We're Finally Getting Married!

Travel back to 2016, in Alyssa's first year working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Albania. One day, Alyssa walked into a well-known bar in the capital city with some friends. She did a double take when she saw the handsome man behind the bar. A few weeks later she asked her friends to go back to see the bartender. To Alyssa's embarassment, her friend's Pier and Evis asked the bartender what his name was and if he was single. His name was Olti and he was. Pier invited him to go dancing the next night with her friend Alyssa who wasn't with them that night, She introduced Alyssa as "Veronica" and told him in secret that Alyssa was actually the friend who was interested. The next night Alyssa timidly met up with Olti for a drink, wondering if he'd be disappointed it was "Veronica". He wasn't! They spent the whole night dancing at a European disco and from that moment they were hooked.

Fast forward almost two years later. After 7 months of long-distance dating with Alyssa in the US, and Olti volunteering in France, Alyssa visited Olti in France for the holidays. Olti waited until the last minute of 2017 to drop to one knee on the Champs-Elysee in Paris on New Year's Eve. The fireworks and cheering were so loud she couldn't hear him ask but her answer was already YES!! Alyssa flew back to America the next day with the ring on her finger!

After over a year of long-distance love and months of headaches with the Fiance Visa process, Olti finally moved to the US! Also Kapi the cat came too!

Only three weeks after Olti arrived in the US, Alyssa and Olti got married at City Hall on the third anniversary of their first date. That morning, they spontaneously swung by TJ Maxx to pick out their outfits, stopped by Jewel for a bouquet, and took an Uber downtown. After the short ceremony with the judge Olti and Alyssa had an impromptu photo-shoot with a retired vet turned security guard who said they were "such a sweet couple". The day ended with Olti's first deep dish pizza in the shape of a heart!

Now we’ve spent 5 years together and 2 married. We can’t wait to celebrate our love with all of you! We chose a three-day weekend (Columbus Day) to allow time for travel and so guests can sleep in after dancing the night away! Please visit the other pages of our website until for details about the wedding.