01.20.23

This post is a collection of my Instagram post captions in one place. Detailing our experiences, planning, vendors, brands and everything in-between.

 

Feb. 1, 2023 – post about the day

Coming out of yet another social media detox, the first post of 2023 had to be… THIS. There’s definitely going to be a wedding spam of tags, shout-outs and details very soon, but for now – just leaving this here. Pure happiness marrying my best friend and the love of my life in a room full of incredible people 🖤 1.20.23 couldn’t have been more perfect.

📸 @kellyseaimages

Feb. 11, 2023 – post about our team

It’s wedding photo spam week! I’ll share my ideas, timelines, memories day by day, but first… let’s have a moment for the details. And a moment for our team. The only time I was a bridezilla – was during the process of finding the amazing people to work with – I had a vision, was insanely selective, and let me tell you – every person / business tagged below is a rockstar. Looking back at our wedding, there’s not a single sentence I would start with “I wish I…” – it was perfect. So – brides to be – here’s your guide to incredible people to partner with for your wedding – message them directly, tell them I said hi.

VENUE • FOOD • DRINKS • CAKE • COORDINATOR • @maritimeparc

PHOTO • @kellyseaimages

VIDEO • @vargasvideography

FLOWERS • @karmaflowers

DJ • @itsdjvice

PHOTO BOOTH • @fluxphotoboothco

HAIR MAKEUP • @danielarodriguezbridalbeauty

Feb. 12, 2023 – post about the day

3 shots of zzzquil, breathing exercises and 7 hours later – 1.20 started at 7am (not for the boys of course…) at Hyatt House in JC. I don’t understand cool calm and collected brides…how!? I was shaking from stress. Had 1 french fry for breakfast. Prosecco from cheap-y plastic glasses I panic-ordered to deliver to the hotel room the night before didn’t help. Having my amazing duo mom + aunt and 6 of the most incredible friends a girl can dream of, in the room, did.

Also, confidence in our stylists from @beautyiconnyc – Daniela @danielarodriguezbridalbeauty and Alex work their magic helped. And of course, full confidence in @kellyseaimages coming in and capturing a pastel dream. Black and white, minimalist, simple but chic, understated but memorable – themes for our wedding and we started right from the hotel room. How amazing did everyone look… I mean – wow…

And dear future brides – you will 99.9% chance NOT be casually hanging out in your cute feathery robes enjoying champagne laughing with your mouth wide open (how I did in almost every photo) – that moment you see in this post lasts a total of 3.5 seconds and gets caught in a tornado of activities around you. So my hot tip: if you do get that break from reality before the serious things start, take a mental picture as well 🤍🖤

This post will come up in “memories” years down the line, so a memory I would capture (and one I maybe shouldn’t) is how we fished out those “glasses” out of garbage cans around the room (because this would now be our 3rd prosecco before 2pm) just to get that fun second photo and…I still drank it. This is a judgement-free zone…right!? Another memory is how we walked out and almost got into the elevators…without the dresses. That was fun too.

Feb. 16, 2023 – post about our parties

A post for our ride-or-dies, our stylish squad, our “can’t believe we once did that” crew, our ladies and gentlemen in total black 🖤

My vision for the bridal party was a mission impossible: chic but comfortable. The girls got to pick their own dresses, as long as it was a black maxi – fashion sustainability coming through – everyone can re-wear their gowns to any formal event in the future! The boys got an even easier job: black suit, white shirt, white sneakers and a strong veto on bowties, ties or vests. And if that seems confusing for a wedding – my inspiration was Ryan Gosling and he can do no wrong. But how amazing did everyone look!? Seriously – wow.

I also must say – this group of girls for me is family: we’ve each been friends for 10+ years – insane to wrap my mind around (@hildekristine_ I think we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year sometime around the day I “stole” your / not your jacket). You were a huge part of making this day what it was and I don’t know what I’d do without you 🤍

Play Video

Feb. 25, 2023 – post about the dresses

And a moment for HER: the first dress by @millanova

Since we got engaged, I had a dilemma – I needed the dress to be sustainable, while the whole concept of “a wedding dress” is basically the opposite. So the options were: ethical brands, Ukrainian brands, vintage… 2 months later, the war started and I had my answer. #MillaNova is a Ukrainian wedding dress / evening gown brand sold in NYC – at the start of 2022, the brand was producing “attire for the country’s soldiers and medical workers”. Decision made. I went in for an appointment at @vierobridal_newyork working with the amazing @zhako131 – tried on half the inventory and picked IRINA. Which – fun fact – is basically translucent. We had to sew 3 additional layers of nude mesh to make it slightly less scandalous.

This was 1000% my dress – zero regrets 🤍

March 10, 2023 – post about the reception

Almost 2 months later and almost done with my wedding spam spree – let me paint you a picture in 5 bullets:

  • Our first dance was a combo of a special personal song and a TikTok dance because we think we’re young.
  • My second dress was also by @millanova called Gigi.
  • We don’t know how to cut a cake.
  • Open bars are a dangerous game.
  • 6 fire trucks pulled up to our venue – reacting to a boat alarm in the marina.