“She had on a beautiful yellow summer dress, which looked stunning on her, so I reviewed her profile and decided to reach out and introduce myself,” reminisces Tito Valchev of the moment he stumbled across Bukky Fashola’s LinkedIn profile. “At the time, I did not know if she was available at all, but I had to say something or I would never know,” he admits. “I’m glad I took the chance.” As months turned to years, the couple developed a beautiful relationship and knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. 

Planning a unique proposal that would truly take Bukky by surprise, Tito knew he needed to propose in a way that had not been done before. With the knowledge that she had been wanting to do something with family and friends, Tito seized the opportunity to make a reservation at an escape room for an experience surrounded with loved ones. He asked for her hand in marriage after “finding” the ring in the escape room, and of course, she said yes. 

With a year to plan their nuptials, the affianced pair knew it was important to get help from a professional. “Tito and I both live in Washington, DC, and it was very important that we hire a local planner, Jewel Odeyemi of Touch of Jewel Events, who was efficient and could get work done, while involving us in the process but also taking charge,” shares the bride. With a vision centered around a regal wedding fit for royalty, the couple knew they wanted their wedding location to be rich in historical and royal elements. 

To honor the cultures of both their families, the bride and groom stressed the importance of properly celebrating and incorporating special traditions throughout their wedding. Being that the groom is Bulgarian and the bride is Nigerian, this multicultural fusion wedding showcased beautiful connections to their heritage through outfits, food, music, and more. 

On the day of the ceremony, 250 loved ones found their seats on either side of the church aisle. Participating in a “first look,” the groom notes that it was a moment he’ll never forget. Bukky looked like a queen in a beautifully embellished floral lace gown paired with a stunning orchid bouquet, whilst her bridesmaids wore long champagne and gold-colored gowns. After reciting their personal vows and being pronounced husband and wife, the newlyweds made their way out of the beautiful sanctuary and joined loved ones for the ballroom reception. 

The ambience of the reception was designed to be dramatically different than the earlier portion of the day. Enjoying an savory sit-down dinner service in a grand ballroom, Bukky and Tito were seated at an elaborate sweetheart table displayed beneath a beautiful floral structure adorned with vibrant red and pink florals and green foliage. An extravagant gold structure of chandeliers was placed behind them, bringing their vision of a regal celebration to life. Bullion-hued chairs complemented the shimmering gold linens, while gorgeous red blooms and elegant candles topped tablescapes illuminated with the deep fuschia lighting that filled the space. 

Changing into their second look for the evening, Bukky slipped into a beautiful green gown paired with emerald earrings gifted to her by her husband for their special day. After slices of the couple’s delicious red velvet cake were served, loved ones enjoyed a night of laughter and dancing on a large, crisp white dance floor highlighting the couple’s oversized monogram and painted blooms that matched the floral décor. 

Spending the rest of the night dancing to their favorite songs and taking in the moments spent with the people they love most, the bride and groom were more than pleased with their special day. “The love and support we received from family and friends were more than we asked for,” shares Tito. “But most importantly, one of the best memories was to see our parents coming together and celebrating our union.”