Real Wedding: Alina & Bryce
It took Bryce Nucera an entire month to ask Alina Halloran on a date after they met at a Red Sox-Yankees playoff game. A host of factors bridged any initial divide between Tom, a lifelong Yankees fan and Alina, an avid Red Sox fan, including their love of Cape Cod, where they both spent time with their families growing up.
Over time, Bryce and Alina became best friends. Alina and Bryce had been dating for one year when, while dressing up together for Halloween, Bryce leaned over and told Alina that he loved her. For five years Alina and Bryce grew closer and let their relationship unfold naturally. They did everything together and pushed one another to try new things. Trips to the Napa Valley, Vermont, and Turks and Caicos allowed the couple to grow together while weekend getaways and summers on the Cape brought them back to their roots. Back in Boston, they made a pact to try a new restaurant every time they went out for dinner.
One winter, Bryce and Alina attended the "Christmas at the Pops" concert at Symphony Hall. When the concert drew to a close, Alina hurried out to the coat check but Bryce lagged behind uncharacteristically and suggested that they return to the hall to take a few pictures of the stage. As Alina and Bryce were taking pictures, two young girls approached the couple and asked if they would like them to take a photo. Bryce quickly handed over the camera, dropped to one knee and proposed as the girls began snapping away. Alina was caught completely off guard and notes that she was so caught up in the moment she forgot to get an address from the girls in order to properly thank them, but she is very grateful to them for capturing their special moment.
Bryce and Alina loved the idea of having their wedding in Chatham, a beautiful area that also holds sentimental value for the couple. They decided to incorporate some nontraditional but meaningful elements into their wedding. Alina wore her late grandmother's pearl necklace and earrings and shared a special dance with her 89 year old grandfather. Bryce wore his grandfathers cufflinks and the couple invited their siblings to join them at the head of the table, which they explain, was much more fun, and allowed other members the wedding party to sit with their guests.
From getting ready in the morning with her girlfriends to sharing a bite of cake with her nephew, the little moments made the wedding special for Alina. The couple's ride from the ceremony to the reception was a brief respite from the bustle and excitement of the wedding that allowed Alina and Bryce some quiet time together.
Alina applauds her wedding planner Tasha Bracken and her team at SD events as a pleasure to work. Alina says Tasha quickly gleaned an understanding of the couple's vision of simple elegance and was able to help transfer this quality to every aspect of their wedding. Alina also credits their band, SOHO, with creating the fun atmosphere that lasted late into the night. Alina says having all her favorite people on the dance floor all around her was an amazing feeling.
When Alina and Bryce returned to their honeymoon suite at the end of the night they were surprised to see the mess they had left after getting ready gone, replaced by a trail of rose petals and a bottle of chilled champagne left by one of Alina's bridesmaids. Alina and Bryce began their married life in this romantic atmosphere, the perfect place for a new stage in the unfolding of their relationship.