A Classic Wedding at the Historic Rosecliff Mansion

Five years after Viktoria Wiberg and Craig Kostelic first met, Craig brought Viktoria back to the restaurant in New York’s West Village where they’d had their first date. (Which is fitting, as Craig is the CBO of the Food Innovation Group at Condé Nast.) But when Viktoria walked through the doors of Recette, she realized she was the only one there. “He’d rented out the entire restaurant to propose to me!” she recalls. Once she said yes, Craig brought Viktoria to a nearby bar, where their friends and family were waiting to celebrate their engagement.

The couple originally dreamed of getting married in Lake Como, but their parents insisted on a stateside celebration. “To us, Newport, Rhode Island, and the Rosecliff Mansion were as close to European charm as we could get in the Northeast,” Viktoria describes. They embraced that feeling and invited 150 guests to celebrate at a romantic celebration decorated with fresh roses and gilded accents. And, of course, all that romance takes time to plan, so Viktoria and Craig chose a wedding date nearly two years after they got engaged: May 20, 2017.

Want to see more of this stunning East Coast celebration at a picturesque Newport mansion? Check out these photos by the Hons!

What says romance more than lace? Viktoria chose a strapless Mark Zunino gown with a formfitting silhouette. Layers of lace gave way to a blush underlay and a flowing train, while ruched chiffon accented the bride’s waist.

The bride carried a flowing bouquet that combined peonies, David Austin roses, and ranunculus with olive branches and ivy.

The couple’s flower girl wore a dress finished with rosettes, perfect for a bride who loves David Austin roses. To match the evening’s style, as well as the season, Viktoria asked her ’maids to choose their own dresses in shades of light pink and nude.

The couple’s ceremony took place beneath the vaulted ceiling of St. Mary’s Church. Arrangements of peach and pink blooms flanked the stately altar, where the couple exchanged Catholic vows.

Guests celebrated in spectacular style at Rosecliff Mansion, one of the most famous properties of the Newport mansions. Theresa Fair Oelrichs, the heiress who commissioned the mansion in the late 19th century, was inspired by another spectacular home: the Grand Trianon at Versailles.

Inside the ballroom of the gorgeous Newport mansion, round tables were set beneath sculpted and painted ceilings. Tables were topped with a mix of high and low centerpieces featuring roses, peonies, and flowing greenery. Gold flatware matched the gold-rimmed china, gilded Chiavari chairs, and sparkling chandeliers. The newlyweds were seated at a sweetheart table on the edge of the dance floor, with arrangements of roses and berries tied to each chair.

The couple chose a classic for their first dance: "The Way You Look Tonight," by Frank Sinatra.

Layers of vanilla-bean cake, lemon curd, and blackberry jam were encased in striped white buttercream frosting and topped with pink flowers.

“Don’t forget that your wedding is about you and your significant other,” says Viktoria. “As you’re planning, make choices that will make the two of you happy!”