The year 2025 is already being called a time of the most elegant weddings — and among them, the story of Alina and Gregory holds a special place. It became a symbol of tenderness, strength, and new beginnings. For the Ukrainian community in London, this wedding was more than a celebration — it was a moment filled with beauty, meaning, and light.
Alina came to the United Kingdom from Ukraine during the war — with her two sons and a dog, leaving behind her home and everything familiar. Flowers became her language, a way to speak about pain and renewal. And love — a way to continue living, despite loss.
A few months later, in her new country, she met Gregory — a man with a kind heart, who had also known grief. Their meeting grew into a quiet yet profound story of trust, support, and a second chance.
“When I watch her create a bouquet, I see magic,” says Gregory. “She turns an ordinary day into art.”
Together, they rebuilt a home and created a family where there is room for care, freedom, and laughter. For Alina, Gregory became her foundation — the one who gave her faith, love, and wings.
For Alia Vivid — a premium florist and founder of the Ukrainian florists’ community in London — the wedding was more than a personal celebration. It became an artistic statement, a fusion of emotion, creativity, and craft.
In the days leading up to the ceremony, Alia hosted a three-day floral workshop for her colleagues, sharing her approach to service, style, and atmosphere. And on the wedding day, she transformed the library of The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel into a space breathing with flowers and light. A team of five florists, under her direction, created a refined floral installation in just two and a half hours — a version of British classicism softened by a modern sensibility: restrained yet full of life, much like Alia herself.
Her look continued the concept — tenderness as a form of strength. Stylist Lada Sagdeeva combined the spirit of Rococo with a contemporary aesthetic, creating a graceful, slightly theatrical silhouette. The pink dress by Monetre became a metaphor for conscious femininity: it was Alina’s second wedding, and this time she wanted to appear not as a bride, but as a woman — a flower that has bloomed after the storm.
A headpiece by Marta Holod, jewelry by Vivienne Westwood, and a bouquet crafted by Alina herself completed the look — refined, emotional, and deeply personal.
“I studied the bouquets of royal weddings — they always carry deep meaning in their floral symbols. But I wanted my bouquet to reflect my own character,” Alina shares.
Her bouquet became a love poem in flowers. A classic round shape with a trailing ribbon — reminiscent of Princess Diana’s bouquet — and orchids, inspired by Queen Elizabeth’s. At its heart were delicate pink Narine lilies, symbols of feminine strength, purity, and renewal. Soft orange feather grass added lightness and evoked memories of her native Crimea and Ukrainian traditions. A cascade of pink orchids symbolized love that grows and blossoms, while three airy flowers stood for the three years of their relationship — the wedding took place exactly on their third anniversary.
Everything about the day breathed quiet elegance. White porcelain, painterly floral arrangements, guests in elegant hats, and the intimate atmosphere of a historic library — it was classic, but with soul.
The celebration was organized by Stargazing Events, photography by Anna Nekrasova, videography by Alina Symonenko, floral design by Alia Vivid, and flowers provided by Tom Brown Flowers.
