Tell us your love story, obviously.

I met Will about two years before we got together. We were seated next to each other at a dinner, and really we hit it off- I found him insanely charming and handsome. The only problem was I was serious with someone else, and Will was newly single. He asked about me to a mutual friend a few weeks later, but I was focused on my current boyfriend. We continued to see each other socially here and there, and I continued to find him insanely charming and handsome! A few years later, I had broken it off with the previous boyfriend, and invited Will to a dinner in Nantucket, where we both spend our summers. He assumed I was setting him up with one of my sisters. My breath caught in my chest when I saw him walk in. The seat was next to me, and the rest, as they say, is history!

When did you know you wanted to marry your partner?

We had spent a really fun weekend in Mexico, escaping NYC in January, about two months after we had made it official. I leaned my head against him on the plane ride home. It felt so special, and I just knew this was it.

When do you think he knew?

He says the exact same trip- something shifted this weekend that we did not want to ever be without.

Tell us about your engagement?

Will took me all around NYC one Saturday afternoon, bringing me to places that were meaningful to us individually and in our relationship together. We ended up on Bow bridge in Central Park, just as night was falling– one year after that trip to Mexico.

Did your expectation of the engagement meet the moment?

The butterflies far exceeded my expectations!

Tell us about your ring. Did you have any input?

We looked at rings together all over, and fell in love with one at Stephen Russell. It was utterly perfect- an amazing vintage stone- but I didn’t think he’d go for it, I thought he would get something similar! I was so surprised when he proposed with it. I love it so much and marvel at it daily.

Did the wedding planning process bring you closer together? Was there anything that surprised you about it in terms of your relationship?

Will was so sweet and chivalrous and really let me run with the wedding. He has great taste so I welcomed his input, but he really let me do my thing, which I appreciated immensely!

What was the most important thing about your wedding when you started planning? Capturing a feeling of family, togetherness, representing both of our families and upbringings, and an ineffable quality that you cannot imitate and replicate.

Where did you have your wedding and how did you decide on that place?

Nantucket- Will and I both have been there every summer of our lives! I took my first steps there. Our families love spending time there together, and it brings us both so much peace and happiness.

What was the overarching biggest stress?

Getting things on an island thirty miles out to sea in a post-Covid world.

What were your non-negotiables?

I didn’t really have non-negotiables. I am a very decisive person, so the challenge for me was communicating my vision!

Looking back at your photos was there anything you would change? Specifically, any style or beauty regrets?

I wish in a few photos I had straightened my train out. I tend to move quickly, especially when I am nervous and excited, and I was so happy and ready for the party to start that I sort of rushed through some of the photos. I love our pictures so much but I wish in one specific one I had fixed my train! Ha

Tell us about your wedding dress process. Describe in detail how you came to find your dress.

I’m quite traditional, and have always loved Oscar de la Renta bridal. I sort of knew that’s who I wanted to do with my dress.

Do you still like it? Yes!

Where is it now?

Good question- I think in the cedar closet at my parents’ house in Connecticut

Do you think your mom liked it? What about your mother-in-law?

Yes to both! My mom was at all the dress appointments with me

What did your husband say after your wedding about your dress?

Just that he loved it, loved the train and the drama of it, while still being quite classic.

Did you have any other day-of looks? What did you get ready in? After party change? If so please tell us about them.

I changed into a Brock x One/Of dress for the party portion. It was so light and gauzy– perfect for dancing on a humid island at the end of summer. I got ready in a frilly Doen robe!

What did you wear to your rehearsal dinner or day before event? Any other events and looks you want to share?

My father in law connected me with Chanel, who did my dresses for the bridal lunch, rehearsal dinner, and Sunday brunch. I love all of those very special dresses so much. So many happy memories tied to each one.

First Dance? Yes! INXS “Never Tear Us Apart.”

What song did you walk down the aisle to and what song played when you walked back up the aisle as husband and wife?

We processed to Ode to Joy, which was also played at my parent’s wedding

Did you have fun at your wedding? Yes!!!

If someone could send you a check for what you spent on your wedding, having spent that money and had the wedding, would you rather have that money or have had the wedding?

The wedding! It’s such a special memory for us and our families.

Did you have a something old, something borrowed and something blue?

Yes I did. The something blue was a small sapphire bracelet from my cousins Cory & Liz and my Aunt Nancy. Something borrowed/ something old were my diamond studs from my mother. And my something new was my wedding dress!

What was the come down from your wedding like?

We went straight on our honeymoon, so we had a long stretch to confab about everything.

Did you eat anything on the day? Did you drink?

I think I ate a croissant but I can’t really remember. Yes, I was thrilled for a glass of wine when we arrived to the reception!

What piece of advice would you give brides about the actual day?

Do something peaceful in the morning– I took a swim in the ocean and an outdoor shower.

What are you most excited to tell your kids about your wedding?

How much love was all around us, how special it made everyone feel. It really outlived every expectation.

What was your favorite moment with your husband at your wedding?

After the ceremony, we left in Will’s 1977 Jeep Wagoneer. We were seriously on a high, it felt other worldly– we drove to a nearby pond just giddy with excitement. It was one of the best moments of my life. Really, super special- like out of a dream.

What one piece of advice would you like to add to brides-to-be? What one piece of advice would you like to add to single people reading this?

For brides, do not concern yourself with making this “instagrammable.” Weddings have become so ridiculous and disingenuous. If you keep it authentic and true to you and your partner, the result will pay dividends forever and you will always feel joyful thinking back on this day! And for single people, trust timing, trust the process. It’s true what they say– “when you know, you know.”

What did you do that was very traditional and what did you do that was very not traditional?

I am a pretty traditional gal, so most of our wedding was just that! I suppose it was sort of untraditional that I didn’t want a band nor dancefloor near dinner? I just wanted a DJ/party after dinner so it felt like a dinner party with loved ones.

Read the full Vogue Article from 2022 Here!

In January I tore my ACL skiing. It was the last run of the last day on the hardest stretch of mountain that I had already skied once before. I was hungry and wanted a glass of Grüner. And I fell. Bad. As the Austrian mountain man strapped me into the rescue toboggan asking me to point to where it hurt, all I could cry was my wedding is in four months! Thank God he didn’t speak English.

Eight weeks in a brace was the least hard thing about my wedding season.

I debated writing about this for a few reasons, first and foremost being, I’m deeply grateful. My wedding has brought me so much closer and connected with people I love most. It’s been an incredible bonding experience with my in-laws as well as deepened my relationship and understanding of my parents. I’ve been overwhelmed with the great lengths, time, money and above all – energy – spent on me. I’ve been so surrounded by love that it’s made those who haven’t been able to show up in a place of love, glaringly obvious.

My guy friend sent me this Ask a Therapist column by Lori Gottlieb in The New York Times, and asked if SO AND SO had written it about me (as a joke).

The question came from a single woman whose best friend was getting married, and she didn’t want to go because she was single and unhappy about it.

One of my dearest friends is getting married next summer. It will be the second marriage for both my friend and the groom, and we are all in our 40s. The date is likely to conflict with my annual getaway to see my favorite band in one of my favorite cities, a vacation that another dear friend and I have done together for years.

I think that I should go to the wedding, because it would hurt my friend if I don’t go, and I would feel guilty about not going. But I would also feel guilty about hurting my other friend by bailing on our concert weekend — and resentful at missing my favorite weekend of the year for a wedding, an event that is loaded psychologically for me.

I am single, and loneliness and heartbreak have been near constants in my adult life. Last year I experienced a nightmare scenario at a group vow renewal ceremony. It was painful to hear multiple professions of love and commitment when my own journey has been alone. After that experience, I told myself I’d never go to another wedding.

As someone who was single for essentially the entirety of her adult life and not only attended countless weddings, but was in the bridal party of nearly ten (and by the way was never happy about it) I feel somewhat an expert in the space to weigh in here.

Regardless of being a bride, I found this advice to be completely whack, so I’m offering a counter.

Read more

All I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a fashion girl. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do in fashion, but I knew I wanted in. As a little girl, I would show visitors my clothes, not my toys. I loved Barbie because I loved to dress them up, and also, already play out some toxic dynamics with Ken. Growing up in the closest proximity to it all, made me want it all the more.

It was my mother who suggested I get into PR. I didn’t know much about it, apart from the NY Post article I had just seen about Publicist Lizzy Grubman purposefully running over people outside a Southampton nightclub in her Mercedes SUV. That sounded like the job for me!

While nannying and working part time for an interior design website running the social (it was a blogspot, twitter and facebook at the time) I became obsessed with OscarPRGIRL - the woman I would come to know as Erika Bearman, later as my boss and eventually as one of my dearest. As I trekked up the stairs of my one bedroom sized apartment I shared with two other girls, I would read and re-read her tweets from the outside, wishing I was - in. And then one day I was dropping the girls off at school and there it was, the tweet that changed my life: “So I’m looking for an assistant.” Now that was actually a job a million girls would kill for.

And I got an interview.

Read more

When else in your life will an ice sculpture of your tits be erected in your honor? For some the answer is never, for me, it was the night following my bridal shower.

Read more

You can only ask your guests to get on a plane once. I’ve held that belief since Kelvin was a filter and not just because the only mode of transportation I could afford when my friends started getting married was the meg bus. I used to joke with two of my best friends from college and bridesmaids, Jen and Katherine, that I was going to get married in Dubai on Memorial Day because most of my friends got married over some fashion week (in fairness there is always a fashion week) and I often would have to arrive Friday to welcome drinks having changed in the airport bathroom and leave Sunday morning on the first flight out to head straight to the office. While we did speak Memorial Day into existence, the English Countryside felt remote enough, so I was very happy to have a local run of show. I’m from New York, it’s my favorite place in the world, and frankly, I’ve been poorly behaved here since I was 15, so of course this is where I should have my bachelorette.

Jamie got married during Covid and we planned a hybrid bachelorette and shower combo, which I always loved. We banged everything out in one weekend and the shower served as a main event as part of the programming. Five years later, I got to do that.

Read more

Tell us your love story, obviously.

It’s a long and very crazy funny story…

My family moved to Hong Kong when I was 7 years old and I was sent to the German Swiss International School and ever since then I’ve always made German, Swiss, Austrian friends wherever I’ve gone - in boarding school, at college, in NYC when I moved there when I was 23. So I had this great group of very close German guy friends in the city. I had left the city for a 2 year sabbatical - I travelled and then lived in LA. When I moved back to the city my now husband Andreas had just moved to nyc and was friends with my German guy friends from school and from skiing in Europe. So he was sort of just there one of the guys…. The first time I met him he joined us at the nightclub Cielo in the Meatpacking and he was so quiet and polite. We then met up again at a friends house and as were were all heading down the elevator (all the guys much taller than me) he looked down at my head and plucked out the one grey hair I had… I couldn’t believe it and I swore at him and then thought he was just weird. Then shortly after there was a big dinner party where at one point he changed the name cards of the placement and came and sat next to me and then told me he had been carrying me with him the whole time and pulled my white hair out of his wallet. I then thought oh wow he’s a bit of a stalker but hey he was definitely original. I then knew he had a crush on me and I wasn’t interested in getting into a relationship at the time coming off 2 prior and just moving back from LA. About one year later after a Chinese New Years Eve dinner party he came home with me after dinner to walk my dog and let’s just say we’ve basically been together ever since.

When did you know you wanted to marry your partner?

It took us a long time. We both are very guarded people and really wanted to know / we were together for 7 years and actually took a break. We both knew after being apart was so torturous.

When do you think he knew?

Same as above

Tell us about your engagement?

Ever since we started dating we went to St. Barths every spring. I had no idea but Andreas was being super annoying about me remembering to lock the safe in our room (I should have thought something was fishy). We were sharing a house with 2 other couples that are some of our closest friends who we always when to St. Barths with. Then one night he asked me to go look at the full moon outside after dinner and I think I said why it was full the night before and he then insisted I go outside with him.

When I got out there he told me he wanted to build the rest of our lives together so why not start by building my ring together and he took out the most perfect diamond and in the one cut I had always wanted a rose cut. I cried and cried I was in shock and deliriously happy.

Did your expectation of the engagement meet the moment?

Beyond

Tell us about your ring. Did you have any input?

He knew me so well and that I would be super particular about my ring and I wanted something unique and different. The one thing he knew was that the only stone I wanted was a rose cut diamond and then he left it for us to design the ring together. We chose this super talented jewelry designer Edmond Chin - he used to head up jewelry for Christie’s Asia and is considered the JAR of Asia. By chance I caught him on the last day of his first trip to NYC in 8 years. I told him I just wanted something special that reflected me - he asked me questions almost like being a therapist and we gave him the stone and the process started from there. With sketches, then the mold then the ring.

Did the wedding planning process bring you closer together? Was there anything that surprised you about it in terms of your relationship?

It was really seamless - we both wanted the same things. He knew I had this picture in my head of almost everything for the wedding from an aesthetic and creative standpoint and he let me do my thing. He did think I was a bit batty when I started having shells shipped to Anguilla. He took care of all the food, drinks and music as that was also really important to him.

What was the most important thing about your wedding when you started planning?

We just wanted everyone to have fun - and that there would be no ends to the nights. We wanted to make sure people could party and dance and drink as long as they wanted. No closing down the bar! That was the one non negotiable with the Viceroy - they couldn’t shut the party down.

Where did you have your wedding and how did you decide on that place?

We got married at the Viceroy in Anguilla which is now a Four Seasons. We originally thought we would get married in St. Barths but with 200 people that proved challenging. Anguilla was close by and the Viceroy was new at the time and I loved that it was modern but also very beach. We had 3 nights and days. One day at this private island Scilly Cay where we had grilled lobsters, lots of rum punch, live music and just dancing and swimming all day. After our wedding about 30 of us spent one week in St. Barths together for what we termed our “Funnymoon”.

What was the overarching biggest stress?

The seating arrangement each night! As a European tradition one night we split up all the couples at completely different tables and when you do that you really want everyone to feel comfortable and have a lot of fun meeting new people and making new friends. Then it was just actually having the time! I was non-stop traveling those days at Bergdorf’s so had no time to sit down and actually do the seating charts for all 3 nights.

What were your non-negotiables?

Great food, ever flowing drinks and great music. My father in law also made sure we got Joe’s stone crab claws to the island from Miami for our rehearsal dinner. That was a huge hit.

What was something that happened by accident or that was uplanned that you were happy it did?

No

Was there anything you spent money on that you regret to this day?

No

Was there something you didn’t want to spend money on that now you are happy you did?

No

Looking back at your photos was there anything you would change? Specifically, any style or beauty regrets?

I didn’t want Andreas to see me before we walked down the aisle so we didn’t have pictures of just the two is us taken. And the sun had set after our vows so we didn’t have enough time to capture more pictures of us. So I don’t regret the timing as I really didn’t want him to see me before but I do wish we had more photos of us.

Tell us about your wedding dress process. Describe in detail how you came to find your dress.

Running RTW at Bergdorf Goodman including the bridal department made it both easier than most people but also so more difficult since I saw absolutely everything and also felt like it would have been to hard to choose one bridal designer since I was personal friends with all of them. My bridal buyer at the time no joke made a special bridal binder for me. But there has been one show I had seen in Paris many years before that was not even white it was this black and silver gown by Andrew GN that somehow I fell in love. And I use to joke with him at the time that that might be the perfect wedding dress for me. Anyway Andrew is like a brother to me and from that show on I always knew he would design my wedding gown. He was the 2nd person I called after my mother after Andreas proposed. When I went to his atelier in Paris Andrew had all these ideas and sketches and dresses and I said to him remember that black and silver dress? He had it taken out of his archives and I tried it on and we both knew that was it. He did re-design a little - he changed the train to make it more dramatic and I said I didn’t want a super dressy fabric since the wedding was a beach one. He chose the most exquisite cotton organza eyelet. I did all my fittings in Paris and of course Andrew and his husband were guests at our wedding.

Do you still like it?

I still absolutely love it.

Would you ever wear it again?

I don’t think I’ll wear jt again but I definitely would love to pass it on to either my niece or one of my god daughters

Where is it now?

In a special box in storage at my husbands family home.

Do you think your mom liked it? What about your mother-in-law?

Yes they both loved it.

Did you have any other day-of looks? What did you get ready in? After party change? If so please tell us about them.

Oh so many! Thursday night was a smaller dinner for family and the wedding party (well we both had 11 bridesmaids and Groomsmen each). And then we all went to this crazy local reggae club. I wore this short white flirty Cushnie et Ochs dress with yellow suede Gianvito Rossi pumps.

For the rehearsal dinner I wore this silver Alaia dress and these white suede with a silver studded detail sandals that Mr. Alaia personally gifted me for my wedding present as he knew how much I feel in love with them when I saw them during one of his defiles in Paris. Then the wedding day I wore the Andrew GN gown of course with these lace peep toe Valentino heels with a slight platform. For the after party I had just discovered the designer Sally LaPointe. She had shown me her very first collection. She had this black spiderweb lace I had fallen in love with. I asked her to make me an ivory version of the lace and design a fun after party dress I could dance all night in.

What did you wear to your rehearsal dinner or day before event? Any other events and looks you want to share?

My dear friend Marie France van Damme who designed my island beach day caftan also designed these special pareos we gifted all of our wedding guests.

Did you have a first dance? If so what was the song?

We did- it was sort of ruined as our DJ got very drunk and accidentally played our first dance song instead of our entrance song when we both entered the dinner after the wedding. That was the only time we both almost lost it- I was very upset. Our first dance song was Islands in the Stream by Kenny Loggins and Dolly Parton.

What song did you walk down the aisle to and what song played when you walked back up the aisle as husband and wife?

O mio babbino caro by Gianni Schicchi - we had a small local orchestra play.

Did you have fun at your wedding?

So much fun - we didn’t get back to our room until the sun was up and all the rose petals the hotel had strewn over our bed were wilted and candles in the bathtub were burnt out.

Most of the groomsmen ended up in the pool. It was a wild night.

If someone could send you a check for what you spent on your wedding, having spent that money and had the wedding, would you rather have that money or have had the wedding?

The wedding! I would never want anything else but to celebrate this special moment with all closest family and friends.

Did you have a something old, something borrowed and something blue?

Yes my mother had gifted me these beautiful large baroque pearls of hers and we had them made into earrings paired with chalcedony which is a pale blue colour surrounded with diamonds. Then my mother also lent me her diamond Art deco watch.

What was the come down from your wedding like?

We luckily didn’t really have one as the Monday after as I shared us 30 of us flew to St. Barths and spent a week partying together after the wedding. By the end of it all I was absolutely shattered. I was too exhausted but then to even feel any come down.

Did you eat anything on the day? Did you drink?

I basically could hardly eat all day or night but did start drinking during the dinner and then the after party. I finally really ate when we had the late night snacks come out around 3am - sliders, fries, chicken fingers, mini grilled cheese and mini pizzas. All the foods you crave when you have a big night out.

What piece of advice would you give brides about the actual day?

Just have fun and enjoy every moment. It goes so quickly so make sure you savour and live in each moment and remember it as it just goes by you in a flash.

What are you most excited to tell your kids about your wedding?

No kids

What was your favorite moment with your husband at your wedding?

Both of us just couldn’t stop smiling that whole night. But when he gave his speech there wasn’t one dry eye in the house. It was the most beautiful, most touching memorable speech of my life. He had also never told me this prior but we had our dog named Porter at the time and she was our baby we loved her like our child. He had Edmond design our wedding bands so that they both captured her hair in an air pocket he made within the gold bands. When he shared this story I was speechless and sobbing from the emotion that came over me.

What one piece of advice would you like to add to brides-to-be? What one piece of advice would you like to add to single people reading this?

It took me a long time to find the right guy someone I wanted to marry. I married late - I was 39 years old but it was worth waiting. I realise before after a few bad relationships that I’d rather be happy and alone than be lonely in a relationship. And when I had decided to just be single is when I met Andreas.

What did you do that was very traditional and what did you do that was very not traditional?It’s funny because I always considered myself non traditional and had thought I would do everything in a non traditional way but in the end it’s a wedding and we ended up doing most things traditionally.

What are your biggest coulda, woulda, shouldas?

I just want to do it all over again. One day we’ll throw our Funniversary!

Tell us your love story, obviously.

Jimmy and I met while attending undergrad at Indiana University. We were friends throughout college, but it wasn’t until the end of our senior year that we started dating. Just before graduation, we decided to brave long-distance. Jimmy moved back to his hometown of Manhattan Beach, and I returned to mine in Chicago. Six months later, I moved to Los Angeles for an internship… and the rest is history.

When did you know you wanted to marry your partner?

I knew I wanted to marry Jimmy because he truly makes me a better person. He is the perfect complement and has always taught me so much. He also got me to expand my palette and try sushi for the first time, and that alone warrants marrying the person, I think??

When do you think he knew?

He always ties it back to my devotion to family and how it is the center of my world. I’d like to think it was immediate, but I think it was when we started spending more time with each other’s families in Chicago and LA.

Tell us about your engagement?

I had absolutely no idea it was happening that evening. That morning, I was running late, rushing out the door in a sweatshirt, vintage Levi’s, and bed head. Jimmy just laughed, noticing I wasn’t nearly as put together as usual for work.

The rest of the day felt super normal. I went to my office, had a nail appointment, and ran a few errands. We were leaving for Chicago the next day to visit my family, so I had a few last things to check off my to-do list. When I pulled up to our house, alll the blinds were shut, which I thought was odd. As I turned the corner to our doorway, I saw yellow rose petals scattered and sort of knew it was happening.

When I opened the front door, I walked into a house glowing with candlelight and filled with yellow roses. It was kind of magical. Jimmy got down on one knee and asked me to marry him- I was completely overwhelmed!!

Did your expectation of the engagement meet the moment?
I didn’t know what to expect about the actual engagement, honestly. I was a little nervous about it because it was something out of my control– and that usually drives me a little mad. When it happened, I was sooo overwhelmed, I was so happy it was just us in our home. He was so comforting, I was bawling. Words cannot describe the feeling. So many emotions all at once! So special.

Tell us about your ring. Did you have any input?

Definitely! But more behind the scenes. We didn’t do any ring shopping together, which is kind of shocking knowing myself. I was very specific about the setting and Jimmy picked the diamond! I was working in fine jewelry at the time and have always dreamed about my ring being in the industry. I knew I wanted an Old Mine cut diamond and Jimmy hand picked the stone!

Did the wedding planning process bring you closer together? Was there anything that surprised you about it in terms of your relationship?

I think if you can get through wedding planning, you can get through anything. It definitely brought us closer to work on such an intimate affair for that long. A lot of long week nights and weekends planning it all together. We did almost everything together and I really wanted Jimmy to be involved in every decision (even if I didn’t like what he had to say about what I wanted to spend). At the end of the day you want to make each other happy, so we tried our best to make sure that was at the forefront of the planning, even if there was a disagreement.

What was the most important thing about your wedding when you started planning?

Having all of our favorite people in one place to celebrate with us. It’s rare that it will ever happen again, so that idea felt surreal and definitely was the most important thing to us- to make sure we could have as many as our people with us. This ruled out doing our wedding in Greece, which was always in the back of my mind, but we wanted to make sure most of our guests could be there and didn’t want to risk it with the further destination.

Where did you have your wedding and how did you decide on that place?

We had our wedding in Los Angeles, where we live!! It wasn’t always our first choice. We actually really wanted to get married in Santa Barbara, there is even a beautiful Greek Orthodox Church we were excited about.

When we began to discuss and research wedding venues, nothing felt like it was coming naturally. Each venue we looked at in Santa Barbara just didn’t feel right. We started to broaden the search to LA. We thought about our favorite spots in LA and started to inquire at our favorite restaurants. It was another dream of mine to have a restaurant wedding- I just love how understated they feel. A few weeks later, we went to Sunset Tower for a tour of the venue space and we signed a contract almost immediately. After the tour, Jimmy and I had dinner at Tower Bar and it all clicked– it felt so right. Hosting our wedding weekend in Los Angeles represented both Jimmy’s roots and the city where we built our life together.

What was the overarching biggest stress?

Guest list, for sure. We both come from big families and had a very strict number we couldn’t exceed at the venue. It was so hard on both of us (and our parents) to decide who we could invite. It all worked out though!

I also think the flow of the day really stressed me out. We didn’t have a conventional venue setup with a dance floor in the middle of a big room or tent, we actually had to flip the room after dinner and then move guests out and then back in, so making sure that was done tastefully and seamlessly was on my mind a lot! Other than that, I think just making sure every detail had been thought of, I always felt like there was more I could be doing!

What were your non-negotiables?
Getting married at a Greek Orthodox Church, the venue having great food, and nostalgic photography.

Was there anything you spent money on that you regret to this day?
Honestly, mainly the panic orders from amazon of silly things I definitely didn’t need.. And yes I missed the return window on all of it.

Was there something you didn’t want to spend money on that now you are happy you did?

I think our live cake experience was something we didn’t know if we should splurge on and it was probably our favorite part of the wedding! We had the chef from our favorite bakery come and make a millefoglie cake when we moved our guests to the outdoor terrace during the room flip. We danced to Italian 80’s hits while the cake was made and passed around- it was such a fun surprise for everyone and so special!

Looking back at your photos was there anything you would change? Specifically, any style or beauty regrets?

Not at all. I am so happy with how everything turned out– I’m only 6 months out from my wedding, so hopefully this never changes! Ask me again in 20 years...I tossed around timeless a lot and tried to let that guide all of the decisions with how I approached my styling and beauty. We all want to have a timeless wedding, but it’s not always easy to achieve. Especially if you want certain elements to remain unique to you. Before making a decision I would ask myself, if this was in the year 1970 or 2070, could you tell what year it is?

Tell us about your wedding dress process. Describe in detail how you came to find your dress.

My wedding dress was one of the first dresses I ever tried on. But I think I really found my dress months earlier. I went bridal shopping with my best friend about 6 months before I went for myself. She actually tried on my Vivienne Westwood gown at LOHO and I remember loving it on her. I kept telling her I just love that one. I was rooting for that gown on her, without even thinking about myself loving it (I wasn’t even engaged yet). Almost a year later, when it came time for me to try on dresses at LOHO, I added it to my list of try-ons. I had saved so much bridal inspiration leading up to trying on. A lot of ball gowns. Most of the dresses on my moodboard weren’t current, they were either 90s bridal or true antiques. I even saved the original version of my wedding dress: the blindfolded bride that walked the Spring Summer 1997 Vivienne Westwood runway.

The first appointment I had felt like I was playing dress up, and almost like I was wearing costumes. When I put on my dress, it felt different. I immediately knew I felt like myself and I loved every part of it. I was trying to find a reason not to love it because it felt clichè to go with the first dress I loved. It was the first dress I truly lit up and didn’t have anything I wanted to change about it. It was the first dress that made my sister cry. I think we all knew, but I am quite indecisive. I wanted to try on more VW and went to their flagship in LA alone. I ended up trying on my dress again there and knew it was the one. I explored ordering the gown in a newer and different fabric to switch it up and make it feel a little more custom, but ultimately I loved how the fabric draped on me and surprisingly loved how a more true ivory looked with my skin tone versus the warmer ivory dresses I was trying on. Before I could commit, I wanted to be very certain that I didn’t want to go the custom route, so I spoke with Patricia Voto of One/Of who I knew would be making my veil. I loved the idea of creating something that was one of a kind, but I knew I would always have the VW gown in the back of my mind, and she agreed. I moved forward with ordering my dress and started to work on my custom veil with One/Of. I have always loved Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music, and have been obsessed with her bridal look since I was a little girl. I wanted the veil to embody that veil: cathedral length, dramatic, yet simple. I decided to keep the veil without any lace or beading and really let the silhouette speak. I also did a floor length blusher, which was so fun to style all day and definitely brought the drama.

Do you still like it?
I still love it. Because it was a re-edition of a vintage gown, it really felt like it would be something I will always love. There’s no embellishment and it has a timeless column silhouette, similar to a lot of wedding gowns in the 60s. It goes well with that rule of could you tell the year?

Would you ever wear it again?

I hope that one day my dress is worn by a daughter or family member!! One can only hope and dream it will get another night out. I plan to wear the Danielle Frankel + LEIN dresses again (as long as they fit!).

Where is it now?

Preserved, in a box, at my in-laws haha

Do you think your mom liked it? What about your mother-in-law?
My mom and mother-in-law both loved it. It was actually my mother-in-law’s favorite dress when we took her to see my top 3. The only dress that made my mom and sister cry. My mom owned a bridal store in the late 90s, so she was obsessed with the wedding dress shopping experience.

What did your husband say after your wedding about your dress?

I will actually never forget this because I loved his reaction and kind of took me by surprise. Right after he saw it he said, “It’s so chic!” Jimmy’s not really the kind of guy to throw around chic, so I really felt honored that he thought so! He also thought there was a lot of drama in the skirt/back of the dress and I thought it was funny that it shocked him that I went with a ballgown.

Did you have any other day-of looks? What did you get ready in? After party change? If so please tell us about them.

I started the morning wearing a vintage YSL men’s tuxedo shirt (one of the first things I bought for my bridal wardrobe) and later changed into a very special LEIN Studio piece sourced by Loho Bride in LA. Underneath, I wore a SKIMS set paired with satin kitten heels by The Row.

I did have a party dress, which was epic! It was love at first sight when I tried on this silver, liquid dress at LEIN, featuring striking Italian lurex fabric with silk chiffon. The perfect touch of glamour for our after party at Sunset Tower and the dream dress to carry a martini in.

I told myself I wouldn’t get a second dress unless I loved it as much as my wedding gown. I almost felt like this dress found me! During a last minute visit to LEIN’s gorgeous studio in NYC, I decided to try on the Lila dress for fun because I loved the halter silhouette. It felt straight out of the 70s, and that was exactly what I was going for. I wanted to customize the style by making it floor length. With the addition of a loop to carry the train on my pinky, it made for the perfect dress to dance the night away in. A pair of Jimmy Choo platforms relieved my feet and allowed me to keep up with everyone on the dance floor.

I also found a vintage dress from the 80s at Arcade vintage with the most stunning draped jacquard fabric two weeks before the wedding and I wore that Thursday night for a dinner at Sunset Tower to kick off the weekend.

What did you wear to your rehearsal dinner or day before event? Any other events and looks you want to share?

I think my welcome party look was the coolest, most modern piece I wore all weekend. It was a Danielle Frankel gown named “Noemi” in the most gorgeous transparent silk-organza that mirrored waves of water. The shape and the horsehair hem was so fun. I clocked it as soon as it was released in the April 2025 collection.. They weren’t sure if it could be ready in time, and they made it happen. It was perfect for our LA outdoor welcome party at Great White in West Hollywood. I paired the dress with a vintage Chanel raffia clutch and silver Jimmy Choos.

Did you have a first dance? If so what was the song?

Real Love Baby by Father John Misty

What song did you walk down the aisle to and what song played when you walked back up the aisle as husband and wife?

We got married in a very traditional ceremony, so the options for bridal recessional were limited. I decided to not overthink this one and go very classic with Bridal Chorus and I honestly felt like I was in a movie walking down the aisle.

Did you have fun at your wedding?

One of the best nights of my life! I felt like I was in heaven. You look around seeing the most important people in your life and you can’t believe they’re all in one place, and there for you!

If someone could send you a check for what you spent on your wedding, having spent that money and had the wedding, would you rather have that money or have had the wedding?

I think I have to say have the wedding… maybe a slightly paired down version of the wedding (if I’m being honest)? A true restaurant wedding might have been the perfect route, but I wouldn’t change anything looking back. I definitely think there are areas where I could have listened to Jimmy more– but even he says we will never regret it either.

Did you have a something old, something borrowed and something blue?

Yes! Something blue was worn the night before- custom Starling Aquamarine Emerald Cut drop earrings, which is Jimmy’s birthstone! My something old were my mother in law’s diamonds I had reset into new studs by Arielle Ratner and wore on my wedding day. I actually did my something borrowed for my bridal shower! I wore my mom’s chiffon cape she wore getting ready for her wedding, my godmother’s wedding shoes and my mother in law’s pearl/diamond earrings.

What was the come down from your wedding like?

Brutal! I never thought I would be that girl- but I had a very hard time coming back from my honeymoon. I felt so emotional! I definitely didn’t miss the planning at all.. I was so happy that it was over with, but I missed the weekend and being with everyone. And the build up!

Did you eat anything on the day? Did you drink?

I made sure I had plenty of my favorite things to eat in my bridal suite the morning of! We ordered Sunset Tower breakfast and catered Leora. I remember I had a Leora chicken caesar wrap, and Jimmy also sent McDonalds breakfast to my suite (a little inside joke). I also got my favorite chocolate chip cookies in LA from Fleurs et Sel for a little treat for everyone because I couldn’t help myself. I drank a little during the cocktail hour and reception, not as much as I thought I would! I had an Aperol Spritz and a couple martinis, but I was too busy running around to really savor an entire drink. I did enjoy the champagne my Dad sent us during the wedding dinner to complement the steak frites.

What piece of advice would you give brides about the actual day?

I got this advice from a friend at my welcome party that stuck with me: really just try your best to keep your feet on the ground! You feel like you’re floating, but stay present in each moment. Try to stay close to your partner and find each other if you drift to opposite ends of the party! Also, don’t overthink, everyone is having a great time and just let it all go! Now is the time to enjoy.

What are you most excited to tell your kids about your wedding?

Just how special it was being in LA where we really fell in love and built our life together! And that time stopped when our families took over Sunset Tower.

What was your favorite moment with your husband at your wedding?

Honestly, probably the moments we shared were just us two. In the morning, we exchanged private vows in our suite. Our first look ended up being one of my favorite parts of the day and I thought I would regret doing it. I felt so at ease once I saw him and was so excited to go to the church with less nerves/anxiety! After the ceremony, we took a beautiful vintage car back to Sunset Tower and it all felt so surreal!

What one piece of advice would you like to add to brides-to-be? What one piece of advice would you like to add to single people reading this?

Brides: Instead of trying to do 100 things, do 2-3 things really well. I spent a lot of time on our paper suite and that was one of the things I decided to do really well. We wanted understated flowers, so we put a lot of emphasis on our custom draping to bring more design to the space.

Stay true to you and your partner. Don’t do something just to do it. If a venue doesn’t feel right, it’s not right. Think outside the box. Explore your favorite places. Remember what the day really means and stay centered in that.

What did you do that was very traditional and what did you do that was very not traditional?

Very Traditional - Church ceremony and dad walking me down aisle, Greek dancing

Not traditional - stayed together the night before, private vows, no flower girls, no dancing during dinner, and a first look!

What are your biggest coulda, woulda, shouldas?

There’s always something! Honestly, not much I can think of other than I had a large shot list to be taken with all my girlfriends and women family members before my first look with Jimmy and we nixed it from the schedule to make sure we had room for other photos and to stay on time, but looking back I wish we kept that and I also wish I made a similar one for Jimmy to have in his suite with his people, including his parents! Something to think about, brides!

Tell us your love story.

My husband and I actually met seven years before we reconnected. We had so many mutual friends but the timing just was not right. Then in 2022 we both happened to be at a wedding in New York City and that is where everything shifted. That wedding led to our first official date, which was another wedding in Portugal. After that, the rest is history.

When did you know you wanted to marry him?

It felt calm and easy. There was no chaos or guessing. He made me laugh constantly and I felt completely at peace. That is when I knew.

When do you think he knew?

When he invited me away with his family. That is when I realized this was serious.

Tell us about your engagement.

My ring is an elongated cushion cut diamond with a pavé band. It is timeless but still feels strong and modern.

Did the moment meet your expectations?

Yes, completely. He proposed at Disney, which makes people laugh, but we are very much Disney adults. I have always celebrated milestones there, even with past boyfriends. So it felt very us. Some people assumed I would be upset about a Disney proposal but if you know me it could not have been more perfect.

Did you have input on the ring?

I did not. The women in my husband’s life are incredibly stylish and they helped him. I trusted the process and they nailed it.

Did wedding planning bring you closer?

In some ways, yes. But planning a wedding when you are very Type A and a bit controlling can be intense. It was my dream wedding but I definitely learned a lot about myself during the process.

What mattered most when you started planning?

I always wanted a destination wedding, somewhere that would transport our closest friends and family into a completely different world.

Where did you get married?

June 6 through 8, 2025. It was a three day wedding weekend in Monaco.

Biggest stress?

The numbers and trying to make everyone happy.

Your non-negotiables?

Fashion. Completely. I spent a lot on my clothes because fashion is everything to me.

A happy accident?

Our after after party was barely planned and it ended up being the most fun part of the entire weekend.

Any spending regrets?

Honestly, no. I managed the budget well and everything worked out exactly how it should have.

Something you are glad you spent on?

Same answer. I do not regret any of it.

Any photo or beauty regrets?

Wedding photography is very specific. Danilo and Sharon are incredible at editorial glam wedding shots and really understood my vision. If I could change one thing I might have thrown my hair up at some point. I never found a stylist who fully resonated with me so I made very in the moment choices.

Tell us about the dress process.

It was the fourth dress I tried on. I could not stop thinking about it. I went back a month later and bought it.

Do you still like it?

I loved it. But my style is always evolving so I might choose something different today.

Would you wear it again?

Yes.

Where is it now?

I sold it. I do not have emotional attachment to my clothes and if it brought me that much joy I wanted someone else to experience that too.

Did your mom and mother in law like it?

At first my mom said wow that is a lot of fabric but she loved it. I think my mother in law liked it too, I should probably ask her.

What did your husband say about your dress?

He loved it. He cried when he saw me.

Did you have other looks?

I curated my looks for over a year and I loved every single piece. I felt like it all told a story.

What did you wear to the rehearsal dinner?

I wore a vintage 1990s Versace gown with a fully beaded back. It was so chic.

First dance song?

One and Only by Adele. It was one of the first songs we ever listened to together.

Aisle songs?

We walked down to instrumental Disney music played on violins. Can You Feel the Love Tonight and A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes. Some people might find that cheesy but I loved it. It was part of our story.

Did you have fun?

So much fun. I look back at the photos and feel pure happiness. I was also very happy when the planning was over. I did not have wedding blues.

Money back or wedding?

Now that it is over I might take the check, but that is only because I already had my dream wedding. In the moment it is such a rite of passage.

Something old, borrowed, blue?

I did not follow that tradition.

What was the comedown like?

Totally fine. I was just excited to start our married life in New York City.

Did you eat or drink?

I barely ate all weekend. You are just not hungry. I definitely drank on the wedding night.

Advice for brides about the day?

Try to stay in the moment. You will still black out parts of it but be present. I had someone taking content on my phone so I was never on it.

What are you most excited to tell your kids?

Showing them the photos. There was so much glamour and I think they will love seeing that.

Favorite moment with your husband?

Our vows. Everyone was sobbing.

Advice for brides and singles?

For brides, no one notices the tiny details you obsess over. People remember the warmth in the room. The font color on the menu does not matter.

For singles, when it feels calm and easy that is usually it.

Traditional and not traditional?

We did dinner before dancing and I would not change that for anything.

Biggest could have would have should have?

None. It was everything I ever wanted

Read more on Charlotte’s Wedding in British Vogue and The Wed.

Famously, Vera Wang started her eponymous Bridal Line in 1989 when the former Vogue Editor was left feeling more than meh about the options out there.

Her own gown was so well received that a year later Wang took a space in the iconic UES Carlyle Hotel and built what is now her bridal empire.

With the trend in fashion turning towards re-sell, I went to bridal heaven aka Happy Isles for my first and really only traditional bridal appointment. Naturally I gravitated to their incredible Vera offering.

I loved Feed Me’s creator Emily Sundberg incredible vintage Vera for her NYC nuptials this past fall. She sourced it from Tab Vintage and ordered without even trying it on. We should all be so cool.

Subscribe now

It’s very interesting the ideas you have about what your wedding is going to be like before it actually becomes a reality. For every man I was imaginary engaged to before I was real engaged I had a very DISTINCT idea about what I wanted and just like I’m thankful I didn’t marry any of them, I’m very happy those ideas didn’t come to reality. I’m also a bit surprised, and also very comforted that I returned to a vision that is both nostalgic and ultimately, the most me.

90s fashion is enduring and at this point, obvious. What’s more, it’s impossible to ignore the current fever around the FX docuseries American Love Story, but that feels like a post for another day.

CBK’s Narciso dress aside, I wouldn’t exactly say the 90’s should be known for it’s bridal fashion. Not sure you clocked that hat in the earlier photo, but leaning too heavily into the rend when it comes to bridal could look like you lost the plot.

However, this Vera Wang Jean iconic style from 1997 is currently on Etsy and I would LOVE to see someone find a way to keep the shape of it, but remove some layers of tulle for a more sheer bottom to update her to present day.

And for those feeling particularly adventurous, you can be your very own Elizabeth James.

For someone who only dabbles in the woo-woo, Jen became a constant light that would guide me, and so many others, through the dark. When things got particularly hard in dating I just remember collapsing on her table in tears and exhaustion WHY!! She asked me the same question she asks herself in this essay: If true love does not happen for you in this lifetime, can you accept this without closing your heart? This horrified and ignited me. I finally shifted my focus to falling in love with the life I was creating and filling it with the people who brought me joy. And then suddenly and not sudden at all, I found true, romantic love. On this Valentine’s Day, I’m so honored to share her words.

Becoming Love

I am a born romantic — a lover of love. As a little girl, my dolls enacted elaborate courtships, and by adolescence I was composing love poems inspired by the early nineteenth-century romantics for every new crush that stirred my heart. I was thoroughly enchanted by the mystery and magic of soul mates, and I was certain I would find mine.

For most of my adult life I was a serial monogamist whose relationships never exceeded three years. Then, unexpectedly, in my late thirties I entered a longer season of singledom that left a dull pit of worry in my belly that I rarely spoke aloud.

Dating during that first year of singledom was a mixed bag of mostly not great. I insisted to myself and others that I wanted the right partner, marriage, a shared life — but that was not what the all-knowing Oz behind the curtain seemed to be serving.

After navigating countless labyrinths of dating disappointments and confusion, I did what many 39-year-old single women are terrified to do: I put the kibosh on all dating and relationships for the first time in my adult life. I removed the external thing causing me so much suffering with the hope of finding the internal reason why relationships were a source of heartbreak in my life.

I did not know it then, but something in my core was becoming ready for a different kind of relationship.

My internal Eat, Pray, Love journey began without ever leaving town. I devoured everything I could find on intimacy and relational trauma and enrolled in an intensive two-year training called the Art of Intimacy. The first year focused on intimacy with self and I was devastated to discover that I could not feel my own heart. This realization shocked me. I had always considered myself intuitive, empathic, and deeply relational. Yet my life revealed a pattern of addictive pendulum swings: running away from people that I felt suffocated by or running toward people that could not love me back. Both patterns kept me separate from my heart.

A floodlight of awareness was cast on my crippling mistrust, codependence, avoidance, projection, and disconnection from my body & heart. I found myself gazing into the smoky mirror, and for the first time, I could see flecks of my face flickering through.

My unresolved childhood attachment wounds were singlehandedly selecting who I paired with.

Shortly thereafter, I made a list of the ideal qualities I wanted in a partner and examined each one with ruthless honesty, asking whether I embodied the quality myself. Again, I was stunned. It turns out, I wasn’t actually a very good partner.

I avoided conflict and when it found me, I often met it with defensiveness, attack, or “peace out.” I did not stay when things became difficult. I did not stay when things plateaued. I did not fully communicate my truth because I was afraid of being judged, attacked or abandoned.

I had been unfairly asking for qualities in a partner without being able to offer them back in reciprocity.

Turns out, navigating relational conflict and repair is a learned skill. Few people know how to do this, and most are unconsciously repeating what was modeled for them. This is why there is so much pain in relationships.

When I lost contact with my heart, the consequence of this rupture inevitably surfaced in the way I met and related to others.

The reframe is clear: I did not communicate my truth because I could not feel my own heart. Because I couldn’t feel my heart, I couldn’t discern my boundaries. Without boundaries, I couldn’t trust myself — and if I didn’t trust myself, I certainly wasn’t going to trust anyone else with my heart.

And still, after all this humbling self-examination, a part of me refused to release the dream of finding my soul mate — that soul merging, ride-or-die across dimensions kind of love.

When I mentioned “the one” to my intimacy therapist, in her irreverent fashion she replied, “Enough with the soul-mate shit, Jen. Stop searching for the one. The one doesn’t exist — it will only leave you disappointed and alone. Why don’t you give someone a chance who is here now, courageously doing his inner work and grounding his work in real relationships?”

Her words stung. They also rang with unmistakable truth. Despite all the work I had done, partnership still eluded me. But that day, a seed was planted. And by the grace of something far greater than my own will, the breakthrough came soon after.

One evening in meditation, I felt an ache radiating through my energetic heart—a quiet but insistent plea for my attention. As I turned my awareness toward it, I sensed myself falling down a very deep, long, dark tunnel that seemed to never end. I surrendered to the invisible force drawing me toward it.

When the descent finally stilled, I found myself in an unfamiliar, subterranean chamber of my own heart. There dwelled my ancient longing for my soul mate—timeless, tender, and fiercely alive—yet it was tightly entwined with a devastating fear:

What if true love is possible for others, but not for me? If true love does not happen for me in this lifetime, can I accept this without closing my heart?

For the first time, I did not turn away. I allowed the fear to penetrate me completely. This was the missing piece I had long avoided. I met the terror and the heartbreak of possibly never receiving the love I so deeply longed for—and, at the same time, I let myself fully inhabit the magnitude of my longing for true love.

I lingered in this mysterious threshold, allowing my yearning and my uncertainty to occupy the same space. My heart remained open and became vast. I witnessed all my child-like projections and fantasies about soul mates slowly vaporize before my eyes.

Not long afterwards, in a family constellations workshop, I met my partner, Dan.

Today I find myself in a partnership with a depth of love I did not know was possible. We share a profound friendship and humor, a living polarity, and a deep alignment of values and purpose. Each of us is devoted to our own healing as well as the healing that unfolds between us. When things become difficult, we stay because we are committed to love. Each new challenge is an opportunity to deepen our capacity to love.

When conflict arises, I breathe. I soften my belly and consciously open my heart, even when it’s painful. If anger, hurt, or misunderstanding surfaces, I let my body yield rather than brace, allowing the tenderness of my vulnerability beneath the pain to be seen. I speak my truth even when it’s hard, doing my best to avoid criticism or blame. When our relationship stirs my deepest wounds and everything in me wants to run, I feel my heart and I stay.

Each time Dan and I choose to remain in the fire together, a new depth of intimacy reveals itself. Over time, this willingness has nurtured a quiet, abiding trust—one we can lean into day after day.

I did not find the relationship I longed for by chance. I helped create it by reclaiming my connection to my heart, letting my fantasies of love fall away and cultivating within myself the very qualities I sought in a partner.

If our deepest wounds are born in relationship, it is also there that our most profound healing becomes possible. When my partner loves me from a depth I cannot reach alone, I access the parts of me that can love more deeply in return. This is the quiet miracle of partnership. This is how I am learning, day by day, to become love.

__________________________________________________________

Jen Gnisci is a Healer, Astrologer & Relationships Coach dedicated to helping individuals align with their soul’s purpose. She founded The Opening Point, an alchemical healing system that integrates physical, emotional, mental & energetic wholeness. You can follow her on her Substack, Unsealed Letter

There was one non negotiable for me. I wanted an old mine diamond. I fell in love with the smoky, sensual quality of the stone when I was working for the Engagement Ring master, Arielle Ratner.

To be honest I never saw an engagement ring that really spoke to me and it wasn’t until I started working for Arielle where I saw that engagement rings didn’t have to be so dainty to be incredibly feminine. So armed with just that brief, Owen and Kimberly got to it. Kimberly was an incredible resource along the way, and as we are not in the business of gate keeping, here is a bit more from the genius herself!

How did you get into jewelry?

So it’s kind of random in the sense that I decided quite to pursue jewellery pretty spontaneously, but also not random at all. My father is an antique silver dealer so I grew up in the art world, often going to auctions at Sotheby’s and Christies, visiting exhibitions from a young age, and mixing with dealers of all varieties, including jewellery. Though during my school years I didn’t really have any idea about what career I wanted. My focus was on doing well at school in a very uncareer minded way (if that’s even a word). This continued throughout university, as I studied English literature, keeping it very general as I still didn’t know what career I wanted. If anything I actually thought I might go into editing or something book related as I loved reading. But one day, and it honestly felt as spontaneous as this, I woke up in my final year at university and just decided that I wanted to go into jewellery. I had grown up spending a lot of time in SJ Phillips, probably the most important antique jewellers of our generation and something I’m sure had some influence on me, so my first stop was speaking to them about which route to take. They advised me to do my GIA degree (essentially a masters in diamonds and gemstones) and get some work experience at an auction house, which is exactly what I did. After the course ended I started as an intern in Sotheby’s jewellery department and stayed for 8 years.

Tell us a little bit about the process of creating engagement rings?

For me it’s such a fun process because I get to be involved in the most important purchase of a man’s life up until that point. This often tends to be the most expensive object they’ve ever bought. Every engagement ring I make is bespoke, unless it’s antique of course, and the process is always the same. I first meet with the client, usually whoever is proposing but sometimes the couple, to discuss what they’re looking for design wise, and I also try to teach them about the different qualities of a diamond so they can make an informed decision. I then show them at least 3, though sometimes more, options for them to choose from based on the criteria they chose (be that size, quality, cut etc). We then begin the design process, first getting digital CAD images then having the ring put into production. From start to finish it’s usually about 8-12 weeks.

Are you noticing more couples coming together or is it still men on a solo mission?

It’s still mostly men on their own. But over the years I’ve noticed they have a lot more idea about what their partner wants, which makes my life a lot easier!

How do you navigate when visions don’t align between couples?

Ultimately whoever is making the purchase, so usually the man, get’s the final say. But I try to offer my “expert opinion” and advise in the most gentle way I can to make sure the ring ends up being something both the man and woman will definitely love.

My ring isn’t what I had wanted, but now it’s the only ring I could see myself with. How often do you see the brief go out the window?

To be honest with you, I rarely hear much from the woman after the initial proposal, so I actually don’t often hear this. Sometimes the man is very set in his ways about design, but I always bring it back to “and do you think this is what she would want too” as a reminder that what she wants also has to be a big focus. But ultimately unless I know what the woman wants I have to trust her partner… also, everything I make is of super high quality so even if it’s not what she wanted initially, it’s never something that she doesn’t like. Well, not that I know of anyway!

What advice would you give for a woman leaving some hints for her boyfriend?

Send pictures! Helps all round! If you know you’re marrying the person anyway, no need to be subtle.

Are there any trends in engagement rings right now that you are seeing more and more?

Yes for sure, mostly engagement rings set in gold. When I first started making rings 10 years ago, everyone wanted a single stone on a thin diamond set band, with or without a halo. Now everyone wants a single stone set within a chunky gold mount (similar to yours!), so trends have definitely changed.

Are people still looking for estate engagement rings?

Yes, but I would say I still make more bespoke engagement rings than sell antique ones.

What is one of your favorite rings you’ve worked on?

Well obviously I love yours because I’m a huge fan of the gypsy ring which yours is kind of styled after (with added personal touches!) but another which I made recently and love was a 5.54 carat old cut round diamond set in a heavy gold mount which just looked so cool. It’s a great and stylish way to wear a round diamond, and actually how a lot of people are having their round diamonds reset.

Any advice on those who genuinely don’t know where to start?

For woman, go to jewellery stores and try on as many as you can and get an idea of what suits your finger. For men, speak to people who have already proposed to get some advice, or private jewellers to get the kind of guidance you don’t get in a shop.

You did a beautiful job of sourcing a dream of an old mine cushion cut for us. What are some of your favorite stones to work with?

An elongated old mine cut is without a doubt my favourite stone, and I’m just not saying that because you have it. That’s definitely what I would want if I were to get engaged. But I really do love all antique cut diamonds. They’re so much more charming and sparkly and quirky than a modern brilliant cut.

Any tricks to stretch the budget?

Always look at the measurements of a stone, rather than just the carat weight, to get more “bang for your buck”. For example, a 1.00 carat could be more shallow than a 1.50 carat and therefore look the same from the surface, but you’ll still be paying for the smaller size. Also, a man’s budget often magically stretches when he finds the dream ring.

Which famous engagement ring is your favorite?

To be totally honest, I don’t know many famous engagement rings! Apart from Taylor swifts, obviously, who has my dream diamond cut, but personally I still prefer an antique ring in its entirety rather than an old stone in a modern setting.

How much should you consider the type of band in what you want for your wedding ring?

Surprisingly I’m finding more and more that people just want a simple gold or platinum band, as not to take away from their engagement ring. A couple of years ago it was all about the stack, big diamond bands next to engagement rings next to simple bands etc all on one finger. But over the past year I’ve noticed people care less about the wedding band and more about the focus on the engagement ring. Diamond eternity bands are still popular, but this tends to be when a woman doesn’t wear her engagement ring every day and wants this as an alternative.

We had a long chat with Emilia Petrarca for her story about Taylor Swift’s engagement ring in The New Yorker and how now everyone is going to want to Old Mine. Could you give me a little tea about designing the ring with Owen?

Interestingly old mine cuts have been popular for a while for people who know about jewellery, but what Taylor Swift’s ring has done is raise awareness to people who had no idea antique cuts even existed which is great. When working with you guys, you knew from the start you wanted an antique cut, and although you left the design element to Owen, it was good to have that as a base. And it was so great working with Owen on the design because not only was he so set on elements he wanted to add to the ring (ie the elongated baguette cuts) but he’s also a designer himself which very much helped (at one point my jeweller almost offered him a design job!). Also, he was very receptive to feedback which is always helpful. There were a few initial designs which I felt wouldn’t work and he took it all on board and ended up with a ring which looked beautiful and we both knew you would love which is always the ultimate goal.

Any piece of advice for those starting out on this journey?

Call me 😊

I should add that Kimberly has an incredible collection of the absolute most stunning fine jewelry. You may remember these beauties that she brought to NYC for the Winter Fair. So no matter where you are at in your jewelry collecting process, you should in fact.. call her.

Alex had a multi day wedding that honored the couple’s religions and cultures beautifully, resulting in an incredibly unique celebration that has been really fun to crash after the fact. From the photos it is evident how much joy filled the English countryside but a moment of silence is require for Alex who planned full scale Indian and Jewish ceremonies in two days. Will let the Bride take it from here!

Tell us your love story, obviously.

We met on Bumble! It was a Wednesday in late April, and I sent him a very clever message that read “Happy 🐫 Day!” We had our first date on a Wednesday, and before the date ended, we planned our second for brunch that weekend, and never stopped <3

When did you know you wanted to marry your partner?

After dating for nearly two years in LA, we decided to move to NY, so it wasn’t an exact moment, but moving for/with a guy…I knew that he was the one!

When do you think he knew?

I was going to say about the same time, and he confirmed. And the fact that I was up for the move (it was his idea!)

Tell us about your engagement.

First of all, I had absolutely no idea it was happening. We had just moved to NYC in August 2019 and hadn’t done many “classic New York” things yet, so he made it seem like he’d simply planned a very NYC day for us. We started with breakfast at Sadelle’s, then headed to the Museum of Natural History—where I fully did not want to leave because I was deep in the Big Bang exhibit (lol). Meanwhile, he had secretly timed it so that a group of our friends would meet us at Tavern on the Green to toast the engagement right after it happened, so this added an extra layer of stress ahead of the engagement. After finally convincing me to leave the museum, he proposed in Central Park on our way to meet them. It was incredibly sweet, and we ended the day celebrating with an even bigger group of friends for drinks at the Public Hotel.

Did your expectation of the engagement meet the moment?

Yes! I think I always assumed I’d somehow know when my engagement was coming, which is why I loved that it was a total surprise. I just wish someone had made me get my nails done with an engagement in mind, since I tend to gravitate towards green and other non-bridal hues!

Tell us about your ring. Did you have any input?

I had shown Rishi a few images here and there so he had a general idea, should it happen, but he designed it entirely on his own. I knew I wanted an oval diamond on a gold band, which he absolutely nailed. Then, while designing my wedding bands with Emilie from Oremme Studio in the lead-up to the wedding, we decided to reset the stone east–west so all of the rings could sit flush. So I did get to have a little input in the end!

What was the most important thing about your wedding when you started planning?

We were planning two ceremonies across two days, our Jewish ceremony on Saturday, and our Indian ceremony on Sunday. So we were essentially planning two weddings in one weekend, which was fun, but a lot to pack in! So it was important to us that each ceremony had its own moment to shine, with its own energy, traditions (& outfits!), and felt like a distinct celebration rather than one blending into the other.

Where did you have your wedding, and how did you decide on that place?

We have famously (specifically amongst our families) gotten married three times! Our first wedding, our civil ceremony, was in Kansas City, in the rose garden at the park down the street from my parents’ house. It was just our immediate family and ended up being the sweetest, most special day. Our bigger affair happened at The Wilderness Reserve, which is about a two-hour drive from London, tucked away in the countryside. It’s such a stunning place, and I can’t wait to go back one day. We had been considering getting married in Palm Springs, a place we loved to visit when living in LA, but ultimately landed in the UK after we discovered The Wilderness Reserve. It was too special to pass up!

What was the overarching biggest stress?

COVID! Lol I highly recommend that you do not plan a wedding during a global pandemic.

What were your non-negotiables?

A really great band that kept people on the dance floor all night long!

Was there anything you spent money on that you regret to this day?

Following the nicest week of weather in the UK, there was an unexpected cold front! So we had to bring in a ton of heaters at the last minute. Not a regret, because we 100% needed them, but an unexpected cost (& weather!), the day of your wedding is never fun.

Looking back at your photos, was there anything you would change? Specifically, do you have any style or beauty regrets?

I loved my shoes, but I nearly tripped a few times on the big bow! Lol So would have swapped for something more classic, and maybe something I could wear again and again.

Did you have any other day-of looks? What did you get ready in? After party change? If so, please tell us about them.

I got ready in a Sleeper dress ahead of my Jewish ceremony, and this chic silk robe from Lunya ahead of my Indian ceremony. I stayed in my wedding dress through our first dance, and then changed into a cute little mini from Self Portrait.

Tell us about your wedding dress process. Describe in detail how you came to find your dress.

I spend so much time researching dresses when I’m just a wedding guest, so I knew I’d want to try on a lot of dresses as a bride. You know, just to be sure! I first went dress shopping in Kansas City with my mom and sister (and would ultimately say yes to one of the very first dresses I tried on), but then I fully committed to the process and tried on what felt like a million dresses in NYC. Initially, I thought I wanted something a little whimsical, with appliqué florals, but trying things on has a way of changing everything. So the endless try-on was a great exercise! And then for my Indian gown, same thing. I got to go try on gowns with my in-laws in London, and it was such a fun process. Because I went with such a classic, timeless dress for my Jewish ceremony, I went the complete opposite direction for our Indian ceremony.

Do you still like it?

Yes! I still love both gowns.

Would you ever wear it again?

Yes! And I’d wear the Indian gown to an Indian wedding immediately (if that’s allowed! lol)

Where is it now?

One dress lives at my parents’ house, and the other at my in-laws’.

Do you think your mom liked it? What about your mother-in-law?

Yes! Both moms loved both dresses. And my mom particularly loved my veil. It was so fitting for the vibe of our wedding.

What did you wear to your rehearsal dinner or the day before the event? Any other events and looks you want to share?

The first night I wore the perfect set from Zimmerman with tall white boots! The outfit brief for the evening was countryside chic (a fun one for our guest to figure out!)

Did you have a first dance? If so, what was the song?

Yes! Latch by Sam Smith. Which we actually spent so much time deciding on, and now both feel it’s quite random! Lol

What song did you walk down the aisle to, and what song played when you walked back up the aisle as husband and wife?

This was the Bridgerton era, and I was obsessed with modern music via string quartet. I walked down the aisle to Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift, and we walked back up the aisle to Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) by Stevie Wonder.

Did you have fun at your wedding?

Yes! It was truly the best weekend, and I’d love to live it all over again.

If someone could send you a check for what you spent on your wedding, having spent that money and had the wedding, would you rather have that money or have had the wedding?

The wedding, no question! It’s really the only time you get to have all your favorite people in one place, and that’s priceless.

Did you have something old, something borrowed, and something blue?

A lot of new, and blue shoes for my second look!

Did you eat anything on the day? Did you drink?

Yes & yes! Wish I ate more, but it’s hard to stay focused on that when all your favorite people are in one room.

What piece of advice would you give brides about the actual day?

Everyone told me to stay seated during the dinner portion of your wedding, and actually eat dinner and enjoy the moment. I did not do this, and I now understand that advice! Lol

What are you most excited to tell your kids about your wedding?

I hope to take my kids back to where it all went down and tell them all the highlights. Because it’s actually the perfect spot for a family getaway!

What was your favorite moment with your husband at your wedding?

Exchanging our vows. We wrote our own, and they were uniquely us, and I loved the moment so much. Also, the speeches that our friends and family gave were SO epic!

What are your biggest coulda, woulda, shouldas?

I wish we could have had one more day to incorporate a pre-wedding Sangeet. I would have loved to see all my family and friends perform, and I hope to make this happen someday, somehow!

We’re told there is a right way to do things and if you aren’t in that timeline then there is something wrong with you. You are not worthy. You’re a leftover. You’re a career focused ball buster with too much masculine energy who always has one martini too many or honestly, you’re kinda fat. The dream is of course meet by twenty-seven -latest - so you have enough stories about being single in your twenties to sound interesting at dinner parties through your forties. Be married by thirty, first kid no later than thirty-three so you can have had that trip to the Amalfi documented and then rinse and repeat till you’re three children in and having your one single friend over to share their dating war-stories in your unfinished basement. If that hasn’t worked for you and you meet a bit after the “first wave” then it’s minimum two years dating, roughly one year being engaged and you should find yourself all wrapped up with a pink or blue bow by thirty six, thirty seven max, and even that seems modern.

Meeting someone and getting engaged within months obviously sounds insane. Or at least I thought, until I was that person. But a lot had to happen for me to be that person and understand that it’s only when you know yourself, that you really can know.

Read more

I love my ex boyfriend deeply. We have the shared intimacy that comes from going through (his) cancer together and (my) much needed growing the fuck up. I often can’t imagine doing life with anyone else. We see the world through the same lens, which feels particularly comforting to me right now, given the state of crazy we’re living through. We value the same things. He makes me feel listened to. And heard. He’s deeply present with me. He’s so handsome it makes me ache. And at 39 years old, having never been married and wanting partnership, I left the relationship.

Read more

Tell us how you got started with vintage.

I started in vintage because it was simply the way I was raised to shop. I come from a family with a strong fashion background, and some of my earliest memories are of shopping with my Mommom—my grandmother—who was beyond fabulous and owned a high-end boutique in the ’70s. She taught me to value quality over quantity, to look for pieces that felt truly special and were meant to be kept, not cycled through.

That mindset shaped everything. I never cared about having a lot of clothes; I cared about having good ones. I will outfit-repeat until the day I die if that outfit is archival Chanel. Because I always shopped this way, I naturally started building a small collection of treasures, and it became a hobby to hunt for rare and meaningful pieces.

What made you tailor your business to bridal?

Growing up, I actually wanted to be a wedding dress designer. I had a folder filled with sketches called“Sara Nicole Designs,” and in high school I interned at bridal salons. Somewhere along the way I drifted from that dream—I almost became a geologist at one point.. can you imagine!? but somehow I ended up right where younger me would’ve wanted to be. It feels really full-circle.

If there’s ever a moment in your life to wear something truly special, it’s your wedding day. I honestly don’t know who’s happier when a dress sells—the bride or me. It’s such an incredible feeling to know I get to play even a tiny role in a moment that means so much.

Without giving away all your secrets, can you tell us a bit about your process?

I genuinely believe in what’s meant to be will be, and that’s exactly how I source. Whenever I have a free minute, I’m digging online. The same resale sites you’re all scrolling I’m on too looking for very specific things. I’m bidding in auctions, going into every consignment store I can find, to vintage shows, out of the country for sourcing trips and most importantly, I’m always researching.

If there is a secret, it’s your network. Just like with any job relationships matter. There are collectors and private sellers all over the world, and I’m lucky to call many of them friends.

When it comes to actually pulling the trigger on a piece, I have to truly love it. I’ve passed on valuable archival items simply because they aren’t my vibe. Not necessarily the smartest business move! But I think it builds trust with my clients. After that, I’m looking at value—who was the creative director at the time? Is it runway documented? Does it have an interesting history? All of that helps me decide if something is worth more than, equal to, or less than the price it’s listed for.

What has been one of your favorite scores?

Ralph Lauren Spring 2008 runway look #38. It’s a powder blue silk gown with a high ruffle neck and soft floral pattern- most recognizable as the Blair Waldorf dress from Gossip Girl. I’ve sourced much rarer pieces, but I watched (and rewatched) that show religiously with my mom so the dress gives me all the feels! A good purchase should make you feel something.

How do you prefer to work with brides?

My dream scenario is working one-on-one. When I’m privately sourcing I’m able to get into all of the small details— why you chose your venue, what inspires you, your relationship with fashion—so I can find pieces that feel meaningful and authentic to you.

My trunk shows are a condensed version of that experience. The heart of it is the same: connection and intention. I’m creating my ideal way to shop—something intimate, beautiful, and genuinely fun. With all the stresses of life, I think we sometimes forget how fun it is to be a girl!

Why do you think everyone wants vintage for bridal right now?

I think the obvious reasons are definitely part of it—brides don’t want what everyone else has, they love the idea of wearing something one-of-one, and there’s something incredibly romantic about a dress that carries history and meaning. I support all of that, but I also look at it on a deeper level.

If you’re anything like me, you grew up watching Blair Waldorf, Carrie Bradshaw, 2000s Karl Lagerfeld Chanel runways, Ralph Lauren defining the Americana aesthetic, Kate Moss exposing her nipples hehe —the moments that shaped our personal style. Wearing something from the era that raised you, inspired you, or made you fall in love with fashion in the first place feels warm and nostalgic in a way that’s hard to replicate.

You’ve had some amazing celeb moments as well, what has been your favorite?

Probably Bella Hadid in the 2002 Prada set—because I actually bought that set for myself!! I’d had it in my closet for years and every time I went to wear it I’d end up changing. I always felt like my torso was too short for the top.

When Bella’s stylist, Mimi Cuttrell, reached out with details for her fitting, that set immediately came to mind. And now one of the biggest babes with an extra long torso gets to enjoy it. Felt mean to be!

Favorite Bridal Story?

I care so much it’s not normal!! I posted a photo of a 2009 Ralph Lauren ivory silk gown that had sold at one of my trunk shows. The post had 44 comments, mostly from brides saying it was their dream dress. One comment was from a girl who had gotten married a few years ago and had worn that exact Ralph Lauren gown to her rehearsal dinner. She had been holding onto it, but after seeing how many brides were dreaming of the dress, she decided she wanted to let someone else have their moment in it.

When I posted about finding another one of these gowns, my DMs were instantly flooded. One of the very first messages was from a girl who works for you! She shared that this was her dream dress not only because of its beauty, but because she had sadly lost her mom—and Ralph Lauren was her mom’s favorite designer. She purchased the dress seconds before other brides told me they wanted to buy it.

I ended up connecting the seller and the buyer directly, and they shared their very personal stories with one another. There was so much love and appreciation, I’m crying just thinking about it!! It was fate.

I’m not doing this story justice so you should probably interview those amazing girls instead!

Archival vs Vintage?

Vintage really refers to the age of a piece. For something to technically be considered vintage, it needs to be 20 years old. Archival refers to the significance of a piece- it’s either runway documented, designed by a legendary designer of the fashion house, previously worn by someone of importance, or one of a kind. When I’m sourcing I’m looking to build out my archive— i’m not concerned with whether or not the piece is 20+ years old but more so if the piece holds value.

What are some 2026 bridal trends you’d like to see more of?

I’d love to see more brides go for pieces from RTW runway collections rather than shopping a designers latest bridal collection. Fashion shows, old and new are filled with bridal inspo— it feels more subtle and sophisticated to me. You were a great example of this, wearing a dress from the Chanel Cruise collection for your civil ceremony. That’s a true SNV bride!

And obviously more vintage! Not just because it’s the business I’m in but because it helps us make thoughtful, intentional choices with our wardrobe.

Advice that comes to mind for brides putting together their bridal wardrobes?

I always tell my clients that there should be a story you’re telling with your bridal wardrobe. I call it a common thread that is woven throughout everything you wear that weekend. This shouldn’t be taken too literally! I find if you buy pieces that you absolutely love and are authentic to you, the story kind of writes itself.

1. Tell us your love story.

We met on a dating app just before the first lockdown, at which point we suddenly had nothing to do except talk.

4. Tell us about your engagement.

We were in Provence on holiday. He’d hired a vintage 2CV and we went out for a picnic. I’d had a few glasses of wine, and he just asked me while we were sitting on the blanket. No theatrics, no kneeling, no crowd. Very straightforward, exactly what I wanted.

5. Did your expectation of the engagement meet the moment?

Yes. It was relaxed and not overly staged. I find a lot of the performative elements of marriage quite insincere, so anything orchestrated would have made me uncomfortable.

6. Tell us about your ring. Did you have any input?

I’ve never fantasised about a traditional ring, but I’ve always lusted after the Repossi Antifer rings. We’d looked at them together on a trip to Paris. The rose-gold one is my engagement ring, and I stack the white-gold one as my wedding ring.

7. Did the wedding-planning process bring you closer together? Anything surprising?

Because I organise so many events through work, the planning ended up feeling like a work project, but more fun, because I didn’t have to cater to anyone’s brief but ours. It also meant I didn’t get overly emotional about decisions. When the actual days arrived, I had to remind myself it wasn’t a work event and I didn’t need to monitor everything. I’d done what I could, and I had to let go.

8. What was the most important thing when you started planning?

I didn’t want anything done purely because it’s “what you do at weddings”. Everything had to feel right for us. We didn’t have a first dance; instead, we had incredible drummers from the Moroccan mountains lead everyone straight from the table to the dance floor. I also didn’t want to redo our vows in Morocco; we’d married legally in West Sussex in a small church with just family, which felt genuinely special. Re-staging vows at the party would have felt pointless, and it meant both nights in Marrakech stood on their own, rather than one being a “fake wedding”.

9. Where did you have your wedding and how did you decide on it?

The ceremony was at a small church in West Sussex where my mum and stepfather live. West Sussex feels like home to me.

The following week, we had the big celebration in Marrakech. My mother grew up in Morocco, and I’ve spent a lot of time there, so it felt meaningful to my family.

10. What was the biggest stress?

Logistics. Two locations, multiple events, people travelling from everywhere. Knowing people had come a long way for us definitely made me feel pressure to deliver something special.

11. Non-negotiables?

Good music, good entertainment and good light.

12. Something unplanned that you’re glad happened?

We ended up doing the traditional Moroccan wedding entrance at the last minute, being carried in, followed by a Moroccan band. Completely mad, but very fun.

13. Any spending regrets?

No major ones.

14. Something you didn’t want to spend on but you’re glad you did?

The desert set-up in Marrakech. It was a big swing, but it made the wedding completely unique.

15. Any photo, style or beauty regrets?

Not really. At the time I was focused on having fun. In hindsight, I wish I’d taken more photos with certain people, but I’d still rather have been in the moment.

16. Wedding dress process — how did you find it?

I’ve never fantasised about a white dress, it just didn’t feel like me. I love tailoring, so a white suit made sense for the ceremony. Saint Laurent was my first stop, and I don’t think anyone does a better suit. For the first party in Marrakech, I wore a white Chanel jumpsuit my mum and I found after a lunch in London when we weren’t really looking and we didn’t have a venue or date at that point! For the main night, I had a red Standing Ground dress made. Michael (the designer) had made a dress for Imaan for the Met that year, and as soon as I saw it, I thought, “I hope I find an excuse to wear one of his pieces one day.” I love red, and it felt perfect for Morocco.

17. Do you still like it?

Absolutely.

18. Would you wear it again?

I’ve worn the suit again, both together and the jacket and trousers separately. I’m waiting for the right occasion to wear the Chanel jumpsuit and the red Standing Ground dress again, but it will happen.

19. Where is it now?

All in my wardrobe. The Standing Ground dress is stored flat because it can’t be hung.

20. Did your mum like it? Mother-in-law?

I think so, or at least I hope so. My mum was with me for the Chanel and Saint Laurent fittings, but I did Standing Ground alone, and I never really asked anyone what they thought.

21. What did your husband say about your outfit afterwards?

No idea — let me ask him.

22. Day-of looks? Getting-ready look? After-party outfit?

For the welcome drinks in Marrakech, I wore an Attico mini with bright pink old Balenciaga courts. Nothing was treated as precious, I just wore things I genuinely liked.

24. First dance?

No, the idea felt too naff. We preferred everyone dancing together.

25. Song you walked down the aisle to / walked out to?

I walked into a choir singing Feel the Love by Rudimental. During the service we had Blinded By Your Grace (Stormzy), Stand By Me, and Michael Jackson’s Will You Be There. We walked out to the choir singing Happy by Pharrell.

26. Did you have fun?

Yes, a lot. That was the whole goal: fun, not pomp and ceremony.

You tell me, Gabby, was it fun? (Editor’s note: Not as much fun as Yorgos’ Nephew.)

27. If someone refunded what you spent, would you take the money or keep the wedding?

Keep the wedding. Text me if anyone ever says “take the money” afterwards.

28. Something old/borrowed/blue?

My underwear had blue trim, I borrowed a bracelet from my mum, and there was plenty of new. Suspicions got the better of me.

29. What was the comedown like?

Brutal. After so many people and so much energy, everything going quiet is very strange.

30. Did you eat or drink on the day?

Of course, I’m not someone who forgets to eat.

31. One piece of advice for brides?

Forget what’s expected or what everyone else has done. Do what feels right for you.

33. Favourite moment with your husband at the wedding?

Right after the ceremony when we drove off together in the car.

34. Advice for brides-to-be? For single people?

Brides-to-be: Don’t get swallowed by “wedding culture” and don’t do you hair how you wouldn’t do it normally!

Single people: Enjoy it.

36. Biggest coulda/woulda/shouldas?

We only had a videographer one night because I thought having a wedding video was self-indulgent. I actually wish we’d filmed both nights , I’d love to relive more of it.

Plus One: You are first and foremost a documentary style photographer. How do you approach wedding photography vs. your other work? Or is it the same?

Giuseppe Marano: I’d say that approaching both personal research projects and weddings with the same mindset has been one of the key elements in my journey over the years. I always bring the same desire to improve, to explore, and to push the boundaries further.

PO: How did you come to find wedding photography to begin with?

GM: It was a bit by chance. Early in my photographic journey, around 2006–2007, I started working in a studio in my hometown of Misterbianco, in the province of Catania, Sicily. That’s when I discovered how fascinated I was by photographing and telling people’s stories.

PO: Do you connect with some couples more than others?

GM: Even though my approach is always very open and empathetic, naturally, stronger connections form with some couples. At the end of the day, it’s a meeting of people and personalities, just like in everyday life, and relationships differ from one another. Over the years, I’ve noticed that the more defined and strong my work and style became, the better the connection with couples tended to be: having a clear identity helps attract people with whom you naturally resonate.

PO: Photographers, one could argue, have the most unique vantage point at a wedding. What do you think you have the privilege of seeing that the guests do not?

GM: I’ve always been fascinated by our role. In the span of just a few hours, we go from being strangers to being in the front row. For me, it’s always a privilege, and I try to step into people’s stories as gently as possible, figuring out each time what the most respectful approach is.

PO: What are you most trying to capture in a wedding?

GM: My main goal is to find key images that can become anchors in the family’s memory. I think of those photos from our childhood—there are always a few that become reference points for the most important moments in life. I arrive at a wedding hoping to capture some of those images: between the couple, but also among family and friends.

PO: Do you ever intervene in a moment, or do you wait for it to unfold naturally?

GM: I always try to let things flow as naturally as possible. Often the most beautiful photos hide in the unexpected. Sometimes, though, giving a small suggestion or input can gently guide a moment in a certain direction.

PO: What are the images you always make sure to capture — and are there any clichés that you consciously avoid?

GM: Of course, there are highly symbolic moments I always try to capture, even if they might not end up being the strongest images of the day. It’s also important to remember that the meaning and value of a photo can evolve over time, often in ways we can’t predict.

PO: Your photos often feel like stills from a memory — how do you compose for nostalgia?

GM: I think it comes down to the sensitivity of the person behind the camera. But sensitivity alone isn’t enough. Photography is a very complex language, allowing you to layer meanings and perspectives. I’ve worked a lot on myself and my way of photographing to be as connected and direct as possible. That’s what allows a photo to carry weight, to be nostalgic—but if we don’t see it, if we don’t feel it, those emotions can’t be captured.

PO: How do you think about color versus black and white — when does each feel right?

GM: I love both and don’t have a specific preference. I think they convey different emotions, so I choose depending on various factors. With digital photography, this decision usually happens during editing, while with film, I try to visualize in advance what will suit a particular moment or lighting condition best.

PO: You often capture gestures more than faces. What do you think gestures reveal that portraits don’t?

GM: I like to use photos as metaphors, as opportunities to extend our gaze and feeling beyond the frame. Abstraction helps make certain moments universal: not only connected to the couple in that instant, but expressing an emotion that transcends the subjects captured.

PO: What’s the most moving moment you’ve witnessed while photographing a wedding?

GM: There have been so many, both joyful and sorrowful. Life is unpredictable, and I’ve also witnessed very painful moments at weddings. In general, during the exchange of vows, I often find myself moved: sometimes you can almost touch the love between two people, and it brushes against you—that is undoubtedly touching.

PO: Do you ever feel like you’re part of the couple’s story by the end of a shoot?

GM: Yes, and it’s one of the most beautiful aspects of this work. Sometimes the feeling of having been part of something special stays with me for days, as if a piece of me remains in each of those events.

PO: What’s your fondest memory or what is still with you most from Eric and Jamie’s wedding? (almost 5 years ago at this point!)

GM: Their wedding perfectly reflects many small things I’ve tried to summarize in my previous answers. Meeting Eric and Jamie, I felt that they were gentle souls, long-lost friends, people with whom I could have been deeply connected under different circumstances, in different places, at other crossroads of life. I carry that feeling with me; it becomes an energy that fuels my desire to keep doing this work.

PO: Do you offer any coaching to couples on how to pose? Any advice you can share?

GM: Rather than giving specific posing instructions, I try to create conditions that allow the couple to feel comfortable. I’m not concerned with formal poses or perfection. What matters is capturing how they are together because each of us experiences relationships and intimacy in our own way. My goal is to help couples feel free to be themselves.

PO: Explain the process ahead of a wedding. What do you need from the couple to be the most successful?

GM: First, I try to connect with the couple, to learn more about them, often through a video call to discover their life, passions, and desires. For me, that’s the first step toward a successful collaboration.

PO: You see a lot of weddings; what is one element of a wedding you shot that stands out and that you think more couples should incorporate?

GM: I’d say planning the event well, seeking support, but at the same time leaving room for things to happen naturally. Sometimes what prevents a couple from fully experiencing their emotions on the day is over-planning, controlling the timing too tightly, which ends up suffocating them. So my advice: leave space to feel and enjoy the day as it unfolds.

PO: What has been one of your favorite locations to shoot? Least favorite?

GM: I enjoy working in places where nature is strong and present, or where you can feel history. I’m not drawn to overly constructed locations that feel fake or cold.

PO: Finding the right photographer is a lot like finding the right partner — it’s obviously very personal, but what is a good piece of advice you could offer couples as they begin their search?

GM: First, understand your priorities: what aspects of your photos matter most? Be critical in evaluating how the images you see in portfolios were created—this helps determine if a photographer’s approach aligns with you and your way of being.

PO: When you’re not photographing weddings, what is your favorite subject?

GM: I enjoy photographing places that catch my eye. I’m generally drawn to contrasts, like the striking beauty of nature versus human intervention—a kind of social landscape. Increasingly, I also capture portraits of people who attract my attention within these environments.

I think your photographer is probably as important as your husband. I am super lucky to have met the most incredible NYC based photographer, Poupay during one of our client events about four years ago. She simply is the best, shooting for everyone from Vogue to The New York Times, profiling such landmark events as The Met Gala, LACMA, Vogue World, my Goddaughter’s Baptism and Father’s 70th birthday party. The second we got our appointment, she was my first text. I wanted our photos to feel like us and reflect the setting. She was able to get the grit and glamour perfectly, not to mention, she managed my Aunt Rosie’s request for “soft lighting” perfectly (by ignoring her).

Read more

I had always loved a Valentino couture dress from Spring 2019 but I knew I wanted long sleeves and open back, which it was not. At the time I was working as Rosie Assoulin’s Brand Director and right hand in creative direction and design for collection. I actually had a silhouette in mind from one of her first collections when I had bought the brand as a buyer for Bergdorf Goodman (talk about full circle). It was long sleeved and open back and had a peplum similar to the Valentino gown I loved. Quickly, an image formed in my head that was a combination of the two.

Read more

And on November 28, 2025, we’ll be legally married.

Read more