...
...
Next Story

From backpacking in South America to saying ‘I do’ on Brooklyn Bridge, love story behind couple’s viral picture is heartening

Story behind couple’s ‘I do’ pic on Brooklyn Bridge is what heart eye emojis were made for.

Updated on: Jul 28, 2020, 20:50:13 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
Prefer HTon Google
Advertisement

Last night while on her daily cycling session Nevona Friedman came across a wonderful moment of a couple saying “I do” on the Brooklyn Bridge against the backdrop of the setting sun. To preserve the beautiful incident, she clicked an image of the ceremony and shared it on social media in a bid to find the couple. What she never thought that this seemingly simple gesture of hers would tug at the heartstrings of thousands. Chances are the image, and the story of the couple will leave you emotional and make you say “it’s true love.”

The couple saying ‘I do’ on Brooklyn Bridge. (Twitter/Nevona Friedman)
The couple saying ‘I do’ on Brooklyn Bridge. (Twitter/Nevona Friedman)

“If you were getting married on the Brooklyn Bridge this evening, I’ve got some photos for you!” she tweeted and shared the image.

“I saw this quiet little ceremony happening right in the middle - it was just the bride, groom, and officiant as far as I could tell (no guests)” Friedman told Hindustan Times. “I decided to snap a few photos from different angles (from a safe distance away) and then when I saw how they turned out, wanted to see if I could find a way to get the images to them - it didn’t seem like they had a photographer or family taking pictures,” she added.

She further said that when she took to social media to find the couple, one of her Facebook contacts recognised the bride and helped Friedman get in touch with her.

Take a look at the image which has now won Twitter over:

Here’s what people had to say about the image:

If can already feel your heart getting filled with a warm fuzzy feeling, then hold on a moment. There is more to this wonderful story, and it may end up leaving your emotional and happy. Turns out the couple, who are now winning people’s hearts on Twitter are Nikolina Kovalenko and Stefan Ponova.

Kovalenko told Hindustan Times that she met Ponova about a year ago while she was backpacking through South America.

The image shows Nikolina Kovalenko and her husband Stefan Ponova.

“We met while when Stefan invited me to dance, we immediately felt an incredible connection, and we were dancing and chatting through the evening,” she said. “Next morning I had an early bus to go to another Colombian town. I said, half-jokingly, that if we want to continue the conversation, he could meet at the bus station and join me, and I wasn’t sure if he will come, but when I got to the terminal, Stefan was already there waiting. Our first date was a 10 hour long bus ride on one of the worst roads in Colombia, and we talked the entire time!” she added.

Their story would have ended as Kovalenko was just starting her backpacking tour while Ponova was ready to go back home after 2.5 years of travelling.

Nikolina Kovalenko first met her husband Stefan Ponova in South America.

“This could have been the end of the story, but we couldn’t stop texting and chatting over the next couple of days, and Stefan packed his backpack and took a 24 hour long bus ride to catch up with me in Quito, Ecuador,” she further revealed.

In fact, she also revealed that they continued with their plans, and there were several moments which could have meant the end of their story, but they decided to stick together. Finally, they reunited in Bariloche, Argentina and since then they haven’t parted ways. They explored various parts of the world and finally decided to come back to New York City, together.

Nikolina Kovalenko and Stefan Ponova, an image of the couple is now going viral on Twitter.

However, as fate will have it, quarantine started after a week they returned.And, it’s during that time they realised their connection and love growing stronger.

Finally, they decided to get married in a very small ceremony on Brooklyn Bridge. Talking about the image which has now gone viral, she said they’re “surprised and humbled to see how much the photo resonated with people, maybe it was a welcome reminder that love prevails no matter what.”

Nikolina Kovalenko and Stefan Ponova after they got married.

She also said that she wishes their story helps others find their true love.

What do you think of the image and the couple’s story?

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.

Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.
Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe