The incredible venues for Jennifer and Fernando’s wedding have been wooing us since we saw the photos. The ceremony inside a stunning Catholic church followed by the reception (and party!) in a dramatically lit and decorated former bank were both glamorous and unforgettable in their own way. Jennifer looked completely perfect for the vintage glam wedding in none other than Monique Lhuillier, in a dress fittingly called “Dream,” since it really was her dream gown.
Jennifer + Fernando | Feb 22, 2014 | Miami, Florida | Dress Listing: Monique Lhuillier, Dream
The Ceremony
Fernando and I are both Catholic and it was important to us to start our marriage through a religious traditional Catholic ceremony. We wanted our marriage sacrament to take place in a sacred place and St. Jude was perfect for us. St. Jude is a very important saint in my family as he stands to be “the saint of the impossible” so it was meaningful to me to have our ceremony at this church.
The Reception
Our venue was a historic building in Downtown Miami, Florida. It is an old bank with beautiful gold bank-teller gates, gilded elevator doors, the original bank vaults with art deco touches, and an old Hollywood glamour vibe. I truly wanted a romantic warm feeling to the wedding that really complemented the beauty of the venue. The theme was then “Old Hollywood Glamour/ Great Gatsby.” I also wanted to my guests to experience a unique venue and this building did just that. It was truly magical and timeless.
Jennifer’s Dress Search
Once I got engaged, I quickly began a Pinterest wedding board to start gathering all my ideas. I always knew I wanted a lace strapless dress, and I found this dress on Pinterest and pinned it on my board and in my head I always said “that is my ideal dress!” My wedding planner told me to go dress shopping with an open mind and heart and not get stuck on just one dress.
I attended a Monique Lhuillier trunk show in Miami at the Chic Parisian boutique. I had the wonderful opportunity to get fitted by the vice-president of Monique Lhuillier herself as well as another Chic Parisian associate who asked me to describe what I wanted. I quickly told them “lace and strapless,” they then said “say nothing more!” and brought in three dresses. The third dress ended up being my Pinterest find!
Once I tried it on I knew this was the one. My face lit up, my disposition was changed: it was the one. I then showed them my phone and all the pictures I had saved of the dress. I told them how the dress was a dream and they told me the dress was actually called “Dream.”
How Jennifer Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Elegant, timeless and dreamy
Why Jennifer Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
When I got engaged my mother shared a special story with me. When she found out she was going to have a baby girl, she opened a savings bond and said “this money will be for her wedding dress one day.” She never told me this until I got engaged. She happily purchased my dress with this money and told me to enjoy it in any way I wanted to.
I truly enjoyed being in my dress and have many pictures to keep those memories with me. I will always remember how I felt that day in that beautiful “Dream” dress. As much as I would love to keep it, it would break my heart to see it stuffed in the back of our closet. I know this dress will make another beautiful bride as happy as it made me. I hope if God also blesses me with a baby girl that I can carry on the tradition of what my mom did for me and also do for her.
