Winter Wedding Inspiration, Even Here in Tropical Paradise
It's February. While that means winter weddings featuring white fur stoles and definitely long sleeve dresses everywhere else, it's just another day in paradise here in Miami. There's no better time to be outside than mid-winter in Coral Gables where its the perfect time of year for dinner parties al fresco and beach days - but that doesn't mean we don't crave a bit of winter whimsy.
Alas, Maria Elena Accessories knows this all too well, that might be why they went with a winter theme for their lookbook featuring the newest earrings, necklaces, tiaras, and, of course, headpieces. The photos are the perfect inspiration for a winter #realchicbride whether in Miami or in the "real" winter.
Cecilia in Mira Zwillinger Tells Us About Her Well Designed Love Story
Hi Cecila! Tell us a bit about yourself, where you live and what you do?
I am a Cuban American and I grew up in Miami. I attended college at Auburn University in Alabama because it has a highly ranked architecture program.
And now, for the love story... how did you and your husband meet?
Taylor and I met in architecture school, we were friends for almost a year until a fairly romantic camping trip and we've been inseparable ever since. We were an awesome design team and we hope to start our own firm in the future. We graduated together in 2015, and then moved to Miami.
Tell us about the proposal...
Taylor proposed on January 17, 2016 at the top of the 1111 on Lincoln road (a parking garage designed by our favorite architects). It was a total surprise, my best friends told me they needed to go shopping for some business clothes for their new jobs at Lincoln road - in hindsight the lie was really obvious but, I'm terribly gullible. After they finished shopping I suggested we go to the top of 1111 because it's my favorite place in the city and it has the best views. We got to the top floor and I heard Frank Sinatra playing and I saw Taylor, looking handsome as hell, surrounded by candles.
He proposed and I said YES it was amazing and beautiful.
Shortly after we moved to Providence, Rhode Island because I got into Rhode Island School of Design and I'm currently in school getting my masters in furniture design and Taylor is practicing architecture at a local firm.
When you started looking for a dress, did you know Mira was the one? What was the process like of deciding what kind of dress was right for you?
When I started looking for a dress I was very interested in the designers Paolo Sebastian and Inbal Dror but, I fell in love with an amazing dress by Mira Zwillinger. I put it on and it just perfectly described me. I want to wear it everyday. This dress was empowering and delicate and natural.
Where was the wedding?
We had the ceremony at St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Reception at Maps backlot in Wynwood.
What was one wedding detail or tradition that was really special to you?
One of our favorite traditions was the mantilla which is a piece of lace that is placed over us during the ceremony.
Berta FW 2017 Makes Stateside Debut at Chic Parisien
Chic Parisien is proud to announce that the always-Chic Berta Bridal is debuting their FW 2017 Collection at our store. Trunk Show begins today.
Be the first brides in the country to try on these stunning, sexy gowns.
See the full collection at www.berta.com and make your appointment here.
Happy and Chic 2017!
Wishing all of you, brides past, present and future, a happy and chic new year!
Way Down in KoKomo, Florida Keys Wedding Inspiration
So thrilled to have been a part of this chic, chic, chic team that put together this beautiful styled shoot imagining a Florida Keys wedding.
It's the island wedding of our dreams, complete with Mira Zwillinger AND Jenny Packham. We can't get enough of the chic details like the gold cutlery and touches of greenery in the place settings and we're literally swooning over the photo of the bride holding the leaf.
Below is the full list of local vendors:
Photography:@featherandstonephotography Venue: @Largoresort Creative Direction & Design:@beautyindmaking Flowers: @divinedesignflowers Rentals: @loveinvintage Make-up and Hair: @cjbridalmk Gown: @mirazwillinger and@jennypackham from @chicparisian
Chic Favorites: Maria Elena Headpieces
Maria Elena Headpieces, made by hand right here in Miami, are the perfect way to finish your chic wedding look.
Make the final accessory purchase, from headpiece to bracelet or earrings, and set the stress of what to wear aside so that you can focus on this beautiful time in your life. Trust us, there's nothing more freeing than deciding on your head-to-toe wedding day outfit and then setting it aside and relaxing before the next big decision.
Maria Elena started her company more than a decade ago when she created a custom headpiece to gift her daughter for her wedding. From that inspiration flourished the idea for a family business that would provide future brides with heirlooms of their own.
Purchase your future heirloom here at Chic Parisien and let us help you match the perfect piece to your chic wedding dress.
Black Friday Sale
Now - Small Business Saturday enjoy 20-50% off designer samples.
Monique Lhuillier
Ines Di Santo
Berta Bridal
Inbal Dror
Hayley Paige
Lazaro
Yolan Cris
Mira Zwillinger
and more....
+ 60% off evening wear for a limited time - get that sparkly New Year's Eve dress now!
Berta Evening Wear Coming Soon To Chic Parisien
Introducing, Berta Evening Wear.
Coming Soon to Chic Parisien.
See the full collection, as debuted at New York Fashion Week, here.
Real Chic Bride With The Loves of Her Life
Nothing makes our heart beat faster than a #RealChicBride, in Monique Lhuillier, who incorporates her great loves into her photos - her husband and her dog.
How stunning are these two? Yes, our bride Vashti, of course, but also her handsome husband and that adorable spotted pup.
Christian and Christina's Storybook Wedding on Lake George
Tell us a bit about yourself and your now-husband.
Christian and I (yes we’re Christian and Christina haha) live in Rochester, NY and are starting a hard cider company called Oak & Apple. We featured some of our cider at the cocktail hour with an ice sculpture (in the photos)
Before we get to any of the wedding details, let's talk DRESS! That Romona Keveza looked like it was made for you! Did you know what you wanted? What was the processes of finding your perfect, chic wedding dress? How did you integrate your person style into your wedding day look?
Loved my dress!! I was in Miami for a vacation and stopped into Chic Parisien for my first dress search/experience! The Romona Keveza Couture was the second dress that I tried on. It was absolutely breathtaking so I had to buy it on the spot. It was such an easy decision for me. I wanted a timeless classic look which was strapless/fitted and with all the details you’d ever dream. I also love floral which fit in perfectly with the fashion for this year! The Romona Keveza veil matched perfectly to the details on the gown. Couture never goes out of style :) The dress had some blush undertones so I went with a blush colored bouquet to bring out those colors. The flowers in my bouquet were David Austin Juliet Roses.
How did you decide where and when the wedding would be?
Lake George is such a magical place! We had both gone there a couple times growing up. The Sagamore Resort is the most perfect wedding location we’ve ever seen. We knew this was the best place we were going to find within driving distance from home (Rochester, NY).
This is a wedding that looked seriously detail oriented. How was wedding planning for you and where did the ideas for all those beautiful details come from?
Christian and I had a long engagement so the wedding planning was a breeze! We hired David Michael Schmidt (owner) at Renaissance Floral Design for all of our wedding day rentals, florals and design. The look we were going for was timeless elegance with simple white and green florals. We loved the antique/french look for the tables and chairs. I planned the whole wedding and it was so much fun!
Was there a moment in the ceremony that you remember particularly clearly?
The most memorable part of the ceremony was walking down the aisle. I just couldn’t wait to get to Christian! We didn’t have a “first look” because we wanted that special moment. It was very emotional.
Where did you go on your honeymoon? Any stand-out recommendations?
We shipped our convertible to California and drove down Route 1! We went from San Francisco/Sausalito to Napa to Big Sur to Santa Barbara to Beverly Hills over the course of 2 weeks. Our absolute favorite stop on the trip was Napa. We went to some of the best wineries and had delicious meals at Redd Restaurant and French Laundry. We stayed at the Auberge de Soleil Resort which we highly recommend. Definitely going back! We also enjoyed our stay at Post Ranch Inn at Big Sur.
Lindsay and Eddy's Wedding: A Work Of Art
Lindsay, who wore Monique Lhuillier, moved down to Miami, Eddy's hometown, a few years ago. So, it was back to her roots in Ohio for the wedding with a big Miami contingency in tow and a crowd of locals to help show them around town.
The bride, who has learned a bit of Spanish during her time in Miami, surprised the groom by reciting her vows in Spanish. It was a beautiful moment by a bride who looked nothing short of CHIC on her wedding day.
College sweethearts from the University of Notre Dame, the couple used both #lindsedwed and, the crowd favorite, #elgordoylarubia, the nicknames given to them by Eddy's family.
Photo Credit: Ben Elsass Photography™
Ersa Atelier: New Designer Preview
We're hosting a preview of Ersa Atelier, a brand new designer to Chic Parisien, through the remainder of this week. Ersa is a pair of sisters, Gabriela and Cristina Antonescu, founded the brand ten years ago in Romania - actually, this is the second sister/sister designer pair we have in store, Yolan Cris are also siblings!
Ersa uses exclusively rare lace and handmade precious fabrics and they specialize in a theatrical, but highly-wearable, gowns.
Here's a peek at their latest collection, but to truly see how chic these gowns are, you'll have to come into the store!
Romona Keveza + Florida Keys Wedding
Summer is here and the sea breeze on your veil and blowing lightly on your dress is necessary. The Florida Keys, the small series of islands just south of Miami, is the perfect wedding location to ensure that you have a lovely sea breeze during your wedding.
This Florida Keys wedding, at a private estate, has us swooning. The wedding was featured on Borrowed & Blue. You can find a full vendor list and see all the photos by Dolce Photography here.
Hello World! We're On ¡Hola! TV
This was an exciting week around Chic Parisien, we wound up a stunning and successful Ines Di Santo trunk show, received some stunning new arrivals (check out @chicparisien onInstgramto see new gowns as they come in fresh off the runway) and we made an appearance on international television. Catherine visited the local studios of Hola TV to chat with the women of Lo Mejor De Mundo Hola to talk about wedding trends, showcase some of our current favorite gowns and answer questions about the wedding world.
A Jenny Packham, Gatsby-inspired gown, Monique Lhuillier dress fit for a princess, Yolan Cris dress for the boho-bride, colorful Hayley Paige number and sexy Mira Zwillinger made quite the splash on the set.
We'll be back soon with a link to the segment, so check in again and keep following us on social media for updates.
Ines Di Santo Trunk Show Recap
We were thrilled last weekend to host the latest Ines Di Santo trunk show featuring, for the very first time, the Ines by Ines Di Santo collection, a brand new line by the designer of gowns under $5,000.
The collection featured loads of on-trend dresses and the signature Ines Di Santo signature glamour and details. Brides who aren't afraid to show a little skin will absolutely fall for this collection's stunning cut-outs and deep-Vs. We're still seeing colorful gowns take a bit of attention from the pure white gowns that were the norm for so long; this collection featuring beautiful, muted shades of light pink, colorful florals, lattes and nudes.
You can always shop for the perfect chic Ines Di Santo dress, even when we don't have a trunk show going on. So feel free to call now and make an appointment if an Ines Di Santo is the dress for you on your big day.
A #realchicbride gets married in a land far, far away. Thailand.
We love to see our dresses travel to a far flung destination and this wedding in Koh Phangan Thailand, which was held on February 26th, is the furthest flung we've seen in a while! Just wait until you see the stunning backdrop of this wedding set on the beach in Thailand. Liam Collard Photography shot Sarah in her stunning gown and Luxury Events Phuket put together the event.
Ok, that's enough talk, let's get to the chicness!
Around The Boutique "Before"
We're closed today for a mini-makeover, we're renovating and rejuvenating the store a bit so it's extra chic! So we thought we'd share these photos as a "before." Can't wait to check in with the "after."
Make your appointments now and come see the new and improved Chic Parisien.
Don't forget, you don't have to be a bride-to-be to come shop with us, just look at these photos. Evening gowns, lingerie, accessories, and flower girl dresses are just a few of the other chic things you can pick up around the boutique.
Take the Quiz: Which Chic Bridal Designer Is For You?
Andrea In Monique Lhuillier
There are some brides who really stand out because they just look so comfortable on their wedding day. Andrea is one of those brides. This Monique Lhuillier dress looks positively perfect on her. The accessories only compliment her natural beauty.
She looks radiant and natural in her gown - what more could a #realchicbride want?
Photos by Wedding Nature at The Biltmore Hotel.
#RealChicBride Melissa in Monique
Now this is a stylish bride. Just check out the statement Melissa made out of a simple braid. Shot by her friend Karla Garcia Costa of KGohSnap, this #realchicbride looked positively radiant in her Monique Lhuillier Severine gown.
