Paliny and Rigels both grew up in East Hartford and went to high school together. They went on a couple of dates after graduating, but eventually moved on and dated other people.

During the summer of 2013, Rigels reached out to Paliny through Facebook and asked for her number in such a way that she couldn’t decline. They went out for s'mores and coffee and caught up with each other and the rest just fell into place!

The couple planned a trip to Iceland for November 2017. Paliny noticed Rigels acting a bit strange starting at the airport when they were going through security and again once they arrived at the hotel. He was being overly protective of his backpack. Little did she know, he had an engagement ring hidden in there! The next day, they drove four hours to Glacier Lagoon. They got out and enjoyed the most amazing views, took pictures, and explored, only for Rigels to tell Paliny he forgot his gloves in the car. He went back to the car to really get the ring, still hidden in his backpack. When he returned, he suggested they take some more photos of Paliny looking out at the glaciers. When he was done taking the shots, Rigels told Paliny to turn around and there he was, down on his knee!

The ring is a combination of styles they both liked: round and cushion cut. Rigels had the ring custom designed with a halo setting and Paliny couldn’t be any happier with it!

They chose The Waterview because they both loved the outdoor garden where the ceremony took place. It was their favorite with the lake as the backdrop! They also loved that it has both indoor and outdoor elements, which allowed guests to enjoy the Connecticut weather and views. Their wedding colors were neutrals with pops of soft colors like blush, sage, and pale blues. The bridesmaids each had their own color dress and they really wanted Rigels to stand out with a bright blue suit.

Paliny and Rigels both love food and different cultures, so they incorporated Albanian and Lao music as an ode to their families and culture! Their reception had a travel theme because they love to travel. Each table was named after a city or country they’ve visited. They had photos displayed of the many destinations, along with little globes and lanterns for decoration.

In fact Paliny and Rigels love traveling so much we did their engagement photos at Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in AZ. Check out their destination E-Session here

We hope you love these pictures and thank you for choosing us to share in your special day!