It’s been quite awhile since I have posted anything to my blog, and with good reason – I am now officially married! On Saturday June 6, 2015 I became a Mrs. to my best friend, soulmate, partner in crime, love and other half. All of the feelings that I hoped to feel on my wedding day I felt times 100! All of the lead up, the year of planning, the stress and coordinating…to watch the day unfold was like a dream come true. For me our wedding was something I knew was going to be magical, and not just because John and I love each other so much, but because our families and friends are amazing people. The love in the room was something I can’t even put into words, to feel that support and joy and smiles from people’s hearts for us just made the day and night feel so wonderful.

It was also so hard as I had always envisioned my wedding with both of my parents, and having lost my mom not even three months before my wedding day to cancer hurt a lot. So many moments I wanted to share with her physically on my wedding day, getting ready, putting on our dresses, having her walk with me and my father down the aisle, were now replaced with other special moments. I found ways to weave my mother into my day to make sure she was a part of it; from my flowers, to my dress, to the photos of her in my room while doing my makeup…my mother was there with me that day and her spirit was shining for us.

My dress was a custom design sold at Bijou Bridal by Stefan Jolie. We made a few modifications to the dress including a custom rhinestone belt, removal of the old sash which was previously the belt, additional lace appliques on the best line and a beautiful bustle with 9 buttons. My gown was chosen by my mother when she was still alive and even before she was diagnosed with cancer. The day we went to look for my gown I tried on a few, but when I came out in this one my mother started to cry. At that moment I KNEW this was the dress for me. She was so spot on because everything about my dress made me feel like a bride and when I wore it on my wedding day I felt my mom wrapped around me like a big hug.

My veil was a Cathedral veil also bought at Bijou Bridal. It was I believe around 10 feet long with two layers, one at elbow length and one full length.

I wore a rhinestone clip in my hair bought on Amazon (click here). I decided to wear my hair up and to the side to keep the back of my dress visible since it had so much beautiful detailing with the buttons and lace. I was in love with my gown and so glad to find one that was so classic and elegant. I loved having a wedding dress with sleeves, it was just so different and unique.

My shoes were by Kate Spade Izzie in ivory (click here). I also had my husband write a message to me at the bottom of my shoes which I read the morning of the wedding while getting ready. This was one of my favorite moments of the day when I was so nervous, it helped to set my nerves. I wore my wedding shoes all night long and they were so comfortable. Now I have them in a box to save as a memory forever.

The day started out with a light drizzle and then opened up to the most beautiful weather for a June wedding! Not too hot, not cold, just perfect. The slight over cast was the best lighting for our photographs, making a soft light box for our images. I have to say there is not one thing that I would have changed about my wedding day. I loved every moments, every song, every flower, every details – it all had so much meaning behind it that when I look at our photos I can’t help but smile and thank God for giving us the most perfect wedding day.

My dog wore a lace and rose gown bought on Amazon and she looked beautiful. I love all the images of her with my husband and their family as they were getting ready. I wanted to make sure my dog was a special part of my wedding day. (click here for the dress)

For my flowers we did all ivory, cream and blush pink with a mix of peonies, garden roses and hydrangeas. I did low centerpieces to allow friends and family to freely talk across the table and surrounded those with gold and clear votive candles all around the venue. We had 18 tables all with a custom gold glitter table tent card and each plate had a menu card with special message from me and John. All of our paper items we got from Etsy which turned out beautifully. I loved being able to find a designer who could make our vision come to life.

Before my mother got extremely sick with her cancer she had spoken to my mother in law about a wish she had for me on my wedding day. She had said “I want to have 3 doves released on that day; 1 for my daughter, 1 for my new son and 1 for me so I will always be with them”. It makes me cry even now because it’s almost as if my mom knew she would not beat her cancer and make it to my wedding day. (regardless, she had the best view in the house being next to me in spirit without pain and suffering). So we were able to find a company who does dove releases and we did this after the church ceremony. We released two pure white doves for me and John; when doves mate they never leave one another for the rest of their lives, so this was a symbol for our unity together for life. Then we release one single dove in memory of my mother. It was the most beautiful experience and I am so glad we were able to make my mother’s wish come true. I know she was so happy to see this and I also believe with the release of that single dove, my mom’s spirit also was free as well. She knew I would be okay, that John would take care of me, that we would have a beautiful life and she would still be a part of it.

For our first dance as husband and wife we danced to a special remix of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” which was made by our DJ. We used Posh Entertainment as our DJ company and they pulled out all the stops for us. From a photobooth, 2 large plasma interactive LIVE tv monitors, the a Frank Sinatra live performer to sing ballots during the dinner, to a roaming candid photographer and music that had the dance floor packed all night, they made our wedding one big celebration that all could enjoy; young and old. When we were on the dance floor during our song, the world around us disappeared. All I could see was my husband, all he could see was his wife. We had the most amazing evening because we were surrounded by love and that was all we could ever ask for.

I’m so happy to share some of our day with you, my readers, who have been so supportive during the happiest and saddest time of my life. I plan to get back into posting weekly now that I am back home in New Jersey from our honeymoon in Aruba. I hope you enjoy our photo sneak peak of our wedding day. I plan to share a bit more as we get more images and video soon from our vendors. We want to thank everyone who made our wedding day the most amazing day of our lives!

Vendors & Details

Photography: Kella MacPhee Photograpy (link)

Videography: Well Spun Weddings (link)

Wedding Dress: Stefan Jolie of Bijou Bridal in Paramus, NJ (link)

Veil: Bijou Bridal in Paramus, NJ (link)

Makeup: Done by the bride herself

Hair: Crystal from Hair Ambition in Nutley, NJ (link)

Wedding Venue: il Tulipano in Cedar Grove, NJ (link)

Groom’s Tuxedo: Custom made by Hugo Boss in Short Hills Mall, NJ

Flowers: New City Florist in New City, NY

Entertainment/DJ: DJ Lil Cee and Posh Entertainment (link)

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