Sometimes love comes from faraway lands, sometimes you go somewhere completely new and find yourself face-to-face with the person you’ll spend the rest of your life with. But sometimes you don’t need to search far and wide, because the love of your life is already waiting right in your own small town.

“We met in our home village Leie. We were both still very young.”

As in most villages, the people of Leie, too, came together for plenty of festivities and parties even all those years ago. And thanks to the lovable scheming from good friends, Annela and Raul found each other in youth right in the middle of it all.

“We met in our home village Leie. We were both still very young.”

— Annela

“Our relationship had a rocky start. On-again-off-again, as many young people those days. No relationship comes with only joys. Hardships and disagreements happen to everyone sometimes, but we overcame them together. As the years went by, our relationship only grew stronger :) And at long last, we decided to join our hearts and step into a marriage.”

And on July 14th, 2018, that day finally came.

Wedding photographer: Valdur Rosenvald | Rosenvald Photography

Venue: Ojako puhke-ja koolituskeskus

Host: Raul Kivi

Pastor: Peep-Ain Saar

Decorator & florist: Pruutpaar OÜ Rita Kaas

Wedding cake: Tuuletäht OÜ

Band: Hea Story

Rings: Goldtime

Bride’s dress: Anna-Bella Salon

Groom’s suit: Tartu Kaubamaja

Bride’s makeup: Kai Tammsaar M.U.A

Bride’s hair: Beauty Room Ilustuudio

Fireworks: Arnika

Annela and Raul had their family and best friends to celebrate their stormy wedding day together with them, but unbeknownst to them, there was another mysterious set of eyes witnessing their joy…

“The first thing I remember is when a woman came from the cottage next door to hand Raul a small folded letter. I knew nothing about it. Days later he remembered that he’d received it, but I couldn’t make anything of the handwriting. So I ironed and straightened it properly,” the bride reminisced even two years later.

The words said in a letter written by a stranger have accompanied the couple since the day of their wedding.

“So I looked through the boathouse window at the beautiful bride and groom… and I’m reminded of the apothecary in the movie “Suvi” saying how the expression “reach marital harbor” is utterly false.” Outside is a roaring thunderstorm… and as they’re getting married, they sail out to the stormy sea… Now it's even hailing!!! But may the newlyweds be blessed!”