#realchicbride Felicia in Her THREE Chic Gowns

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

Felicia and Jack met in the COVID-era of early 2021. Jack attended one of Felicia’s house parties, and at the time, Felicia kept blowing Jack off because the only thing she was worried about was pouring her friends her world-renowned espresso martini shots. Finally after much persistence, Felicia agreed to go on their first date at his best friend JC’s restaurant, Wineology - a personal favourite of Felicia’s. Felicia was smitten by Jack over time - but not as smitten as she was with his 4 children: Tanner, Travis, Trent and Alexis. She wasn’t just a regular mom, she was a cool mom. 

Finally in the summer of 2022 Jack asked Felicia for her hand in marriage along the beautiful coast of Nazaré, Portugal where they continued to eat cheese and drink port wine all the way home.  

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

My vision originally was very modern and romantic. I wanted the venue to have tons of modern white florals, yet the furniture be something you would see in a home – just a very unique twist on a venue. I ditched the traditional wedding draping, napkins, menus, seating charts and basically created mine from scratch. I wanted the wedding to be as different as possible from other weddings, so I would tend to take small ideas over various social media sites to construct my own vision. Having the wedding in a small town in Canada, I was extremely limited on resources, so I found myself sometimes having to construct things on our own just to make sure the vision was still achieved!

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

 A few things really mattered to us as a couple when planning the wedding. We wanted a venue with an amazing backdrop for our guests to be wow’d by. We wanted an amazing photographer to really capture unique editorial moments. And we wanted an amazing live band all night. We got all 3!

How did you decide on the location? 

We wanted to make sure that the venue had a stunning backdrop. Being from Windsor, Ontario we are fortunate to have such a stunning Detroit skyline view. We also wanted to incorporate a lake view backdrop, so we decided to do an outdoor ceremony at my father’s gorgeous lakefront beach house. We got the best of both worlds in one day!    

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

I originally heard of Chic, as my sister was getting married in Fort Lauderdale the same year I was. I went with her during the bridal gown shopping process. We worked with Kendall and I just thought the process was so flawless and easy. We actually found her dresses that day! A couple months later I found myself finally looking for dresses. Being from Canada, I originally tried to find my dresses locally to my country. I actually found the process extremely hard – they would have one dress and not the other, and it made the process extremely stressful. I thought to myself why am I wasting my time in making sure other companies have this and that when I know Chic Parisien houses most if not all the bridal brands I was looking for? So I made my appointment and booked my flight to Miami! I found myself purchasing all 3 dresses (main bridal dress, second look dress, and rehearsal dress) from Chic and it was honestly the best decision I ever made!

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

What I thought was really unique is my sister and I got married the same year, 3 months apart to be exact.  Although she had her wedding in Florida and mine was in Canada, it was really nice to bounce ideas off each other while going through the same process at the same time

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

I think the florals will  be something I never forget, they exceeded my expectations!

How did you decide on your hair and makeup look? 

Given my dress was strapless on my first dress, I knew I wanted my hair down. For my second look I had a high neck and it gave such a party vibe with the feathers I knew I needed a high, fun ponytail to match the look! For makeup I wanted it to have natural tones with a hint of glam.

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

Yes, Lauren Alatriste my photographer. She was a life saver when it came to the photos at my wedding and she did such an AMAZING job! She really nailed the vision I was looking for! 

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

We went to Paris, Santorini and Sicily. We absolutely loved Paris, the shows, the shopping, the food but we also got to stay in the White Lotus hotel in Taormina, Sicily and it was absolutely STUNNING!!

CREDITS

@littlebirdeventco

@laurenalatriste wedding photographer

Jessica Ruxton Photography rehearsal dinner photographer

@theissenflowers

#realchicbride Claudia in Berta

#realchicbride Claudia Johnsen dishes on her love story, wedding, engagement, etc!

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

Aiden and I met during law school at The University of Texas School of Law in 2019. 

We crossed paths during 1L oral arguments. Aiden had just finished his shift as “judge” for the day when I walked in. I overheard him discussing travel plans to Madrid and chimed in to offer some recommendations, but Aiden claims he could not hear a word over the sound of “Careless Whisper” by George Michael, which he swears mysteriously started playing when he saw me. Nonetheless, Aiden pulled it together and we exchanged contact info so we could “talk about Madrid.” 

Aside from the rich saxophonic melody and visible sparks flying around the room, it was a casual first encounter. Even so, we were mutually enamored and later admitted to texting our friends about it shortly afterwards. 

Not long after, Aiden and I began having “study” dates, which inevitably evolved into “real” dates. We quickly became inseparable. Side-by-side, we traveled to 12 different countries, graduated law school, and moved in together in Houston, TX. 

A little over two years after we met, we planned a bar trip to Santorini, Greece after I passed the bar exam. Unbeknownst to me, Aiden had other motives. On our second day in Santorini, we discovered an unbelievable sunset spot on a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea, totally secluded from everyone else on the island. I was standing there taking in a mesmerizing sunset when I heard Aiden say, “Claudia.” I turned around and saw Aiden on one knee holding up the prettiest diamond I’ve ever seen. 

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

I always envisioned an outdoor wedding with ocean views. I wanted the setting to be romantic with lots of natural beauty and minimalist décor. I think our wedding was just that! We chose Son Marroig because of its impressive ocean views and architecture. 

We highlighted the romantic nature of the venue by adding lots of candles to our “alfresco” reception. I decided on all white florals, mainly roses, because of their elegant and timeless feel. My floral arrangements reflected the minimalist look I wanted, allowing the venue’s breathtaking natural landscape to be the focal point. The rolling mountains, the piercing blue Mediterranean sea, the lush gardens, and the venue’s striking marble and Spanish stone already provided the perfect setting. 

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

We wanted to showcase the union of two cultures—I’m Cuban, and Aiden is from the U.S. We made sure our ceremony and speeches incorporated both English and Spanish, while also highlighting the common values we share. We also wanted to showcase some of the reasons why we fell in love with Spain, such as its amazing cuisine and music. To do this, we hired a Michelin star caterer and a Spanish guitarist who played during the cocktail hour.  

How did you decide on the location? 

I always dreamed of having a destination wedding, and Aiden supported that. Shortly after Aiden proposed, we started looking at venues in some of our favorite countries. We decided on Spain partly because of how much Son Marroig impressed us, but also because Spain is where we fell in love. Aiden studied abroad in Madrid during the early stages of our relationship, and I visited him so much that several people thought I studied abroad there too! 

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

I always pictured myself in a lace fitted wedding gown. I became obsessed with a Berta Privee dress I had seen on Instagram. I searched endlessly for boutiques in Miami and Houston that carried the dress. I finally found it at Chic Parisien and made an appointment to try on that particular dress. The day of my appointment, my amazing stylist, Katie, pulled out a few Berta dresses for me to try, including the one I had specifically gone to see. As soon as she put it on me, I knew it wasn’t the dress for me.

We tried around three other dresses, but I knew none of them were “the one.” However, we still had one more dress to try from the options Katie had pulled. When I saw that final dress on the hanger, I did not have a positive first impression. I told Katie I probably was not going to like it, but she insisted I should try it on anyway. I did. Before it was zipped up all the way, I knew it was the dress for me!

My grandmother, mother, and sister all agreed and were in awe of the dress. Every detail of the lace was breathtaking. The neckline was immaculate. I loved that it had delicate straps. The long train was everything I had dreamed of but even better. The dress was nude but not see through, and the bow that sits around the waist was the perfect finishing touch. I instantly pictured myself walking down the Son Marroig aisle in this flawless Berta dress. It was perfect.

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

My family played a large role throughout the wedding planning and wedding day. They supported me every step of the way. Both my parents and Aiden’s even traveled with us to Mallorca in October for our food tasting and venue walkthrough. 

My sister and Maid of Honor, Elizabeth, played a huge role through it all. She took her crafting skills to the next level and made all of the stationary. I bounced off every idea I had on her. On my wedding day, she decorated my “getting ready” suite, and along with my Matron of Honor, Laura, ensured I was taken care of and without a worry the entire day. 

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

I will never forget the moment Aiden and I first saw each other as I walked down the aisle. The day was sunny, 70 degrees, and gorgeous as I approached the edge of the cliff where Aiden was waiting. All I could focus on was Aiden. He looked at me with a tender smile and sparkly blue eyes that made me feel so special. In that moment, I knew he was as happy as I was. 

At the same time, seeing the happiness of all our closest friends and family is a memory I will forever hold dear to my heart. Each of them traveled long and far to share that moment with us, and I am eternally grateful. 

How did you decide on your hair and makeup look? 

I wanted my hair and makeup look to be classic and elegant, so I decided on a texturized updo and soft glam that complemented my natural features. 

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

All of our vendors were absolutely amazing! In particular, my hair and makeup artist, Lucia Zima, was a gem to work with. She understood exactly what I wanted from our very first meeting and worked on accentuating my best features while at the same time maintaining a timeless natural look. Our catering team, Catering Marc Fosh, was also phenomenal! From the hors d'oeuvre at the cocktail hour to our midnight snacks, the food was incredible and our guests are still raving about it. Lastly, I want everyone to know about the sax player, Ramon Riera, and the DJ, Marc Oliver, who took our party to the next level during the reception. They were unbelievable, and no one left the dance floor all night! 

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

For our honeymoon, we went to Italy (Tuscany, Sicily, and Sardinia). Each place was unique and amazing, but Sardinia may have been the favorite. One highlight was renting a yacht that took us on a breathtaking journey in the Mediterranean. We spent all day jumping in the crystal clear waters of La Maddalena and sunbathing on the beautiful boat while sipping prosecco. It was magical. 

CREDITS

• Photo: @miguel.arranz.weddings

• Makeup & Hair: @zima_mua

• Catering: @cateringmarcfosh

• Music: @lomusic.es 

• Sax: @ramonrieramusic

• DJ: @djmarcoliver

•WP: @mc.eventplanner @nakar.events

•Decor: @enesencia_decora @exclusive4events

• Video: @alexandra_timelessweddings

• Venue: @son_marroig

Spotlight On Serena Gown from Monique Lhuillier Spring 2022

When we saw this new Monique Lhuillier collection, Spring 2022, the Serena dress by Monique Lhuillier has us absolutely swooning from the first glance.

We had to style this chic gown in the surrounding neighborhood of Coral Gables, where our boutique is located because the lushness of our streets was the perfect backdrop for this verdant-nature-inspired dress. This halter neck wedding dress is a chic and modern twist on a bridal silhouette that we haven’t seen much of in the past few years, if you’re a fashion-forward bride, this is the dress for your to make a statement on your wedding day. Brides looking for a more subtle way to wear this dress can consider ordering it in white instead of the green accents.

Photos by Rudy Duboue for Chic Parisien. Featuring Mira Zwillinger. Makeup and Hair by Marz Hair and Makeup.

Reserve your appointment here.

#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!

Alyssa Says "I Do" In Mira Zwillinger, As Featured in Smashing The Glass

“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

The Chic Veils of Peter Langner

Peter Langner's veils have long been a favorite at Chic Parisien. The exquisite Italian craftsmanship paired with the trained sartorial eye of designer Peter Langner make them a perfect compliment to dresses of any designer. We particularly adore how light they are while still being elegant.

Below is a photo of Peter, all the way from Italy, at the boutique as he walked our stylists through his latest collection and all-time great gowns and veils:

peter langner at chic parisien