Our #GLBride of the week is Jamie Miller, who tied-the-knot with her fiancé Tyler in our GALA 902 gown. Surrounded by trees and ivy-covered walls, the couple held their timeless romantic wedding in the courtyard of the historic Villa San Juan Capistrano. In the following interview, Jamie shares with us behind-the-scenes moments of her big day and her unique GL experience. As told by Jamie:
How did you meet your husband? Tell us a little bit about your relationship.
Tyler and I met in New York City working on a film together, playing opposite each other. We’ve been together for 9 years. Everyone reacted to our engagement saying, “Finally”, and “We always knew you’d be together forever.” And that’s always how we’ve felt. We never needed to be married to be devoted to each other, and maybe that’s why we waited so long. It was perfectly timed for who we are.
How did he propose?
Tyler proposed while in Joshua Tree for the weekend. We both love stargazing. It’s always been a connection between the two of us and that usually involves going out to Joshua Tree because it has one of the best places for stargazing on the planet (literally). He surprised me with champagne and caviar, that he had brought with him secretly. Then he got down on one knee, just the two of us at sunset in the desert, and we looked at the stars all night. The next day all of our close friends surprised us to celebrate! He knew how much they mean to me and how badly I would want them there but we also had this beautiful private moment of the proposal itself that only him and I can share.
How did you start planning your wedding? What were the first steps?
We started with location and pretty quickly decided Southern California was the place. We’ve spent the majority of our relationship here and we really admire its beauty.
We started by discussing the feel that we wanted for the wedding. We thought about things that mean something to us, like travel, history, plants and nature, and wanting the wedding to feel warm and inviting.
Did you do any beauty or fitness prep for your big day?
I relaxed the week before. I meditated to calm my mind and let any worries go. By that point all of the hard work to plan had been done and it was just a matter of having fun!
What was your wedding theme?
We ended up with the rustic romantic villa wedding of our dreams.
How did you choose your location?
We found a beautiful historic location, Villa San Juan Capistrano, in San Juan Capistrano, California that perfectly delivered that warm, timeless feel. The fruit-tree filled courtyard and walls covered in ivy were a perfect romantic setting. Gardening is one of my hobbies and we loved the greenery. We love to learn about the art and history of cities when we travel, and we felt this location provided all of the antique, old-world characters that we could wish for. The venue is located across the street from a former Spanish mission built in the 1700s which made for a beautiful setting to take photos.
How did you decide on your bridesmaid style?
I wanted my bridal party to have fun and feel confident! We started with a simple color palette. I also had the vision of floral dresses to match the greenery around us in the Villa and represent more of my love for nature and earth.
How did you find your perfect dress?
I was on the 6th or 7th dress of my second dress appointment when my consultant pulled the next gown to try on, revealing my dress behind it. I instantly pointed and said, “What’s that?!” It combined everything I envisioned, delicate tulle, appliques with flower or earth elements, a corset top with illusion, and off-the-shoulder sleeves. I fell in love with the dramatic train, and the thought the subtle rose-colored tulle in the skirt gave a nontraditional element.
How was your experience with the Galia Lahav brand?
My experience was incredible. The consultants and seamstresses at her Los Angeles location were angels. I customized a few details of my dress; my seamstress made the straps removable give me an option for something different at the reception.
What was the most important thing for you and your husband when planning your wedding?
We wanted our wedding to feel warm and inviting. We host a lot of get-togethers with our friends at our home and it’s always been important to us that people feel welcome. At our wedding we wanted the music to be fun, the food to be delicious, and the dancing to be abundant!
What was your first wedding song?
We danced to “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” A classic song, that we both have always loved, performed by my favorite singer Amy Winehouse.
What did you enjoy the most about planning your wedding?
We were brought closer together during planning. We had fun and thought about what we wanted this day to symbolize for us, and how we wanted people to feel on our big day. Our wedding planner Lindsay Wigging at Bliss Productions was incredible. She understood our vision right away and had amazing suggestions on how to execute it.
What advice would you give to all our future brides?
Don’t stress over details! At the end of the day, you’re going to remember how you felt and how special it was to share this important moment with your loved ones and the rest is just the cherry on top.
What moment from your wedding will you never forget?
The Villa is across the street from Mission San Juan Capistrano, a historic former Spanish Mission from the 1700s. One of it’s oldest traditions is the ringing of the Mission bells, and they happened to go off during our wedding vows. The sound filled the courtyard and we instantly became emotional from the entire experience. It was unexpected and a beautiful moment that everyone remembered.
