At a dinner party for a friend, Tim Wiswell was busy scoping out the stunning Russian woman at the other end of the table. What Tim—an American living in Moscow and working for a German bank—did not realize, was that Natalia Makosiy was watching him right back. “She caught my attention, but when I tried to speak to her she was a little dismissive,” says Tim, who was intrigued and took her response as a challenge.

After convincing Natalia—or Natasha as her friends know her—to take a chance and go on a first date with him, they began a relationship that deepened over the course of the next seven years. “We slowly grew closer,” says Natasha, “but as very strong, independent personalities, it took a long time to let each other in.”

When Tim realized that they were headed for a lifetime together, he purchased a ring on a trip to London and planned a Valentine’s Day proposal. On February 14, he presented Natasha with three roses: one for their past, one for their present and one for their future. At dinner, he handed her a present.

“Nested in one box was another one, and another and another, until I saw the ring,” says Natasha. She was so stunned that she didn’t realize it was an engagement ring until she saw Tim down on his knee. “That 10-second hesitation felt like 10 years,” explains an uncertain Tim, until he heard the quiet “yes” that grew progressively more excited.

Russian weddings are often formal, strictly scheduled events. Wanting a different experience for themselves and their guests, the couple opted to wed stateside. Tim, who grew up on the water and loved sailing, felt that Castle Hill in Newport, R.I., was the perfect backdrop. Natasha, too, could see the beauty of the spot, even though it was grey and wintery when they happened to be scouting locations.

“Creating a classy, but fun and warm feeling for all our guests was important to us,” says Natasha, who enlisted the help of two mimes to set the stage for a lighthearted evening with their guests from Moscow, Siberia, Australia and the United States. For Tim, the striking seaside setting and looking into Natasha’s eyes were highlights of the ceremony.

Russian elements—which were woven throughout the night—included traditional dancing and songs sung by a friend. On a small table covered with Russian shawls and nesting dolls, stood a samovar filled with Russian moonshine. “Everyone hanging around that table was very happy,” quips Natasha.

After a sit-down dinner for 100, the mimes teetered into the tent balancing a wedding cake between them. When they stumbled and dropped it, the shocked guests realized it was a prop and a delayed laughter rippled through the air. Other entertaining surprises occurred as the bridal bouquet lofted into the air and broke into seven smaller bouquets, and an errant garter toss landed the lacy lingerie on the chandelier.

The bride and groom agree that the weekend was a tremendous success. “The idea was for everyone to come together, get to know each other, and maybe become friends,” says Natasha, “and it definitely worked.”