An Elegant and Moody Winter Wedding in Baltimore with a Cozy Vibe
Sophia Moriconi and Peyton Bozel first met in September of 2020, when Sophia was finishing nursing school at Drexel University and moving back from Philadelphia. Sophia’s best friend and maid of honor, Abbey, was friends with Peyton in high school and made the introduction.
“When I first met Sophia,” Peyton shares, “I immediately thought about how goofy, fun, and kind she was with me and all those around her. I remember looking at her across the room some nights and just smiling and thinking to myself she is beautiful and hilarious. We would make each other laugh early on and it never stopped. Whether it was us hanging out with friends downtown, getting dinner and drinks just the two of us, working out together, or even shopping… everything was better when I was with Sophia.”
“Everything was better when I was with Sophia.”
Sophia’s first impression of Peyton was just as poignant, with his “high energy, goofy personality, and handsome looks” immediately capturing her attention.
“He truly does bring out the best in me,” she says, “and life has always been nothing short of fun since knowing him. Together, we both love working out and going to F45 on Saturday mornings, walking our little puppy Millie together in the neighborhood, enjoying nice dinners with family and friends, and planning trips and traveling the world.”
Engaged at the Ivy
When it came time to propose, Peyton made plans for dinner with a group of friends at the Magdalena Restaurant in the Ivy Hotel.
“We got to the restaurant a little early,” he explains, “so we decided to get a drink at the bar prior to the big moment. As soon as they said our table was ready, we agreed to sit down, but first wanted to get a group picture outside in the beautiful courtyard. Right when we walked outside, I took Sophia’s hand and all I heard was ‘click, click, click, click…’ the photographer started snapping away. I didn't have much time to think, so quickly got down on a knee, pulled out the ring, and looked into Sophia’s eyes. She immediately lit up with shock, joy, and happiness and said loudly, ‘Holy cow!’ followed by me saying a couple words of love. Then finally, her confident and happy ‘Yes!’”
After taking photos with their friends, the newly engaged pair were joined by even more friends and family to celebrate the occasion.
A Winter Wedding in Baltimore
Throughout the wedding planning process, the couple stayed grounded by reminding each other to enjoy every moment – despite the roller coaster of emotions and an overwhelming number of decisions. They chose to host their wedding at the Belvedere in Baltimore, where they loved the classic, black-tie vibes and breathtaking architecture. On a personal note, Sophia’s grandparents hosted their wedding reception at the Belvedere more than 60 years prior; so, it was extra special to uphold that family tradition.
“We wanted a timeless, elegant, classic, but moody vibe,” Sophia describes. “Peyton and I were both born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and knew we wanted only a year engagement, so the idea of a winter wedding in Baltimore a year after our engagement became set in stone. Both of our families are pretty traditional, so we wanted to keep family tradition alive.”
On the morning of the big day, the bride woke up at the Ivy Hotel with her maid of honor for an early start. The bridesmaids and glam squad arrived at 7:30 a.m. and kicked off a morning of chatting, getting ready, and enjoying the beauty of the Ivy Hotel.
Meanwhile, the groom and his groomsmen were enjoying their time at Hayfields Country Club with food, drinks, games, and playing with the golf simulator. Once they were showered and dressed to the nines, they made their way down to the Ivy, where Peyton waited for Sophia in the Library so they could have a first look in private.
Belvedere Wedding Details
When it came time to celebrate, guests were treated to a variety to food, drinks, and entertainment. Beginning with cocktail hour, a violinist and cellist played a selection of the couple’s favorite songs, mixed with current hits and old classics. A customized ice luge sculpture served up dirty martinis during that time, switching to espresso martinis during the reception. All of the bars had custom matches for guests to take home, signature drink signs, napkins, and drink stirrers – all made by Sarah Lewis with Slate and Brush. Along with passed hors d'oeuvres, there was also an abundant seafood display table with oysters, crab legs, shrimp cocktail, and more.
Since the couple wanted a moody, cozy, and elegant ambiance for their reception, white draping was added to the space with pure white linens, black accents, and touches of gold in the place settings. Lush white floral arrangements and gold candelabras tied the décor together.
For dinner, guests were served a Caesar salad with roasted capers, rustic dinner rolls, coffee rubbed filet mignon with a red wine bordelaise, a Maryland crab cake, roasted potatoes, and grilled asparagus. There was also a table of Italian cookies made by the bride’s family, a cupcake tower with hundreds of cupcakes from Cake by Jason Hisley, and a wedding cake to be enjoyed by all. A live band kept the energy going throughout the evening, and the dance floor was always full.
“One of our favorite memories of the night,” Sophia recalls, “was getting on stage and carrying out a huge Santa gift bag filled with hundreds of custom embroidered Santa hats with ‘The Bozels 12/07/24’ embroidered on them, playing Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’ as white confetti cannons went off on the dance floor. Our evening then continued to an after party on the 13th floor of the Belvedere overlooking the city lights Baltimore with late night snacks, open bar, and an aux cord. It was truly the most epic and unforgettable night of our lives, and we could not have done it without the love and support of our parents and amazing vendors!”
A Honeymoon in St. Lucia
Sophia and Peyton spent their honeymoon in Saint Lucia, where they stayed in a three-bedroom villa at Sugar Beach Resort, overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
“Our house had a beautiful infinity pool that wrapped around the side of the house,” Sophia adds, “along with a hot tub, and the best Butler ever, Linus! It is hard to pinpoint one specific memory, but we really enjoyed our rainforest couples massage where we unwound and decompressed. The private sunset catamaran cruise was impeccable, as we enjoyed delicious appetizers and hung out with the locals as they gave us a tour of the island. It was truly a trip of a lifetime that we will cherish forever!”
WEDDING TALENT
Location & Catering: Belvedere & Co. Events, Baltimore, MD; Ceremony Location: The Baltimore Basilica, Baltimore, MD; Planning & Event Design: Belvedere & Co. Events, Baltimore, MD; Floral Design: Blue Vanda Designs; Rentals & Linen: Select Event Rentals; Lighting: Event Dynamics; Cake: Cake By Jason; Wedding Dress: Jesus Peiro; Bridal Salon: Francesca’s Bridal; After Party Dress: Sachin & Babi; Hair & MUA: Amie Decker Beauty; Groom’s Attire: Jack Christopher Custom Clothier; Groom’s Watch: Rolex; Engagement Ring: Tacori; Jewelry Store: Smyth Jewelers; Invitations: Slate and Brush; Ice Sculpture: Ice Lab; Dance Floor: Fabrication Events; Entertainment: Kushner Entertainment, Spectrum Band – Washington Talent Agency; Photo Booth: Active Photo Booth; Honeymoon Destination: Saint Lucia; Transport: Lasting Impressions, ZBest Worldwide; Cinematography: Jacob Rozsahegyi; Photography: Ambre Nuit by Anna Schmidt Photography