Welcome to The Wedding Party! A monthly series where we spotlight different couples as they open up about their experience (the good and the bad) planning their wedding during a pandemic. Keep reading as they take us through their day, show off their beautiful photos and how they feel looking back at their special day now.
Valentina Todoroska and her husband Ray first met during a Friday night out on the town. It was fate that brought the pair together and after a few drinks and a dance, the two exchanged numbers and set a time to meet the next day.
But when Saturday rolled around, Ray seemed to have forgotten that he asked Valentina out, later admitting to being busy at work. Thankfully, the minor setback was the start of a very smooth and blissful journey for the two who hit it off the second they had lunch together at The Grounds of the City.
“We talked for hours and hours and it came so naturally and easily. We went on a few more dates from there and the rest is history,” Valentina told POPSUGAR Australia.
Fast forward to their first holiday together in Hawaii back in 2019, a trip Ray took upon himself to organise. On his itinerary, were a number of outdoor activities, but the most memorable was a hike of Diamond Head crater. One that Valentina was not in the mood to do.
“I had been horribly sunburnt after falling asleep on the beach on the first day,” she revealed. “I was still sore and burnt so complained the whole way.”
But despite her reservations, the hike was an indication of what was to come.
“I didn’t know at the time that Ray was going to propose in the afternoon and wanted to keep me distracted.”
His plan worked, and after returning to the hotel and rushing Valentina to get ready, leaving her completely bewildered in the process, they were off. The last few moments before they were to call each other fiancé and fiancee.
“We pulled into a helicopter school and he said we were going to get a helicopter to dinner. I said I felt like I was on The Bachelor because I was in a dress and had hair and makeup done,” said Valentina, as she remembered the moment as if it was yesterday.
“He said we’d be stopping on a mountain ridge so we could look at the view and get some photos. We stopped here and the view was beyond incredible. Ray got down on one knee and proposed. It was such a special and magical moment.”
What followed was an intimate dinner at Nobu and a much more relaxed Ray, who felt a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders.
Once they took in the moment and processed everything that had just occurred, the two decided to give themselves 18 months to plan their wedding. The perfect amount of time to execute their dream nuptials. But what happened next was something no one could have predicted: The world was hit with a pandemic, stopping pretty much everything in its tracks.
“I still remember watching the press conference with Scott Morrison when the first lot of lockdowns and restrictions were announced, and I couldn’t believe what was happening.
“We were working from home, and I called Ray into the room and all I could do was sob,” recounted Valentina. The announcement was made in early 2020, and the couple had hoped restrictions would ease by the time their wedding date of February 21, 2021, rolled around. But it was in December 2020 when restrictions from the Northern Beaches hit when a feeling of panic loomed.
“The most stressful aspect as I’m sure many brides to be will attest to is the not knowing,” she said. “It was the most surreal feeling to be so close to our wedding date, and have no idea what it was going to look like.”
Luckily, things began to look up but due to domestic and international travel restrictions, many of the couple’s friends and family were unable to make it. The guest list, which was originally looking to have over 200 people was reduced to 100, but despite the change, Valentina says she has absolutely no regrets.
“Even though our day didn’t look the way we thought it would, I wouldn’t change a thing about it and now I look back on our wedding videos and photos with beautiful memories.”
Those who were unable to celebrate in person joined the newlyweds through a live stream at the ceremony, with Valentina organising video messages from family who couldn’t make it to be played at the reception with the help of her mother-in-law.
“It was really special to feel like they were still included.”
Despite the setbacks, Valentina felt “really lucky” because all of her events were still able to take place, and their wedding took them back to where it all began: The Grounds (this time, in Alexandria).
“We were grateful that we didn’t have to cancel anything entirely like I know so many have.”
Any bride that has been forced to plan their wedding during a pandemic will tell you that it’s an entirely different experience to organising one during normal circumstances. But looking back, Valentina remembers the sentimental moments rather than the tiny details that didn’t go according to plan.
“You will remember the look on your partner’s face as you walk down the aisle, how you felt when you read out your vows and the beautiful words your friends and family will share in speeches. In the end, it doesn’t matter whether your wedding went off without a hitch or not,” she said.
“Finding someone you love enough to share your life with, as cheesy as it sounds, really is the biggest gift and most important part of the day.”
Read more from The Wedding Party:
A Week Before My Wedding, the Pandemic Hit
