Tag Archives: Wedding Planning

Our Magical Wedding Part 3 – Guest Post by the Groom, Chris Ferretti

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(Photo by Glenmar Studio, Location is The Foundry)

Hey there. It’s me, the Groom! My lovely bride asked me to weight in with some advice to all the grooms (and groomsmen) out there looking for some quick tips to make your wedding as fantastic as possible.

Our wedding was an incredible day, and many things went into making it as wonderful as it was. I’m certainly not a wedding planner, but I do have some insight I can share with future grooms, and groomsmen out there.

TIP #1: TRY TO GET A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE. Me personally? I didn’t sleep a wink the night before my wedding. Of course it didn’t help that my hotel room was on the 5th floor, and the nightclub was on the 6th. So besides the never ending loop of “Murder She Wrote” echoing throughout my skull until 4am, I was also a complete nervous wreck.

My heart was beating like a jackhammer on crystal meth. And then I was anxious about being anxious (insert LOL + eyeroll here).

Next thing I knew the sun was coming up and off to the races we go.

So to all the grooms out there, do your absolute best to try to get a full nights rest the night before.

Some tips to accomplish this task?  First, get to your hotel room early. That way you have plenty of time to unpack, lay out your necessary items, and maybe even order up a little room service before you hit the sack. I, unfortunately, made the mistake of waiting until the last minute, and ended up checking into my hotel at 12am.

If you can’t sleep, try sipping on some chamomile tea or even using some lavender oil to melt away any of those last minute jitters.

If you’re not able to get a full night’s rest, try these under eye patches which work wonders to reduce the swelling under your eyes (Luckily, my darling wife packed a few extra that I could use).

Speaking of darling wife…

Julie told me Sephora has a decent variety of these patches, and she also suggests THESE and THESE.

SUIT OR TUX?

(Photo by Glenmar Studio, Suits and ties from Suit Supply)

Both are excellent choices, but I personally decided to go with a suit because to me, a suit is more practical. And I wanted something me (and my groomsmen) would eventually wear again in the future. And when you’re spending this kind of money, I think having the option to wear your suit again is definitely a plus. And if you really think about it, the chances of you wearing a tux after your wedding are pretty slim. (But that’s not to say there aren’t some beautiful tux’s out there.)

I did look at a few tuxes and I liked THIS ONE, and THIS ONE. (Pretty fair prices too).

Bloomingdales and Nordstrom also had a great selection of tuxedos when I was originally searching.

But remember, this is your day too. So if you wanna wear a tux, go for it. Or if you’re like me and prefer a suit, then wear a suit. Wear whatever feels right for you.

Since this was a summer wedding, we wanted to stay with light colors that would compliment the setting as well as the bridesmaids’ dresses. The wedding was both indoor and outdoor at The Foundry, so there was lush greenery everywhere. The light grey of the suits kept us cool in the heat, the white dress shirt gave everything a nice canvas, and the pink ties blended well with the rest of the colors of the wedding party.

If you like grey suits, Bloomingdales actually has a few really nice ones like THIS ONE, and also THIS ONE. 

GIVE YOURSELF AT LEAST 2 MONTHS TO GET YOUR SUIT/TUX SUIT HANDLED.
Since I was going the suit route I went to SUIT SUPPLY (which I highly recommend). They had a fantastic selection which comes in handy for a guy like me who’s build like a cigarette machine from 1984.

They had a large selection of different color options to choose from, and I picked out this nice light grey material, that they custom built from scratch for me and my groomsmen. I especially liked it because it had a real pomp and circumstance to it. The color had a true depth and dimension. Plus the staff at Suit Supply, were so incredibly helpful, and worked hard to make sure each of our suits fit perfectly.

My advice? Don’t wait until the last minute to get your suit situation handled. You want to have everything timed perfectly. That way you have plenty of time to have the suit made, as well as plenty of time for alternations. I needed 3 alternations before my wedding because my weight kept dropping (thanks to intermittent fasting and the ketogenic diet,I actually lost over 60 lbs in less than 6 months).

Even a month after our wedding I’m still dropping and I feel better than ever. I swear I’m not trying to sell anything but I have to honest when I say it truly has changed my life! And if you’re out there reading this and you’re struggling with your weight: It’s not too late. You’re not too old. You’re not too fat. If I can do this, you can do this.

Again, no bullshit sales pitch. No agenda. Just honest advice on what’s worked for me in the hopes that it works for you too. If you want more info go here:  KETOFERRETTI. And also check out my Instagram which has all my free KETO recipes and tips HERE!

GETTING THE RIGHT TIE.

I must’ve tried on dozens of ties before I found the one I chose for my wedding day. The thing that’s annoying about weddings is that everyone has an opinion.

“Oh you should wear this.”

“You should definitely wear that.”

Listen to me when I tell you:

THIS IS YOUR WEDDING 

Don’t let well meaning friends or family push you into picking a tie (or anything else for that matter) that you absolutely don’t love.

I chose the tie I chose because there was something really unique about it. I loved the color and how it seemed to blend while at the same time also contrast with everything, and no matter how many other ties I looked at, I always seemed to go back to it.

But case in point, I had a dear friend who tried to push me towards another tie. A skinny tie that looked great on him, but for a big guy like me, looked like I was wearing a number 2 fucking pencil around my throat.

And anytime I said “No, I don’t think it works, it’s too skinny.”

He would fire back “No it’s not! It’s fine! You’re crazy! It’s all in your head!”

But I looked in the mirror and I knew in my heart of hearts that it was, indeed, too skinny.

So I went back to my tried and true pink tie. And when I put it on, I really did feel…this is the one.

(Tie- Suit Supply, Flowers- Ivie Joy Floral Arts, Photo by Glenmar Studio)

So the moral in all of this is that it’s fine to ask for help and hear what other people have to say. But at the same time, it’s also completely okay to let your well intended friends and family know “I’ve made my decision and this is the tie / suit / tux etc that we will be wearing.”

And if pink ties are your thing, Bloomingdales actually has a great selection of pink ties HERE. I really like THIS ONE and THIS ONE.

Nordstrom also has a great selection of pink ties that you can check out HERE. I especially like THIS ONE and THIS ONE. 

WEDDING BAND.

I got my wedding band at H.L. GROSS AND BROS  in Garden City, NY which has a terrific selection of men’s wedding bands. But I did try on a bunch of other styles that I also thought were cool. I think the best thing to do is to just keep trying on different rings until something feels right to you.

I went with a white gold/tungsten combo that I thought looked classy and casual at the same time. I also picked a wider width because thinner bands didn’t look good on me #SausageFingers #I❤️MyGenetics.

I also really liked THIS ONE on Etsy. (I was actually really surprised at how affordable some of them are). THIS ONE is nice too. And if you’re a groom looking for a little extra bling, THIS ONE is right up your alley.

AS FOR WHAT JEWLERY TO WEAR ON THE DAY OF.

Since you’ll obviously have your wedding band on, my advice would be to go easy on any other rings you might normally wear on your other fingers. That way, nothing detracts from your wedding band which should be the focal point on you and your bride’s special day.

For a watch, I went with my tried and true INVICTA PRO DIVER WATCH. I love everything about this watch. Super stylish and super affordable. I like the gold and blue color combo but if you prefer silver, this is a NICE ONE too.

I also wore a 18K gold pendant of Saint Anthony that belonged to Julie’s late mother, who gave it to Julie, who in turn gave it to me. So obviously it has a particular reverence with me, and I cherish it because I love Julie and I loved Julie’s mom. So the pendant is a reminder that she’s with us everyday. So if you have a piece of jewelry from someone, especially from a departed loved one, what better way to honor and acknowledge their presence on your special day than wearing a piece of jewelry that belonged to them.

For my late mother, I still have a Coca-Cola pin on her prayer card because truth be told: she lived off the stuff.

(Coca-Cola pin bought on Etsy)

She used to keep a can in her purse at all times. I remember one time when I was a kid, I turned to my mother and said “Hey Mom do you have anything to drink” and she pulled out a warm Coke from her purse and said “Here drink this but save some for me, I still have to take my pills later.”

LOL. I never said my family was normal. 😆

But all kidding aside, I do think your wedding day is the perfect day to include a trinket or a special piece of jewelry from a loved one, (especially if they’re on the other side).

Julie even wore the diamond earrings from her late mother (similar to THESE and something more affordable like THESE.) I think it’s a nice way to add to the specialness of the day.

GIFTS FOR YOUR GROOMSMEN. 

(Photos by Glenmar Studio. Watch by Jack Mason)

When it came to gifts for my groomsmen, I knew I wanted to get them watches because let’s face it, watches are simple and a good watch can dress up *any* outfit. There’s so many to chose from, so I picked styles that fit each person. For Dennis and Ernie, I went with watches by Jack Mason. I loved the combo of the leather band, rose gold hardware, and chronograph face. They have a lot of other cool styles HERE!! 

For my best man Ferd, I went with this amazing watch by Jord.  Jord watches are crafted out of wood which makes them super unique, and they have a very organic feel to them, so it was perfect for my best man.

I have a Jord watch myself and I even bought THIS ONE for my wife.

(His and her matching JORD WOOD WATCHES. Top: Check out Julie’s Watch HERE, Bottom: Check out my watch HERE.)

GET SOME COOL SUNGLASSES FOR YOUR BIG DAY.

Since we were having an ourdoor wedding I was sure to bring my Versace sunglasses. I got them online at Bloomingdales a few years ago.  I loved their shape. There’s also a cool one with a similar shape I saw HERE. I personally like this style because they don’t block other people from seeing your eyes. Eye contact is very big with me so I have all the benefits of shades without sacrificing someone being able to look you in the eyes (and vice versa). But no matter what your style, get yourself some bomb-ass sunglasses for your special day. They will come in handy for pictures and plus let’s be real, they look cool as hell. I saw some other cool shades HERE! 

SHOES.You’re gonna be doing a lot of running around and dancing on your big day so you’re going to want shoes that don’t just look good, but are also super comfortable. I went with my GORDON RUSH LOAFERS from Bloomingdales. I did see some other styles HERE but I have wide feet so these loafers were the most comfortable. I shined them myself with THIS AWESOME SHINE KIT,  and put some WOODEN SHOE HOLDERS inside to help keep their shape.

MANICURE THOSE NAILS.

Everyone is going to want to see your ring so believe it not, there’s actually going to be a lot of focus on your hands. So be especially sure to take care of your nails during weeks leading up to the big day. Here are a lot of great HOME GENTLEMAN’S MANICURE KITS.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

Have fun! Seriously. Your wedding will be a day that’s filled with joy, laughter, and an indescribable cosmic feeling that will envelop you throughout the entire day.

It will be a busy day yet it will seemingly fly by in the blink of an eye.

Do your best to find a moment here and there to take it all in. And if there are any hiccups along the way, just remember that it’s you and your bride’s special day and no one else’s.

My best advice in this entire article is to just decide ahead of time that no matter what happens on your wedding day, you’re not gonna let anything brother you or your bride. And once you’ve made that decision no matter what hiccups may come your way, trust me, nothing will bother you.

And above all else. Have fun. Have fun with your friends. Have fun with your family. Have fun with your lovely bride and bask in the love and adoration of everyone in your tribe. That’s what it’s all about. In this life, that’s what really counts.

 

Our Magical Wedding Part Two- Guest post by Yokairy Tavarez

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There’s a quote about friendship that I love: “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart”- Eleanor Roosevelt.  🌹 I count myself very lucky to have such incredible, supportive, positive, and beautiful friends in my life.  One of them is my cherished friend, Yokairy Tavarez.  Yokairy and I have been friends since high school, and I won’t say here exactly how long that is, but trust me, it’s LONG! 😆 Yokairy is a talented writer, (check out her website HERE, and you can also buy her books HERE), incredible mother, loving wife, and amazing friend.  She’s the type of friend that you wish for, and that you’re lucky to find in this lifetime.  She’s always been so supportive, encouraging, and selfless when it comes to being there for her friends, and I couldn’t have been more grateful that she agreed to be in my bridal party, and to stand by me on this important day.

I asked her to write a guest post for my blog, talking about the wedding from her perspective.  She was more than happy to oblige, and sent me her draft within one day. I am so happy to share that with you now, and I am honored and grateful for the chance to showcase such a talented writer, and beautiful soul. 🌟

FLOWERS by Ivie Joy Flowers, BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES by Jenny Yoo. 

You know that saying: always a bridesmaid, never a bride? Well, I’ve never been a bridesmaid. Ever. None of my close friends have had big weddings, and the ones that have, I was not asked to be a bridesmaid. When my friend Julie asked me, I was genuinely floored. Millions of questions ran through my head: What do I do? Do I have to order strippers for a bachelorette party? Do you have to keep the bride and groom apart the night before? What does all this mean?

Luckily, not only were my questions unfounded and ridiculous, they were unnecessary. Julie knew what she wanted to do, and set out to make it happen. It definitely helped that her maid-of-honor, Debbie, could run the universe if given the chance.

Julie allowed myself and the other bridesmaids to give our input on every step, from the dress choice, to our hairstyles. We planned and had an amazing bachelorette trip to Disney World, had a beautiful and intimate shower, and even stayed at a hotel the night before in preparation of the wedding.

(HOTEL- The Ravel Hotel, Photo by Glenmar Studio)

The morning of was quite the experience. A full itinerary- that an obsessive compulsive scheduling addicted Virgo like myself loves- kicked off the day, with hair and makeup in our hotel room. Primped and prepped, we made our grand entrance ahead of the beautiful blushing bride and danced the night away under a sea of green at The Foundry in Long Island City.

 

As a reserved and quiet person, who only really comes out of my mean-looking shell with my close friends, I was afraid at first, if I’m being honest, of meeting new girls and being thrust into dress shopping and lunches and travel and sleepovers. It was a bit overwhelming.

But I realized something as I got to know these amazing women and became actual friends with them. It’s easy to forget sometimes that the things that make you care for and remain friends with another person are also the traits they see in others as well. So wouldn’t it then make sense that their friends can also become your friends?

My first experience as a bridesmaid was eye-opening in more ways than one. I learned what bustling means, and that one must absolutely try a makeup plan before the wedding. I tasted dinges for the first time so that alone was pretty awesome. 

And unbelievably enough, I made some new friends along the way.

WEDDING VENUE- The Foundry. BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES by Jenny Yoo. FLOWERS by Ivie Joy Floral Arts, PHOTOS by Glenmar Studio

Our Magical Wedding- Part One (Getting ready with your bridal party, plus hotel room must haves!)

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(Location: The Ravel Hotel. Dress purchased at Kleinfelds in NYC. Photo by Glenmar Studio)

Our wedding day was the most magical day I could have ever dreamed of.  The weather was incredible… clear skies with a breeze, no rain, hardly a cloud in the bright blue sky.  We were blessed. It had rained almost every day previously, and every day after, but it was a gorgeous day on July 29th, 2018 in NYC.  We didn’t take this for granted.

There was so much planning and work that went into it, that I thought I’d wait until afterwards to post a blog series chronicling the entire process!

We just got our photos back from Glenmar Studio, so I thought it was the perfect time to share the incredible experience we had!

In the next several blog posts, I plan on detailing everything that went into making our wedding day as incredible as it was.  As perfect as the day may sound, make no mistake, the planning was stressful, the expenses piled up, and there were a ton of things I wish I had known ahead of time.  But hindsight is 20/20, and now that I have gone through it, I can certainly help anyone who’s planning a wedding to learn from my mistakes, and I can share tips and insight on how to make the most of your special day!!

Part 1 of this series is going to focus on your bridal party, and getting ready for the big day!! Yay!! 🍾🥂

My best friends were my bridesmaids, and I am so lucky to have them.  From the moment I asked them to be in my wedding, I immediately started thinking about dresses, shoes, jewelry, hair, makeup, and matching robes to wear while getting ready! Not to mention special gifts for them!

 My goal was to find dresses that would be flattering on every single one of them, and would also make them feel comfortable. I also didn’t want all this to cost a fortune, so with some searching, and trial and error, I was able to get everything I wanted, and stay within my budget. (Sort of! Kind of? lol)

First off… the robes. 

(Robes are from ETSY! Link HERE.)

For the night before my wedding, I booked the girls and I a room in the gorgeous Ravel Hotel.  The view is incredible and it’s right next door to our wedding venue, The Foundry. 

I wanted us to all have matching robes for photos, but since there was 5 of us, that can get expensive pretty quickly. Luckily, I found the perfect ones on ETSY.  Stylish, affordable, and unique!  They were floral, came in a ton of colors, and they were customizable! Perfect!  I ordered the white floral Bride robe for myself, one Maid of Honor robe, and 3 Bridesmaids robes for the rest of my girls.  They were comfortable, arrived quickly, and were beyond gorgeous for photos! Great buy!  I highly recommend! Link HERE to buy! 

Second… makeup!!! 

The process of narrowing down a makeup artist was daunting at first. I wanted someone who would be able to give me a natural look that still “looked like me”. At the same time, I wanted the girls to be able to customize the perfect look to fit their personality, so I needed someone versatile. After testing with a few other makeup artists that were great, but didn’t seem to “get me”, I found BEAUTINI!  Wow! I tested with Kathy Zikas, and she was beyond incredible. She was able to give me the dewy, glowing, natural look I wanted for my indoor/outdoor Summer wedding!

Added bonus, she gave me, and all the girls individual false lashes! They looked natural, lush, and full.  Some of the other girls wanted a more smokey eye, and darker makeup, which she accommodated beautifully. Everyone was happy with how they looked, and I was ecstatic!

(Snapshot of me and my amazing friend, and groomsman Dennis, who also got his makeup done by Beautini, and loved it!!)

Beautini truly did a wonderful job, and made everyone photo ready! P.S… they also brought us complimentary champagne! How can you beat that?  🥂🍾

If you’re looking for a makeup artist for your wedding, or any event, look no further!

Third… gifts, and jewelry for your bridal party!

(Crystal butterfly rings by Gucci. 🦋 Purchase HERE or HERE.)

When I asked my bridesmaids to be a part of this incredibly special day, I wanted to get them each a gift as a thank you for being there for me and standing by my side. I also wanted to get them something they could wear on the day of the wedding. When I saw Gucci’s new Butterfly line, I fell in love.  All their pieces were gorgeous and full of whimsy, but it was the rings that caught my eye. They were the perfect size, not too big, but certainly not small. The sparkle on them was incredible.  It’s the perfect Summer ring in my opinion.  🦋  Buy HERE!  And if you love butterflies, check out their Butterfly Choker HERE, and their Butterfly bracelet HERE.

Fourth… the bridesmaids dresses! 

When searching for dresses with the girls, there were two things that were most important. Finding a dress that would be flattering on everyone, and would also make them feel comfortable.  There are tons of dress styles out there, from off the shoulder, to lace, to floral, to a-line.  We searched at a few different places, including David’s Bridal, and Nordstrom, but finally found the perfect dress at BHLDN.

(My gorgeous bridesmaids in the Jenny Yoo Annabelle dress in cameo pink. Belts were custom made on ETSY, link HERE!)

(Posing on the balcony at The Ravel Hotel, before heading over for the ceremony)

I knew I wanted the dresses to be blush pink, and this Jenny Yoo dress was the perfect shade, and the ideal flattering cut. The a-line shape looked great on everyone, and the structured bust was just gorgeous. 🌟🌸 Plus, the price was super affordable, and every now and then, they have sales on this brand, so keep an eye out for that!

I knew the dresses needed belts to make them pop, but sadly all the belts were sold out at BHLDN.  Luckily, I found an incredible seller on ETSY that made me custom belts for all the girls! Her customer service was INCREDIBLE and I couldn’t recommend her more! Plus her pricing was incredible! Great value for a low price! The belts were STUNNING. Here’s a link to her store: Heirloom Garter Co. And the link to the belts I got my bridesmaids is HERE.  Buy the dresses HERE. 

Fifth… Let’s talk about shoes!

When shopping for wedding shoes, comfort was my first and main concern!  My husband and I had been taking ballroom dancing lessons with the incredible Daniela Del Giorno for the past 6 months to prepare for our first dance. (BTW, she’s amazing, and I highly recommend taking lessons with her!)  I wanted to make sure I had shoes that would allow me to dance without causing me unspeakable pain, or blisters! I also wanted shoes that I could walk around in, and dance all night without worrying about limping halfway through the day.

Luckily I found these gorgeous rhinestone encrusted heels that were perfect.  They are from the Jewel by Badgley Mischka collection! They were comfortable with a medium sized heel, and bonus… they matched my dress!  My Maid of Honor ended up buying a pair as well in their blush color to match her dress.  If you’re looking for stylish, yet comfortable shoes to boogie the night away, look no further! They were only around $100 bucks, but looked like a million! Buy them HERE!

(My beautiful bridesmaid, Thao, helping me on with my shoes)

Sixth… jewelry for the ceremony!

For the bridesmaids, I thought it would be best, and most elegant, to keep it simple. I got them these gorgeous studs and matching solitaire necklaces by Danori from Macy’s. They had just the right amount of sparkle that played off their crystal belts.  Perfect for any occasion! You can purchase the earrings HERE, and the necklace HERE!

Sixth, and last…. decor and extras for the wedding suite!

As I mentioned before, I booked us a room at The Ravel Hotel so we could stay there together the night before, and get ready together in the morning. Everyone brought different items, treats, and decorations to make the night special.

(Love balloon from ETSY.  Bridal cookies from ETSY.  Wifey clutch by Edie Parker)

Debbie, my maid of honor surprised me with these adorable wedding themed cookies from ETSY! They were as delicious as they were adorable! She also brought the LOVE balloon, also from ETSY. They were two perfect additions to the beautiful room.

I got the WIFEY clutch on sale at SAKS! It’s by Edie Parker, and I had been lusting after it for a long time, I was so happy to find it 60 percent off! Link to more Edie Parker clutches HERE!

My bridesmaid Thao surprised us with rose gold glitter for our Champagne! It bubbled over when we poured it in and put us in the mood to celebrate!

(Our gorgeous wedding invitation, in front of my stunning bouquet by Ivie Joy Flowers)

The incredible team at Glenmar Studio, who took these amazing photos, told me to bring along one of my wedding invitations for pictures, and I am so glad I did! It was a great way to capture every detail that made this wedding possible!

In the next several posts, I will be talking about designing my invitations, save the dates, picking a florist, (Ivie Joy was AMAZING), finding my perfect dress, and choosing our incredible venue. (The Foundry was a dream!)

There’s so much to talk about, I couldn’t possibly do it all in one post!

Stay tuned for news on my new Youtube Channel I am launching, where I will be talking about ways to save money on your wedding day, my favorite fashion finds, and what to splurge on, and what not to!

All the gorgeous photos on this post were done by the incredible Glenmar Studio! I will be doing a post on them coming up! Stay tuned!

XOXO

Julie Rose 🌹