Our GL Bride of the Week is the beautiful Natalie, who walked down the aisle in our a Serena gown from the Make a Scene Collection. Natalie and her fiance celebrated their nuptials with family and friends in Napa Valley with a romantic vineyard wedding. In the following interview, Natalie shares with us the details of her special day and how she knew our Serena was the one! As told by Natalie:
A moment of your wedding day will you never forget?
I will never forget sitting down for dinner, after running around all day and looking out at all our friends/family who had traveled to Napa Valley to celebrate our special day. As a bride, you’re constantly moving from one thing to the next (getting ready, photos, ceremony, greeting guests) so when we sat down for dinner, we were able to relax and soak in the evening. After planning almost two years and postponing twice (due to COVID restrictions), it felt even more special to share our wedding day with all the people we love.
One thing you wish you knew as a new bride? What advice would you give to future brides?
As a new bride, I wish I knew that at least one thing will go wrong and there will be hiccups, but that it is okay and the wedding will still be everything you dreamed of and more. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the tiny details and want your wedding to be perfect… but try your best to let go of things you can’t control and use your time/energy on enjoying your engagement. Personally, having a wedding planner was the best decision I made as a new bride and my biggest piece of advice for future brides (even your husband will agree once you’re further into planning). For the hiccups that will come up, your planner will alleviate some of the pressure and guide you through tough decisions. My planner became a great friend I will keep in my life forever, I just love her!
Our two dogs, Porter and Frankie, are like our babies and it was important to us to have them included in our wedding. Since Solage is dog friendly, we were able to include them in our first look and had them hanging out with everyone at cocktail hour. They are both teacup Yorkies and wore tuxedos, which was super cute! I am obsessed with the photos Jordan captured of the boys getting ready with my husband, at our first look, and at cocktail hour.
The moment I tried my dress on, I fell in love with it and no other dresses compared. I wanted to be completely certain of my decision so I went and tried on other dresses that were different styles, but continued to think about my dress and if I would regret choosing another gown. Looking back at videos and photos of my try-on appointments, I look happier and more excited about wearing my dress than I did in any other style!
How did it feel when you put on your dress the day of the wedding? What was your favorite reaction to the dress?
It felt incredible to finally put on my dress on the day of the wedding after waiting so long to wear it! I felt confident and beautiful in my gown and was excited for all my loved ones to see the finished product. My favorite reaction to my dress was my dad’s. We did a first look before I did my first look with my husband and my dad immediately started crying when he saw me in my wedding dress. It’s something we have talked about my whole life, so it was really special to share that moment with him. I’m so thankful to my photographer, Jordan, for capturing that moment.
What was your favourite part of the wedding to plan/you were most looking forward to?
My favorite part of the wedding to plan was the cocktails! My husband and I are big foodies and love to make cocktails at home. We got to meet with Solage’s mixologist while we were doing our food tasting. Kelly helped us narrow down what we love in a cocktail, taste different options, and then pick out our signature cocktails. We wanted to be present at cocktail hour since weddings go by SO fast and it was another opportunity to spend time with everyone who traveled for our day. We did a first look so we could make it to cocktail hour and would recommend that to future brides as well.
How did you meet your husband? How did he propose?
I met my husband through a good friend of ours and connected on our love of travel. One of our favorite weekend getaways has always been to Napa Valley. He proposed at Alpha Omega Winery, where we are members, and had my best friend and family be there for a private tasting after he proposed in the vineyard. After the wine tasting, he had champagne and food set up in our hotel’s courtyard to continue the weekend celebration. We were able to get a case of the sauvignon blanc where the proposal took place (once 2019 was ready for shipment) as a memory of that day!
How did you find working with the team at Galia Lahav?
Amazing! Everyone at Galia Lahav is so professional and kind. I always felt welcome and comfortable from my first try-on appointment and throughout all my fittings. The team’s knowledge of bridal gowns, the fit, fabric, and process is unparalleled. I couldn’t have been happier with their level of service and expertise!
