#realchicbride Devin in Yolan Cris at her Key West Wedding
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Nick and I met in high school. I had just moved to a new town, and was living with my cousin. Nick was my cousin's best friend, and naturally we started hanging out every day and eventually dating. We have endured all the trials and tribulations that your teenage years and early/mid twenties offer. We have been together for 12 years! Nick finally proposed in June of 2022 on the island of Kauai!
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
Being together for so long, Nick and I went back and forth between an elopement, a small, intimate wedding, or a larger gathering with all of our loved ones. As far as vision goes, we wanted to lean into the Old Florida/Tropical/Vintage aesthetic. We decided on limiting our ceremony and exchanging of vows to ourselves and our immediate family and bridal parties, and then having all of our loved ones share in the joy at our reception. We are so fortunate to have had our ceremony at the incredible Little Palm Island, and our reception on the beautiful Pier at Ocean Key Resort.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
Our top three most important things at our wedding were: 1. Having a moment to ourselves at some point in the day; 2. Having an amazing band; 3. Amazing photos to have for the rest of our lives. Other than that, I think we were a pretty relaxed couple - some might say too relaxed! We are so thankful for our amazing "type A" wedding planner!
How did you decide on the location?
I was born and raised in Key West, and that is our happy place and where we officially fell in love. It was always Key West!
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
I have THE BEST dress story.
Let me preface this by saying I can never find anything to wear. I am late to everything because I never have anything to wear. I knew that choosing a wedding dress was going to be the most difficult decision of the entire wedding planning process.
I only had a few inspo photos and not very many leads. I liked gowns that were traditional, unique, funky and textured. I leaned towards Spanish and South American designers.
I live in Nashville, TN now, but my family and friends live in Florida - my mom in Key West, my Maid of Honor in Miami, and best friend just 3 hours north. I flew into Miami on a weekend in October that fit everyone's schedules. Before booking my appointments, I was on the phone with my mom asking her about her dress and where she got it. She only remembered, "Oh, somewhere in Miami." I had three appointments that day, Chic Parisien being the first.
That morning, a series of wild omens happened. First, my mom called to ask where to meet us. I told her "Chic Parisien," and she said, "wait a minute, that's where I got my dress back in the '80's!" Then, as we were driving to the appointment, a car pulled in front of us with Hawaii tags - where we got engaged! You don't see too many cars that traveled close to 5,000 miles from Hawaii on the roads in Miami. Before we got to Coral Gables, my dad called to remind me that it was his 34th wedding anniversary. I had no idea when I booked the appointment!
Once we get to Chic Parisien, Kendall assists me in trying to pin-point my style. Somehow, she absolutely nailed it with what little information I was able to give her. The first dress I tried on was a gorgeous lacy, beaded two-piece gown with long "Stevie Nicks" style sleeves and a high neck designed by Yolan Cris. Somehow, the sample size fit me perfectly. We all cried, my mom especially hard.
I thought we were emotional because it was the first wedding dress I had ever tried on, so I insisted we try on more. There was no way I found the dress on my first try. Twelve no’s later, we circled back to the first dress and again, tears from everyone. It was the one, there was no denying it.
We threw on a gorgeous lace-trimmed cathedral veil and that was it. It was mine!
After I said yes, my mom said, through tears, that she bought the first dress she tried on here at Chic Parisien 35 years ago.
As soon as we get into my Maid of Honor's car, her parent's wedding song comes on the radio. Nothing more magical or kismet than the day I got my wedding dress!
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
-I couldn't have done it without my mom, dad, my maid of honor and each and every friend and family member who stuck by me on the wild ride of planning a wedding. Each person played a specific part in making our day absolutely perfect. Everyone was willing to lend a hand when needed. One of our best friends wrote and performed a song for us, about us, on stage at the reception. I couldn't ask for a better support group!
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
Nothing compares to walking down the aisle and seeing your husband, and your future all right before your eyes. It feels as if the Earth stops spinning. It is the single most magical moment I have ever experienced. A close second is partying and dancing at the reception with my best friends and family to our amazing and talented friends while they played our favorite songs. Nick and my dad got onstage and performed too.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I don't typically wear a lot of make-up or do my hair, so I made sure to choose someone that specialized in a natural look.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
My wedding photographer - Gypsy Lemon by Kayla Elizabeth Czarniecki!! Hands down. Also have to give a huge shoutout to Julie at Simply You Weddings in Key West. She made it happen!
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We did a mini-moon at The Bungalows in Key Largo and had a perfectly beautiful, relaxing two days. We plan on going on a bigger adventure next summer!
Vendors and credits:
Venues: Little Palm Island @LittlePalmIsland and @LittlePalmIslandWeddings
Sunset Pier @SunsetPierKeyWest
Wedding Planner: Julie at Simply You Weddings @SimplyYouKw
Florals & Decor: Milan Events @Milan_Event
Entertainment: Loose Lips band from Nashville @LooseLipsOfficial
Photographer: Gypsy Lemon @Gypsy.Lemon
Dress: Yolan Cris @YolanCris and @YolanCrisRealBrides and of course @ChicParisien!
#realchicbride Vivian in Monique Lhuillier
Get to know real bride Vivian and her love story:
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Vivian and Max met while attending Boston College in 2012. After graduation, they moved to Los Angeles, where Vivian attended University of Southern California for graduate school and to complete her fifth year as a collegiate track athlete. Meanwhile, Max pursued a career in sports working for Los Angeles Football Club.
After a few years on the West Coast, Vivian decided to move back home to Naples, Florida and launch her own jewelry line, Henri Noël. Vivian is a third generation jeweler who specializes in creating bespoke engagement & wedding bands, in addition to her core jewelry collection. The family jewelry business was a staple of Vivian's upbringing and has been an inspiration to her own custom jewelry that holds long-lasting value and memories.
For the proposal, Max flew in his two siblings to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was living at the time, and had his sister convince Vivian to head to Lake Norman to model for her (she is a photographer and graphic designer for Casamigos Tequila). By Vivian’s own admission, she'd do “anything for tequila", so she was a willing participant.
Upon their arrival at Lake Norman, Max took Vivian to explore the lake while his sister got in position to photograph the proposal. After a short walk, Vivian turned a corner to find a gazebo decorated in rose petals. Right there and then, Max dropped down on one knee and popped the question! Shortly thereafter, Max took Vivian to dinner, where she was surprised by close friends and family.
Given that Vivian’s father is also a jeweler, Max had the perfect co-creator when it came to the engagement ring. Together, they sorted, color-matched and set each of the marquise diamonds to create this one-of-a-kind eternity band.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
Once engaged, the couple decided on Cutlass Cove Beach in Vivian’s hometown of Naples, FL for the wedding. After seeing the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian six months prior, the couple was unsure if they could still have their wedding on the property. Thankfully, however, with the help of close family friends, they were able to restore the area just in time.
To help bring their English garden vision to life, the couple enlisted the help of Kehrin Hassan as their wedding designer. She helped the couple throw the wedding of their dreams by putting on a ceremony that felt elegant yet relaxed.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
The couple shook things up in the layout of their wedding. On their invites, they told all guests the ceremony would start at 4pm but really they had the cocktail hour before the wedding ceremony. This allowed the guests to take photos and get a little loose before taking their seats for the ceremony. The signature cocktail was a ‘Spaghett’, a staple at the couple’s favorite restaurant in Charlotte, ‘Vana’. It mixes Miller High Life with Aperol, mimicking an Aperol Spritz, but replacing champagne with ‘The Champagne of Beers’, another subtle nod to the wedding’s elevated but informal feel.
The ceremony was not traditionally seated, but instead included long benches with accent pillows joined by areas for guests to stand. After the couple said “I do”, the music immediately kicked in, setting the tone for a night of dancing, highlighted by Max’s upbeat and choreographed dance with his mother, who herself used to be a professional dancer.
How did you decide on the location?
We decided on Cutlass Cove Beach Club. A beautiful setting in Vivian’s hometown that truly showed how beautiful Naples is.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
Vivian found her perfect dress early in the process - a Monique Lhuillier lace gown paired with light blue Manolo Blahnik heels. During a shopping trip with her mom in Miami, they shared a knowing smile when she tried on this gown, confirming it as "the one." Vivian once listened to a podcast once where Monique said, “If your dress is not filthy at the end of the night, you didn’t do it right”. Vivian connected with those words as she wanted a dress she wouldn't want to take off all night but also one that was comfortable to move in. Vivian’s after party dress was a light blue Rachel Gilbert ruffle dress - she wanted to bring a pop of color to the night once she took her wedding dress off.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
Vivian had 9 bridesmaids, each with their own unique personality. As such, she allowed them the freedom to choose their own dresses. And since no outfit is complete without some Henri Noël jewelry, Vivian created an iconic earring that each of the girls wore in the gold color of their choice.
One thing that was quite fun was Vivian’s mother-in-law, a former professional dancer, performed a dance with the groom to “I’m Holdin’ on to love” by Shania Twain. This set the tone for the evening, every guest was clapping, dancing and singing.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
The first look. Imagining the moment your soon-to-be husband sees you on your wedding day is something Vivian always dreamed of. Seeing the smile on her husband’s face and the warmth in his eyes is something she will never forget.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
Vivian always knew she wanted to still feel like herself and not worry about fixing anything throughout her wedding day. She went with a “party pony” so no matter the weather conditions, it would look good. For makeup, Vivian went with a very natural look, neutral tones and a subtle lip color.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
Kaleidoscope Floral! It is a good feeling when you can describe what you want and know it is going to be perfectly executed.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
Vivian and Max went to Zambia and Cape Town for their honeymoon. Many might say it is a trip of a lifetime, and they are certainly not wrong! The couple stayed at The Royal along the Zambezi River and loved how removed it was from inner city life. Each day out in the brush brought something new - an elephant spotting, a lion sprinting to kill its prey, monkeys swarming the trees - these unique moments creating unforgettable memories.
Real Bride Amanda In Lazaro Will Make Your Heart Flutter
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Joche and I met while we were both first year graduate students at Harvard Business School in 2019. Joche was surprised to find out that one of his classmates was the family behind his local favorite ice cream store back in Miami, Whip ’N Dip Ice Cream Shoppe. That was enough to peak his interests.
It wasn’t until we both returned home to Florida to finish out our second semester of business school remotely due to the pandemic, where our love story really got sweeter ;). A few trips to the most remote of locations, mixed with surprise plant and ice cream deliveries, not even a year later Joche got down on one knee in front of the place that brought us together, Whip ’N Dip, and asked me to marry him the morning of a party we had planned for our joint graduation from business school.
All of our family and close friends were coming in town for the party. It was extra special to share this moment with everyone. We quickly forgot that we were graduating and the party turned into an engagement party surrounded by our closest family and friends.
How did you decide on the location?
At the start of wedding planning, Joche and I thought we wanted a destination wedding. We looked into a few locations, including Harbor Island in the Bahamas, Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, and Steamboat Springs in Colorado. We even set a date in one of these locations for September of 2023, which would have led to a year and a half engagement. A few weeks after making that decision, we decided that life was too short and precious to not get married sooner.
The location that felt most like “Joche and I” was right in front of us, in the backyard of Joche’s parents house, in beautiful Coral Gables, Florida. We cut our engagement time in half, called Elle from Events by Elle, and before we knew it, we were getting married in 6 short months.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
With little time to waste, we immediately threw ourselves into wedding planning. We envisioned an intimate, romantic, and whimsical backyard wedding celebration. The final result was more than we could have ever imagined.
At the center of it all was the butterfly, which we featured little hints of throughout the night. We wanted our guests to feel like they were transported to a charming and magical garden. To complement the butterflies, we went with white and blush florals that had splashes of deeper peach and coral tones. We then balanced our florals with the natural beauty of South Florida vegetation. We had a clear tent that was surrounded by palms, monsterras, golden photos, and bouganvillias. At the center of the tent was a circular bar where we hung an installation of butterflies intertwined with greenery, which when combined with the twinkling of the butterfly and bistro lights lining the top of the tent, gave an illusion of dining under the stars in a butterfly greenhouse. Towards the end of the night, we surprised our guests during the la Hora Loca, or “the crazy hour”, with confetti in the shape of butterflies. It was simply magical.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
Butterflies. Butterflies have always been special to me. My grandmother had everything you could imagine in some butterfly form, be it earrings, broches, purses, linens, or art. We wanted butterflies to be subtly present throughout the wedding to represent her and all the other family members who were no longer with us to celebrate. Butterflies also carry this symbol of transformation, rebirth, and change. They are a reminder of how delicate and short life is. Joche and I are constantly reminding ourselves of this and it was for this reason that we decided to push our wedding up by almost a year.
We of course had to include the thing that brought us together in the first place, Whip ‘N Dip ice cream, in our wedding celebration. Whip ‘N Dip holds a special place in my family's heart and it was so fun to share it on our wedding day with so many friends and family who grew up going to this ice cream store. We served two special flavors for the wedding, a ‘his’ and ‘her’ favorite. I chose a chocolate based ice cream, with strawberry and fudge swirled throughout. My favorite. For Joche’s ice cream, we served “Cookies and Dreams”, which was our take on cookies and cream ice cream but with marshmallows added.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
I always imagined the dress I would wear would be very simple, with no lace, jewels, or embellishments. I knew I wanted a ball gown or A-line silhouette, with a long train and cathedral style veil that would fill Epiphany Church as I walked down the aisle. I also wanted to find a dress and add a slight twist to it to make it my own.
Little by little, I started falling in love with the delicateness of floral appliques on the dresses I was seeing. It was the second dress that I tried on at Chic Parisien when I got the feeling that everyone says you get when you find your dress.
When I tried on the Lazaro Estee dress, it was everything I imagined and more. The Estee dress felt delicate and dainty with floral appliques covering the dress from the corset top all the way down its long ball gown skirt and train. It had a peplum style skirt overlay that was made entirely of tulle and organza, giving it a ton of movement and volume.
The dress had one section of the front skirt that fell below the peplum overlay, that had no appliques. It was an empty space of tulle that felt like an open canvas. To make it my own, we worked with the team at Chic Parisien to cut out and hand sew individual appliques of extra fabric we ordered from Lazaro, to the entire bottom of the dress to fill what was the empty tulle portion of the skirt. The floral qpplique looked as if it was climbing up the dress and disappeared under the peplum overlay.
I can’t thank the Chic Parisien team enough for helping me make this dress a one of a kind.
I wore a headpiece as my “something borrowed” that was designed for my husband’s cousin for her wedding by Eva Hidalgo. The headpiece had three flowers made with crystals that sat right over my low, rose-shaped ballerina bun. This was a last-minute addition that ended up bringing the entire dress and jewelry together. It was simply perfect.
For jewelry, as my “something old”, I wore my husband's grandmother's diamond and pearl drop earrings. I chose to wear no necklace since the earrings were large and the dress was so intricate. Instead, I wore a very dainty Tiffany bracelet that my husband gifted me on our wedding day. It held two Tiffany “T’s” that formed the shape of a cross, symbolizing our desire to put God at the center of our marriage and the start of my journey as a new Catholic.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
I could never thank my family and friends enough for all their love and support throughout the wedding planning! From my sister planning the most spectacular bachelorette party in Casa de Campo, to my now aunt throwing an “Almalfi Coast” style bridal shower, to my other Aunt who planned a rager of a tropical welcome party the night before the wedding, to my mom traveling back and forth to attend all of my fittings and listening to my frantic wedding phone calls every night, all the way to my mother-in-law who graciously helped me through every minor detail of the planning with open arms, I would do it all again and again in a heartbeat. I feel like the luckiest girl to be surrounded by the best family and friends!
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
Oh my, there are so many memories. I will never forget the moments leading up to walking through the church doors with my dad. Elle, our wedding planner, was in front of me awaiting to open the doors to the church. She turned to me and said “From this moment on, the night will fly by. Take it in.” And from there, the doors opened, my dad was on my right arm, and the light casting over us felt magical. I saw Joche at the end of the aisle, and suddenly nothing else mattered.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
Daniela Gozlan and Duber made choosing my makeup and hair easy. I do not usually wear a lot of make-up, so I wanted very natural, champagne, and light tones around my eyes. For hair, Duber took my ballerina bun to the next level, twisting and pinning my hair into the shape of a rose that really couldn’t have been more unique and perfect for the dress and headpiece. Daniela is the coolest and sweetest artist around, and her entire team is so talented.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
Oh my, this is hard. I loved them all. Our wedding wouldn’t have turned out the way it did without the Events by Elle team. They worked with us day in and day out to pull our wedding together on a very short timeline. They are more than a wedding planning team, they are family. I miss them dearly now that wedding planning is over.
Merari, our photographer, was one of the best decisions we made for the wedding. She is so talented at what she does. Both my husband and I are camera shy, but she makes you feel so comfortable and confident. She effortlessly captures the tone of the wedding. Looking through our photos takes me right back to that day. I still remember her arriving to the house the morning of the wedding and giving me the biggest hug. My nerves for the day ahead instantly vanished.
I also can’t thank Mary Gonzalez enough for all she did for me that day! She stayed by my side the entire day and night, ensuring that my dress was always looking its best and that my nerves were put aside. There was one moment when I accidentally stepped on my dress and with my other foot managed to punch a hole through the front of the dress before the ceremony had even started. Minutes before the ceremony, Mary was there with me and my dad in the bridal car, sewing up the hole. She seamlessly sewed it back to where you would never know that I had put a hole in the dress.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
Joche and I did the best of both worlds for our honeymoon. We spent the first half skiing in Jackson Hole. We stayed at the Amangiri, which provided us with equal parts adventure and pamper. We skiied, snowmobiled, fat tire biked, and saw all sorts of wildlife, including Big Horn Sheep and Moose. For the second part of the honeymoon, we adventured south to Mexico! We stayed at Rosewood’s Las Ventanas al Paraiso in San Jose del Cabo. We ate some of the best food, hiked the desert, lay on the beach, and adventured up the coast to Todos Santos, where we stayed on a farm for a few evenings. It was spectacular.
Credits
Wedding Planner: Events by Elle
Photographer: Merari
Videographer: PS Photo & Films
Hair and Makeup: Daniela Gozlan
Wedding Dress Bouqitue: Chic Parisien
Wedding Dress Designer: Lazaro
Second Dress Designer: Filomena Fernandez
Florals: A Lavish Design
Catering: Mena Catering
Invites and Stationary: After Awhile Crocodile
Band/DJ: Tropics Entertainment
#realchicbride Alyssa in Berta Tells Us Her Love Story
When we saw the beautiful photos of Alyssa Lattizori’s wedding we knew we had to chat with her to hear a bit more about it! Luckily, she was happy to spill all the details about how she planned the wedding (by herself!), her love store and how she picked her perfect dress at Chic Parisien (a Berta!).
Tell us your love story! How did you meet? What was your journey to the proposal?
July 2015, I talked to a psychic who was highly recommended from friends. She told me that at the end of August, I was going to meet my soulmate and he would be THE ONE. She said he'd have dark hair and hazel green eyes, live in the same state but not the same city and would be in the same industry as me but different facets of it. She told me that work would mutually bring us to the same place maybe a convention of sorts, but we wouldn't meet at work - we'd meet at a social event affiliated with work. She told me to make sure I said 'yes' to everything and if I didn't meet him by fall that means I missed my chance.
August 31, 2015 I was at a Real Estate convention and saw this handsome man across the way! My girlfriend Jenna said, 'go say hi!' I was too nervous, and said 'If I'm supposed to meet him, I will." After dinner that night, saying 'yes' to grabbing one last drink at the hotel bar, Will happened to be there. We met, and the rest is history! I couldn't sleep that night and I texted my best friend Katie at 5:30am, "I think I met my soulmate the psychic was telling me about" Go figure, he also lived in Florida, had dark hair and hazel eyes and was in Commercial Real Estate while I'm in Residential. I still have the actual recording, all the other details she got right is pretty wild!
We talked about getting married 3 months after we met. Will proposed about a year later! We knew we were getting a puppy January 2018 but couldn't decide on a name. We both liked Rosie but Will was convinced we couldn't name her until we met her and made sure the name suited her. Dec 22, 2017 - Will came back from a work trip and told me last minute that his parents were coming down to visit that night before we left on a super early flight the next day to visit my family for Christmas. Assuming we both agreed our 10 day trip would be our gift to each other, I was surprised when he handed me a thin flat box, which he said "was just a little something." I opened it to find a new red dog color with a dog tag attached. Thinking how thoughtful it was he agreed to calling her Rosie and got her name engraved on the tag, I flipped it over and to my surprise I saw, "Marry Me" instead! I turned around to find him down on one knee. Of course I said yes! Even better we got to celebrate with his family that night and then mine in Connecticut!
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
I envisioned soft blush colors with pops of gold and navy accents. Super sweet, girly and classic. I just kept thinking blush, blush, blush. Thankfully I had some major rock star vendors and day-of coordinators that helped to make my vision a reality! Wouldn't have changed a thing.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
Will is not a dancer, so he was actually the one who decided we take dancing lessons and do a choreographed dance! He claimed that if we were going to dance in front of a bunch of people he wanted to at least look like he knew what he was doing and make it more interesting than swaying back and forth. It was a blast learning ballroom together!
I've always loved starfish and keep them in the front windows of our house. I wanted to incorporate them in a classic way, so we actually handmade all 135 starfish napkin rings! Loved having that little touch.
How did you decide on the location?
I was born and raised in a sleepy little seaside town outside of Mystic, CT. I've lived in Florida for about 8 years and it was so important to me to have the wedding where I grew up! It is SO beautiful in Connecticut (and definitely not as hot as FL!) So I am happy that Will agreed we could have it there.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
Funny story about my dress! I've been OBSESSED with Berta gowns but wasn't totally sure what style I would end up wearing. Last minute, I saw that Berta was having a trunk show in Miami, and since my Mom was out of town and all my bridesmaids live out of state, I asked another good friend to just come with me so I could see the dresses and at least narrow down what shape I'd want to wear.
Go figure, about 5 dresses in, I try on THE dress. Bethany and I looked at each other and started to tear up. It was definitely my dress. BUT I was so upset my Mom wasn't with me! Being a pageant girl growing up, dress shopping was always something my Mom and I enjoyed doing together, never mind the fact that this was a once in a lifetime chance to try on wedding dresses!! Barbette at Chic Parisien was so sweet and said if I put a deposit down she would still honor the trunk show discount if I could get my Mom in there the next weekend. Thankfully it work out, and I was able to have her, Will's mom and sister there with me the next weekend, which we all agreed was THE dress, thankfully!
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
Since I was so clear on the vision of the wedding, I just dove in and did it all myself! A blessing and a curse. After managing all the vendors on my own, it was just too hard to delegate because I knew exactly what was already taken care of and what still needed to be done. I made sure to run everything by Will and the few times he spoke up and said a solid NO, I made sure to listen.
I utilized our families for tackling my DIY projects and basically was Etsy's number one customer for all custom signage and little details. It's amazing what you can find on the internet!
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
At first I think - how I had dreamed about the moment I went to walk down the aisle for years and years. Literally envisioned ever little detail of it. Nora Jones, Come Away With Me, starts to play, when she starts singing in the song would be the moment I stepped out, everyone would stand.. etc etc. Well... didn't end up happening the way I had envisioned haha! My Brother and I step out after the bridal party walks, ready for my big moment anddddd the music doesn't play. We stood their awkwardly - wondering, do we just go?? Should we wait?? What felt like an eternity passed, and thank goodness the music finally played. BUT two steps in and... I feel my head tug back! Dying, I realized my veil had wrapped around the tent post in the wind. With the help of whoever was standing around, we freed the fabric and off I went. Everyone had a good laugh, including myself and I was on my way to Will finally. Needless to say, things played out differently than what I already dreamed of!
Otherwise, it really was just the coolest feeling having all our closest friends and family together in one place with us. The love, energy and laughs that weekend is something I will absolutely never forget!!
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I have super thick curly hair and I have been a slave to it my whole life! I envisioned my hair down with soft glam waves for the ceremony and so I would't get too hot wanted to pull it back for the reception! Thankfully my friend Shelby who did my hair was willing to stay and change it for me which I'm happy we did! Will came to the bridal suite with me and it was a nice quiet moment to have with him while she did my hair. Our caterer was so awesome and brought up an appetizer sampler since we missed cocktail hour so it was a nice 10 minutes before the madness!
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
All of our vendors were wonderful! I don't think I could pick just one. If I could give any advice to planning brides, I'd say that communication is EVERYTHING! Even if there is a vendor you feel like you "have to have" but they don't respond in a timely manner or just disappear, trust me its not worth it! Stick with people you can trust and go out of their way to answer questions. When it's down to the wire you want people in your circle that communicate and are on top of everything. Any vendor I had to hound to get a response from I cut out immediately and found someone else, thankfully finding wonderful vendors was a life saver when I was super stressed closer to go time.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We did a honeymoon fund as part of our registry! I'm so glad we did because we are blessed with a beautiful home and have everything we couple possibly need already but had never gone on a big vacation just the two of us. We splurged on two stops, one incredible boutique hotel called The Other Side in Eleuthera, and another called The Bahama House on Harbor Island, both in the Bahamas. It was so nice to slow down and just spend quality time together. Both places that we stayed at were super low key and quiet. My favorite night was at TOS, where dinner is served in a "tent" that has open doors by the eater and a set menu and time for dinner. One night, we happened to be the only ones there! We could hear the ocean, dinner was fabulous, we had a bottle of champagne, music played on a record player and we slow danced together barefoot after dinner. I will never forget that moment!
Marcela Mar made the cover!
Chosen by One Day is the newest brand to join the Chic Parisien family, we were totally taken by their boho but couture sensibility and Aussie cool girl aesthetic - something we felt we were missing in our mix of designers. The Chic Parisien team couldn’t have been happier to see Colombian actress Marcela Mar (of El Capo and dozens more soap operas and theater productions) in her dreamy Chosen dress on her wedding day. It’s no wonder that Hola Magazine put her on the cover of her Colombia edition!
Marcela came in with a clear vision for the look and style we had and we were happy to step in and assist he in making that dream come true! Here are some photos of the truly inspiring wedding on the beach in Mexio straight from the edit of Marcela’s very chic Instagram page…
13.2k Likes, 258 Comments - Marcela Mar (@marcelamar07) on Instagram: "Hace alrededor de dos años, me levanté con la sensación de que algo maravilloso estaba por suceder......"
10.5k Likes, 113 Comments - Marcela Mar (@marcelamar07) on Instagram: "El fin de semana más especial de mi vida, gracias a todos los presentes, se sintió fuerte la magia..."
40.6k Likes, 730 Comments - Marcela Mar (@marcelamar07) on Instagram: "El primer día del resto de nuestras vidas ❤️ @thechefisback #marceypedro"
7,024 Likes, 157 Comments - Marcela Mar (@marcelamar07) on Instagram: "Buenos días Marzo/ Marce 🧜🏻♀️ es tu mes! Gracias @andresoyuela por este fotón 💕MarcelAmar💕 #piscis"
Paula Ties The Knot In Romona Keveza
Nobu Hotel is a new Miami wedding venue that is so stunning in it’s modern, tropical elegance, it will leave you jaw-dropped. These photos of #realchicbride Paula in Romona Keveza are so full of love, and joy and CHICNESS - you must look through them all.
Wearing a stunning, simple sheath, signature Romona Keveza, Paula shines against this tropical, romantic background on Miami Beach.
Scroll to the bottom of the post for vendor credits.
Photo Credit Chantal Weddings, Location: Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, Dress: Romona Keveza, Planner: Marylen Exposito . Florist: Ever After Floral Design
Chic Ambassador: Caro Pozo
Caro Pozo is a local actress (soon to be an international superstar, we just know it), a creative and a future #realchicbride! We’re proud to announce that she’s also our newest Chic Ambassador.
This bright personality and gorgeous girl came to play a bit of dress up with us during last week’s Berta Trunk Show. She was the perfect model for this ultra-chic collection from Berta featuring sexy shapes and silhouettes alongside textured, detailed dresses, always with the very best handcrafted work and fabrics.
Caro, because she’s a doll like that, thought you al might benefit from a bit about her wedding dress shopping experience and tips. Not only does she walk you through her own personal process, but in coming back and hanging out with us a bit more she’s picked up some pretty great ideas about how to make the most of your experience!
Read Caro’s blog post here on her blog Blonde2Brunette. Follow her on Instagram here @blonde2brunette or here @caropozo. And follow along with her creative activities at @thesugarcottage_.
Alyssa Says "I Do" In Mira Zwillinger, As Featured in Smashing The Glass
Alyssa gets married at The 1 Hotel on South Beach wearing a Mira Zwillinger wedding dress - and wait until you see what her bridesmaids wore!
“Chic Parisien was so unbelievably kind and accommodating” - Alyssa, #realchicbride
Read the full article, with the full story of how she found this perfect Mira Zwilinger dress, their wedding inspiration and a whole bunch more stunning photos of this wedding at The 1 Hotel on South Beach on Smashing The Glass.
Photography – Emily Harris
Ketubah – Ruth Mergi
Cake – Ana Paz Cakes
Videography – Megaset Wedding Cinematic Reels
Wedding planner – Carolina Toledo
Venue – The 1 Hotel
Bride’s dress – Mira Zwillinger found and fitted at Chic Parisien
Flowers – Petal Productions
DJ + Band – Rock With U
Photo Booth – Capture Pod
Rentals – Elements and Accents
Linens – Nuage Designs
Berta Features #REALCHICBRIDE Crystal Smith Wamble
Berta has featured our bride, Crystal Smith Wamble, and her chic wedding at the very unique Oxford Exchange. She is positively glowing and we’re so thrilled to see her featured on the Berta blog that we wanted to share with all of you!
BERTA Retailer: Chic Parisien
Venue: Le Meridien
Photographer: Madison Hope & Co.
Bride: Crystal Wamble
Groom: Will Wamble
A Sweet Note From A Very Chic Bride
It truly warms our heart to hear from our brides after their wedding day - and it's made all the better when accompanied by photos of their big day!
We get to experience such a special time of your life with you, but it's seeing the dress come to life on your wedding day, as you say "I Do" and start a new life with your true love that makes it all complete.
When we received this note about Alana, our stylist, from a very chic bride we knew we had to share it with you!
Hi Alana,
I don't have words to express how happy I was on my Wedding Day! Celebrating our love with our Friends and Family was certainly a dream come true.
I want to thank the entire CP staff, but especially I want to thank YOU. Picking a wedding dress could be stressful, but your charisms, sincerity, and patient made my experience a completely seamless process. Also, I wanted to express my gratitude to the Alteration team for making possible every single request I made. The dress was a total Success: head-turning, a showstopper and so so comfortable, that I was able to dance nonstop till 4 am! It is without a doubt my all time fav DRESS!
I want to share some pictures with you, I hope you enjoyed them!
Thank you once again, I will never forget you!
Sincerely,
Jimena
Share your wedding photos with us by emailing info@cpbride.com.
Can You See Yourself In One Of These Chic Designers?
We know that picking the right wedding dress for you requires decision after decision. The process is different for every bride, that's why our bespoke approach to the bridal experience is one we've stuck with for nearly half a century. Here's a bit of guidance to get you started in your search to find the perfect dress for you. We've gathered a few of our #realchicbrides stunning images and sorted them on here by designer, with a link to the designer's page so that if the style speaks to you, you can click the designer's name and keep exploring. Remember, this is just a tiny sample of the gowns that we have in store and the designers whose collections we carry. For a list of upcoming trunk shows, click here.
Berta
Photo by Madison Hope Photography
Photo by UDS Photo
Romona Keveza
Photo by UDS Photo
Ines Di Santo
Photo by Ray Santana
Photo by Lucia Rubio
