Alyssa Choo and Erik Lowe, who met via Tinder during the 2020 pandemic, celebrated their marriage in July 2026. The intimate ceremony took place at Italy's Villa Balbiano, surrounded by 54 close friends and family.
A romance sparked by a "six feet" Instagram post
The relationship between Alyssa Choo and Erik Lowe began during a period of global isolation, a trend that saw many modern love stories move from the streets to the screen . According to the report, the pair matched on Tinder in November 2020 while Choo was living in downtown New York City following her graduation from Barnard College. While their initial brunch meeting at Ruby’s in Nolita was described by Choo as "pleasant enough," it was a social media interaction that reignited the connection.
The spark came when Choo saw an Instagram post of Lowe and his friends in Central Park with the caption "six feet," a reference to the social distancing mandates of the time. This digital reconnection led to a second date at Bond Street, marking the start of a relationship that Lowe notes might never have happened if he hadn't been working remotely in New York City due to the virus.
The Dior Resort 2022 gown found at Sara Nicole Vintage
The wedding weekend featured a heavy emphasis on curated, vintage-inspired luxury, reflecting a broader trend of brides seeking unique, archival pieces over mass-produced bridal wear. For the welcome dinner at Villa Balbiano, Choo wore a Dior Resort 2022 gown originally designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri. As the report notes, the dress was sourced through Sara Nicole Vintage, and Choo described the experience of finding it as feeling like "fate" after the piece had previously sold out.
To complete the high-fashion aesthetic, Choo paired the Dior piece with a 2010 archival Bottega Veneta sterling silver Knot clutch belonging to her mother. This blend of heritage pieces and high-end designer vintage highlights a shift toward "quiet luxury" and personal storytelling through fashion, where every accessory carries a specific sentimental or historical weight.
Customizing the Vera Wang "Gwen" dress with a cat-eye neckline
For the main ceremony, Choo fulfilled a long-held dream of being a Vera Wang bride by selecting the "Gwen" dress from the designer's haute collection. The gown, a strapless ballgown made of silk basket-weave organza, was inspired by Gwen Stefani’s 2022 Met Gala look. However, the couple opted for a personalized touch rather than a standard off-the-rack experience.
Working directly with the atelier, Choo reimagined the silhouette by adding a sharp cat-eye neckline to provide a modern edge to the romantic, floral-appliquéd gown. the look was finished with a catheedral-length Vera Wang veil, pear-shaped stud earrings, and pleated Nala heels by Danielle Frankel. this level of customization is increasingly common among high-net-worth couples looking to balance classic bridal tropes with individual identity.
54 guests at a "garden party in the clouds" in Lake Como
Despite the grand scale of Villa Balbiano, the wedding remained an intimate affair with only 54 guests in attendance. the ceremony was designed to feel organic, with a floral palette that made the aisle appear as though a garden were growing around it. Erik Lowe described the visual effect of the guests holding white parasols during the entrance as feeling like "a garden party in the clouds."
The celebration moved from the outdoor ceremony to a reception that featured a Champagne tower and a fireworks display. The event was managed by Sofia Bute, the event director at They, who helped the couple execute the multi-day celebration. the festivities concluded with an after-party that saw the newlyweds descend the villa's grand staircase to join their guests under the stars.
The logistics of planning an Italian villa wedding from New York
While the event appeared seamless, the report leaves a few logistical details unaddressed. It remains unclear how the couple and their event director, Sofia Bute, managed the specific challenges of a remote planning process from New York City, particularly regarding the "stretch of rain" that occurred in the days leading up to the wedding. Additionally, while the source provides a deep dive into Choo's fashion choices, it offers less detail on the specific culinary or musical programming that Erik Lowe and the planning team curated for the 54 guests beyond a few song titles.
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