Real Bride Amanda In Lazaro Will Make Your Heart Flutter
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Joche and I met while we were both first year graduate students at Harvard Business School in 2019. Joche was surprised to find out that one of his classmates was the family behind his local favorite ice cream store back in Miami, Whip ’N Dip Ice Cream Shoppe. That was enough to peak his interests.
It wasn’t until we both returned home to Florida to finish out our second semester of business school remotely due to the pandemic, where our love story really got sweeter ;). A few trips to the most remote of locations, mixed with surprise plant and ice cream deliveries, not even a year later Joche got down on one knee in front of the place that brought us together, Whip ’N Dip, and asked me to marry him the morning of a party we had planned for our joint graduation from business school.
All of our family and close friends were coming in town for the party. It was extra special to share this moment with everyone. We quickly forgot that we were graduating and the party turned into an engagement party surrounded by our closest family and friends.
How did you decide on the location?
At the start of wedding planning, Joche and I thought we wanted a destination wedding. We looked into a few locations, including Harbor Island in the Bahamas, Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, and Steamboat Springs in Colorado. We even set a date in one of these locations for September of 2023, which would have led to a year and a half engagement. A few weeks after making that decision, we decided that life was too short and precious to not get married sooner.
The location that felt most like “Joche and I” was right in front of us, in the backyard of Joche’s parents house, in beautiful Coral Gables, Florida. We cut our engagement time in half, called Elle from Events by Elle, and before we knew it, we were getting married in 6 short months.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
With little time to waste, we immediately threw ourselves into wedding planning. We envisioned an intimate, romantic, and whimsical backyard wedding celebration. The final result was more than we could have ever imagined.
At the center of it all was the butterfly, which we featured little hints of throughout the night. We wanted our guests to feel like they were transported to a charming and magical garden. To complement the butterflies, we went with white and blush florals that had splashes of deeper peach and coral tones. We then balanced our florals with the natural beauty of South Florida vegetation. We had a clear tent that was surrounded by palms, monsterras, golden photos, and bouganvillias. At the center of the tent was a circular bar where we hung an installation of butterflies intertwined with greenery, which when combined with the twinkling of the butterfly and bistro lights lining the top of the tent, gave an illusion of dining under the stars in a butterfly greenhouse. Towards the end of the night, we surprised our guests during the la Hora Loca, or “the crazy hour”, with confetti in the shape of butterflies. It was simply magical.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
Butterflies. Butterflies have always been special to me. My grandmother had everything you could imagine in some butterfly form, be it earrings, broches, purses, linens, or art. We wanted butterflies to be subtly present throughout the wedding to represent her and all the other family members who were no longer with us to celebrate. Butterflies also carry this symbol of transformation, rebirth, and change. They are a reminder of how delicate and short life is. Joche and I are constantly reminding ourselves of this and it was for this reason that we decided to push our wedding up by almost a year.
We of course had to include the thing that brought us together in the first place, Whip ‘N Dip ice cream, in our wedding celebration. Whip ‘N Dip holds a special place in my family's heart and it was so fun to share it on our wedding day with so many friends and family who grew up going to this ice cream store. We served two special flavors for the wedding, a ‘his’ and ‘her’ favorite. I chose a chocolate based ice cream, with strawberry and fudge swirled throughout. My favorite. For Joche’s ice cream, we served “Cookies and Dreams”, which was our take on cookies and cream ice cream but with marshmallows added.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
I always imagined the dress I would wear would be very simple, with no lace, jewels, or embellishments. I knew I wanted a ball gown or A-line silhouette, with a long train and cathedral style veil that would fill Epiphany Church as I walked down the aisle. I also wanted to find a dress and add a slight twist to it to make it my own.
Little by little, I started falling in love with the delicateness of floral appliques on the dresses I was seeing. It was the second dress that I tried on at Chic Parisien when I got the feeling that everyone says you get when you find your dress.
When I tried on the Lazaro Estee dress, it was everything I imagined and more. The Estee dress felt delicate and dainty with floral appliques covering the dress from the corset top all the way down its long ball gown skirt and train. It had a peplum style skirt overlay that was made entirely of tulle and organza, giving it a ton of movement and volume.
The dress had one section of the front skirt that fell below the peplum overlay, that had no appliques. It was an empty space of tulle that felt like an open canvas. To make it my own, we worked with the team at Chic Parisien to cut out and hand sew individual appliques of extra fabric we ordered from Lazaro, to the entire bottom of the dress to fill what was the empty tulle portion of the skirt. The floral qpplique looked as if it was climbing up the dress and disappeared under the peplum overlay.
I can’t thank the Chic Parisien team enough for helping me make this dress a one of a kind.
I wore a headpiece as my “something borrowed” that was designed for my husband’s cousin for her wedding by Eva Hidalgo. The headpiece had three flowers made with crystals that sat right over my low, rose-shaped ballerina bun. This was a last-minute addition that ended up bringing the entire dress and jewelry together. It was simply perfect.
For jewelry, as my “something old”, I wore my husband's grandmother's diamond and pearl drop earrings. I chose to wear no necklace since the earrings were large and the dress was so intricate. Instead, I wore a very dainty Tiffany bracelet that my husband gifted me on our wedding day. It held two Tiffany “T’s” that formed the shape of a cross, symbolizing our desire to put God at the center of our marriage and the start of my journey as a new Catholic.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
I could never thank my family and friends enough for all their love and support throughout the wedding planning! From my sister planning the most spectacular bachelorette party in Casa de Campo, to my now aunt throwing an “Almalfi Coast” style bridal shower, to my other Aunt who planned a rager of a tropical welcome party the night before the wedding, to my mom traveling back and forth to attend all of my fittings and listening to my frantic wedding phone calls every night, all the way to my mother-in-law who graciously helped me through every minor detail of the planning with open arms, I would do it all again and again in a heartbeat. I feel like the luckiest girl to be surrounded by the best family and friends!
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
Oh my, there are so many memories. I will never forget the moments leading up to walking through the church doors with my dad. Elle, our wedding planner, was in front of me awaiting to open the doors to the church. She turned to me and said “From this moment on, the night will fly by. Take it in.” And from there, the doors opened, my dad was on my right arm, and the light casting over us felt magical. I saw Joche at the end of the aisle, and suddenly nothing else mattered.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
Daniela Gozlan and Duber made choosing my makeup and hair easy. I do not usually wear a lot of make-up, so I wanted very natural, champagne, and light tones around my eyes. For hair, Duber took my ballerina bun to the next level, twisting and pinning my hair into the shape of a rose that really couldn’t have been more unique and perfect for the dress and headpiece. Daniela is the coolest and sweetest artist around, and her entire team is so talented.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
Oh my, this is hard. I loved them all. Our wedding wouldn’t have turned out the way it did without the Events by Elle team. They worked with us day in and day out to pull our wedding together on a very short timeline. They are more than a wedding planning team, they are family. I miss them dearly now that wedding planning is over.
Merari, our photographer, was one of the best decisions we made for the wedding. She is so talented at what she does. Both my husband and I are camera shy, but she makes you feel so comfortable and confident. She effortlessly captures the tone of the wedding. Looking through our photos takes me right back to that day. I still remember her arriving to the house the morning of the wedding and giving me the biggest hug. My nerves for the day ahead instantly vanished.
I also can’t thank Mary Gonzalez enough for all she did for me that day! She stayed by my side the entire day and night, ensuring that my dress was always looking its best and that my nerves were put aside. There was one moment when I accidentally stepped on my dress and with my other foot managed to punch a hole through the front of the dress before the ceremony had even started. Minutes before the ceremony, Mary was there with me and my dad in the bridal car, sewing up the hole. She seamlessly sewed it back to where you would never know that I had put a hole in the dress.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
Joche and I did the best of both worlds for our honeymoon. We spent the first half skiing in Jackson Hole. We stayed at the Amangiri, which provided us with equal parts adventure and pamper. We skiied, snowmobiled, fat tire biked, and saw all sorts of wildlife, including Big Horn Sheep and Moose. For the second part of the honeymoon, we adventured south to Mexico! We stayed at Rosewood’s Las Ventanas al Paraiso in San Jose del Cabo. We ate some of the best food, hiked the desert, lay on the beach, and adventured up the coast to Todos Santos, where we stayed on a farm for a few evenings. It was spectacular.
Credits
Wedding Planner: Events by Elle
Photographer: Merari
Videographer: PS Photo & Films
Hair and Makeup: Daniela Gozlan
Wedding Dress Bouqitue: Chic Parisien
Wedding Dress Designer: Lazaro
Second Dress Designer: Filomena Fernandez
Florals: A Lavish Design
Catering: Mena Catering
Invites and Stationary: After Awhile Crocodile
Band/DJ: Tropics Entertainment
Stay Home. Stay Chic. Playing Dress-Up With Kendall Huibregtse and Chic Parisien
A bit of dress up with Kendall from home in Miami, Florida…
Inbal Dror Pure “19-24”
Reem Acra “Flock of Angels”
Mira Zwillinger “Mia”
Lazaro “Ines”
Get To Know Lazaro Perez, Designer of Lazaro
Our summer intern, Carolina Baigorri, sat down with our friend, the talented designer, Lazaro for a chat about how he got involved in the industry, Diana Ross, and the future of his brand. Caro did an excellent job capturing the spirit of Lazaro, who speaks with passion and excitement about everything he does!
How did you discover your passion for designing wedding dresses?
I always wanted to become a costume designer. I entered a competition for a bridal contest while I was still in school for a young designer to create a bridal collection.
Growing up, my mother was a seamstress and she did a lot of bridal gowns and other things to help make ends meet. I realized after joining the competition that I really loved doing this and it was something I wanted to do in the future. If you think about it, a wedding dress is the most important costume you’ll ever wear. I ended up winning the contest and it opened up many doors.
How have your Cuban roots impacted your designs?
You always see a little bit of a Spanish flare in my dresses. Especially when I was starting my career I always put lace that gave almost a flamenco feel to my designs. As years passed, my aesthetic changed but there will always be a little Spanish influence.
I play off of my heritage and a lot of my customers also come from ethnic backgrounds.
Do you have any tips brides?
I always say “keep an open mind.”
I travel a lot and do various trunk shows and I always see that the biggest mistake a bride makes is not wanting to try something out of their comfort zone. Some brides have an idea of what they want their dress to be but it may not be the one you walk out of the store with.
Do you have a muse or a specific person you think of when designing?
I’m going to be very corny and say my brides are my muse. A lot of my collections are based on what I see that my brides want.
I have this repore with my brides where they tell me what they like and I can probably go back and design a whole collection based on that.
I grew up in the 80’s with the whole disco era and my style icon is Diana Ross. I actually designed a dress for her daughter and I thought I would die when I met her. She is able to change 20 times throughout one show and it is a mind blowing experience. Diana Ross made a movie called “Mahogany” and it was what made me want to be a fashion designer. In the movie she plays a designer and when I met her she said “That’s what I really wanted to do, that was my passion”. Every fashion person should watch Mahogany it was life changing for me.
Describe your creative process. What steps do you take when creating?
I am not one of those designers that actually sits and creates a whole collection. I may come up with an idea and there’s always one sketch which can lead to ten sketches.
I am a very visual person, so I like to work on the mannequin a lot. Every designer starts with a certain way that they want the collection to go to, whether it’s glamorous or very soft. I come up with a concept and we take it from there.
What do you think makes a bride feel beautiful?
I think once a bride puts on that one dress, it hits her.
Every bride to me is beautiful no matter what dress it is, mine or someone else’s. I think that’s something to be said for the bride because they try on a dress and feel like this is the one. It’s a happy occasion, so no matter what they try on, they feel it.
What does the future have in store for Lazaro?
I would love for the brand to evolve. I am starting to creep in there some of the red carpet looks. Eventually, there will be an evening line coming out, which I am excited about.
Every designer should expand for themselves, not just their brand.
You start very red carpet, you know for evening events and eventually expand. Eventually that evening collection can turn into mothers of the bride or something similar. That is where I see it going right now, there are talks of many other things but that is where I see it going.
New Arrivals at Chic Parisien
Nearly every week we receive new arrivals here at Chic Parisien. The bridal schedule is a wild, and non-stop one - people fall in love, couples get engaged all year around, designers show in New York, Barcelona, Paris and Milan at different times, we attend runway shows twice a year to place orders, designers and new collections visit for trunk shows almost every weekend and new gowns are delivered here just about weekly.
That means it's never the wrong time of year to shop for your wedding dress. Make an appointment now to come try on these brand new designer gowns:
Bliss by Monique Lhuillier
Ines Di Santo
Mira Zwillinger
Lazaro
Lazaro
Can You See Yourself In One Of These Chic Designers?
We know that picking the right wedding dress for you requires decision after decision. The process is different for every bride, that's why our bespoke approach to the bridal experience is one we've stuck with for nearly half a century. Here's a bit of guidance to get you started in your search to find the perfect dress for you. We've gathered a few of our #realchicbrides stunning images and sorted them on here by designer, with a link to the designer's page so that if the style speaks to you, you can click the designer's name and keep exploring. Remember, this is just a tiny sample of the gowns that we have in store and the designers whose collections we carry. For a list of upcoming trunk shows, click here.
Berta
Photo by Madison Hope Photography
Photo by UDS Photo
Romona Keveza
Photo by UDS Photo
Ines Di Santo
Photo by Ray Santana
Photo by Lucia Rubio
Hayley Paige
Bridal Market Wrap-Up! Plus, This Weekend's Romona Keveza Trunk Show
Few things could top a weekend trip to New York City in the spring, unless of course you're there to attend Bridal Market. It was a whirlwind trip, but we certainly made the most of the three-day event to bring you, our Chic brides, the latest bridal styles from top designers from around the world, including Jenny Packham, Mira Zwillinger, Anne Barge, Ines Di Santo, Romona Keveza, Naeem Khan, Marchesa, Monique Lhuillier and Lazaro.
Our action-packed schedule was a dazzling display of crystals, pearls, tulle, and lace. The runways were nearly as gorgeous as the gowns themselves, as many featured creative themes including Enchanted Forest (Naeem Khan) and Once Upon a Dream (Jenny Packham). There were many jaw-dropping moments, and we can't wait to bring the very best of these Spring 2015 designs to Chic Parisien.
For more behind-the-scenes moments from year's Bridal Market, check out our Instagram account, and watch this space for more information on the in-store arrival of the Spring 2015 collections. Speaking of special events, this weekend Chic Parisien is hosting a Romona Keveza trunk show, featuring the designer's famed Legends Collection. This collection is ultra feminine and draws inspiration from many time periods. This diverse collection will have something for every bride, no matter your body type or wedding venue. We look forward to seeing you!
Romona Keveza Trunk Show @ Chic Parisien
Legends Collection
April 25 - 26, 2014
For appointments, call (305) 448-5756
Two Bridal Greats in One Amazing Trunk Show: Lazaro & Maria Elena, January 3 - 4
We're kicking off the New Year in a BIG way! Our very first Trunk Show of 2014, which takes place January 3 - 4, will not only feature Lazaro's highly acclaimed Spring 2014 Collection (and a special in-store appearance by Lazaro himself!) but we will also preview the latest Maria Elena Collection in its entirety!
Our very own Catherine Fox Milian had the pleasure of spending time with Lazaro during the recent Bridal Market in New York, and he can't wait to visit us in-store to share his inspiration behind his newest Collection with Chic Parisien's brides!
This weekend’s Trunk Show will also be your opportunity to preview the latest Maria Elena Accessories Collection. The amazing Gisele Del Busto will be on hand to help brides-to-be create their perfect look.
CHIC PARISIEN HOSTS LAZARO & MARIA ELENA
Special Trunk Show with In-Store Appearance by Lazaro
January 3 - 4, 2014
Appointments limited. To RSVP, call (305) 448-5756
Amazing 2014 Bridal Market!
We've been in New York City since earlier this week attending Bridal Market Fall 2014! This is where all the designers showcase the new 2014 bridal collections... And oh my God, these designers have really blown us away! The collections that are coming down those runways are stunning and breathtaking! Here are some favorites we've seen so far, and if you want to see more, follow us on our instagram!
XOXO
French Wedding Inspiration, Ooh La La!
French women are known for their exquisite, Chic taste! They dress to kill in a very subtle, yet elegant way… Whether they are going to the corner store for milk or attending the most lavish of balls, they always look Ah-Ma-Zing and oh so, Chic! So as you can imagine, when it comes to their weddings, they make for the most breathtaking of brides! Which is why today, we wanted to highlight some gorgeous ways to infuse your wedding with some Parisian inspiration! It may be through your dress, your bridal accessories or even reception decoration… No matter what you may choose, what’s important is that it's elegant, unique, subtle and ultimately, exquisite! Would you choose a French theme for your wedding? We think it’s lovely, but tell us what you think, we always love to hear!
XOXO
Parisien Couple in Eiffel Tower: Via Vogue and Coffee
Bride on Balcony: Via Style Me Pretty
Monique Lhuillier Gown: Via Southern Charm
Flower Girl: Via Wedding Day Bliss
Lazaro Gown: Via Lazaro
Bridal Dress and Pearls: Via Ulma
Chevron Aisle: Via Frosted Petti Coat
Jenny Packham Dress: Via Jenny Packham
Big Rose on Dress: Via Watch and Think About That
Polka Dot Veil: Via Wit and Delight
Lazaro Fall 2013 & Maria Elena Accessories Trunk Show Extravaganza
Our brides-to-be asked for more, and our love for Lazaro and Maria Elena continues... So without further ado, here are more pics from Lazaro's Bridal Fall 2013 collection! The dresses started to arrive yesterday for the trunk show, and trust us, they are amazing! This trunk show featuring Lazaro Bridal and Maria Elena Headpieces is truly a match made in heaven! It is this weekend July 12 and July 13, and Lazaro will be making a personal appearance and so will Maria Elena accessories expert, Gisele del Busto. But appointments are limited, so hurry and make your appointment here as soon as you can before they are gone! We can't wait!
XOXO
Amazing Pairing! Lazaro and Maria Elena Trunk Show!
Fred & Ginger, Lucy & Desi, champagne & strawberries, these are definitely some our favorite pairings of all time… And this week we get to add one more to our list: Lazaro & Maria Elena. The legendary bridal line by Lazaro and the amazing Maria Elena bridal headpieces and jewelry are coming together for a once in a lifetime Trunk Show. Both stunning collections will be featured at Chic Parisien this weekend July 12 and July 13, and both collections are absolutely incredible!
In addition, renowned designer Lazaro will be making a personal appearance during the trunk show helping brides-to-be find their perfect dress. And Gisele del Busto, accessories expert from Maria Elena will also be here helping brides accessorize bridal looks! We couldn’t be more excited to feature these two gorgeous collections together and host Lazaro and Gisele. Brides-to-be don’t miss this opportunity, we are sure it will be A-Ma-Zing! Appointments are very limited so hurry and make your appointment here as soon as you can! We are loving Lazaro’s collection, what are you loving? Tell us about it, we always love to hear!
XOXO
Bridal Market: Spring 2014 Recap! (Part 1)
How was your weekend? We hope it was as great as ours. As many of you know, we've been in NYC attending Bridal Market. This is the official event where all the top bridal fashion designers showcase their latest collections! We have been witnessing Spring 2014 collections unveil and sashay down the runways! So far the collections this year have been absolutely AMAZING! We have seen everything from exquisite detailed lace, to minimalistic modern couture styles, to Great Gatsby inspirations, to dramatic gowns fit for a queen. What we've loved most is how everything is absolutely BREATHTAKING, one gasp after another! Here are some of the many fashions we loved from this weekend… Stay tuned, tons more coming in the next few days! What are you loving? Tell us what you like and what you would like to see more! We can’t wait to hear!
XOXO
Swoon Time: Designer Sample Sale Time!
Who’s ready for one of our favorite events of the year? Yes, it’s that time again… designer SAMPLE SALE time! Starting this Thursday, we’ll be featuring gowns from a lot of our favorite designers: Monique Lhuillier, Marchesa, Badgley Mischka, Romona Keveza, Lazaro, Manuel Mota, Elie Saab, Jenny Packham, Liancarlo, Amsale, Christos, Kenneth Pool among others. We'll feature both, bridal and special occasion gowns from top designer previous collections! The sample sale will run from April 18 – April 27. To make an appointment go here! In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at some of the designers we’ll feature... this is really a swoon worthy event and we can't wait!
XOXO
Fashion Trend Alert: Metallic Wedding Gowns!
We’re always looking for new trends when it comes to bridal fashion… And boy are we loving this new trend: Metallic Inspired wedding gowns! We’ve seen this trend show up on gowns in gold, silver, bronze, copper, even in a metallic blue! It’s the type of trend that can feel fashion forward yet very elegant and romantic! It’s perfect for a very stylish and chic bride that wants to sparkle, dazzle and shine! Here are some of our favorite metallic gowns we’ve spotted recently. Are you loving this trend as much as we are? Tell us what you think, we always love to hear. For more bridal metallic inspiration go here!
XOXO
Blushing Bride!
When planning a wedding, beautiful, pretty and gorgeous are definitely adjectives brides want to hear… Not only when describing how they look, which we believe ALL brides look gorgeous on their wedding day, but how the wedding looks! So if a bride wants to bring the pretty, BLUSH PINK is the perfect way to go. Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Biel both went blush pink with their gowns, but even a simple blush pink hair accessory, nail color or an accent on the cake will be elegant, gorgeous, delicate… Simply, beautiful! Here are some of our favorite blush pink dresses and bridal inspirations! What do you think, is blush pink gorgeous and romantic or is it too feminine for a wedding affair? Would love to hear what you think... and for more blush inspiration go here!
XOXO
Bouquet white dress: Lisa Lefkowitz
Pink cupcakes: Catch My Party
Pink Ribbon Cake: Linda Rosa
Pink Bouquet Centerpiece: Karen Buckle Photography
Pink Flower Girl dress: Kristin Vining Photography
Reese and Jessica Wedding Pics: Hello! Magazine
Lazaro Special Appearance & Trunk Show! Happy Friday!
Hooray for Fridays! And what a Friday and Saturday this will be! As you may have heard, we have renowned designer Lazaro at the store today and tomorrow (Jan 4 – Jan 5), and we couldn’t be more excited with this opportunity! He will not only be showcasing his latest bridal collection, but he will also be helping brides pick out their perfect gown. This is truly a special appearance, for more details click here, but please call for your appointment, appointments will be limited!
Happy Friday, Happy Weekend! But before we sign off, here are some web and blog goodies that we loved and wanted to share with you…
Your reception painted? Live event painters – amazing!
Modern bands, for modern grooms – cool or too wild?
Beautiful Miami downtown wedding! Thanks Ray!
Style Me Pretty, the book, yay!
XOXO