A peal of church bells sealed the on-bended-knee engagement of Peter Vellis and Sonia Almeida. The pair met and began dating after the nuptials of mutual friends in 2003. On February 17, 2005, Sonia paused at a park bench during their morning stroll, and Peter knelt down to tie her shoelace. "At that moment, he proposed, asking me to be his wife, his best friend for life and to grow old with him," Sonia remembers. She quickly accepted, and shortly thereafter the bells of a nearby steeple tolled to their engagement. Late autumn twilight of downtown Newport spirited the happy couple's wedding last November. Sonia, daughter of Adelino and Maria Almeida of Bristol and Peter, son of Andrew and Frances Vellis of Brooklyn, New York, exchanged vows in a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony at Saint Spyridon Church on Thames Street. Illuminated by the soft ochre glow of candelabras that adorned the pews, arranged white hydrangeas, roses and calla lilies spilled around the altar and aisles. "I absolutely love flowers, and so does my family," Sonia says. "We are avid gardeners and knew we wanted lots of flowers." As onlookers crowded curbside, family and friends celebrated the newlyweds, who descended the church steps amid glowing hurricane candle lamps. A 1957 Silver Cloud Rolls Royce was ready to whisk them to their OceanCliff reception. "We felt like celebrities," the bride recalls. The incandescent theme was carried throughout the reception. Gold tablecloths reflected the flicker of lit candelabras and the blush of orange calla lilies, bronze orchids and crimson roses. "I wanted a fall wedding, and incorporated all fall colors," Sonia says. Guests enjoyed a raw bar anchored by an ice sculpture sailboat, hors d'oeuvres and a dinner course featuring filet mignon and lobster tails. The feast pinnacled with the decadence of a four-tier tiramisu and buttercream frosting cake. Upon leaving the reception, each loved one was bestowed an uncommonly special parting gift. "We gave a donation to Operation Smile as a wedding favor to our guests," Sonia says. "The money goes toward fixing cleft palates in children in third world [countries]." According to Sonia, the pair wished to incorporate their experience with medicine with their desire to help others. Following the big day, the couple passed a brief honeymoon in St. Augustine, Florida, but tripped to Portugal for two weeks this summer. Mr. and Mrs. Vellis now reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Peter is an oral surgeon and Sonia continues her practice as a physician's assistant.-JS

• Bride's gown and bridesmaid dresses: Gilda's Bridal Boutique, Fall River, MA
• Photographer: Armor & Martel Photography, Portsmouth
• Tuxedos: Waldorf Tuxedo, East Providence
• Rings: Baxter's Jewelers, Warwick
• Hair: Joyce Gomes, Newport
• Nails: Hair, Heart & Soul, Bristol
• Makeup: Meredith LeBlanc, Newport
• Cake: Scrumptions Bakery, East Greenwich
• Caterer: OceanCliff, Newport
• Flowers: Ray's Flower Shop, Fall River, MA
• Ceremony Music: Eventyr Ensemble, Pawtucket
• Reception Entertainment: Studio C Band, Somerset, MA
• Rehearsal Dinner: The Mooring, Newport
• Bride and Groom Wedding Accommodations: Castle Hill Inn, Newport
• Transportation: Newport Limousine, Newport

Brides-to-be: Have you ever looked back on pictures of your high school "look" and thought: What was I thinking?! Though the trendy hair-dos and the amateur- applied make-up may make you laugh now, you don't want to feel the same way when you look back on your wedding photos. "Wedding day makeup is different than everyday makeup," explains Jacki Norri of Wedding Tresses. "When it comes down to it, what you have left of your wedding day is your memories, and those are conveyed by your photographer. Brides spend a fortune on photographs, and one way to enhance your experience of enjoying them, is by having a look that is flawless." Norrie, an experienced make-up artist, has worked with brides from Newport to Boston and beyond to help create a look that personifies each bride's individual style. Like any part of your wedding day, "winging-it" usually isn't the way to go. Sit back, relax, and a have a professional do the rest, so when you and your new hubby are being hounded by paparazzi (or at least your photographers, friend and family), you'll look, and feel, like a million bucks! -AM

It's that time of year again and Rhode Island's premier wedding professionals are coming to help you plan the wedding of your dreams! On February 9, 2008, Newport Life Magazine will present its 6th annual "Newport Wedding Bridal Show" along the terraces of the Rosecliff and Oceancliff mansions. Fashion shows will feature the latest in fine bridal wear, including gowns, bridesmaids attire and formalwear in both traditional and contemporary styles. If you already have your countdown rolling and need to tweak a few extra details for the final day, or if you're newly engaged and just excited to begin the party planning, this show's for you! Come and join us between 11 and 4 p.m. for complementary hors d'oeuvres, door prizes and an abounding number of bridal exhibitors. For advance tickets and more information, call (401) 841-0200.

So you want to be a Newport Bride featured in one of our publications? Here's the scoop: We publish Newport County residents' weddings in the regular issue of Newport Life Magazine (2-3 wedding stories in 5 issues each year). Even if you don't live hear anymore but your parents do--you qualify for the regular issue. If you are an out-of-state bride marrying in Newport, then you qualify for the Newport Wedding Magazine bridal feature. We choose these brides in conjunction with the reception locations so that each reception venue in Newport County (and Bristol) will have a couple representing them. After you have tied the knot, please request a "Wedding Worksheet" from editorial to get started. We will contact your photographer and select our favorite shots for publication. That's all there is to it, we try to make as easy for you as possible. Enjoy your wedding and your new life together as husband and wife!

Call Andrea McHugh today at 401-841-0200 ext. 282 or email her at magazine@newportri.com to request your wedding worksheet. Andrea was an OceanCliff bride and can offer many insights for planning a Newport Wedding!

What? You don't have a copy of Newport Wedding Magazine in stack of bridal resources? Unheard of! Call or email us today and we happily send you a current copy if you are unable to find one on newsstands. The next issue will be released at the 2008 Newport Bridal Show. See you there!!