Bachendorf’s Bride

BACHENDORF’S BRIDES:

ENGAGEMENTmadeline & paul’s engagement story

THREE YEARS AFTER THEIR MEET-CUTE AT A DALLAS COFFEE SHOP, THIS COUPLE GOT ENGAGED WITH A SPECIAL EUROPEANINSPIRED PROPOSAL —CORONAVIRUS BE DAMNED.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MONTALVO PHOTOGRAPHY

When and how did you two meet?

Madeline: We met on January 5, 2018 on a cold Friday morning. I was waiting in line at the coffee shop, Ascension, in the office building where I worked wearing a red turtleneck, black jeans, tall heels and a black fur coat. Paul: When I walked into the coffee shop and saw her I thought to myself, “she must be Russian or European,” and was immediately curious since I’m from Ukraine. I knew I needed to talk to her. Never afraid to talk to a stranger, I opened my mouth with my first move: “Hey! Are you in line?”

Tell us about the proposal!

Paul: I had always known that Madeline wanted to get engaged in Europe, but because of COVID-19, this was impossible. After researching many sites that could provide the same European feeling, I found the Commodore Perry Estate in Austin, TX. I immediately knew it was perfect. I had the whole weekend planned out including booking a photographer and going out to a nice dinner afterward to celebrate. The day I proposed, Jan. 2, 2021, felt very calm and everything went smoothly. Madeline: I am always the one who plans our trips, so when Paul randomly asked if I was available for a weekend two months from then, I knew something was up. I had found the Commodore Perry Estate in a magazine and was trying to very subtly drop him hints and little did I know he had booked it the week prior! He played it off as if he had never heard of the place and said that we could maybe go there…someday. The day of the proposal we walked around Austin, enjoying the beautiful weather outdoors. We came back to the resort to change and get ready for cocktail hour. I was told to not be late and to meet him in the greenhouse. We took a walk around the French-style gardens where he stopped me by a

fountain. He pulled out a handwritten note to read to me and ended with a Russian proverb, which translates to “To love is nothing, to be loved is something, but to love and be loved is everything.” He then got down on one knee to ask if I would marry him. Of course, I said yes!

Do you have any funny stories surrounding your engagement or wedding planning?

Madeline: Actually, we were supposed to leave for our weekend engagement trip just before Christmas and then visit my family in Colorado. But just two days before, Paul came home from work not feeling well and ended up testing positive for COVID-19. He acted quickly and was luckily able to move all of the reservations and photographer to January 2. I ended up having several Christmas gifts inconspicuously pulled from the tree to open at a later date! Paul: The engagement weekend was well worth the wait, although I unfortunately had not recovered my sense of taste to enjoy the celebratory wine and dinners.

Why did you choose to get the ring at Bachendorf’s?

Paul: Going to Bachendorf’s was the easiest decision of the engagement planning and of wedding planning so far! Madeline and Fallon Bock were roommates and best friends while at Southern Methodist University, and they both moved to New York City together upon graduation—for Madeline’s first job at Jefferies and for Fallon to attend GIA (Gemological Institute of America). Madeline had also met Fallon’s father, Lawrence, and the rest of her family on many occasions and knew it would be a personal touch to buy her engagement ring from someone she knew and trusted completely.

How did you choose the ring you chose?

Madeline: I initially went to the appointment with Paul to look at rings and see which cut would be best. Once I put on a marquise ring, it simply felt like me—classic but unique. The marquise diamond holds a great amount of significance for us too. As a self-proclaimed Francophile, I fell in love with the romantic story of how the marquise ring came to be. In honor of the love of his life, the famed Madame de Pompadour, King Louis XV of France had a new diamond design commissioned in the shape of her lips, which he felt were perfect. The marquise is also called a “navette,” meaning little boat in French. This holds special significance for Paul, whose grandfather was in the Navy in Ukraine before coming to the United States.

What was it like working with Fallon and Lawrence?

Madeline: It was so seamless and they made the whole process of making such a big decision so fun and a great bonding moment for us. Lawrence even brought out the celebratory pink champagne –knowing his client very well. Paul: I felt very comfortable and knew I was in the right hands regarding this decision. The Bachendorf’s name speaks for itself, and Fallon and Lawrence went above and beyond to find the perfect marquise diamond for us. At the time, there were only a handful of marquise diamonds on the market, and the Bachendorf’s team was so diligent in searching until we found the perfect one.

When is your wedding?

Madeline: The wedding will be October 1, 2021 at Bear Flag Farm in Winters, CA just outside of Napa. The ceremony will take place outdoors surrounded by lavender fields, and the reception will be dining and dancing under the stars in a sunken rose garden. I was inspired by the blue monochromatic theme in the final ball in the Netflix show Bridgerton: It will give a dreamy, romantic feeling to the outdoor venue.

What are you most looking forward to at your wedding?

Madeline: It will be a small affair with around 75 of our closest friends and family, so we are so excited to celebrate our marriage with our loved ones, included Paul’s 94-year-old grandfather, who raised him. The wedding will be incredible, of course, but I’m also looking forward to October 2, 2021 since that’s the first day of the rest of our lives together!

Sunrise,

JEWISH TRADITIONS AND BICOASTAL ELEGANCE HELPED MAKE A Sunset2019 WEDDING A Frank Sinatra had the last word. The singer’s rendition of “New York, New York” Frank Sinatra had the last word. The singer’s rendition of “New York, New

MEMORY THAT was the final song played on the night of this June 2, 2019, wedding—and why not? was the final song played on the night of this June 2, 2019, wedding—and why POWERFULLY Southern Californian Marcy Miller wasn’t just marrying boyfriend of four years Michael Pechman of ENDURES. Westchester County, N.Y.; she was also becoming a metropolitan New Yorker. There were other themes too. The Jewish couple drew on the traditions of their faith and the styles Text by Haley Longman of their respective coasts, East and West. Miller’s California consciousness inclined her to a “classy Photography by and elegant” outdoor ceremony on a hot-but-not-too-hot day. So she and Pechman booked a date at Amy Rizzuto Photography luxurious Le Chateau in South Salem. The big day was everything they had envisioned, with 200 guests, 12 bridesmaids and groomsmen and personal touches sprinkled throughout, from the signature cocktails to a sentimental chuppah. And as for “something borrowed, something blue,” there was a lot of blue. The skies weren’t, exactly, but ultimately even the chancy weather dared not interfere. The trouble with any wedding day, of course, is implied by that word “day”: It’s over in a whoosh. But Miller and Pechman had that covered too—with the lyrics of the evening’s first dance number, “Loving You Easy” by the Zac Brown Band. “Gonna slow this down and make it last,” the tune declared. “The best things fly by us so fast.” Ah, but the pictures— and the memories—will bring decades of smiles.

Rain had been predicted for Marcy and Michael Pechman’s wedding day, but they got lucky—the storm held off, so they were able to have the outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour they’d envisioned. The celebration took place on June 2, 2019, at Le Chateau in Westchester, which they chose in part because of its outdoor space. The bride wore the Sienna gown from Made With Love.