“We were set up,” Brock Bucci says, recalling how he and Alexandra Gilmore first met. “Five years ago, my mother – who worked with Alexandra (Lexi) at a small boutique in Cincinnati – decided to invite her to our family’s Memorial Day picnic, knowing that we would hit it off. She wasn’t wrong. I must say that I was impressed after she kicked my ass in a few games of Horse (not that it’s saying much).”
“Being the smooth operator that I am,” Brock jokes, “I allowed a few weeks to pass before asking my mom (I’m a player) for Lexi’s phone number. We decided to go to a concert for a band which Lexi had never heard of before yet told me she was their biggest fan. We continued to date the rest of the summer until we took our first trip together with my brother and his wife to Chicago. After a great day and memorable night out, I asked her to be my girlfriend, officially.”
“WE WANTED TO TREAT OUR HONORED GUESTS TO A FULL WEEKEND EVENT TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION.” - BROCK BUCCI
The next week, Brock moved to Columbus and the couple dated “long distance” for two years before moving in together. A year later, they ended up in Chicago; and after a few more months, Brock realized that he and Lexi were a perfect match. When it came time to propose, he took Lexi on a trip down memory lane, reenacting things they did during their first trip to Chicago, including a visit to Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. There, he got down on one knee and popped the question.
The wedding planning process was soon in the works for a destination wedding on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Knowing it’d be a large trip for their family and friends, the couple decided to host an intimate celebration.
“Their genuinely enthusiastic response made the planning that much more exciting for us and we are humbled to have such special people in our lives,” Brock shares. “We wanted to treat our honored guests to a full weekend event to show our appreciation, and Samuele [our planner] made sure everyone had a great time full of delicious meals, beautiful views, and a boat cruise down the Amalfi coast.”
After the wedding ceremony, a string guitar duo serenaded guests from the church to the reception, where they dined on a traditional Italian dinner with the most spectacular views. “We did our best to show our appreciation to our guests for making the trip, and everyone was treated to a personal bottle of limoncello – many of which did not survive the night,” says the groom. “Following dinner, we enjoyed dancing, taking a break to enjoy a show from the pizzaiolo (pizza chef) who prepared personal pizzas made in the onsite pizza oven.
After refueling, we danced until we were kicked out of the venue. What a once in a lifetime event and brilliant way to start our lives together. It was a highlight of both of our lives, and we thank the guests for making it the amazing celebration and incredible party that it was.”
