Come set sail with us together!

Our life together began via online dating using the Coffee Meets Bagel app. It was remarkable that we actually matched, because we each had limited the searchable geographic areas of preference outside of each other’s residential areas. At that time, Larissa was living in Elliott City, MD and John was living in Arlington, VA. We had our first date in Baltimore, MD at Fells Point. Originally Larissa suggested we head to Nando's Peri-Peri Chicken, which John thought was an odd suggestion from Larissa with her being a vegetarian. John suggested ramen, due to the cold weather, Larissa's love of soup, and that John had Nando's the previous week. Larissa was intrigued, because it was her first time having true ramen. She orginially thought it was just the instant blocky stuff in the package. After meeting and having ramen together for the first time, we both knew this coupling was special. We both had warm fuzzy feelings, originally thinking it was from the spicy ramen, but later realized it was our blossoming love :).

We both proposed to each other at the dog park in our apartment complex in Middletown, CT. The dog park is a special place for both of us, as it is the center of our community, and where we see everyone everyday with our dogs. John proposed to Larissa right before leaving for a week long West Coast business trip. John enlisted the help of the family dogs, Comet and Zirka, with the proposal. John had Comet start digging a hole in the ground and he proclaimed to Larissa that Comet found a “treasure”. John got down on one knee to pick up the treasure that turned out to be the engagement ring! Larissa happed to be equipped with an engagement ring for John and immediately responded she would marry John if he married her! It turned out to be a co-proposal!

Our wedding will be combine a variety of Ukrainian, Chinese, and modern American cultures. The ceremony will begin at 2:30 PM at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Wilmington, DE. Following the wedding, there will be some time for pictures and returning to the hotel room if you wish to take the hotel shuttle to reception venue. The reception will begin at 5:00 PM at the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. We look forward to sailing into married life with all of you!