Alexandria & Victoria at Perona Farms

A black, white and neutral color scheme was punctuated with a lot of greenery—and candles, both standing and floating, at Alexandria and Victoria’s Perona Farms wedding. The venue was a perfect fit for the elegant, modern-minimalist vibe they wanted.
By Laura Wallis

Their Story

In love, as in life, things have a way of coming back around. Victoria Roukas was a high school freshman when Alexandria (Lexi) DiGennaro, a sophomore, transferred in. “I remember thinking she was so cute,” says Victoria.

It was a fleeting connection, though. Within a year, Lexi went back to her previous school. The pair stayed in touch on social media. “We kind of watched each other go through life into our early 20s,” says Victoria. It was Lexi who, inspired by a particularly beautiful photo Victoria had posted, finally decided to reach out. The pair clicked and Victoria, who had been finishing law school in North Carolina at the time, moved back to New Jersey. “She really had no plans to do that until I came around,” Lexi jokes. Within nine months, they were engaged.

Dual Proposals

Lexi, an accountant for her family’s business, Bergen County Harley-Davidson, proposed to Victoria, an attorney and insurance-claims analyst, on August 2, 2019, waiting just long enough for Victoria to take the bar exam. The moment was surprising and intimate—with Lexi spontaneously popping the question at home. Meanwhile, Victoria, now 29, had been making plans to propose just weeks later, during their trip to Santorini, Greece. Lexi, now 30, had no idea that their tour guide was a photographer hired to capture the moment. “She told me he was taking us to secret spots to see the sunset,” says Lexi. “Once she heard the violin music,” Victoria adds, “she knew.

Their Perona Farms Wedding

The couple initially intended to marry in Greece, as it was not only their engagement site but also where Victoria’s mom is from. But Covid-19 spoiled those plans. A family friend suggested a much closer-to-home venue: Perona Farms. As soon as they saw it, they knew it was a fit for the elegant, modern-minimalist vibe they wanted. There are three venues on the property; they chose the newly completed Refinery for their wedding on November 17, 2022. With its versatile, indoor/outdoor spaces, they were able to have every part of the day, from morning prep through the after-party, right there.

The Menu

Farm-to-table offerings came from the farm itself and were locally sourced. The dinner consisted of a lobster tail starter, followed by a salad and a duo of filet mignon and pistachio-crusted salmon. A black, white and neutral color scheme was punctuated with a lot of greenery—and candles, both standing and floating. “Our florist just blew the whole thing away,” says Lexi. Their first dance song was “Still Falling For You (Slowed)” by Ellie Goulding.

The Ensembles

Lexi wore a strapless, mermaid-style silk gown that she accentuated with a sparkling belt and veil. Victoria found a Justin Alexander jumpsuit that stopped the show. As a finishing touch, “my sister had the idea of attaching a traditional veil to the waist,” she says. “It gave me everything I was looking for.”

Making it Official

Lexi’s mom’s partner, Tricia, became ordained to perform the ceremony. “We know how much she loves us both—together and separately,” says Lexi, “and we wanted to include her on our wedding day.”

Advice

Take it all in! “It goes by so fast,” says Lexi. “I look back, and it almost feels like a blur.”

Honeymoon

They took a mini-moon to Miami the weekend after their wedding; this summer, they’re headed to Italy, and back to Greece.