Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?

Matthew and I met when we were both 19 years old, attending FIU, at one of my best friend and bridesmaid’s birthday party. I secretly told all my friends I thought he was cute. Eventually, that message got back to him and he asked for my number. We immediately started dating and have been inseparable ever since. Our wedding date was actually on our 5 and a half year anniversary. We have spent those years planning our future, growing up together, and making amazing memories together and with our friends and families. Our favorite thing to do together is travel, leading to our engagement in Central Park, since New York is one of my favorite cities.

When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?

I’ve always been the type of girl who has planned my wedding since I was a little girl. My vision has changed through the years but I knew I wanted something timeless and elegant that I could look back on when I’m older and still absolutely love. I think our wedding absolutely nailed that vision. The all white florals and cascading greenery was even more beautiful than I could have imagined. It was an absolute dream!

What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?

We wanted our wedding to be as fun as it was beautiful, so I wanted to make sure our personalities showed through all the little details. We had an “Espresso Martinez” wall, Martinez being my new last name, and a gelato and cannoli cart representing our absolute favorite trip together to the Amalfi Coast. Instead of a typical bridal party entrance, we had our parents and the whole party enter the reception holding personalized club signs and cut outs of our faces.

How did you decide on the location?

I always knew I wanted a local wedding so all of our family and friends could attend. With that, I had been to or seen a lot of Miami venues and Catholic churches throughout the years and have always thought the Club of Knights was so beautiful and matched the vision I wanted perfectly. Miami also has beautiful churches but I had my eyes set on St Raymond for its close proximity and all wooden infrastructure. I toured both exactly a week after getting engaged and booked them that same day!

Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!

My dress was absolutely perfect!

I always knew I’d buy my dress at Chic Parisien. My mom bought her dress there in 1987 and then my sister in 2015. I originally thought I’d have an all satin ballgown but once I saw a video of the Monique Lhullier Alexandra gown, I showed my mom and told her “If I’m doing lace, I’m doing this dress”. It was actually the first dress I tried on and I absolutely fell in love with it. It checked every box and really made me feel like a bride.

Paired with my laced trim veil and my lace and pearl Jimmy Choo heels, it was perfect for my wedding day. My sister also wore a Monique Lhullier gown so it felt just right!

How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?

My family was a huge help during wedding planning and the wedding day itself, especially my mom and sister. I had a vision of what I wanted but always needed their reassurance before making any decision. They came along with me to every tour and every dress fitting. They were my biggest support on the day of and we had so much fun getting ready together and preparing for the big day. There were also three girls who absolutely made my wedding day so special, my nieces. They are 2, 4, and 6 and had the absolute best time. They got ready with us, cheersed apple cider, and danced the night away!

What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.

I think walking down the aisle is something I’ll never forget. I didn’t do a first look, so that was the first time I saw my husband that day. It really felt like I was in a movie and I was so overwhelmed with happiness. Also, the fact that I got to have that moment with my dad was really special. It’s something I dreamed of since being a little girl and felt very full circle.

How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?

This was probably the thing I was most indecisive on during the entire planning process. With makeup, I really let my makeup artist do what she thought was best. Her work is so beautiful so I knew she would do great. I tried so many different hairstyles for my trial and dress fittings and didn’t decide until my final fitting that I wanted to do two hairstyles. I always knew I wanted my hair down for the ceremony but decided to do a slick back bun before the reception. It was the best decision ever! It was like having two looks but with my same gown. I got so many different photos and felt so comfortable dancing all night. I would highly recommend a second hair look!

Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?

My photographer!!! Raquel, @blissfulhazephotography. She was absolutely amazing and made everything so seamless the day of. She made sure to get every single shot I wanted and sent sneak peeks three days after so I had all these beautiful memories to look back on as soon as possible. The day goes by so quickly and I’m so grateful we have such beautiful pictures to look back on. We will cherish her work for the rest of our lives!

Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?

We went on a 10 day cruise around Greece and Turkey. My husband and I’s favorite part was exploring Istanbul, which has always been on our bucket list.

Vendors

Photo @blissfulhazephotography

Video @lovestoryfilmsco

Content @everlastingeditsbykaren

Church St Raymond Catholic Church

Venue @theclubofknights

Glam @beautyby_renata

Florals @nerysflowers

Rentals @cachetentsandevents

Signage/Wall @miamiwritesco

DJ @mikesipegroup DVNY

Planner @events_by_priscilla