Real Chic Bride Kathryn Glows in Ines Di Santo's Margot Gown
The lovely real bride Kathryn in Ines Di Santo’s Margot gown as photographed by PS Photography and Films.
Kendall's Chic Edit
A few favorites that we have in stock right now at our Coral Gables bridal boutique from our stylist and buyer Kendall Huibregtse:
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.
Berta Privée Collection 4 Highlights
Today we thought we’d highlight just a few of our favorite gowns from the latest collection by Berta Privée. We never pick favorites, but sometimes a collection comes in that is so C H I C we can’t help but to show off some of the gowns that we know you’ll love.
The mermaid cuts. The lace. The sweetheart neckline. This is signature #realchicbride.
Shop the collection from September 24 - 26 at Chic Parisien bridal boutique in Coral Gables, Florida. Make your appointments here.
Monique Lhuillier Spring 2021, World Debut at Chic Parisien. Part I.
We were honored to host the world debut of the Monique Lhuillier Spring 2021 Collection, so we called in some talented friends to capture these beautiful gowns, previously unseen my any brides. We got to see these gowns through the lens of the talented Madison Aycoth (@mhpandco and @madisonaycoth), Cristina Liviero (@cmlmakeup) a master Chanel artist brought our vision of a summer bride to life and, of course, the magic of Monique Lhuillier’s latest collection made it all happen.
Inside and outside of our Coral Gables bridal boutique, gown after gown from the Spring 2021 collection inspired us to think forward to the beautiful brides who will one day walk down the aisle in these chic gowns.
Many of the gowns featured here are from Bliss Monique Lhuillier, a more accessibly priced collection by Monique Lhuillier. These new gowns for Bliss Monique Lhuillier feature chic, simple silhouettes with sumptuous silks but little to no embellishments. If you’re a bride who wants all the glamour of a classic bridal dress but is looking for something a bit more simple, there are some very beautiful inspiration gowns in this collection. We are particularly fond of the first dress featured here, because, pockets!
A special shout out to Maria Elena Headpieces, whose accessories completed these chic bridal looks!
Ines Di Santo Spring 2021 Debuts At Chic Parisien
Ines Di Santo’s Spring 2021 debuted this week at Chic Parisien and we had to take advantage of the opportunity and play a bit of dress up to share with you all.
This collection was released digitally during the Covid-19 crisis, our Coral Gables bridal boutique is the first in the world to have it here for our brides to try on. We wanted to share this bit of chic bridal joy!
Glendaliz's Bahia Beach Wedding in Inbal Dror
We’d like to pause our day to celebrate this STUNNING Inbal Dror ballgown and the bride who wore it! Congrats on your beautiful wedding right at the start of 2020 Glendaliz!
photographer Wilo Rosado
Real Chic Bride Nicole on Her Wedding Story
A chat with #realchicbride Nicole about her wedding…
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Felipe and I were actually set up on a blind date from 2 very close friends! It felt like we had known each other our entire lives, it was so natural and easy from the very beginning. From our first date we were inseparable and a proposal came just a year into us dating!
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
I always wanted something that was traditional but not expected. We both loved the idea of being married in a church so that was a must.
For the reception, I wanted something that had the convenience of a hotel but not the standard ballroom feel. Our wedding planner, Amber at Oh My Occasions helped me achieve the wedding of my dreams by introducing me to the one of a kind look of the basketball court at the JW Marriott Marquis. They completely transform that room and the floor to ceiling windows out showing the city lights was perfection! It is hard to envision what a basketball court can become but it is a blank canvas that can be transformed into just about anything.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
We both wanted to include all the traditions that come with a wedding. It was important for us to have a church wedding surrounded by all of our family and friends. For the reception, we wanted everyone to have fun all night long. We achieved this by not allowing the party to stop and ending it with an amazing hora loca performance by Black and Wine which I highly recommend!!!
How did you decide on the location?
Because I didn't want just a ballroom, Amber knew the basketball court would be perfect for us! We wanted a large enough space where our guest count fit comfortably and we could have cocktail tables framing the dance floor to have an area where people could hang out during the wedding. With such a large space, we were able to comfortably have our guests spread out while making the checkered dance floor (which was a must for me!) by MPE Event Group a true focal point of the room.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
Anyone who knows me knows that it is very difficult for me to make decisions, it's the Libra in me. I had heard a lot about Chic Parisian so I thought that was a great place to start. I scheduled my first wedding dress appointment, EVER, for a weekday after work with just my mom and sister. I thought we would go, try on a few different styles so I could get a better understanding of what I liked and then go another day with the wedding party to really try on and decide. Alana welcomed us when we walked in and I knew we were in good hands. She had a great understanding of what I wanted and pulled different styles that I loved! My dress ended up being the second dress I tried on! After trying on 6 different dresses I went back to the second and after trying on a different belt I fell in love and knew that was my dress.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
I was lucky to have the support and help from both my side and my husband’s side of the family! Planning a wedding can be extremely stressful but having people who have gone through this process before helps ease your mind! It is a lot of moving parts that need to come together to make everything work. I had so much help especially from my twin sister (who was also my maid of honor), I could not have planned everything without her!
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
Aside from the feeling of the doors opening at the church and walking down the aisle with my dad, I would definitely say seeing the completed room where the reception would be held! Amber and her team had me and Felipe close our eyes while they guided us into the room. They placed us in the center of the dance floor and the said: "open your eyes". Seeing all the hard work and all the planning come together in one room was the most amazing feeling. From the checkered dance floor to the feather wall of my dreams, it was all absolutely perfect.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I knew I wanted my hair down so it was a pretty easy decision. I wanted something that was going to be easy throughout the whole night. I knew we would be dancing and didn't want to have my hair in my face so the sleek look was perfect. For makeup, I usually get a little nervous because I don’t wear too much makeup, to begin with, but I trusted the Marz team and knew I was in good hands.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
Masson Liang Photography!!!! There are so many wonderful photographers out there but I am so happy we picked him. He was so easy to work with and truly captured photos that we will cherish forever.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
Unfortunately, our honeymoon to Greece has been put on hold due to Covid-19 but we were lucky enough to have taken a mini-moon to St. Lucia! It was such a relaxing trip, and much needed after the wedding planning madness!
A Bit of Ballgown Inspiration...
Here’s a look at some of our favorite ballgowns from the Chic Parisien stock room:
"When people dream of their wedding and imagine themself as a princess, you've likely been picturing a ballgown. In a lot of cases, it's a once in a lifetime silhouette."
-Catherine Fox Milian
A Polo Moment at a Vineyard Wedding (Rebekah Wears Muse by Berta!)
#realchicbride Rebekah wore Berta to her wedding - AT HER (NOW) HUSBAND’S VINEYARD! I mean, talk about dreamy. The polo player met her husband when she was hired to help him with the launch of the vineyard and the rest is history.
Her gorgeous Muse by Berta gown looked positively stunning against a backdrop of majestic friends!
Scroll to the bottom for credits.
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
I MET MY HUSBAND AT GREENHILL WINERY IN MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA. HE HAD JUST PURCHASED IT, AND I WAS HIRED TO HELP LAUNCH THE BUSINESS. FOUR YEARS LATER, HE PROPOSED BY SURPRISING ME WITH A MINIATURE HORSE AND EQUESTRIAN INSPIRED RING (WE ARE HORSE OWNERS AND FANS!)
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
IT WAS A DECEMBER WEDDING, SO I ENVISIONED A WINTER WONDERLAND THEME. IT REALLY WAS A WONDERLAND! WE HAD WHITE FAUX FUR WALLS, WHITE FLOORS, FAUX FUR CUSHIONS AND COZY COUCHES, A PEGASUS ICE SCULPTURE, A HOT DRINKS BAR, AND CHRISTMAS TREES EVERYWHERE. THE WEDDING PARTY WORE WHITE, SPARKLES, AND ICE BLUE TONES.
How did you decide on the location?
THE RECEPTION LOCATION WAS AT GREENHILL WINERY, THE PLACE WHERE IT ALL STARTED.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
I PURCHASED THE "BRIDGET" DRESS FROM MUSE BY BERTA'S SICILY COLLECTION. I ENDED UP REMOVING THE FLUTTER SLEEVES, BUT I JUST LOVED THE BODICE AND HOW IT MOVED. THE TRAIN AND LENGTH WERE BOTH PERFECT FOR WALKING AND TWIRLING WHILE STILL BEING ELEGANT.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
MY BEST FRIEND AND MATRON OF HONOR CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF A WINTER WONDERLAND WEDDING, SHE HELPED ME A LOT WITH IDEAS. THE BRIDESMAIDS CHOSE THEIR OWN DRESSES, STICKING TO A SILVER AND ICE BLUE THEME.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
I WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN MY HUSBAND, DAVID, REQUESTED THE BAND TO PLAY METALLICA. AND THEY DID. WE HAVE THE BEST PICTURE OF HIM SINGING FROM THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS WITH HIS HANDS IN THE AIR.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I WENT BY MUSE BY BERTA'S SICILY INSPIRED LOOK. A LOW BUN, HAIR TENDRILS, HOOP EARRINGS, AND A GLOWY MAKEUP LOOK.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
GOSH, THEY WERE ALL AMAZING! I LOVE EVERY VENDOR. THE PASTRY CHEF MADE A TOWER OF BOMOBLINI'S WITH SUGAR ICICLES AND A DUSTING OF POWDERED SUGAR, SO I DO THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW THAT IF YOU WANT A TOWER OF SNOWBALLS TO EAT AT YOUR NEXT EVENT, IT CAN BE DONE!
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
WE WENT TO THE CARIBBEAN. THE BEST PART WAS MY HUSBAND FLYING US AROUND IN HIS PLANE, WE GOT TO THE BEAUTY OF THE ISLANDS FROM THE AIR.
Rebekah Greenhill @ rebekahpolo
Photographer Abby Ballin @aballinphoto
Hair & Makeup Michelle Lelia @ makeupbymichellelelia
Dress Berta
Stay Home. Stay Chic. Playing Dress-Up With Kendall Huibregtse and Chic Parisien
A bit of dress up with Kendall from home in Miami, Florida…
Inbal Dror Pure “19-24”
Reem Acra “Flock of Angels”
Mira Zwillinger “Mia”
Lazaro “Ines”
A Chat With Our Virtual Stylists Alana Sirota and Kendall Huibregste
Kendall
My fav dresses right now are:
Inbal Dror’s 16-05 - the color & fit is to die for
Reem Acra’s Flock of Angels - love the slit, an edgy twist to an otherwise classic dress
Monique Lhuillier’s Alexandra - beyond romantic and the prettiest lace, ML is the lace queen
Berta’s 17-135 - a fully beaded, glamorous dress that still feels bridal & elegant
Here’s a tip for brides who are struggling with figuring out postponing wedding events and up-in-the-air timelines:
Stay calm and know that your wedding is going to feel as special as it did, even if you had to postpone. And if you had to postpone - know that planning flies by and even the day itself is over in the blink of an eye... so you get to enjoy being a bride for even longer, which is a pretty special 🥰 it only happens once!
My quarantine routine…
During quarantine I’m eating a lot of home-cooked meals, salads and take out. Binging Grey’s Anatomy from the beginning, and still trying to get 8-10k steps in going on long walks with my dog & boyfriend. Listening to a lot of Banks and Kacey Musgraves 🎶
Alana
Current favorite dresses:
My new fav is Berta Privee 20-P105 - it makes any waist tiny!
YolanCris’ Estrella Boho gown for beach destination wedding.
Ines di Santo’s Margot Old Hollywood glamour.
Monique Lhuillier’s Everest. Just so much fun!
Here’s a tip to get brides ahead of the game for their visit to shop with us when this is all over!
Define what silhouette do you see yourself walking down the aisle. Define the fabrics you love. Who will accompany to your appointment that will help you to say yes the dress.
My quarantine routine…
I’ve been talking loooong walks, supermarket runs for my elderly neighbor, lots of cooking, Listening to DJ Nice, Netflix and most important catching up on SLEEP 😴 💤
Looking Back At Jordana's Real Chic Breakers Wedding
Where are you from?
I was born in Brazil, but I have been living in Boca Raton, Florida since 7 years old.
Where was your wedding?
The Breakers, Palm Beach.
How did you know you found the perfect dress?
I chose to have my first (and only) wedding dress shopping appointment at Chic Parisien because I have always said that I wanted my wedding dress to be a Berta.
The moment that I walked in, their stylist said, “I have the perfect dress for you!”.
Since I had walked in with an open mind, I said: “OK, let’s try it on!” I walked into the fitting room and there it was - the most beautiful gown I have ever seen, it was love at first sight. When I stepped into the dress, all of the emotions ran through my body and I just knew it from that second. I walked out to show my family, and they all started crying and also loved it. So for me, it was a very easy decision. I did have some other options to try on but I would put it on and it wouldn’t even compare to the first one. In about an hour or so, I had chosen my gown, headpiece, earrings and we also decided to make a custom Berta veil to match the dress perfectly! My wedding dress shopping experience was amazing! I always knew I would be a Berta Bride!!
How did you and your husband meet?
My husband and I are High School Sweethearts! We have been together ever since 2006. We have the most incredible bond so our wedding day was a VERY special day for us!!
What was a special moment you will never forget from your wedding day?
This is a hard one since the entire day was filled with magic! I would have to say that our “first look” for our photos and videos and then kissing my “husband” at the alter was two very special moments for us. This was followed by an amazing reception at The Breakers with our loved ones… full of love, laughter and dancing. I wish I could re-live our wedding day!
What piece of advice would you give future brides?
My piece of advice for future brides would be to not stress about the wedding day. EVERYONE would tell me that I was the most relaxed bride that they had ever seen, and this is how all brides should be. It is not worth stressing or worrying over every little detail because at the end of the day, you are planning a celebration of love and your friends and family will have an amazing time regardless of any situation!
Were there any traditions or something from your religion that you incorporated on your wedding day?
One tradition that I would love to keep in my family is the rosary that was given to me by my grandmother before she passed. I have a photo with it as my “something blue” and I would love to see my daughter take the same photo with it one day <3
Credits:
Retailer: Chic Parisien
Photographer: Munoz Photography
Hair and Makeup: Renata Estapan
Venue: The Breakers
Wedding Planner: GuerdyDesign
Design Team: Birch Event Design
New Yolan Cris Arrivals
Highlighting some new arrivals from Yolan Cris, a Spanish brand designed by two sisters who never fail to inspire us with their sense of timeless elegance and cool flair:
Arabis
Hierba Luisa
Gardenia
Arabis
Estrella
Regaliz
Our Invite Only Influencer Preview of the Berta Napoli Collection
We invited three stylish women (whose Instagram’s we adore, obviously) to visit the boutique before the official launch of the Berta Napoli Collection Trunk Show to try on the gowns and take some photos to inspire our future #realchicbrides. Each had a distinct personal style (two were engaged!) and we were thrilled to see these chic dresses come to life when they were put on by these chic new friends!
Check out https://www.instagram.com/misstarynwalker/, https://www.instagram.com/sherramichelle/?hl=en, https://www.instagram.com/vickyjustiz/?hl=en for more images and of course, https://www.instagram.com/berta/?hl=en .
La Vita e Bella in Capri! A #realchicbride wears Berta at her swoony Italian wedding.
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Mike and I met in Miami through a mutual friend I went to college with. I had been living in Miami for eight years at the time and was ready for a new experience. I had decided I would move to NYC to be closer to friends and family but hit it off with Mike a month before I was scheduled to move. I followed my gut and put my move on hold and it ended up being one of my best decisions to date.
Mike proposed about three years later when we were visiting my family in Rhode Island one summer weekend. We were running towards my favorite lookout spot over the beach and once we got to a bench there he faked a leg cramp. Next thing I knew he was down on one knee!
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
To be honest, I actually had no idea what I envisioned for our wedding when we first got engaged. We were open to everywhere from Miami where we live to Rhode Island where I grew up and Mike has family, and finally ended up choosing Italy. Once we got our planner (Federica Nascimben with the Italian Wedding Event – she was fantastic) – everything kind of happened organically and she really helped us shape our vision.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
We realized everyone would be taking a long trek to get to Capri (not the easiest little island to travel to) so we wanted our wedding to be super stress-free and just straight fun for everyone making the trip. That helped us prioritize having enough transportation and bars that no one was ever waiting for a ride or a drink the whole weekend!
How did you decide on the location?
Initially, we were trying to plan a wedding in Miami as we both live here and a lot of our friends do as well. It started becoming really stressful and I was having a hard time finding a venue that I loved enough to have it be super special and memorable.
Mike and I have always loved traveling and after a long conversation venting to one of my best friends about venue options, one night realized that a destination wedding was such a better fit for us. Being that Mike and I are both from Italian families and it’s one of our favorite places, we initially decided on Portofino as we had vacationed there the summer before and had such an amazing time. Federica, our planner, convinced us to look at Southern Italy after discussing the things that were important to us and really sold me on this “magical ocean location that was not your typical wedding venue.” That got me from the start and even looking at pictures of Lido Del Faro did not prepare me for how beautiful it was in person (which I didn’t see until the day I walked down the aisle)! I’ve always loved the ocean and was way more into cliffside beach club vibes than a more formal hotel-type setting.
The locations for the welcome party and brunch the day after were at Capri Palace and Il Ricco which Mike picked and they were just as incredible. And the best part about Italy was obviously that the food was insane at every venue!
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
I think out of most every detail of my wedding the dress was the only one I was sure of from the very beginning! I’ve never been one to fantasize about a wedding growing up or look at wedding dresses, but I stumbled across Berta dresses on Instagram a few months before we got engaged. I actually have a picture of my dress in my phone from before we got engaged because I thought it was so different and beautiful. The week after I got engaged, being super excited and already thinking about trunk shows, I called Chic Parisien after finding out they were the only Miami bridal store that carried Berta to make an appointment for a trunk show I saw they were having a few months later. The lady on the phone told me that they were having the last trunk show of the 2018 F/W dresses the following weekend and why don’t I just come in then to try some on. I swore up and down I would not be buying a dress as I had gotten engaged about two weeks earlier at the time but once I tried this dress on it was a done deal.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
Luckily both our families were super excited once we decided on Italy and were very supportive during all the planning. That being said, I did easily figure out that while I am normally very indecisive and like to ask others’ opinions, for your wedding you really do just want to do what you and your husband want and I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by not taking their recommendations. For that reason, I mostly kept the planning between me, Mike and our planner.
On the day of the wedding, we both got ready and spent the day preparing with family and friends, and I also chose my parents’ wedding song to walk down the aisle to.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
That we all ended up in the pool at the venue for a pool party at the end of the night because it was so hot from all the dancing! Also, that I got my husband dance for the first (and probably last time) and I think he actually enjoyed himself!!!
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I thought I knew what I wanted for both our welcome reception and the wedding (I experimented a few times during fittings to test out some different looks) but I changed both looks the day of with the hair and makeup team. I have to admit that’s mostly due to the heat because didn’t want to deal with any sort of down hairdo or pieces when it was so hot. It ended up being a great decision because we were all dripping sweat during the ceremony!
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
I’m going to have to mention two. My photographer, Evan Rich Photography, I discovered when I was looking for venues in Miami. He had an Italian shoot on his site and was also another inspiration for choosing Italy because his pictures made it look absolutely dreamy. I loved his work but unfortunately, he was booked on all the dates I was looking at in Miami. When we decided on Italy, I was thrilled he would be able to make it. He and his wife were so amazing in every step of the wedding day. They really helped streamline the day and took the most beautiful pictures I could have asked for. Also, Mike hates taking pictures normally and I’ve never seen his teeth so much from him smiling as in all our wedding pictures.
Also, DJ Fabio Vuotto!!! DJ Fabio is the Capri resident DJ and he played all the music for our ceremony, reception and the day after brunch. I didn’t give him any recommendations other than the songs we walked out to for our ceremony and our first dance/father daughter/mother son dances. I figured if he was that good I should just trust his vibe and music judgment for the crowd and he was such a hit.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We left straight from our wedding to Switzerland and toured the country over the next week from Zurich to Lucerne and ended in St. Moritz. We stayed at some beautiful hotels and took some amazing hikes and nature tours but the best part was being so well-rested by the time we returned home to Miami that I went straight into work the next day feeling like a million bucks! Switzerland was extremely relaxing which was very much needed after going straight from a bachelorette weekend in the Amalfi coast to the wedding week.
Photos by Evan Rich Photography
Dress by Berta from Chic Parisien
#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!
Get To Know Lazaro Perez, Designer of Lazaro
Our summer intern, Carolina Baigorri, sat down with our friend, the talented designer, Lazaro for a chat about how he got involved in the industry, Diana Ross, and the future of his brand. Caro did an excellent job capturing the spirit of Lazaro, who speaks with passion and excitement about everything he does!
How did you discover your passion for designing wedding dresses?
I always wanted to become a costume designer. I entered a competition for a bridal contest while I was still in school for a young designer to create a bridal collection.
Growing up, my mother was a seamstress and she did a lot of bridal gowns and other things to help make ends meet. I realized after joining the competition that I really loved doing this and it was something I wanted to do in the future. If you think about it, a wedding dress is the most important costume you’ll ever wear. I ended up winning the contest and it opened up many doors.
How have your Cuban roots impacted your designs?
You always see a little bit of a Spanish flare in my dresses. Especially when I was starting my career I always put lace that gave almost a flamenco feel to my designs. As years passed, my aesthetic changed but there will always be a little Spanish influence.
I play off of my heritage and a lot of my customers also come from ethnic backgrounds.
Do you have any tips brides?
I always say “keep an open mind.”
I travel a lot and do various trunk shows and I always see that the biggest mistake a bride makes is not wanting to try something out of their comfort zone. Some brides have an idea of what they want their dress to be but it may not be the one you walk out of the store with.
Do you have a muse or a specific person you think of when designing?
I’m going to be very corny and say my brides are my muse. A lot of my collections are based on what I see that my brides want.
I have this repore with my brides where they tell me what they like and I can probably go back and design a whole collection based on that.
I grew up in the 80’s with the whole disco era and my style icon is Diana Ross. I actually designed a dress for her daughter and I thought I would die when I met her. She is able to change 20 times throughout one show and it is a mind blowing experience. Diana Ross made a movie called “Mahogany” and it was what made me want to be a fashion designer. In the movie she plays a designer and when I met her she said “That’s what I really wanted to do, that was my passion”. Every fashion person should watch Mahogany it was life changing for me.
Describe your creative process. What steps do you take when creating?
I am not one of those designers that actually sits and creates a whole collection. I may come up with an idea and there’s always one sketch which can lead to ten sketches.
I am a very visual person, so I like to work on the mannequin a lot. Every designer starts with a certain way that they want the collection to go to, whether it’s glamorous or very soft. I come up with a concept and we take it from there.
What do you think makes a bride feel beautiful?
I think once a bride puts on that one dress, it hits her.
Every bride to me is beautiful no matter what dress it is, mine or someone else’s. I think that’s something to be said for the bride because they try on a dress and feel like this is the one. It’s a happy occasion, so no matter what they try on, they feel it.
What does the future have in store for Lazaro?
I would love for the brand to evolve. I am starting to creep in there some of the red carpet looks. Eventually, there will be an evening line coming out, which I am excited about.
Every designer should expand for themselves, not just their brand.
You start very red carpet, you know for evening events and eventually expand. Eventually that evening collection can turn into mothers of the bride or something similar. That is where I see it going right now, there are talks of many other things but that is where I see it going.
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"
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.
