While they were students at the College of Charleston, Alana Ashley Epstein and Justin Hyatt Racioppa were first introduced to each other by the bride’s roommates. They spent their first date dancing the night away and from thereafter become inseparable. Several years later, Justin planned a romantic picnic on Compo Beach where he then proposed.
The couple was married by the pastor Shira Adler at Espace in New York City. The reception, which followed at Espace, included many heartfelt speeches from family members and friends. The bride’s mother coincidentally concluded her speech with the same quote with which the bride began her vows: “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
The bride is the daughter of Hope Klein-Langer and Larry Langer of Westport. Alana is a graduate of Staples High School and received her bachelor’s degree in communications at the College of Charleston. She also holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Bridgeport and is a math teacher at Rippowam Middle School in Stamford. Justin is the son of Barbara and John Racioppa of Charleston, South Carolina. He is a graduate of Wando High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of Charleston. He is an operations associate for Southpaw Asset Management in Greenwich.
The bride and groom returned home to Norwalk after traveling to Belize and Costa Rica.
Photographs by Ashley Therese Photography