#realchicbride Monika in Lucky by Kyha Bride at her Miami Wedding
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
It's the invisible string theory at work. We reunited post college (and post COVID), while Javier was back in town during a winter break while getting his MBA, and I was also recently back after living in New York City for a few years. The last thing I expected was to reunite and ultimately fall in love with someone in Miami, who had orbited me my whole life.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
I envisioned something that was Miami tropical chic meeting Nantucket nautical charm. We knew we wanted a black-tie wedding, but wanted it to fit the al fresco venue (Biscayne Bay Yacht Club). We landed on something that felt fresh and coastal, seaside underneath a sailcloth Sperry tent, while also whimsical and romantic, with pastel florals and pearl accents. I would say the vision versus reality was pretty uncanny, thanks to Cristy Lloveras of mcl coordination!
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
We wanted to make sure our Cuban heritage showed up throughout the celebration – from the Spanish traditions we honored during our Catholic ceremony to the food and pearl-studded guava that sat atop our wedding cake, and of course to the cigars that were passed around all night. And at the end of day, we wanted our guests (and ourselves) to just have FUN.
How did you decide on the location?
We wanted something open air and near the water. Coconut Grove is our favorite neighborhood in Miami, and where we spent many of our early dates, so Biscayne Bay Yacht Club was an easy choice – feeling the ocean breeze sweep throughout the tent all night definitely validated our decision.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
Chic Parisien was always at the top on my list for bridal stores – not just because it's so famed, but also because they had more up-and-coming designers I had my eye on. I knew I wanted to try on a Kyha Bride dress, and was actually pretty close on going with another one that I tried on at my first appointment. When Chic announced they were doing a Kyha Bride trunk show, I knew I needed to go back in and try the new collection. And that's when I found her! Not going to lie, I was pretty back and forth between my original pick and the new one, but Irina was so helpful and supportive throughout my journey.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
We chose to not have any bridal parties, and instead just invited our close friends to share a few special moments together big the ceremony. We also hosted a welcome party the evening before, which allowed us to spend time with close friends, families and all our guests who traveled in from out of town – the wedding day was a whirlwind (and truly flew by!) so I'm happy we had the time with them beforehand.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
The limo ride with Javi from the church to the venue. I felt totally infinite. The "hard" part was done, the nerves were all out of the way, and all we had in front of us was a night of fun and dancing – and of course I couldn't wait to see how everything turned out at the venue. That reveal was a top memory as well!
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I worked with Marco of Marco Artistry for my makeup and Natalia of Master of Glam for my hair, and honestly both are such talents with impeccable taste that I didn't have to spend too much time thinking through my looks. For makeup, Marco's style is exactly in line with what I envisioned – natural and feminine – and it's why I chose him. Natalia can execute any style you give her, so we entertained a few options, but ultimately I wanted something that let my dress shine – so we did an organic bun (nothing too structured or tight) with some face framing pieces.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
Too many! But my photographer Karla was essential at every stage of the wedding process, providing support and a creative vision far beyond what I expected from a photographer. And Monika from Lucelo Flor absolutely CRUSHED the florals at my wedding and truly made my vision a reality – it's the one thing everyone commented on the most. I mean how could you not – she hand-pressed pearls on anthuriums and fruits!!!
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We went to Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore – we agreed we needed to go far away and for long as we could (3 weeks) for it to feel like a REAL honeymoon. Boat days in Thailand with secret beach picnics were by far our favorite part of the trip.