Wedding Day

Lakeview Wesleyan Church 

Ceremony

The Covenant Place Event Center

Reception

Our Wedding

Vinny&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;have&nbsp;known&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;since&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;little,&nbsp;so&nbsp;this&nbsp;story&nbsp;does&nbsp;not&nbsp;involve&nbsp;a&nbsp;meet-cute.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;friends&nbsp;with&nbsp;his&nbsp;brother,&nbsp;who&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;age&nbsp;as&nbsp;me,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Vinny&nbsp;was&nbsp;friends&nbsp;with&nbsp;my&nbsp;younger&nbsp;brother.&nbsp;I&nbsp;always&nbsp;considered&nbsp;Vinny&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;little&nbsp;brother's&nbsp;annoying&nbsp;friends&nbsp;until&nbsp;I&nbsp;graduated&nbsp;high&nbsp;school.&nbsp;At&nbsp;that&nbsp;point,&nbsp;we&nbsp;became&nbsp;friends,&nbsp;too,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;really&nbsp;enjoyed&nbsp;talking&nbsp;to&nbsp;him.&nbsp;When&nbsp;I&nbsp;saw&nbsp;him&nbsp;and&nbsp;his&nbsp;family&nbsp;that&nbsp;summer&nbsp;after&nbsp;graduation,&nbsp;Vinny&nbsp;stuck&nbsp;out&nbsp;the&nbsp;most;&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;super&nbsp;kind,&nbsp;smart,&nbsp;and&nbsp;tall.&nbsp;He&nbsp;had&nbsp;grown&nbsp;up&nbsp;a&nbsp;lot.&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;cute. A&nbsp;week&nbsp;or&nbsp;so&nbsp;later,&nbsp;I&nbsp;needed&nbsp;details&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;future&nbsp;hang-out&nbsp;with&nbsp;our&nbsp;families.&nbsp;Instead&nbsp;of&nbsp;asking&nbsp;Freeman,&nbsp;his&nbsp;brother,&nbsp;I&nbsp;decided&nbsp;to&nbsp;ask&nbsp;Vinny,&nbsp;hoping&nbsp;it&nbsp;would&nbsp;lead&nbsp;to&nbsp;more&nbsp;time&nbsp;together.&nbsp;And&nbsp;it&nbsp;did!&nbsp;We&nbsp;began&nbsp;texting&nbsp;every&nbsp;day&nbsp;all&nbsp;summer.&nbsp;When&nbsp;I&nbsp;went&nbsp;to&nbsp;college&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;returned&nbsp;home&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;summer,&nbsp;we&nbsp;continued&nbsp;texting&nbsp;and&nbsp;video&nbsp;chatting. A&nbsp;year&nbsp;later,&nbsp;when&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;in&nbsp;person,&nbsp;we&nbsp;went&nbsp;on&nbsp;our&nbsp;first&nbsp;date,&nbsp;sitting&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;pond&nbsp;dock,&nbsp;eating&nbsp;Magnum&nbsp;Minis,&nbsp;already&nbsp;very&nbsp;much&nbsp;in&nbsp;love&nbsp;with&nbsp;each&nbsp;other.&nbsp;That&nbsp;love&nbsp;has&nbsp;only&nbsp;continued&nbsp;to&nbsp;grow. On&nbsp;August&nbsp;18th,&nbsp;Vinny&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;went&nbsp;out&nbsp;to&nbsp;celebrate&nbsp;our&nbsp;second&nbsp;anniversary;&nbsp;much&nbsp;later,&nbsp;after&nbsp;our&nbsp;date,&nbsp;Vinny&nbsp;proposed,&nbsp;asking&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;his&nbsp;wife.&nbsp;I&nbsp;fell&nbsp;in&nbsp;love&nbsp;with&nbsp;Vinny&nbsp;in&nbsp;2021&nbsp;and&nbsp;will&nbsp;continue&nbsp;falling&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;life,&nbsp;only&nbsp;now&nbsp;as&nbsp;his&nbsp;wife!

Ariela's Version

The&nbsp;Nettletons&nbsp;have&nbsp;been&nbsp;our&nbsp;close&nbsp;friends&nbsp;for&nbsp;many&nbsp;years,&nbsp;which&nbsp;led&nbsp;to&nbsp;lots&nbsp;of&nbsp;time&nbsp;spent&nbsp;together.&nbsp;The&nbsp;summer&nbsp;before&nbsp;my&nbsp;senior&nbsp;year&nbsp;of&nbsp;high&nbsp;school&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;US&nbsp;and&nbsp;were&nbsp;celebrating&nbsp;my&nbsp;brother's&nbsp;graduation&nbsp;at&nbsp;Shunem&nbsp;House.&nbsp;Ariela&nbsp;caught&nbsp;my&nbsp;eye&nbsp;that&nbsp;day&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time,&nbsp;and&nbsp;most&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;not&nbsp;the&nbsp;last&nbsp;time.&nbsp;She&nbsp;had&nbsp;grown&nbsp;into&nbsp;a&nbsp;very&nbsp;intelligent,&nbsp;beautiful,&nbsp;and&nbsp;socially&nbsp;pleasant&nbsp;woman.&nbsp;Realizing&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;one&nbsp;more&nbsp;year&nbsp;of&nbsp;school&nbsp;overseas&nbsp;and&nbsp;not&nbsp;seeing&nbsp;how&nbsp;on&nbsp;earth&nbsp;I&nbsp;could&nbsp;end&nbsp;up&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;girl&nbsp;like&nbsp;her,&nbsp;I&nbsp;decided&nbsp;to&nbsp;not&nbsp;give&nbsp;the&nbsp;subject&nbsp;too&nbsp;much&nbsp;thought.&nbsp;That&nbsp;all&nbsp;changed&nbsp;when&nbsp;she&nbsp;texted&nbsp;me,&nbsp;instead&nbsp;of&nbsp;anyone&nbsp;else,&nbsp;asking&nbsp;about&nbsp;plans&nbsp;for&nbsp;an&nbsp;upcoming&nbsp;hangout.&nbsp;Since&nbsp;then&nbsp;Ariela&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;have&nbsp;only&nbsp;grown&nbsp;closer&nbsp;together&nbsp;in&nbsp;passion&nbsp;and&nbsp;commitment,&nbsp;ultimately&nbsp;aiming&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;a&nbsp;relationship&nbsp;that&nbsp;is&nbsp;pleasing&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Lord.&nbsp;After&nbsp;many&nbsp;weeks&nbsp;of&nbsp;research,&nbsp;subtle&nbsp;questions,&nbsp;and&nbsp;hours&nbsp;of&nbsp;talking&nbsp;details&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;jewelry&nbsp;store&nbsp;employees,&nbsp;I&nbsp;bought&nbsp;her&nbsp;ring&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;ever&nbsp;so&nbsp;excited&nbsp;to&nbsp;propose.&nbsp;After&nbsp;a&nbsp;great&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;barbecue&nbsp;meal&nbsp;and&nbsp;Magnum&nbsp;ice&nbsp;cream&nbsp;bars&nbsp;for&nbsp;dessert,&nbsp;Ariela&nbsp;said&nbsp;yes&nbsp;and&nbsp;became&nbsp;my&nbsp;fiancé. I cannot wait for the steps we will take together in life!

Vinny's Version

Our Story

Photos

Michaela is one of my closest friends. We met during my freshman year of college, and we became friends instantly. I like to say she was sent from God to me in a season when I needed a good friend. Since then, we have drunk tons of matcha, traveled the world together, and visited many bookstores. I am so excited to have her as my matron of honor, encouragingly pushing me closer to Vinny as she always has.

Michaela 

I did not choose Freeman to be my brother, but I did pick him to be my best man. Freeman and I have been partners in crime since my birth and have remained caveman co-conspirators since moving out of the house. I cannot be more excited to have him next to me.

Freeman 

In 2016, Courtney went on a trip to Croatia with us. Since then, she has become my big sister. She has been there for so many instrumental moments in my life, including the early days of Vinny and me. She has always been there to give me a cup of coffee and advice on any dilemma. She is always down to fall into the research rabbit hole concerning the most random thing, like why people have Bohemian thumbs. I cannot imagine our wedding without my seka, Courtney. 

Courtney

I have had the privilege of growing up as a friend of Luka, and was able to live in the same dormitory this past year. I look forward to joining his family, and I am grateful to have a fellow game enthusiast and strategist. 

Luka

Anika was one of my first friends that I met when I moved to the States in 7th grade. Little did I know back then that we would have coffee dates that last at least 2.5 hours and still not run out of things to talk about. No matter the season, that has not changed. She is one of the kindest and smartest people I know. She is always looking for ways to connect deeply with people. I cannot wait to have her by my side on my big day! 

Anika 

Isaiah and I don't remember the day that we became friends, though we've been told it happened rather naturally. Ever since then we've been great friends, sharing experiences, and we are never short of a good laugh. I am beyond excited that he can stand up there with me at our wedding. 

Isaiah

Alia is one of my future sisters-in-law! While I have known Alia all of her life, I have loved becoming friends. She is incredibly smart and funny. She lifts others up around her. We are both obsessed with tiramisu, which we discuss often. Our coffee dates and movie nights have become a sweet thing I look forward to every week.  I am excited to have her as a sister, and I can't wait to have her by my side on the wedding day. 

Alia 

Gideon and I met in high school after his family extended an opportunity for me to stay with them. Life is never boring with Gideon, and we both have stories for days on all the fun and stupid stuff we got to do together in high school. I'm happy to have Gideon's energy with me on my wedding day. 

Gideon 

Faith and I became friends in college after she came on a spring break trip to my house. After sharing a room for a week and talking late into the night, we became close friends, rooming together during my last year of college. Faith is one of the funniest people I know. She is passionate about the Lord and seeing his kingdom grow. She gets my obsession with Bollywood movies and Eastern Europe. I'm excited to have her be a bridesmaid at my wedding.

Faith

Cade is my cousin and friend, with whom I have spent many summers. He and his family have always made sure that we have a place to stay and company to enjoy. Whether it has been sports, video games, or life in general, Cade has always been easy to hang out with and talk to, and I'm so glad he will  be a part of my groomsmen.

Cade

Suzanne is one of my future sisters-in-law! I met her when she and Freeman started dating. I loved her from the start! She knows when to have a good time and when to just chill and watch a movie. She is incredibly easy to talk to, resulting in late-night chats that last hours. I am so excited to have her join me on my wedding day!

Suzanne 

Micheal was one of the first people I met at OKWU, our friendship started with us sharing a quad and some common interests. We've only become better friends as the years go on, never running out of activities to do or conversations to be had.  I'm glad to have Micheal's support on my wedding day.

Micheal 

Asia is one of my future sisters-in-law! She is fun to be around, insightful, and a crazy talented musician. I have enjoyed spending time with her and even traveling together. She is a great friend to have around, and I look forward to having her join me on my wedding day and becoming my sister!

Asia

Avery is an old friend whom I have grown much closer to through our college experience. He had the "privilege" of being my roommate freshman year, and we have remained close friends, with the bulk of my free time being spent in some way with him and Micheal. I'm glad a fellow tea enjoyer can stand with me on my wedding day. 

Avery 

Jieon is one of my closest friends from high school. I've had the opportunity to spend time with him through sports, video games, worship, and many other activities. He showed me around Korea and took very good care of me while I was there. And now he is able to come all the way for my wedding! Cannot believe he can be here for this special day.

Vinny & Ariela

Vinny & Ariela

V&A

Wedding Day

7:00 PM–7:45 PM

Ceremony

8:00 PM–11:00 PM

Reception