, but he challenges me to be a better person. Many times, I find myself thinking, “What would Alec do?” His positive attitude and permanent smile never fail to brighten my day. It’s all the little things he does for me that really make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. The random flowers he brings home after work “just because” or the foot massage I receive without asking because he knows I was on my feet all day or the offer to go to my favorite restaurant even though he’s tired of eating pizza for the third Friday in a row. The list could go on forever. Before I met Alec, I would think about the type of man I would want to marry and it would always boil down to one thing I wanted my husband to be my best friend. A month from now Alec will be my husband, but he is already and will always be my best friend.

Ceremony Venue | UVA Chapel

Reception Venue | Early Mountain Vineyards

Dress | Oleg Cassini

Florals | The Posey Detail

Hair + Makeup | Charlottesville Makeup Artist

Planning | Helen Osinga

DJ | Black Tie Entertainment

Videographer | White Flair Productions

Cake | Passionflower Cakes

Catering | The Local

Groom Attire | Jos. A Bank

Bridesmaid Attire | Bill Levkoff

Invitations | Minted

Rentals | MS Events

Early Mountain Vineyards Wedding | Charlottesville Virginia Photographer