Markarian Founder Ali O’Neill Designed 4 Custom Dresses for Her NYC Wedding Weekend

Alexandra 'Ali' O’Neill, founder of New York-based fashion house Markarian, married wildlife guide and filmmaker Brent Leo-Smith in New York City on May 30, 2025. The couple met through O’Neill’s mother, who became a fan of Leo-Smith’s live safari broadcasts on PaintedDog TV during the pandemic and later traveled to Africa with him. In 2023, O’Neill joined a safari organized by her mother and met Leo-Smith. They got engaged on Christmas morning 2025 in South Africa. The wedding weekend included a rehearsal dinner at Wild Cherry in the West Village, a Greek Orthodox ceremony at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Gramercy Park, a dinner at Il Cantinori, and an after-party at People’s. O’Neill designed four custom Markarian looks: an off-the-shoulder lace skirt suit for the ceremony, a strapless corseted gown with dropped waist lace skirt for dinner, a scalloped-sleeve bias-cut lace dress for the after-party, and a rehearsal dinner look. Milliner Gigi Burris created a custom veil and the stefana crowns. The bouquet featured leopard orchids from South Africa. The couple used the same wedding cup O’Neill’s parents used. DJ Kristine Barilli provided music. O’Neill’s sister Krissy planned the entire weekend.