The year 2020 was a time of uncertainty, disappointment, and stress for so many brides. As the trees began to bud in the spring of 2021 and breathed another season of life, so did the bridal world. My brides were happy for the chance to finally celebrate their weddings with a new appreciation for everything and anything bridal.
Valerie & Kevin
April 26, 2020 | April 25, 2021
Photography by Jose Ybarra
My bride, Valerie, was special to me in so many ways. She was in the first wave of wedding cancellations due to COVID. This initial group of 2020 canceled brides broke my heart. They were blindsided, unprepared, and shocked at the sudden halt of their nuptials. Valerie’s story actually pointed me towards months of serving others.
Kevin proposed to Valerie in September of 2018. They set a wedding date for April 26th, 2020.
“I realized that I wouldn’t be able to get married the weekend of my bachelorette party on March 13th, 2020. We were all set to go to Miami, Florida. I remember clearly how nervous I was. I work as an RN, and there was an influx of COVID positive cases. We actually had the very first case in New Jersey. The day before we were supposed to leave for Miami, the process of closing down began. I canceled everything twelve hours before our flight and cried the whole weekend.”
Photo by Valerie Tabano
I reached out to Valerie to see how she was doing. She told me she feared bringing the virus home to her fiancé. PPE was scarce, and masks were non-existent for loved ones of frontline workers—and the entire world for that matter. Valerie inspired me to begin making masks from scraps of cotton fabric for the families of frontline workers, pregnant women, and the elderly. In the end, I spent my months of a mandated closing making over 700 masks for those in need. She and Kevin were among the first!
Photo by Valerie Tobano
“I grew so much from this experience. I think a lot of my growth came from working with COVID patients and dealing with the sadness and heartbreak that came with it. Being an RN and a bride at the same time was really difficult, and I could not do it without my fiancé, family, and friends. Oddly enough, I would have to say that the strengthening of my relationships with others was definitely the biggest blessing of 2020!”
Valerie’s Wedding Day - April 25, 2021
Photo by Reveled Events Design
“The most memorable moment was seeing my husband’s face when I walked down the aisle. He just couldn’t get over how beautiful I looked. It was a perfect day!”
“I absolutely loved my veil and did not want to take it off! It was so lightweight and did not take away from my dress or accessories. I took it off right before our first dance, so it stayed on for hours after the ceremony. It was honestly perfect! ”
“The one thing I appreciated the most was the outpouring of love from our guests. So many people came up to us and told us how happy they were for us and how much they loved us together. It was nice to hear and definitely got me emotional.”
“I did not expect everything to go so smoothly and be so perfect. When I say it was a perfect day, it truly was. I was definitely not disappointed with anything!”
JY Photo Weddings | The Rockleigh | Jaehee Bridal | Maggie Sottero Designs | Bridal Styles Boutique | Blush and Brush Event Styling | A Beauty by Amanda | Floriography Designs | Reveled Events Design
Stacie & Wilking
July 2, 2020, | April 5, 2021
Photography by Amy Anaiz
After being together for six years, Stacie and Wil got engaged on December 4th, 2016, and booked their wedding in January 2018. They had much to accomplish before their planned wedding date of July 2nd, 2020, which included buying a house. Combined, they have three master’s degrees and one doctorate.
“I was in denial for some time, thinking and hoping that things would turn around by the summer. We decided to change our date in early May of 2020. I was devasted. It was hard to find the positives, but we were glad that we decided to push back the wedding to take steps to keep our loved ones safe.”
Stacie’s Wedding Day - April 5, 2021
“I kind of stopped thinking about the wedding once we decided to move it. I was thrilled but also panicked when I found out we could proceed. ”
“I was nervous about the weather and initially about having a Monday evening wedding due to postponing. However, we lucked out with 67 degrees, and a Monday night wedding made no difference in the amount of celebration, love, and joy that filled the venue.”
“I was the calmest bride, which is not typical for me. I was so appreciative of having the opportunity to just enjoy and take in every moment of the entire day.”
“I loved everything about my headpiece. It was absolutely stunning, and everyone loved it. To say I was pleased was an understatement. I can’t express enough how perfect it was. Thank you so much for that, Marie!”
“About a month before the wedding, we were pleased to hear that the capacity limit had increased. This was a big stressor for us. We were very happy to learn that we would be able to invite a few more close friends and family.”
“My heart goes out to all of the brides and couples who had to postpone their weddings. But, people kept telling me throughout the journey, all that matters is the day with you and your future husband being surrounded by people you love and who love you. It is all true! All I focused on was the joy and bliss of the day.”
Amy Anaiz | The Park Chateau | Kleinfeld Bridal | Pnina Tornai | Hair and Now Unisex | Nancy Byrne
Keri & Anthony
October 9, 2020, | April 22, 2021
Photography by Pearl Paper Studio
I love all of my HPC brides, but it is extra special when my former design assistant comes in as a bride-to-be. Anthony proposed to Keri on August 5th, 2018. I remember thinking this engagement will seem years long. I couldn’t wait for the text that Keri wanted to come to the shop to accessorize for her wedding day. They planned to marry on October 9th, 2020.
Keri and I stayed in touch through all of the changes. One day she came to the shop to tell me they decided to have a simple small church ceremony on their original wedding day and push their reception to April of 2021. I could sense her heartbreak. I told her how blessed she was to get married in an intimate ceremony and then do it all over again months later. Many brides suffer from the wedding blues the days following their wedding, but Keri had a chance to experience it twice. I offered to help her look and feel like a bride on both days.
This is Keri’s second appearance on our blog. We featured her October wedding in the December 2020 blog: Fourteenth: Church Weddings in Covid Times
Keri’s Vow Renewal and Reception - April 22nd, 2021
“We were ecstatic when we found out we could have our April 22nd wedding! On April 5th, our venue gave us the green light, and we didn’t have to cut our guest list. Indoor dining still had restrictions resulting in a few tables placed outside for dinner only.”
“My husband, Anthony, has always been such an optimist and was the rock during this uncertain time in our lives. We leaned on each other when we had doubts or concerns. ”
It was 45 degrees and windy on April 22nd. Keri was “dead set” on having her ceremony outside. Keri wore a double veil in our new Bregine style. One tier was floor length and the other cathedral length. A bit of breeze makes for beautiful photos.
“The thing we appreciated most about the day was our bridal party, parents, and guests. They were the life of the party! As the bride and groom, once the reception starts, it is hard to see the whole party until afterward. They all had a great time!”
“By moving our date, we were able to experience our wedding as close to what we had envisioned before COVID. If we tried to have it in October of 2020, it would have looked so different. It truly was everything we wanted!”
Pearl Paper Studio | Rock Island Lake Club | Kleinfeld Bridal | Hayley Paige | Bridal by Natalie
“I have known Marie as a dear friend and former employer going on 10+ years. She has been with me every step of the way through this entire process and goes above and beyond for her brides. I have seen her now on both sides of the counter and couldn’t be more grateful to be one of her beloved brides. My headpieces and veils will be with me for the rest of my life.”
Next month on the Fourteenth:
Designing in Color
