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
Berta at Chic Parisien
J’adore a Berta wedding dress. We at Chic Parisien, a Miami bridal boutique, love a Berta wedding gown. We’ve carried this chic bridal brand for years (and we also have Muse by Berta and Berta Privee in stock!) and whenever a new collection by Berta is released, it’s a moment of stylish celebration. This time, we featured favorites from the latest Berta collection shot on-site at our Coral Gables bridal store.
Photos by Jessica Vilchez
Hair and Makeup by Marz Makeup and Hair
Shot at Chic Parisien Featuring Berta Gowns.
New Ines Di Santo Collection Modeled by Kendall Huibregste
The latest Ines Di Santo collection is now at Chic Parisien for a bridal trunk show to remember. We are thrilled to present this chic collection of new-favorite wedding dresses by the inimitable Ines Di Santo on our very own Kendall Huibregste.
Reem Acra's Gorgeous New Collection
The newest bridal collection by Reem Acra comes to Chic Parisien for one weekend only for a chic trunk show that you don’t want to miss!
A Few Of Our Favorite Things
A few chic new arrivals we wanted to share: Gaia by Ines Di Santo, Fifi by Chosen by Kyha, Jolie by Berta 21-J03.
A Studio Session with Daniela in Berta (and a very special guest star!)
The very talented Adriana Rivera (@adriana.rivera.miranda) photographed her gorgeous sister on her wedding day in her studio - the combination is something so special, so chic! Beautiful #realchicbride Daniela wears a stunning Berta wedding dress and her more than adorable pup makes an appearance as a ring bearer!
Check out more of Adriana’s work here.
NEW ARRIVALS: A Summer of Chicness
Here’s a peek at some new arrivals now available to shop in our stock collection. Visit our Downtown Coral Gables bridal boutique to shop these new bridal gowns from the greats like Monique Lhuillier, Berta. Berta Muse, Ines Di Santo and more. And introducing a short wedding dress from Jolie Bridal, the latest collection by Berta - a must-have for late-night wedding dress, second look, bridal shower or engagement photos.
One @berta dress, three @mariaelenaheadpieces tiaras. Which is your favorite?
We took one Berta dress and styled it with three Maria Elena Headpieces tiaras. Which one is your favorite?
New Arrival Helga, Muse by Berta at Chic Parisien: A Sparkley Wedding Dress Dream
Chic Parisien’s newest wedding dress arrival is Helga by Muse by Berta.
Get Inspired By This New Mira Zwillinger Arrival At Chic Parisien
This dress can we worn with the lace topper or without for a two-in-one wedding day look - lovers of lace, this one is the perfect wedding dress for you. Luckily, she’s available in store now at Chic Parisien in our Coral Gables bridal boutique.
Photos by Rudy Duboue for Chic Parisien. Featuring Mira Zwillinger. Makeup and Hair by Marz Hair and Makeup.
Reserve your appointment here.
New Arrival by Mira Zwillinger
Shop this chic new botanical inspired wedding dress by Mira Zwillinger now at Chic Parisien.
Photos by Rudy Duboue for Chic Parisien. Featuring Mira Zwillinger. Makeup and Hair by Marz Hair and Makeup.
Reserve your appointment here.
Spotlight On Serena Gown from Monique Lhuillier Spring 2022
When we saw this new Monique Lhuillier collection, Spring 2022, the Serena dress by Monique Lhuillier has us absolutely swooning from the first glance.
We had to style this chic gown in the surrounding neighborhood of Coral Gables, where our boutique is located because the lushness of our streets was the perfect backdrop for this verdant-nature-inspired dress. This halter neck wedding dress is a chic and modern twist on a bridal silhouette that we haven’t seen much of in the past few years, if you’re a fashion-forward bride, this is the dress for your to make a statement on your wedding day. Brides looking for a more subtle way to wear this dress can consider ordering it in white instead of the green accents.
Photos by Rudy Duboue for Chic Parisien. Featuring Mira Zwillinger. Makeup and Hair by Marz Hair and Makeup.
Reserve your appointment here.
Maria Elena's Latest (All The Sparkle Inspo You'll Ever Need Available at Chic Parisien)
The latest collection from Maria Elena is all sparkle and lots of substance…
Shop their beautiful, chic, locally made bridal headpieces and accessories, including bridal earrings, tiaras and more atC Chic Parisien.
Designer @mariaelenaheadpieces
Australian Division @mariaelenaheadpiecesau
Producer/Stylist @giseledelbusto
Photographer @mhpandco
Make -up / Hair. @Miamibridalbeauty
Model @dani_brookee
Agency @nextmodelsmia
Location: @groveatgrandbay
Marketing Director @barbie816
Ines Di Santo Goddess Collection: See It Move
In anticipation of our debut of the latest bridal collection by Ines Di Santo, we thought we should share this stunning video they put together to inspire our brides-to-be. Prepare for 8 minutes of chicness:
Dorit x Nektaria at Chic Parisien Through April 3
It’s not every weekend that we debut a new collection, especially from a new bridal designer, at Chic Parisien, but we were smitten with the Nektaria collection by Dorit Kemsley. In case you’re wondering, yes, it’s that Dorit as you can see in the images for the collection features below. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ resident fashionista decided to channel her glam aesthetic into a collection of chic wedding dresses perfect for the Miami bride or the bride who is looking to channel her fashion-forward bridal aesthetic.
Whether you are looking for a modern bridal look or something a bit traditional and still sexy, this collection has someone for everyone.
The trunk show is only in our Coral Gables bridal boutique for a limited time, this Friday, March 26 - April 3rd. Reserve your appointment now and ask about our VIP appointments if you’re interested in reserving the boutique for your bridal party to experience the ultimate in luxury, a private day of shopping in the boutique just for your and your loved ones complete with a private bridal stylist and champagne, of course.
Chic Moments with Maria Elena (and Monique Lhuillier!)
Local Miami bridal accessories designer Maria Elena Headpieces never ceases to amaze us with her haute couture-inspired bridal headpieces, tiaras, hairpins, and more. The perfect way to complete your bridal look from head to toe - because it’s not all about the wedding dress.
Shop Maria Elena Headpieces at Chic Parisien every day and see the latest collection this weekend at our Maria Elena Trunk Show.
Chic Parisien Welcomes Mark Ingram Collection To Our Coral Gables Bridal Boutique
Mark Ingram Collection debuts at Chic Parisien with a trunk show of stunning gowns for every style bride. Whether you’re looking for a mermaid, a chic sheath, a plunging neckline, or a high-fashion silhouette, there is something for you in this collection from one of the most stylish talents in bridal.
Mark Ingram’s eponymous boutique has been a destination for brides in NYC and now, he’s expanding his expert taste-level and bringing his talent for spotting the most beautiful bridal gowns across the country and the world. You may recognize Mark Ingram from his cameo on Gossip Girl when he outfitted Blair Waldorf herself.
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.
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.
New Year, New Arrivals
A few chic new arrivals that you can find when you shop our boutique in-person or virtually:
