Bride Plans Wedding With “Anti-inspiration” and the Results Are Epic

Lauren Megerdichian
May 8, 2024
Categories: Real Weddings, Romantic, The Blog

[section title=”The Planning”]

[field title=”Wedding Colors”]I am a neutrals girlie, but did not want just whites and greens and was open to pops of color, but I allowed the experts to choose what those pops were.[/field]

[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

It is worth noting that I was not like a Pinterest bride (I do not know how to use Pinterest, actually it is very overwhelming to me!) and I largely sent our incredible planner, Alexa Kritis, anti-inspo of things from Instagram that I did NOT care for LOL. I wanted it to feel like me and Jamie. Fun and elegant, but a little moody and edgy. Our venue, Oxford Exchange, was the perfect place for that with all of its history and intrinsic decor. We love the dark wood and their photo wall and wanted to play off of that, but also had the whimsy of the greenhouse ceiling.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]We were accidentally set up by two of our best friends who are dating. My girlfriend and I had brunch plans with her new boyfriend – one of Jamie’s best friends – for me to meet her new guy. I had overindulged the night before and was not feeling my best, so when my friend told me that more people were coming to brunch, I tried to get out of it so I could rot on the couch, but she wouldn’t give me the out, so I made my way to brunch almost an hour late and met Jamie. We were both newly out of serious relationships, so to the shock of everyone, we became immediately inseparable.

Jamie proposed while we were visiting my parents at their beach house on Longboat Key. I knew he had the ring, because he had picked it up from my family’s jeweler while we were down there, but I was not expecting him to propose while we were there. We had gone to dinner in downtown Sarasota and as we were driving back onto the island, he suddenly pulled off on an inlet and said “this looks like a good place to propose.” I guess the ring was burning a hole in his pocket! He got down on one knee in front of the water and we got some strangers to take what may go down in history as the worst newly-engaged photo of all time.[/field]

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[board_carousel title=”First Look”]

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[section title=”The Fashion”]

[field title=”Wedding Gown”]My dress was a surprise to a lot of people (including myself) – I had been drawn to simpler gowns when I scrolled through Instagram looking. The universe had other plans, though. My mom is from Israel and I was especially excited to try on dresses by Israeli designers for her, and had started to veer away from the “clean girl look” and admiring Galia Lahav dresses specifically. I traveled to Tampa to shop for dresses there and had made my appointments well in advance. After I had already made my appointment there, Isabel O’Neil Bridal announced that they were hosting a Galia Lahav trunk show. My mom and I had the same favorite gown and I chose a cathedral length veil (again, NOT what I went in expecting!) I also chose a bolero and another pair of sleeves to change in and out of throughout the night, which was so fun. My earrings were also very personal. My mom had purchased some diamonds from Israel when I was younger to save to set in earrings for me, and we finally had them set as studs for the wedding. My dress and sleeves were so detailed and intricate, they were the perfect gentle compliment. My shoes were Christian Louboutin, and my second-look shoes were the Carrie Bradshaw Monolo Blahniks which were so fun.[/field]

[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]My girls were in Jenny Yoo dresses via Bella Bridesmaids Atlanta. I wanted them all to like what they were wearing and how they felt, so they each chose their favorite silhouette and color out of four options.[/field]

[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Jamie bought his tux from Suit Supply and his groomsmen rented from Black Tux. As a gift for the wedding, I bought him a bigger Tom Ford tie so that he stood out a bit from the groomsmen![/field]

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[section title=”The Details”]

[field title=”Food & Drink”]Our venue is a restaurant-by-day and the food is a HUGE priority to them which was great. We had some fun appetizers – like mini tacos and margarita shooters – and our entree choices were short rib, scallops, and eggplant napoleon. We had an open bar with French 75 and Old Fashioned as our signature drinks. We also made sure to have a specialty mocktail and NA beer for any friends who chose not to imbibe.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Also much much much prettier than I was. I let the geniuses at Tailored Twig really take the reins on this. I loved that their whole process involved getting to know Jamie and I and creating something special just for us, that felt like us. I loved what they came up with so much and would let them make all of my life decisions for me if they would. It was SO FUN to see them for the first time as we had only seen a mockup of a tablescape and sketches. They only had an hour to flip the space after the venue closed to the public, and it was so cool to get to watch some of that.[/field]

[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Our cake was way more beautiful than me and was as delicious as she was stunning. Chef Marie at Hands On Sweets made a stunning cake that played off the vibe of the venue with stunning sugar flowers to match our florals. We had two flavors – lemon poppyseed with blueberry coulis and chocolate with raspberry coulis.[/field]

[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]We read personal vows at our ceremony. I told Jamie that mine were about 200 words (guidance he did not care to take and went way over.) They were so special to us. The music was my one complete creative contribution. Our family walked by to Martin Arteta’s remix of Past Lives by BORNS. The bridal party walked down the aisle to Sanctuary by Joji, which is more upbeat and funky than is usually expected. I walked down the aisle to Angels by The XX. I have had it in mind that I would walk to Angels since the first time I heard the song many moons ago, and it was so special to finally hear it while I walked down to my person. We exited to Hessian’s remix of Night Light by Blonde Maze, and were introduced into cocktail hour to Kyle (I found you) by our favorite artist, Fred Again. We had our first dance to a cover of Rufus du Sol’s You Were Right by Ryan Harris and we cut our cake to Luh You by anderson.paak. I danced with my dad to Keep Me in Your Heart by Warran Zevon and Jamie danced with his mom to You are the Sunshine of my Life by Stevie Wonder. Jamie and I collaborated with our amazing DJ, Cory Barron, on the most fun reception playlist (that MANY guests have asked for.) [/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Jamie wore his late grandmother’s pin on the inside of his jacket which was so special, and my “something old” was his great-grandmother’s wedding handkerchief which was incorporated in with my bouquet which was such an honor.[/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #2″]I know everyone says this, but seeing each other for the first time. I was SO excited to see Jamie and was walking as fast as I could in my heels and gown (which was probably 0.5 mph max speed.)[/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #3″]None of the groomsmen brought socks or knew how to tie a bowtie. SO stereotypical and our only snafu. The guys had a whole team of hotel staff, as well as our planning team were down in the groom’s suite tying bowties.[/field]

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