#realchicbride Carolina in Monique Lhuillier Alexandra
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
Gelato Cart @vanigliaecioccolato
Coffee Cart @aromaespresso
Car @aralimo
Flower Wall @yasminasfloral
Five Favs with Elle from Events by Elle
Five Favs with Elle from @eventsby_elle
🍰 get inspired for your wedding weekend wardrobe with the help of chic local wedding planner Elle 🍰 her picks include something for every wedding event for a dream bride — from a bridal shower set by Chosen By Kyha, a rehearsal dinner look by Katherine Tash, ceremony gown by Nicole + Felicia second look by Berta and day-after brunch mini by Monique Lhuillier 🍰
All the Details About Real Chic Bride Adriana's Miami Wedding Wearing Ines Di Santo
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal? Agustin and I met at Barracuda's on an ordinary Friday night. He bumped into a former co-worker while she was on her way to the same birthday party I was attending. He bought me tacos and I was smitten from that moment on. On our second date he told me he was moving to New York City for work in a couple weeks. He invited me to visit him right after his move, and like a crazy person, I did. We were long distance for 7 months until he came to visit for Fourth of July. We rented a room at The Standard in Miami Beach and proposed to me in the garden. The next day our families met us for brunch.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision? I'm a wedding planner so I've had lots of time to see what I love and don't love about weddings. We wanted it to be fun and relaxed. We didn't really care for all the traditions or formalities. Our focus was on getting married in front of our family and closest friends and that's just what we did! We originally planned to get married at The Confidante in Miami Beach in April, and when things shut down in March, all of those plans went out the window. The only things I kept were my florists, photographers, dress and our song for the first dance. Everything else was scrapped! We initially pushed it to August 1 but quickly realized things weren't getting any better. So I called everyone up and shared our new plans for a ceremony and champagne toast at my mom's house on June 27. Definitely wasn't my best or most organized moment, but it worked! There was so much chaos in those moments and I felt guilty for caring about my wedding when so many other things were going on! Our main goal was to keep everyone safe and comfortable so we asked everyone to wear masks and we kept things outdoors. It was nothing like what we originally planned, but I honestly think it was my husband's dream wedding! And looking back, mine too!
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding? Our one and only priority was making our guests feel relaxed. We wanted it to be a no-fuss event with our closest friends and family. It helped us focus on what was really important and not get lost in the day or in the planning process.
How did you decide on the location? I loved the vibe of our original venue because it had a lounge feel versus the traditional ballroom. But with the pandemic, we had to reassess what we wanted. I always dreamed of getting married at my mom's house and was so relieved when I got my mom's blessing to host our microwedding at her house!
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets! I think I was most obsessed with finding my dress over any other part of the wedding planning process. It was the beautiful Starling by Ines DiSanto. I always thought I'd wear a ballgown and had already selected another dress when I went to try it on. My mom and bridesmaids gasped when I put it on and I knew there was something special about it. I'm so happy I went with that dress, especially since we ended up having a completely different wedding venue!
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day? My mom was pivotal through the whole process. Without her house, we wouldn't have been able to have the kind of event we did. Even before that, she did everything with me and helped me make almost all of the decisions. My brother became a baker during quarantine and offered to make the key lime pie shooters we served as a sweet treat. Agustin's best friend officiated our ceremony and his dad and my nephew read. We only had those that were nearest and dearest to us on that day which made it all the more special.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget. The masks, haha! Never in a million years did I think I'd walk down the aisle to a crowd of masked loved ones.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look? I based my look off my dress. I wanted to keep things simple and classic with just a hint of glam. I love a good low bun and a natural makeup look so that's what I went with.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about? The FloraBuds and The Cardonas. They were so patient with me. I changed things on them almost daily and they were down for the ride the entire way.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part? We plan to go to Italy for a couple weeks once normal life resumes. We don't have anything locked in just yet, but the plan is to rent a villa in an Italian town and eat lots of pasta and drink lots of wine.
Sofia's Ancient Spanish Monastery Wedding in Monique Lhuillier
Wedding Day Credit:
Photography: @jocelynandspencer - blog, website, Facebook page,
Venue: @spanishmonastery
Florals: @everafterflorist
Videographer: @vanilla_brides
DJ/Entertainment: @flynnnolan
Violinist: @franklimaviolin
Catering & Desserts: @hughsculinary
Make-Up: @lipstolashes
Hair: @rhianna_cain_hair
Wedding Gown Designer: @moniquelhuillierbride
Wedding Gown Shop: @chicparisien
Bridal Shoes: @badgleymischka
Bridal Tiara: @mariaelenaheadpieces
Bridal Earrings: @majoricaofficial
Groom’s Tux: @menswearhouse
Additional vendor: @docpopcorn
Monique Lhuilier Fall 2021 Bridal Collection Comes to Miami
The Monique Lhuilier Fall 2021 Bridal Collection comes to Chic Parisien’s Coral Gables bridal boutique starting tomorrow, November 19th, and running exclusively through this weekend (only until Saturday, November 21st).
This newest collection from Monique Lhuillier features a tight edit of chic gowns designed to bring happiness to any bride who sees these delightful wedding dresses:
“The Monique Lhuillier Fall 2021 Bridal Collection is regal and timeless with an exuberance for embracing love and life! This season is all about epic volume, bursts of color, intricate prints and unexpected embroideries. The collection radiates joy with fuchsia, feather accents, delicate lily of the valley floral details and exaggerated trains. Romantic with a sense of classic details -- billowing sleeves, softs layers, versatile components such as seamlessly detachable boleros, jackets, and over the top veils complete each look. She's unforgettable.”
Appointments are limited. Please reserve yours now!
Images by KT Merry.
Ines Di Santo x Chic Parisien. A Chic Italian Meets Miami Mood.
On a glorious, albeit hot, Miami day in December the Chic Parisien and Ines Di Santo teams joined creative forces on this stylish shoot featuring their latest collection. Shot on location at Mr. C’s in Coconut Grove, a popular wedding destination in Miami and a new favorite location for rooftop cocktails and wedding events, this shoot is a chic dream.
There’s nothing better to us than seeing a new collection by one of our all-time chicest designers set against the tropical backdrop of our home town.
We went for breezy, sexy styling for hair and makeup to really let the gowns (and new jewelry by Ines Di Santo) shine.
Photos by our dear friend, the very talented Vanessa Velez Photography at Mr. C Coconut Grove.
Say My Name, Say My Name: New Bridal Party Necklaces at The Beach Bride
You may have heard us taking about The Beach Bride, our newest project, on our Instagram, but if you' haven’t - let us take a second to fill you in and then show off a new arrival that we love!
The Beach Bride is our new online store - also available to shop from inside Chic Parisien’s boutique. You’re likely to be heading to the beach at some point in your wedding journey - whether it’s for your bachelorette party, destination wedding or for your romantic honeymoon. The Beach Bride is a place to find everything you need for your wardrobe, in one curated place. Find your bridesmaid’s gifts, white bikinis, cover-ups, beach hats, and perfectly Instagrammable accessories for this special time in your life at great prices.
Here’s our latest arrival - a collection of necklaces for the bride, bridesmaid, flower girl and maid of honor. Your wedding party needs these sweet accessories! At just $24 they make a perfect piece to throw into a welcome bag or gift set for your favorite gals. Xoxo, Chic Parisien.
#realchicbride in Motion at Vizcaya and the Mandarin Oriental
We love when a beautiful wedding video crosses our path! So much of why a bride connects with her dress is because of the way it moves on her body. Getting to watch the dress move and dance on the wedding day is such a treat - it’s a peek into the real day that we don’t get with photography.
This video takes place at Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, two of our very favorite places in Miami (you may recognize the Mandarin Oriental from our photos over on The Beach Bride!).
Kudos to the talented AJ Ingoglia Films, you can find him here:
IG: aj_ingoglia_films Facebook: AJ Ingoglia Films.
A Chic Editorial on Style Me Pretty Featuring our Romona Keveza Gown
What a wonderful Monday surprise! We woke up to the news that this stunning editorial featuring our Romona Keveza gown is on the homepage of Style Me Pretty - one of our all time favorite sources for wedding inspiration.
We love the approach to these wild and modern florals paired with the clean lines of the Romona Keveza wedding dress. Pair that with the stunning architecture of The Wharf Miami, a new wedding venue on the Miami River with a slightly industrial feel, and we’re smitten!
Scroll down for the full vendor list - we’re so honored to be included in these editorial shoots featuring such tremendous local talent.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Taralynn Lawton
FLORALS
Simple Florals
WEDDING DRESS
Romona Keveza
STATIONERY
Made Divine
HAIR & MAKEUP
Elizabeth C. Williams Hair & Makeup
VENUE
Penthouse Riverside Wharf
CHAIR RENTALS
Bubble
TALENT AGENCY
Cassidy Roney
BRIDAL SALON
Chic Parisien
SQUARE ENGAGEMENT RING, STACKING GOLD RINGS, STUDDED BRACELET
Dadlani Jewels
EARRINGS
Jenny Bird
SHOES (BOOTIES)
Jimmy Choo
STRAPPY SLINGBACKS AND POINTED PUMPS
Louboutin
LINENS
Nuage Designs
PLANNING & DESIGN
Roxanne Bellamy Events
OVAL ENGAGEMENT RING
Susie Saltzman
TABLETOP RENTALS
The Coveted Co
A Chic Miami-Themed Soiree for the Berta Miami Collection
Berta Miami Collection comes to Chic Parisien - and we celebrated with a party in chic Miami style!
We were thrilled to welcome some of the Miami bridal industry’s brightest stars to Chic Parisien for a celebration of the Berta Miami Collection. From stationary artists to photographers, planners and bakers, we toasted with fruity mojitos by Craft Cartel to this chic new collection inspired by our hometown.
Vanity Projects was set up to transform our nails with Berta-inspired nail art - our guests could pick from rhinestone designs pulled from the motif of our favorite gowns from the collection, an art deco print or a palm frond! Everyone left with a bit more sparkle than a basic mani!
Veronica from Anthology transformed the space into a tropical oasis - we loved it so much that we kept it up through the weekend. Brides who had scheduled trunk show appointments to shop the collection were in for a tropical treat when they walked in!
The whole store was glowing under the pink light of our new neon sign! We can’t wait to see all the photos our smiling brides are going to take underneath it.
A very special thank you to Enuel Viera who snapped these photos for us and captured the magic of the evening! It was a night of Cuban food from Versailles (what could be more Miami?!), great conversation, amazing connections and chic tropical tunes!
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
Hayley Paige
Bohemian Bride (At Heart) Goes Glam for Downtown Miami Wedding
"I always imagined myself in a flowy, boho-style dress, but as I began my search for the dress, I started to realize that I wanted something more form-fitting and classic," says Real Chic Bride, Chelsea Mandler, who ultimately set her heart on a stunning Marchesa lace gown.
"[While at Chic Parisien], I tried on a couple of dresses, and the Marchesa was actually the last one in the bunch," adds Chelsea. "As soon as I opened the dressing room doors to show my mom, mother-in-law and best friend, the hunt was over. We all hugged, cried and were in immediate agreement that this was it. I guess it's true what they say - save the best for last!"
Chelsea (Birman) Mandler and Nathan Mandler wed on December 21, 2013 on the outdoor terrace of the Epic Hotel in downtown Miami. Surrounded by family and friends, the couple exchanged vows during an evening ceremony. The stunning downtown Miami skyline served as the backdrop.
For the reception, which was held indoors, Chelsea wanted it to evoke a classic and elegant feel, but still reflect her bohemian taste. "I chose all white flowers mixed with manzanita tree branches and moss to give my reception a rustic-chic look."
Describing her favorite moment, Chelsea says, "Aside from saying the words I do to the love of my life, I would have to say my favorite moments would have to be my first look with Nate, hugging my parents right before they handed me off to my husband-to-be, seeing my bridesmaids for the first time in my dress and our wild after poodle-party! Nate's brothers also did an unbelievably hilarious speech followed by a performance that was so special."
Congratulations once again, Cheslea & Nate! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!
- The Chic Parisien Team
Wedding Planner: Yadi Rose Events Photographer: Emily Harris Videographer: Senderey Florist: Petal Productions Make-Up: Tatjana Terzic Band: Flavor
Real Chic Bride Weds at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens & Stuns in Monique Lhuillier Gown
When we first met our Real Chic bride, Katie, there was no denying that she has an impeccable sense of style. As she described the couple's plans for their big day, from the flowers (a country-inspired bouquet brimming with pastels) to the venue (Vizcaya Museum and Gardens), we knew that it would be an event no one would soon forget. Therefore, from the moment she walked into our store, we were on a mission to find her a gown that was equally, if not more, breathtaking.
On January 25, 2014, surrounded by family and friends, Kate said "I do" wearing a gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown, featuring a strapless sweetheart pleated bodice and rose embroidered A-line skirt. Katie absolutely stunned in a gown that seemed as though it was designed and tailored exclusively for her.
Several months later, we weren't the least bit surprised to learn that Weddings Unveiled Magazine featured her wedding in a stunning four-page spread for its Spring 2014 issue. It was truly a picture perfect celebration, and we are thrilled to have been a part of it.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the newlyweds, Katie & Rob!
Venue: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Event Design & Planning: JCG Events
Florals: Ines Naftali Floral & Event Design
Photography: KT Merry