Fourteenth: Family Wedding Haute Couture
One bridal veil consultation at Headpiece.com turned into something so much more!
My cousin, Jani, brought her daughter, MacKenzie, to see me in March of 2020. MacKenzie was looking for a beautiful but distinct veil to follow her similarly styled wedding gown by Amsale. After her consultation, she knew just the one.
“I was aiming for a look that was simple, elegant, timeless. A style that would still capture me as a person and feel complementary and familiar to who I am and not be anything that I would look back on and regret or feel was too trendy or current.”
As with many of my brides, MacKenzie moved her wedding date out one year due to COVID. Upon returning to the shop a year later, we tried her veil again with her gown. I sensed a bit of her bridal gleam diminished. I offered some suggestions to give her wedding dress the most subtle change.
“I was struggling with the dress after picking it before a year long delay due to COVID and didn’t feel like it was special when we started back with planning for the wedding. ”
MacKenzie has such natural beauty. During her first consultation, she only wanted a veil. The simplicity of her gown and the silhouette of our Slink veil were so beautiful together nothing else was needed.
Adding a thin line of hand-beaded crystal and pearl to the neckline, created an elegant finish to the bodice lines. Designing a set of delicate hairpins using freshwater pearl, clear crystal, white opal, and a touch of light blue sapphire on 14KG wire complimented the beading on the dress.
“The beading took the dress to a whole new level, it made it special to me and our experience. I loved how the hair accessories complimented the dress beading, how they were my something blue, and how unique they were.”
The one significant thing still undecided was Jani’s mother-of-the-bride dress. Jani wasn’t looking for the dernier cri but instead a luxurious gown that suited her fashion flair.
“I wanted something stunning and elegant on my small frame. I was concerned about being swallowed in fabric! The image of you in your gown for Brielle’s wedding was stunning. I knew you were very talented but seeing that image pushed me to approach you.”
While at the shop, Jani saw the article about my daughter’s wedding published in Saratoga Bride Magazine.
Jani asked me to design her mother-of-the-bride gown. My head was spinning with the merge of my 2020 and 2021 brides and had so many designs left to complete. Designing a gown is a bit of an undertaking, and I didn’t know if I would have the time to dedicate to Jani’s dress.
This is the photo of the mother-of-the-bride gown I designed for my daughter’s wedding in Richmond, Virginia.
Photography by Allison Kuhn Creative
One day, I went to breakfast with my dear friend and fashion designer, Teresa Cristaldi. I sketched on a napkin and asked Teresa if she would design Jani’s dress with me. In minutes, we became partners and committed to finishing this gown in two months.
FASHION ILLUSTRATION by Marie Hunt
“Teresa is highly skilled in flat pattern design. We chose this method to create the pattern rather than draping the gown on a mannequin because we didn’t have a dress form in Jani’s size. Master pattern makers find this quicker and more precise. ”
Jani chose a sumptuous French Chantilly lace in the color noir with a soft gray silk crepe underlay for the skirt. This lace is so delicate and luxurious it must be studied before you make the first cut.
As her first custom-designed garment, Jani commented on how unique the experience was while learning about muslin, lace, design, and tailoring.
“I felt beautiful. It fit perfectly. I loved how soft it was and how it moved with my body.”
My cousin, Jani, was ready to walk her daughter down the aisle in a beautiful haute couture gown made exclusively for her.
What started as choosing only a bridal veil grew into more for MacKenzie. By the week of her wedding, Teresa and I worked together to ensure we met every style and tailoring need, from her vows to the after-party.
MacKenzie and Troy planned to marry in the church the day before their wedding celebration. Removing the cape of her Halston, matte jersey, Brea jumpsuit, and restyling the back was more suited to MacKenzie’s wedding vow style.
Brea Jumpsuit by Halston
Friday CHUrch Wedding Vows
Wedding Photography by Ira Lippke-Studios
MacKenzie dressed with a bit of nervous excitement to exchange vows with Troy in front of 25 friends and family. Her jumpsuit was chic, stunning, and now suited to her.
“After a two year engagement forced by a COVID postponement, I felt tired but relieved the wedding day was officially upon us.”
“I was able to feel a wave of exhaustion from the previous two years quickly disappear and replaced with excitement for the big day.”
Saturday Wedding Ceremony | Blue Hill Farm Reception
Wedding Photography by Ira Lippke Studios | Event Planner Faith Ferguson Productions
BRIDAL ACCESSORIES | Headpiece.com VENUE | Blue Hill at Stone Barns GOWN | Amsale FLORIST | Putnam & Putnam BEAUTY | Ahern Beauty ATELIER | Teresa Cristaldi
Getting Ready
“We laughed a lot. The getting ready process was a bit frantic and had a heavy anxiety overtone. I took a nap halfway through hair and make up, but that is how we operate.”
First Look
MacKenzie and Troy
“Even though we were technically married already, I was still emotional. The day was beautiful, as was the venue, and I was excited to see Troy in his tuxedo. I felt like everyone else around us disappeared during those few moments.”
Ceremony
MacKenzie chose her grandmother to be her flower girl. Her grandmother is my Aunt Audrey and also my Godmother.
“My Mimi has always played a large role in my life and I am so grateful for her. She was my only choice for a flower girl and was a crowd pleaser!”
MacKenzie’s wedding day weather was beautiful but severe storms were predicted by days end in Tarrytown, NY.
“It was such a beautiful day leading up to the sky darkening in a very dramatic fashion. At one point, the rain was coming down so hard, and it was so loud that Troy and I couldn’t even hear Annie, our celebrant. I even turned around and told the guests, “Rain is good luck, you know!’”
“My MOH sacrificed her dress to save my dress and veil. She used her train to soak up all of the water coming towards me.”
“She held my train and veil during the ceremony. We had a little back and forth when it was time for me and Troy to walk down the aisle because she didn’t want to put it down in the water. I told her she had to. It did get wet but not as bad as others. I changed into my party dress after the cocktail hour, so after the ceremony, my dress was toweled off and blown dry to make it walkable.”
Wedding Reception
TABLESCAPE by Putnam and Putnam
“I surprised my mom with a mother-daughter dance to her favorite band Train. She didn’t know what was happening, so seeing her reaction and processing what was happening was pretty special!”
“There were so many memories and favorite parts of the night. It was a spectacular event! The first look with Troy, walking down the aisle to Dancing Queen by Abba, the food during the cocktail hour and dinner, the band, our mother-daughter dance, it was all so great!”
I become so invested in my the brides. Often, I watch the weather forecast on their wedding day or send them a text in the morning. I wonder if their time getting ready is calm and lighthearted, or rushed and panicked. I look at the clock in my shop and notice if it is time for the party to begin. While I love sharing the design process, the complete experience makes me love my work. Sharing this journey with my family goes beyond. Thank you, MacKenzie and Jani. Welcome to the family, Troy.
Next month on the Fourteenth:
Simple Bridal Styles