Meet Angie, our beautiful GL Bride who graced her wedding day in our Diamond gown! In the following interview, Angie shares her wisdom to future GL brides, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the journey and making quick, realistic decisions. She also shares her most unforgettable moments and how she found the gown of her dream for wedding day. As told by Angie:
A moment of your wedding day you will you never forget?
A moment from the wedding that I will never forget was when we had finished the ceremony and we were walking down the aisle. Several had recommended stopping and doing a second and third kiss for photos, but for the last kiss, my husband actually bent down and kissed my belly as a sign of affection in anticipation of our baby girl who is due in April 2024.
One thing you wish you knew as a new bride?
I wish I knew a bit more about how the process works and an appropriate timeline for things to get done. I was expecting all to be set in stone months before the wedding, but the reality is that it is a saturated and fast-moving industry and it’s okay for confirmations and decisions to be made during the last few weeks leading up to the big day. It’s important to remember you’re not the only bride or the only wedding taking place, so take responsibility for your event and put your part in helping the process move along with quick decisions, realistic ideas, and clear expectations.
What advice would you give to future brides?
As cliche as it may sound, enjoy the process and don’t let stress or the thought of it being such a big effort delay your plans. Once your planner, location, and dress (at least 1 year in advance) are selected, the rest will flow, but it’s important to dive in. Otherwise, we don’t come to realize how fast time goes by!
A detail that made your wedding special/unique?
The most anticipated and special moment of the wedding was the gender reveal of our baby. As I mentioned, I am 5 1/2 months pregnant and we were able to make everyone part of this momentous occasion with the reveal of our baby girl during the pouring of a pink champagne tower. Neither I nor my husband knew the gender prior, so it was an authentic reveal amidst ALL of our family and friends.
Galia was the first bridal shop I visited and “Diamond” was the second wedding dress I had ever tried on. I immediately knew because of the layers, the crystal sleeve accents, and the drop waist style. This was several months prior to me knowing I was pregnant, however, so the drop waist actually ended up being something I wanted to have pulled up as the baby bump started to come in. Everyone at Galia was not only extremely attentive but also professional, calming, and true experts in the field. They timed out my fittings and alterations to ensure the absolute best fit for my body at the time of the wedding. I am eternally grateful to Sandy and Carol at the Miami Design District location for handling with care
How did it feel when you put on your dress the day of the wedding? What was everyone's reaction to the dress?
The dress fit like a glove. Everything from the corset to the inner “snatch-band” (as we called it) helped give the top of the dress shape, while the bottom layers of Tull added movement, texture, and the princess effect I had always dreamed of. Several of my friends mentioned that even the men in attendance commented on my wedding dress, which is not common or something the guys typically speak to, but it was a combination of the style and the color (not your typical stark white) that I think made it stand out from anything anyone had ever seen.
Would you have done anything differently?
NO. It was an absolute dream of a day. Planned and executed to perfection. Could not stop smiling!
What was your favourite part of the wedding to plan/you were most looking forward to?
I had envisioned the theme of my wedding to be “chic circus” but with that came certain decor and a certain level of performance requirements. The Faena Hotel in Miami Beach, where we hosted the wedding, also has a burlesque-style theater with incredible performances, costumes, and productions. In place of the traditional “hora local,” we arranged for 2x incredible performances by the talent of the Faena theater and invested extra funds in the installment and engineering of a wooden beam to hang drapes from the center of the room out to the edges of the space creating a tent-like feel. My husband and I’s first impression of the reception space is indescribable, but what I can tell you is that it superseded our expectations.
How did you meet your husband? How did he propose?
My husband and I have had a romantic connection since we were about 15 years old. He proposed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and surprised me with both my side of the family and his. We celebrated the holidays and rang in the new year as a united household.
How did you find working with the team at Galia Lahav?
Coming from someone who then traveled to NYC and visited the best of the best bridal houses. NONE can compare to Galia Lahav. From the minute you walk into the store, to the service you receive and most importantly, the quality of the product – no other designer can come close. I shopped around for a second look and had the chance to see other shops, but would recommend and choose Galia all over again for such a special day.
How many dresses did you try on before you found it?
This was the second dress I tried on and immediately knew it was the one.
