#realchicbride Maria in Yolan Cris at her St. Pete Wedding
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal? We met in high school through a mutual friend at a party once but our love story didn’t begin until college. We reconnected at a bar and have been each others light switch since. We had a very slow burn but ultimately when we moved in together in Chicago we knew we would never live apart again. We have since moved to Miami and purchased a condo together and not long after came the ring!
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
When we started planning our wedding, our vision was modern, clean, and intimate. I would say our wedding vision came to fruition and then some. The weekend started with an electric welcome party that really set the tone for the weekend. Saturday was a lot of formality as any other wedding but we were so excited for the reception because we knew this group was going to bring the same energy from the welcome event.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
The most important thing for us as a couple was entertainment. We both really enjoy having fun and wanted to have the right conductor to get the party going and have it stay there. We had fire dancers, electric violin and of course our amazing DJ Friday night. Saturday we switched things up and had drums, sax, electric edm dancers and our DJ that somehow made the night feel completely different from Friday. Aside from entertainment, we were really guest focused and wanted to be sure we were being cognizant of people’s time and energy so we did a 6pm church ceremony that led right into cocktail hour and reception.
How did you decide on the location?
We came to a decision with our venue because once we stepped foot on the campus we were in complete awe. The service and vibe at The Vinoy in St Pete’s is breathtaking. It’s almost as if you at in another country with out having a 10 hour travel day. I would pick The Vinoy 10 times over again.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
My dress was by Yolan Cris, it was inspired by engagement photo shoot dress. I went with boho chic and felt so confident and really expressive. I feel like a lot of dresses are starting to look the same or maybe social media influence trends matter more than staying true to what you want and feel the best in. Chic Parisian has such a variety of dresses and will actually tailor fit your vision to any dress. We added lace and relocated the skirt attachment to make it more modest and practical. I wore my dress all night because the over skirt was a first look in itself. I love my dress more than ever even months later.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
Our family and friends were a major role in our wedding weekend. We had our best friends and siblings in our wedding party and my mom walked our then 5 month old down the aisle. It was truly the most special moment seeing her beauty and happiness on the most important day of our life. I’m so excited to have my husband and daughter’s last name.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
The most intimate moment that I will never forget is walking out to the tea garden for our first look. Time stood still and our love was stronger than ever. It was a moment out of a story book, intense and unforgettable.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I decided on letting my artists take the lead on what they thought would look best with a few suggestions and preferences. I wanted my hair up to snatch me and my skin glowy. Aside from that they really put the vision together and my girls were the best glam team ever. My bridal party was super impressed it’s really hard to make a whole bunch of girls happy when it comes to glam. Every single person said it was their best makeup and hair look 10 toes down. Alex and Tiffanie brought their A game and didn’t leave a detail behind. I will never look that pretty again, until they glam me next.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
I really don’t think one vendor stood out more than the next. I haven’t mentioned my photography and videography yet so I’d also like to shout them out for bringing timeless elegance that I will be able to carry and cherish for the rest of my life.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We are taking our honeymoon in September to Marbella Spain. We decided to wait since our wedding was a weekend in itself. We wanted to really enjoy the honeymoon. It’s been the craziest year of our life between having a baby and a wedding so we are really excited to take some time as a family and reconnect. I am most excited to party and spend quality fun with my husband.
Hair : @tbq_hair
Makeup : @lissettluxemakeup
DJ / entertainment : @dj_malike_ & @curate_entertainment
Photography : @amberyonkerphotography
Videography : @shannonkellyfilms
Venue : @vinoyresort
Florals and Rentals : @sostaged
Dress : @yolancris @chicparisien