Featured Bride Ashley On Her Beautiful Monique Lhuillier Dress

Ashley & Joe Wedding - Bride - Wave Hill - Heather Waraksa Photography

Featured Bride Ashley On Her Beautiful Monique Lhuillier Dress

Ashley & Joe Wedding – Bride – Wave Hill – Heather Waraksa Photography

Ask anyone who has gone through it, wedding planning is full of surprises. Ashley had a clear idea of what she wanted to wear. But sometimes the dress chooses the bride. “My wedding dress was everything I never knew I wanted,” she says with a laugh. Here, Ashley shares the details about her Monique Lhuillier gown and personals.

Part 2: Saying Yes to the Dress

The first visit to a bridal boutique can be overwhelming. Pressure mounts in the search to find ‘the one’ amidst rack upon rack of gorgeous designs. Any anxiety Ashley was feeling on the way to her appointment at Monique Lhuillier was quickly put to rest the moment she stepped through the door. “My sales person, Frank, told me that this was a journey and we were going to go on it together. He couldn’t have been more right.” She started pulling dresses that met her criteria – long sleeve and completely fitted with all-over lace. The sparks just weren’t flying when she looked in the mirror though. Then one particular dress caught her eye. “It wasn’t lace, it wasn’t long sleeve, and it definitely wasn’t fitted. But there was something about it that stood out to me.” Ashley put on the dress and immediately knew it was ‘the one.’ “The reaction from my Mom, sister, and best friend helped seal the deal. I tried on a few more looks. But at the end of the day, it was this gorgeous and completely unexpected gown that stayed with me.”
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Ashley & Joe Wedding - Bride Groom Bouquet - Wave Hill - Heather Waraksa Photography

Weddings

Ashley & Joe: A Timeless Garden Wedding At Wave Hill

by Kate Murphy

Ashley & Joe Wedding – Bride Groom Bouquet – Wave Hill – Heather Waraksa Photography

In an age when people are meeting through dating apps and social media, the beginning of Ashley and Joe’s love story maybe considered old-fashioned by some. “We met at work,” Ashley recalls. “I had recently joined the company and a co-worker introduced us in the hallway.” At that moment, a seed had been planted with the perfect conditions for them to get know each other and eventually fall in love.

We are excited to introduce Ashley, our Bride & Blossom Featured Bride for April. Ashley & Joe exchanged vows on a lovely day at Wave Hill. Here, she shares the first chapter in their Real BB Wedding story.
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Dara & Jared Wedding - Bouquet - Greenwich Hyatt by Brian Hatton

Planning & Inspiration

7 Alternatives To The Bouquet Toss: How Brides Are Breaking Tradition

by Kate Murphy

Dara & Jared Wedding – Bouquet – Greenwich Hyatt by Brian Hatton

Have you ever wondered where the tradition of tossing the bouquet actually originated? The reason is not as lovely as one might think. It started hundreds of years ago when touching the bride was believed to bring good luck. Can you imagine how uncomfortable and invasive that must have felt?! Unruly guests would go to such lengths as to rip off pieces of her dress! As a distractive way to appease the crowd, the bride would toss her bouquet and then make a quick getaway. Over time, the distraction evolved into a gesture in which the bride passes good luck to one single lady.
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Hilary & Brad Wedding - Reception High Centerpiece - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Weddings

Hilary and Brad Celebrate With An Elegant, Fun-Filled Reception

by Kate Murphy

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Reception Low Centerpiece – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

Given Hilary’s taste for glitz and glamour, it comes as no surprise that she celebrated saying “I Do” with a reception comparable to the fabulous parties F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about in The Great Gatsby. There was luxurious décor, sparklers, pulsating music, and a showstopping 5-tier wedding cake. Here, the bride talks about the final chapter in her Real BB Wedding story.

Part 4: Reception, Centerpieces, and Sweetheart Table

After a preliminary round of toasts during cocktail hour, guests found their seats via a captivating escort card table and made their way to the Plaza’s ballroom. There, the vibrant pink color scheme gave way to white and gold. “Brad wanted an all white ballroom, which I thought was a nice idea to keep everything romantic,” Hilary says. “The Plaza is marked by gold ornamentation on the ceilings and walls. There was something so beautiful and elegant about having clean white.”
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Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride & Groom - Ceremony - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Weddings

Hilary & Brad say “I Do” In A Breathtaking Pink and White Ceremony At The Plaza Hotel

by Kate Murphy

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Bride & Groom – Ceremony – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

Making high glamour work in a classic New York venue like the Plaza Hotel can be hard to pull off. You want to incorporate eye-catching elements without going over the top. Using her experience as an event planner, BB Featured Bride Hilary did just that. “I tried to bring in bright pinks in such a way so they popped just enough to not be shocking.”

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Ceremony Aisle – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

Part 3: Ceremony and Chuppah
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Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride Bouquet Chuppah - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Weddings

BB Featured Bride Hilary On Her Stunning Rivini Wedding Dress

by Kate Murphy

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Bride Bouquet Chuppah – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

Hilary made clear her plans for a lavish New York wedding right from the very start. Such an occasion calls for a remarkable dress. “Everyone tried to convince me to wear a ball gown since I was going to be a princess at The Plaza. But I knew that wasn’t me. I am much more one to show off my girlish figure,” she says with a laugh. Here, Hilary talks about her gorgeous Rivini wedding dress and bridal personals.

Part 2: Wedding Dress & Personals

“I always envisioned trying on a dress and just knowing – that is exactly what happened!” recalls Hilary. Finding ‘the one’ took some time though. Hilary had already made a few visits to the bridal salon prior to meeting her mom and sister there one afternoon. “I knew that I needed to have them with me, to see it and fall in love too. When I walked out of the dressing room in the Rivini gown, we all just knew.”
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