Veronika Potylitsina and Kieran Franzone married at the Windham Mountain...

Veronika Potylitsina and Kieran Franzone married at the Windham Mountain Club in the Catskills. Credit: Gary Huynh Photography

It was Kieran Franzone’s humor that ultimately won over Veronika Potylitsina.

The pair started dating in 2017 after they exchanged numbers and Potylitsina, a designer at a landscape architecture firm and band photographer, told him to send her a pun.

Franzone, a private music teacher and member of the ska punk band Dino Skatepark, admits to some workshopping before he came up with the perfect line.

“There were some stinkers in there,” he said. “The first one I sent was, ‘What did the ocean say to the beach? It shore is a lovely day.’ ”

Want your wedding featured in Newsday? If you've been married in the past 12 months, we want to hear from you! Email your love story, in 250 words or less, to lilife@newsday.com.

Ultimately, he settled on “If you were a chicken, you’d be impeckable.”

For their first date, Potylitsina, 28, said they met at Café Portofino in Northport. “As a joke, I told him to bring his guitar to serenade me — and he actually brought it!” she said.

“We hung out there for an hour or two,” said Franzone, 31. “No, it was three or four hours,” Potylitsina interjected. “Then we went to Rockin’ Fish for dinner,” Franzone added.

“Now we go every year to Rockin’ Fish to celebrate,” she noted.

They got engaged on June 18, 2022, at the waterfront Northport Village Park after a nostalgic visit to Café Portofino and Rockin’ Fish. “I tried to keep it a secret, but I think she knew it was happening,” Franzone said.

On June 22, with 140 guests in attendance, plus two flower girls and seven attendants each, they married at the top of upstate Windham Mountain at the Windham Mountain Club. Guests rode a chairlift to the ceremony.

Franzone said that as they boarded the lift after the ceremony, his new wife joked, “Just like the ski lift, it’s all downhill from here.”

WEDDING VENUE

The couple wed and held their reception at the Windham Mountain Club in the Catskills.

WINE AND DINE

The reception was at Cin Cin! restaurant and catered by the Windham Mountain Club. They estimate wedding costs were about $40,000.

HONEYMOON

The couple plan to take a small trip to Quebec City and then a longer honeymoon next year in Italy.

LET’S DANCE

“Loti” by Eidola

FAVE RAVES

Five things Potylitsina loves about her husband: His unwavering support; the way he gives her space to be "100% myself;" his passion for his music and teaching; his humor; and how affectionate he is.

Five things Franzone loves about his wife: Her personality; her sense of humor; her green eyes; her drive and determination; and how she can "expand a little idea or thing that brings us joy."

HOME BASE

Islandia

"Car fluff" is being deposited at Brookhaven landfill at a fast clip, but with little discussion. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie and Newsday investigative reporter Paul LaRocco have the story. Credit: Newsday Staff

'Need to step up regulations and testing' "Car fluff" is being deposited at Brookhaven landfill at a fast clip, but with little discussion. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie and Newsday investigative reporter Paul LaRocco have the story.

"Car fluff" is being deposited at Brookhaven landfill at a fast clip, but with little discussion. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie and Newsday investigative reporter Paul LaRocco have the story. Credit: Newsday Staff

'Need to step up regulations and testing' "Car fluff" is being deposited at Brookhaven landfill at a fast clip, but with little discussion. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie and Newsday investigative reporter Paul LaRocco have the story.

SUBSCRIBE

Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 5 months

ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME