A celebration of love amidst unprecedented times, Yulia and Julius chose to solidify their love in an intimate but lavish ceremony at the five-star Amara hotel in Cyprus.

‘Amara’, derived from the ancient Greek word Amarantos, meaning ‘everlasting’, was the name of the five-star Cypriot hotel where wellness guru and socialite Yulia Pashevkina and her husband Julius Sonin, exchanged their vows in August 2020.

From Michelin-star restaurants, including the iconic Nobu Matsuhisa and Giorgio Locatelli, cascading plunge-pools, panoramic ocean views, and each attendee draped in designer attire – this lavish but intimate wedding was the ultimate, modern-day ceremony amidst ‘new normal’ times.

Like many brides, Yulia had dreamt of the big white wedding surrounded by family and friends. Never would she or Julius could’ve predicted how different their special day would turn out to be, accessorised safely with social distancing, PDP gear, and celebrating with loved ones digitally via zoom calls. This, however, didn’t make their day any less special, solidifying their love for one another in unprecedented times.

Palm trees danced in the salty ocean air set to the backdrop of a coral sunset as “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Haley Reinhart played. Walking towards her future husband, filled with love, there was a bitter-sweet feeling that hung in the air, as she held close to her heart those she missed most with just her two sisters in attendance.

Approaching her future husband Julius with so much love, who was wearing a chic stripy Velsvoir suit, complete with an ecstatic smile – Yulia was a true representation of a modernday bride: strong and beautiful in her sleek and contemporary David Koma dress. As equally chic were Yulia’s sisters Elena and Dasha who wore silk floor-length gowns from the designers of Galvan London.

A celebration of love amidst ‘new normal’ times, Yulia and Julius exhibited that true love has no boundaries. A highlight for the couple was having their parents attend virtually via video calls. This enabled their families to watch the whole ceremony and be a part of the special event. Meanwhile, the registrar observed all the health precautions and sported a vizor, but this did not make the ceremony less romantic.

Following the exchange of vows and stunning Boucheron rings, the newlyweds and their two guests of honour continued their celebrations at the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant Matsuhisa for champagne, sushi and of course, wedding cake.