#realchicbride Margarita in Berta / Wedding in Cartagena
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Our journey began 12 years ago on a high school trip to San Andrés, Colombia. At the time I was completely unaware that we had just met the love of my life. We started dating back then, but as life often does, it led us in different directions for college. Years passed, and fate intervened when we reunited in New York eight years ago. This time, it was different. We had grown, we had changed, but our connection had only deepened.
The proposal was magical. It happened on a private beach in Miami, a place that has always felt like home away from home for me. I love being close to the ocean, so having such an intimate moment by the water made it even more special. Just when I thought the night couldn't get any better, he surprised me with a beautiful dinner where my closest family members, who had flown in from Colombia, were waiting to celebrate with us. It was perfect, emotional, and filled with so much love.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
At the start, I had always dreamed of an oceanfront wedding, something outdoors, with the sea breeze and sunset as our backdrop. But I knew that getting married in my hometown of Cartagena meant embracing the warm Caribbean climate, so we pivoted. Instead of a fully outdoor wedding, we created a perfect balance of an elegant open-air dinner followed by an indoor party.
Looking back, the final result was entirely different from my original vision, but it turned out to be exactly what I wanted. When we found the Teatro Heredia, a stunning colonial-era theater in the heart of Cartagena’s historic district, everything fell into place. The venue embodied the soul of the city; charm, history, and grandeur. It had the perfect blend of indoor and outdoor elements, and as we crafted every detail, it became the wedding of our dreams.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
For us, the food was a top priority! We are both food lovers, so we made sure that there were options for every guest at every stage of the night. From the welcome cocktails to the late-night bites, we wanted it to be an experience that people would talk about for years.
Music was another non-negotiable. We had live music in both areas, our favorite DJ, and a carefully curated playlist featuring a couple of must-play songs that were special to us. Every beat, every note, and every dance move was intentional, making the celebration feel uniquely ours.
How did you decide on the location?
Cartagena is where we were both born and raised, so there was never a question about where we would get married, it had to be home. When it came to venues, Teatro Heredia checked every box. It was grand yet intimate, historic yet vibrant, and conveniently close to the church where we would say our vows. The moment we saw it, we knew it was the one.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
Some things in life are simply meant to be, and my wedding dress was one of them. For months, I kept seeing this stunning gown on social media, and every time, I felt an instant connection. The dress was a Berta Bridal masterpiece, the perfect blend of elegance and timeless beauty. It had everything I wanted: delicate lace, touches of pearls, and the most breathtaking silhouette that perfectly blended modern sophistication with classic romance.
When I walked into Chic Parisien, I already had this dress in mind, but the moment I tried it on, I knew this was the one. They also helped me make all the alterations I wanted which made it even more unique to my body and style.
I did try other dresses but I could not stop thinking about the Berta one. It was as if this gown had been waiting for me all along. Everything about it felt right, and when I saw myself in the mirror, I could already envision walking down the aisle in it. It was love at first sight, just like my love story.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
My mom was the true mastermind behind it all, she knew every vendor in the city and guided me through every step of the planning process. My two cousins, who are like my sisters, were also a huge part of the journey, helping with details big and small.
On the wedding day, my closest friends got ready with me, filling the morning with laughter, happy tears, and memories that I’ll cherish forever. The energy, the love, and the pure joy of having them by my side made the day even more meaningful.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
One of the most unforgettable moments was our “crazy hour” (hora loca), which we took to a whole new level with a Star Wars theme! My three older brothers played a huge role in making it a standout moment, adding their own special touch that made it even more fun and sentimental. It was wild, unexpected, and truly one-of-a-kind, just the way we wanted it!
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
For hair and makeup, I wanted something timeless, classic, elegant, and effortlessly beautiful. Given Cartagena’s humidity and ocean breeze, a sleek bun was the best choice, and my makeup was kept fresh and natural to complement the Caribbean glow. It was simple but perfect for the occasion.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
Our wedding planner, Mary Cueter, was a lifesaver. She is simply the best in Cartagena, her attention to detail, her vision, and her ability to bring every dream to life was unmatched. She did walk-throughs, created renders, and ensured that every single element was executed to perfection. I would recommend her a thousand times over.
Another standout vendor was Nova Productions. They transformed our venue into something straight out of a dream, constructing breathtaking scenery that made the entire night feel magical. Every vision I had, they brought to life in ways I couldn’t have even imagined.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We haven’t gone on our honeymoon yet, but we have big plans! Japan and the Maldives are at the top of our list, but since we are both currently pursuing our MBAs, we decided to wait until after graduation to make it happen. The anticipation only makes it more exciting, and we can’t wait for this next adventure together!
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 🍰
#realchicbride Adelaide in Ines Di Santo Aura Dress On Her Waterside Wedding Day
Get inspired by #realchicbride Adelaide on her wedding day in Ines Di Santo’s Aura dress…
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
We met the old fashioned way (on a dating app). I was actually Kelven’s first date on the app, we joke he got lucky! He got into a minor car accident on the way to what should have been our first date so we had to reschedule. He took me to a cute Italian restaurant for dinner and brought my favorite flowers, pink roses. He proposed after 2 and a half years just before a trip to Greece that we call our engagement-moon, and we got married on the 4 year anniversary of our first date.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
We wanted an elegant black tie wedding on the water and we thought it turned out perfectly. We couldn’t have asked for a more magical wedding day.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
It was important to us to have a few minutes to ourselves and for our day to involve Caribbean culture in some way for Kelven's family. We opted to do a first look and prioritize "us" time during cocktail hour, taking sunset photos alone and taking a few minutes to relax before rejoining our guests at the reception. This also allowed our bridal party and immediate family to join cocktail hour and the caribbean-themed food options there. We were so lucky this was a standard offering at Pelican Club!
How did you decide on the location?
We actually only toured one venue in person and loved it so much we booked! Pelican Club was perfect for us being on the water and with views of the lighthouse we got engaged in front of. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect place to host our wedding.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
I went to 8 bridal shops before Chic Parisien but had a good feeling I might find my dress there. My mother & grandmother were in town for just two days so we prioritized scheduling Chic Parisien while they were in town.
I tried on a number of dresses in the style I had always pictured - sleek, silk, simple - but the attendant slipped in a more detailed Aura dress by Ines Di Santo to see how I would like it. The second I saw myself in the mirror I started tearing up and knew it was the one! It was beaded, strapless, and fit and flare - the opposite of what I had pictured but it was stunning. I customized the back to include the mesh cage I had seen on another dress and was delighted that the designer allowed this customization. It was truly perfect.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
We took our immediate families to tour our venue on the day of our engagement party before we booked and they loved it. Other than that, we centered cocktail hour food around family preferences (Caribbean food for Kelven's family, passed hors deouvres that accommodated all family dietary restrictions) and chose a holiday weekend to allow as many friends and family to attend as possible. We had a family friend officiate, and his wife was gracious enough to host our bridal party and families the night before our rehearsal to kick off the wedding weekend. It was really lovely.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
Walking down the aisle. We had gone back and forth on whether or not to do a first look in case it took away from us seeing each other at the ceremony, but it was still so emotional. Kelven cried when he saw me and I cried the entire walk down the aisle. Seeing each other before made us more comfortable, but didn't take away from the moment at all.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
The dress was the star of the show, so I wanted to keep it simple with hair and makeup. I did a soft glam makeup look and kept my hair down in waves. I really loved how it turned out in photos.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
Our planner, Stunning and Brilliant Events was amazing. I'm very type A and love planning (I do it professionally as a program manager) and Jacque and her team kept everything so smooth I wasn't stressed at all. We were amazed. Having three extra set of hands day-of is something I'd recommend to every bride. We forgot the flower girl's basket at the hotel, but a member of the planning team went back to get it before I was even aware. The entire day was seamless and I completely attribute it to our planning team and our venue.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We went to Oahu and stayed at the Four Seasons Ko'Olina, spending a few days in LA on the way home. The best part was the 3 days of pure relaxation and spa treatments when we first landed. It was perfect after all the stress of the wedding and our travel agent, Maria at Kax Lifestyle planned everything out perfectly so our only worry was enjoying ourselves. We transferred into the city of Honolulu for the second half of the trip once we were well-rested and shopped, hiked, etc. We couldn’t have asked for a more lovely wedding and honeymoon overall, it felt like a dream!
#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
Staff Pick: Kendall Loves Ines Di Santo Camelia Paired with Maria Elena Earrings
We’ve been asking our bridal stylists for their favorite picks from our stock room and we’re loving being surprised by their wedding dresses du jour. Today, we’re featuring Kendall, our Assistant Buyer and Stylist’s, favorite wedding dress of the moment, the bery on trend Ines Di Santo Camelia dress. J’adore!
She paired with with a beautiful set of bridal earrings from local Miami designer and Chic Parisien fav, Maria Elena Headpieces.
Staff Pick: Alana's Loves Misha By Mira Zwillinger
We asked our staff to weigh in and pick some of their favorite wedding dresses, bridal accessories and more from our stock at Chic Parisien. It’s a treasure trove in here, there are closets full of gorgeous, dreamy wedding looks, just waiting to find the perfect bride to say “yes” and then walk it down the aisle.
Here’s Alana, our Sales Manager’s, choice for favorite bridal wardrobe pieces available at Chic Parisien right now:
Misha Dress & Topper by Mira Zwillinger
Chic Parisien bride Amanda in Berta
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Tyler and I met in high school and started dating senior year. We both attended FGCU together and graduated with our master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Tyler proposed to me at the Biltmore Estates in Asheville, North Carolina March 2020.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
We started planning the wedding right after we got engaged but then Covid happened. We decided to set our wedding date two years in advance to hopefully not have any issues with Covid. We decided on October 15th 2022 which would be our 8 year anniversary that happened to also fall on a Saturday which was perfect. I am a type-A bride and did everything in advance. I envisioned our wedding at a golf club getting married outside. Unexpectedly, Hurricane Ian hit SWFL two weeks before our wedding in Fort Myers. Our venue unfortunately was unable to host our wedding and we had to scramble to find a venue a week before our date. We luckily had our wedding at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples on our original date and it was more perfect than what I had been planning.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
It was important for us to have our first look to be private to share that special moment together. The wedding day was very busy and we wanted to make sure we have time by ourselves during the course of the event.
How did you decide on the location?
We decided to get married in SWFL since we moved here for college 7 years ago and have a lot of memories here.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
I absolutely adore my wedding dress. I have had my eye on Berta dresses for so many years. My sister actually found the dress I ended up choosing back in 2020 on Instagram. I tried it on and everyone started crying. I love the floral details, pearls, and stones. I also decided to go with a cape instead of a veil and i’m so glad I did.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
I am a type A bride and wanted to plan everything by myself. After the hurricane and the change in venue last minute, my family stepped in to help which I am thankful for. It helped me let go of total control and to trust the process.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget?
I will never forget walking down the aisle and not noticing anyone except for my husband. We had been waiting for that moment since we were both 17 years old. We wrote our own vows so it was really special to share that with each other in front of our friends and family.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I wanted to look like royalty on my wedding day. I decided to go with a classic bun with old Hollywood curls. I also decided to wear a crown which really put my look together. I also wanted to have dramatic makeup rather than the traditional soft glam bridal look.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
My florist was amazing. She did all of the ceiling installations that completely transformed the room and added hundreds of flowers last minute for the wedding.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We went to St. Helena Napa Valley California. We stayed at the Alila Hotel which was amazing. Our balcony overlooked the vinyard and had a private fir pit and the hotel gave us champange every night. My favorite part was driving up the valley on the scenic route and seeing all the beautfil vinyards.
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
Two Monique Lhuillier Gowns, One Beautiful #realchicbride
Beautiful #realchicbride Jessica wore not one but TWO beautiful Monique Lhuillier gowns for her wedding at Miami’s Epiphany Church and Mandarin Oriental hotel. You know what that means, hold your breath for a series of beyond gorgeous photos, put together with the help of an all-star team of vendors…
Bride: Jessica (Garcia) Estrada.
Both gowns by Monique Lhuillier, from Chic Parisien.
Planner: @andisoirees www.andisoirees.com
Photographer: @jessicalorren
Three Things to Avoid On Your Wedding Day
A few weeks ago we chatted with Catherine about "Three Do's For Brides On Their Wedding Day," who better to give some tips and tricks she's picked up after years of talking to brides? Today, she's telling us three things she things bride's shouldn't do on their wedding day. We won't call them "don'ts" because every girl has her own way, but we will say that if you follow this advice you'll make your day just that extra bit less stressful - don't say we didn't warn you!
- Avoid making a drastic change to your appearance right before the wedding. If you're going to try a new look for your wedding, go for it way in advance. You don't want to chop off your signature long locks a week before the wedding and then go into a panic because you don't look like you.
- Try to avoid salty foods the day before. Salty foods can be comforting if you're nerves are running a bit wild, we know the power of a bag of chips, but avoid salty food because you'll retain water and be a bit bloated.
- Make all your accessory decisions in advance. Avoid leaving yourself accessory options to decide on the last minute. Have your details picked out in advance so that you can sit back and enjoy the day without worrying over your earring choice in your precious few hours.
Join us this weekend for the Romona Keveza Trunk Show at Chic Parisien.