“One summer we spent just getting to know each other and jogging every morning on boardwalk. Shortly after we started dating and were inseparable. We supported each other through school years as we gained our professional licenses in pharmacy and public accounting.“

Diana & Stan, bridal hair accessories – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

As they grew up, the friendship between the two began to feel like something more, and on their first date, Diana knew.

“On our first official date we went to watch a movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. As we were watching the movie I expressed to Stan that the big “crazy” family (not really crazy I say that with love) was just like mine. I told him my family is loud, fun, and most kind-hearted group of people I have ever met just like the family in the movie. As I watched the couple get married I imagined my wedding day with Stan. I didn’t know where it would be or when, but I knew it would happen someday.”

Diana, bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

Five years later, on a date special to Diana, Stan asked her to be his wife.

“Stan made a special Valentine’s Day proposal, which also happens to be my birthday. But what makes it even more special is that my dad also proposed to my mom on Valentine’s Day. I was completely surprised when he popped the question in a limo on our way to dinner at River Café. The evening was very romantic and unforgettable. Leaving my dad speechless and teary and hearing my sister’s excitement was a priceless reaction.“

Diana, bridal hair jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

Deciding October 23, 2011 would be the date, after a three-year engagement, Diana and Stan began to plan their wedding day!

“Crystal Plaza had us at hello with their friendly service and warm hospitality. The only obstacle we had to overcome was convincing our parents to have a wedding New Jersey since most guests would be coming from Brooklyn. My dad got a little push from Douglas from D&E Entertainment as he raved about the place and said it was worth the commute. So we brought our parents to Crystal Plaza and they realized what we had been raving about.”

Diana, bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

Venue chosen, Diana and Stan focused on the other details of their celebration, enlisting their families to help.

“With a creative family like ours we made it out more than ok. We delegated duties. Our parents were a big help; especially mine for dealing with my daily panic moments. (In retrospect I miss those moments dearly).“

Diana & Stan, elegant bridal veiling – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

Diana’s father is a musician and managed everything to do with the night’s music.

“My dad as the musician in our family played in major factor in handling the entertainment portion of our wedding. So essentially hiring the band was a no brainer it was of course, D&E Entertainment. We (well ok my dad) worked very closely with them to create a song list that would attract guests of all ages. We also hand picked each female and male singer in the band and created a dream. So yes in addition to D&E Entertainment 9 piece band, we had Oxana from Rasputin, Yana from Chinar, and of course the one and only Michael Botsman. I can’t tell you enough what a phenomenal night it was of fun dance music that kept everyone on the dance floor at all times.

My favorite singer of the night was however, my dad. When he took the microphone and sang songs that he wrote dedicated to us it topped the cake and melted my heart. The lyrics of the songs were very touching and to me one of the most memorable moments.“

Diana & Stan, bridal hair comb and veil - Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

While searching for her dress, Diana’s father proved himself to be a maestro of bridal gowns as well!

“Choosing my wedding dress was no easy task since I wanted something special and unusual with a modern twist. I didn’t know what style but I knew I wanted to be comfortable so I can enjoy my wedding night. After hitting up all major bridal stores, one dress caught my attention at a small boutique in Manhasset, New York called The Wedding Salon.

I was walking around the store when a beautiful Marchesa gown caught my eye. Before I even tried it on my dad said, “This is it.” I of course jumped and said, “But papa how do you know? I haven’t even tried it on.” When I walked out of the room his eyes lit up and he said, “We’re done.” My mom and I had our doubts because it didn’t fit the norm of bridal gowns, it didn’t have a train, it didn’t bustle and it wasn’t very poufy. To which my dad’s response was, “But you wanted to be different so make a fashion statement.”

Diana & Stan, bridal accessories – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

“So after all the fifty dresses I tried on we returned to the store a final time with my sister, mother-in-law and parents, the decision was made. And you guessed we got the Marchesa gown. Looking back I’m very happy with the decision. The shoes were not an easy find, too, but on one humid summer day, I was determined to find perfect wedding shoe. It was when I walked into the Madison Avenue Giuseppe Zanoti boutique, when I found my crystallized blinged out Cinderella-like wedding shoe.”

Diana & Stan, bridal hair jewelry and veil – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

When it came to her accessories, Diana had only one place in mind – Bridal Styles Boutique! To match her gown, Diana selected an exquisite crystal and pearl headpiece, veil created from a unique combination of classic veiling and French net with crystals scattered and Fench net blusher.

“Choosing the headpiece and veil was an easier task because I didn’t have to go to many stores and search; I went straight to the professionals, Edward & Elaine at Bridal Styles Boutique. They have exquisite taste and style and I knew they would create the look I wanted. Every headpiece that was handed to me was more beautiful than the next. But when I brought my dress it was evident which piece would fit the gown. The pearls and crystals on the headpiece matched the bodice of my dress perfectly. I wish all wedding decisions were as easy as this one.“

Diana & Stan, unique bridal hair jewelry and veil - Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

For her bridesmaid dresses, Diana enlisted the help of her wonderful in-laws-to-be.

“The girls I chose for my bridal party are not bridesmaids, they are my sister and dearest cousins, who have always looked up to me as their oldest cousin and role model. However,as they grew up I admired them and looked up to them for their amazing personalities and individualities. So I wanted their dress to reflect their beauty. And so the fun and sometimes grueling task began. We went to stores in Manhattan, Long Island, and Brooklyn and I couldn’t find a bridesmaid dress I loved. Until finally one day, my father-in-law drove my mother-in-law and I all over NYC in the sweltering summer heat until finally we found the picture perfect purple Jovani dress.

I think the choosing the right wardrobe for everyone was the most difficult task. Since everyone essentially wanted to look and feel their best.”

Diana & Stan, statement bridal hair comb - Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

Other than their families, while putting together the ingredients for their dream wedding, Diana and Stan relied on the advice of the professionals they’d chosen.

“All the vendors I worked with were truly amazing, cooperative, and friendly. Besides Douglas & Eddie who provided the best entertainment, I had the opportunity to work with the best florist in the community, Tamara from Aramat Events. During our first meeting I didn’t know what type of flowers and colors I wanted to use. I just wanted to incorporate a singe of purple and have a variety of flowers and not just the typical roses and orchids. She is a woman of exclusive taste and I trusted her professional judgment. The chuppah was beautifully decorated and the reception looked radiant with a plethora of crystals and variations of flowers that included roses, orchids, hydrangeas, tulips, lily of the valley and much more. She created a magical evening for us and I will always be grateful to her and her positive emotions. The ceremony that occurred at sunset was truly unforgettable.

Another outstanding vendor and probably one of the most important was the video and photo team, Videomax. They are responsible for capturing every moment of our wedding so we have a memory for the rest of our lives. I commend them for a job well done! They worked extremely professionally and made sure to capture not just the bride and groom and family but all the guests as well. I look forward to watching the video and reliving every moment.“

Diana & Stan, bridal hair piece - Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

From start to finish, October 23rd was everything Diana and Stan imagined it to be …and more.

“A lot of brides I speak to say they never remember much from their wedding day. But I have a vivid recollection of every moment. Even as I walked down the aisle I could see all our family and friends surrounding us with beaming smiles. It was at that moment I felt that it was all real and I was having my dream wedding come true.

My parents walking me down the aisle was a bittersweet, proud and very happy moment. I felt their tears of joy and I held their hands tight as I held back my own tears. My amazing makeup and hair artist, Didi Benabo, would have been disappointed if I ruined my makeup. As I hugged my mom and dad, I knew from that moment forward my life was in another man’s hands. And I knew they were proud of the woman I had become and all of my accomplishments.”

Diana & Stan, stunning bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

“The reception was the most fun and exciting part of the evening. It was great to see all the guests dancing all night and we had a blast with them. After the stressful part of performing our rehearsed first dance we were able to let loose. I was really proud of Stan since dancing was not his strong suit and taking dance lessons took some convincing. I guess we were running on adrenaline because we did our dancing without any mistake and we enjoyed it.“

Diana & Stan, bridal accessories – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography -Videomax

“Our wedding was special not just because we celebrated the love Stan and I have for each other, but also because everyone who attended our wedding was genuinely happy for us and were there to have a good time. From a young age I always envisioned my dream wedding day but the day I had exceeded by expectations by far and I feel lucky and blessed. And it was an honor to be chosen to be Bride of the Month. I am so happy I got the opportunity to share my story and wish for all future couples a happy wedding day and even happier marriage.“

Diana & Stan, bridal hair jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, photography - Videomax

Now that a few months have passed, and Diana and Stan are officially newlyweds, they have some advice for the newly engaged!

“Enjoy every moment and take it all in. When planning the wedding stay organized and follow your “to do” checklist. I also prepared an itinerary for the day of the wedding. Every single moment was planned out, which even included the times which family members were scheduled for pre-wedding photos. The whole day ran smoothly since everyone followed the plan and we were all able to remain calm and enjoy the day. For all brides out there don’t let anyone tell you something is not right to do, it is your day and do whatever you want. Smile and stay on the dance floor all night. People feed off the positive energy from the bride and groom, so if you have fun so will everyone else. And you will have a successful party.“

Diana & Stan, photography - Videomax

Best wishes Diana and Stan! Thank you for sharing your memories with us!

“First, I knew him as my friend’s super tall cousin, and to him I was his cousin’s petite-framed friend who wore a lot of make up.

The second time we met, we both tried to ignore the fact that we were the only single guests among married couples, and tried to stay away from each other. Although Sukhrob was encouraged to invite me to a dance, he never did and I wouldn’t want him to. Still, we were clueless and disinterested.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, stunning custom headpiece by Bridal Styles New York

“Then, as it became so common since the birth of social networking, we befriended each other on Facebook and Odnoklassniki. Constant communication changed the way we viewed each other from our very first meeting.

We discovered common interests, sense of humor, similar palates and eventually started confiding in one another. We became close friends and felt the first signs of attraction through music and dance.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, dramatic bridal headpiece by Bridal Styles New York

Before long, a culmination of Sukhrob’s qualities revealed to Nargiza that she had met their match.

“It wasn’t only one of his qualities that made me decide: He is the one. I saw it in various small but significant details; the respect he showed toward his elders and especially women of all ages. The affection toward children, his decisiveness, and more importantly the strong bond between the members of his family and the love they had for each other had impressed me.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob’s wedding

For Nargiza and Sukhrob, becoming engaged involved Uzbeki and US traditions.

“It was not like the typical, surprising me with a sparkling diamond ring while we are on a romantic trip kind of a proposal. It was a gradual proposal that build up in stages. There were also some traditions involved behind the entire process. We couldn’t have made any decision without receiving our parents’ consent. First he asked my parents for my hand and in November of 2009 we traveled to our hometown, Tashkent, Uzbekistan so that I could meet his parents.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, statement bridal headpiece by Bridal Styles New York

However, even after my engagement ring was chosen and was given for resizing, he managed to surprise me with my sister’s help. We were scheduled to have our ‘e-session’ at one of NYC parks and when I arrived there after work I saw that there were rose petals and candles at the bottom of the stairs (early in our relationship we used to go to that park, sit by the water and talk for hours). Then he took my hand and got on one knee. I thought that he was posing for pictures but realized that he was proposing when out of nowhere he took out a single red rose with my (resized) ring carefully tucked in the center of it!”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, elegant bridal accessories by Bridal Styles New York

Both families pitched in to help plan Nargiza and Sukhrob’s wedding. Especially Nargiza’s sisters and cousins, who helped execute every detail.

“I have been planning my wedding since I was 18! Ideas came and went, but only couple of wishes remained unchanged; incorporation of burgundy and gold as well as lots and lots of flowers. I envisioned a modern wedding with vintage touches here and there, but traditions were inevitable, as our wedding would take place in Uzbekistan. The challenge was to be able to balance it all and present in best way possible: contemporary base sprinkled with vintage but glamorous details and wrapped up in centuries old traditions.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, glam bridal headpiece and cage veil by Bridal Styles New York

While planning their reception, Nargiza and Sukhrob put their own personal stamp on every element of the day.

“Everything from the venue, décor and flowers to the cake (that featured live birds as the ‘cake topper’), music DVD that we burnt for the dance part of the wedding, outfit change and our special dance were all special to us. They definitely made our day unique and undoubtedly our own.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, spectacular custom bridal headpiece by Bridal Styles New York

When choosing her wedding day look, Nargiza had similar plans. She wanted something that captured her style and expressed both past and present.

“Just the way I envisioned the entire wedding, the look I envisioned for myself as a bride was vintage-y yet glamorous, extravagant yet elegant. Since I knew what I wanted, I thought it would be very easy to make my choice. But when tried on my favorite mermaid dress, I found that the look just didn’t scream ‘bride’ for me. To be sure, I tried on couple of other mermaid gowns, but I felt the same as I would in any other evening gown.

I never thought I would choose a ball gown as my primary wedding dress, but when I tried on a ball gown by Priscilla of Boston, I really did feel like a queen. Even so, I still didn’t feel fulfilled. I wanted something edgier and more modern. So I chose a beautiful A-line ivory satin gown by Badgley Mischka as my second dress that I would change into for the dances.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, dramatic bridal headpiece and french net veil by Bridal Styles New York

Wedding gowns chosen, Nargiza dove into selecting equally marvelous bridal accessories.

“As far as accessories, I wanted it all! A traditional long veil sure to cause butterflies and teary eyes in loved ones, an edgier birdcage and a delicate studded veil.

From the beginning I knew finding a headpiece would be tough because I did not want a traditional tiara, nor did I want silk flowers or individual sparkly pins. I wanted my headpiece to be bold, antique looking, and definitely something that no one had ever seen before.

I was introduced to Bridal Styles Boutique and its incredible owners Edward and Elaine through my cousin Madina. who works there. I explained to Edward what I wanted and within seconds he knew what look I was going for and offered to custom make my own one-of-a-kind headpiece. I was more than thrilled! Among all my wedding vendors they were the only ones who showed so much care, they really do understand how important their work is for a bride, and they delivered the exact thing that my heard had desired. My vision became a reality and it won’t be too much if I say that my dream came true the moment I saw that one of a kind masterpiece that Edward created for me.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, bridal headpiece and french net veil by Bridal Styles New York

June found Nargiza and Sukhrob in their hometown of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, ready and excited for their wedding. On the 11th, before their closet family members, Nargiza and Sukhrob were wed. A week later, at Farovon, one of Tashkent’s beautiful venues and restaurants, joined by family and friends, they celebrated with a spectacular reception!

“It usually gets really hot in Tashkent that time of year, so I had wished for a rain the morning of the wedding day, and indeed it did rain refreshing the trees and all the greens outside.

The reception hall was decorated beautifully! My husband and I enjoyed seeing our loved ones having a good time, having fun and dancing away. Unfortunately some of our loved ones were unable to travel that far for our wedding, but they sent their love to us and were there in spirit.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, stunning custom headpiece by Bridal Styles New York

“We had two ‘first dances.’ We danced a casual slow dance right after we entered the reception hall, and a slightly choreographed special dance later on in the evening. For me, our first un-choreographed dance was the most memorable part of the wedding. It was right after we entered the hall, and all guests’ eyes were on us and they recognized us husband and wife for the first time. I could barely hold back my tears and was shaking uncontrollably. The only thing I could do is just look in to his eyes and seeing his eyes shine with happiness. That was happiness.”

Nargiza & Sukhrob, custom made bridal headpiece by Bridal Styles New York

After their magical, memorable wedding and a few months as newlyweds, Nargiza and Sukhrob have the following advice for other planning couples:

“No matter what happens you have to remember that this day is about you and your significant other only. This is about your happiness, a celebration of your unity and togetherness.

When it comes to weddings, we girls tend to be so detail oriented, that while counting the flowers on a centerpiece or noticing that the linens on tables are not the exact colors that had been promised to be delivered, we forget about the bigger picture – that at the end of the day what matters is that you and your loved one are happily married and no more flowers and/or other shades of linens will make any difference at that point. Yes, we want everything to be perfect and there will be things that will go wrong no matter what, but you should prepare yourself for that before the wedding. You should be able to ignore those malfunctions and just try your best to pay attention to the good things, to the significant things.

Try to savor each moment, take a moment and take it all in, because everything happens so fast that at the end of the day you shouldn’t be saying: ‘I don’t remember this or that part at all.’ I was given this advise by my cousin Madina. before my wedding and only now I know how true this is and won’t miss a chance to reiterate this for future brides one more time. “

Nargiza & Sukhrob, statement bridal headpiece by Bridal Styles New York

Thank you for sharing your day with us, Nargiza and Sukhrob, and best wishes!

“Because we were friends, we knew a lot about each other, the good, the bad and everything in between. Once you see someone for everything they are and still want that person as your spouse that’s when you know he or she is the one. And that is how I knew Gerard was the one. He was a great man, a true family man and was excellent with children, which was very important to me! He was a protector and a defender of people he loved, kind, serious, yet quirky and I loved all those qualities about him.”

Adelya & Gerard, art deco crystal bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, Images by Duet Photography

Gerard had also fallen head over heels for Adelya and planned a proposal to sweep her off her feet.

“On January 8, 2010 he took me on a planned horse and carriage ride through Central Park. In the back of my head I thought maybe today was the day but I wasn’t too sure. After about 30 minutes of riding around, I heard really pretty music. I thought, ‘That’s it! He is proposing!’ but it was just a restaurant playing music. After another 10 minutes of riding around, the tour guide said ‘We are now at Bethesda Terrace, one of the most beautiful and romantic places. You may want to hop off and take a picture.’ I thought ‘Oh this is nice’. Then, out of nowhere, a guy started playing what was supposed to be our first dance song, Michael Bolton’s I Promise You on a saxophone. I started to smile, tear up and all of that good stuff! Gerard knew I wanted a very private proposal so he led me onto the snowy steps of Bethesda Terrace and said something like; ‘You know I love you more than anything in the world, and that I have wanted to marry for a long time… will you marry me?’ There were some tears, many smiles, and kisses. After that he took me to the Top of the Tower restaurant where we had a very romantic dinner with gorgeous views. It was truly a great day.”

Adelya, dramatic bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, Images by Duet Photography

With a lot of organization and a little help from her family and Gerard, for the next year and half, Adelya planned her wedding. All while juggling law school, exams, graduation and studying for the bar.

“It was a bit stressful, especially the last 6-7 months. I was in my last semester of law school, there were final exams, and then I graduated May 13th. After that, I started a prep class and long study sessions for the July NY Bar Exam. Since I knew this in advance, I planned a lot of the bigger vendors and details beforehand. However, certain things like the DIY menus and programs I did, seating chart, & RSVPs had to wait. It was very difficult during those last few months!”

Adelya & Gerard, crystal bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, Images by Duet Photography

Right away, Adelya and Gerard planned for their June 5th wedding and ceremony to take place at Woodbury Country Club in Long Island.

“We had booked Woodbury Country Club as soon as we got engaged. Gerard and I fell in love with this venue because of its stunning outdoor area that reminded us of Miami. Also, they had delicious food, which was really important to us! The staff was so wonderful – we loved them! My Banquet manager, Jeff, was amazing to me, and answered all my questions. even when I sent them late at night!”

Adelya & Gerard, unique bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique Images by Duet Photography

Though planning the wedding and finishing law school became stressful, Adelya didn’t let it affect the fun she had choosing her wedding day look!

“I wanted something that screamed, regal, sophisticated fun and romantic. I know that’s not asking for too much! lol. The colors I chose were White/cream, lavender and light pink, and I think I more or less achieved my vision! My dress was by Galit Couture, a designer in Brooklyn who makes really blingy, stunning, showstopper dresses. When I heard of her in the early 2000’s, I told my mother I wanted to get married in a Galit Couture dress! I remember seeing both on her website and in her store, and wanting to cry I was so in love with it!”

Adelya & Gerard, spectacular crystal bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, Images by Duet Photography

With the wedding gown of her dreams chosen, Adelya knew exactly where she wanted to go shopping for her accessories…Bridal Styles Boutique!

“When I was a child of about 12, I would pass by all the sparkly beauty at Bridal Styles hoping one day when I married that I could wear one of those creations! I love bling, but not tacky bling and Bridal Styles had the most stunning, unique and BLINGY pieces I have ever seen! Yes, people copy them, but I knew I wanted an original Bridal Styles design! The way I chose my piece was by first deciding how I wanted to wear my hair, which was down flowy and pulled back on the side to create a dramatic and sexy look. When I met with Edward I couldn’t choose which piece I wanted because there were sooo many gorgeous ones. I was with my mom and she couldn’t choose either! Then Edward said, ‘Hold on I have this new piece I just finished. It’s very art deco looking.’ I asked him to show me, and when he did, I had to have it!! It was soooo me! Big yet not tacky, and with such beautiful detailing! I couldn’t wait to wear it on my wedding day!”

Adelya & Gerard, crystal bridal hair jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, Images by Duet Photography

In addition to staying organized and having fun, Adelya alleviated the stress of organizing her wedding through the RSVPs:

“Because of my busy law school schedule, we did something different and did an online RSVP through mywedding.com (where we also had our wedding website). The RSVP system was so easy and guests utilized it well! We didn’t have that many older people (except our grandparents) attending, so most of the guests were computer savvy. We still had really pretty invitations but instead one of the inserts had the online RSVP info!”

Adelya & Gerard, dazzling bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, Images by Duet Photography

Finally, June 5th arrived, and it was time for Adelya and Gerard to say “I Do”.

“It was surreal! It really didn’t hit me that I was getting married until almost the second I stepped into my dress and put on my headpiece and jewelry! Because we had planned to have our ceremony and all our pictures outside at Woodbury County Club, Gerard and I were so afraid the weather wouldn’t hold up. But God was good to us and we had a beautiful day! I was soooooooooooooooo nervous walking down the aisle in front of all our friends and family! I even had a drink or two before the ceremony, which still didn’t help me with the nerves. But when I did, it was so exciting seeing Gerard at the end of the aisle looking at me! He looked so happy and I loved that! The reception was also fun! We had an awesome DJ who did our lighting and an Arabic drummer who made the night fun and full of dancing! Everyone told me how awesome he was and how much he added to the reception.”

Adelya & Gerard, art deco bridal hair accessory – Bridal Styles Boutique, Images by Duet Photography

Though the whole day was everything they dreamed it to be, for Adelya and Gerard, there were a few moments that stood out.

“My two favorite moments both took place during the ceremony. The first was when after I walked down the aisle, Gerard lifted my veil and kissed me on the forehead, which he does all the time so it was beautiful. I don’t think the rabbi was happy, but we loved it! Then, as the ceremony started, Gerard grabbed my hand and held it throughout the ceremony. We kept squeezing each other’s hands all throughout. The instant he grabbed it and kept squeezing, I started to tear!! Gerard’s favorite moment was when he first saw me walking down the aisle. Since we didn’t take any pictures before, he hadn’t seen me yet! He also loved kissing me on the forehead!”

Adelya & Gerard, bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, Images by Duet Photography

After returning from their wedding day and honeymoon as newlyweds, Adelya and Gerard have some advice for other couples planning their weddings.

Adelya: “Pick the right dress for you, one that you will have absolutely no regrets about! Even if your dress costs a little bit more and you could swing it, do it because there is nothing worse than seeing your dress in pictures months or years down the line and regretting your choice. My other advice is to really take a moment and reflect on the day, whether it’s looking at your guests dancing or just taking in the entire room in, just do it because the will fly so fast that you will truly want this moment.”

Gerard: “Give your opinions on things that matter to you like food, but be careful because it’s true, a happy wife does equal a happy life. So I let Adelya make all the other decisions in the wedding.“

Adelya & Gerard, elegant crystal bridal hair comb – Bridal Styles Boutique, Images by Duet Photography

Thank you Adelya and Gerard for sharing your day with us and best wishes!

Adelya and Gerard’s wedding vendors:

DJ & Lighting- International Sounds: “George, the owner and his team were excellent to work with! They made the night so much fun with the music they choose which alternated between Russian, Azerbaijanian/Azeri, Arabic and English and the lighting, which was very important to me was everything I wanted!”

Mesho Show: “Our drummer was beyond amazing! We wanted to add entertainment to our reception along with our DJ because we had so many different types of music in our wedding because of our different background. I am originally from Azaerbaijan and I needed Azeri music and Arabic music at my wedding and also needed a lot of English music, so with the help of my DJ and the drummer I was able to get what I had envisioned for our entertainment.”      

 Cardbox- For the Modern Bride: “I loved working with them because they got my vision! Stella the owner made my cardbox exactly what I had pictured in my mind which helped dd to the details of the day.”

Capriccio Ensemble: “Provided cocktail hour music. I had a cello and a violin and Natalie the owner who played the Violin was so wonderful to work with she helped me choose songs and genres of music and was really great!”

Piper, a Brooklyn resident, visited Bridal Styles and chose a delicate but dramatic crystal hair comb to accent her modern bridal look.

Piper & Carl, via  3 Photographers, crystal hair comb - Bridal Styles Boutique

Which, when we saw the pictures of Piper’s wedding on Essence’s blog, went perfectly with her and Carl’s chic wedding at the Green Building in Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens!

Best wishes, Piper & Carl!

To see more pictures of Piper & Carl’s wedding, visit their feature on Essence.

Piper, via Essence. Photography -  3 Photographers, statement bridal hair comb - Bridal Styles Boutique

Piper & Carl’s wedding, via Essence. Photography -  3 Photographers, crystal hair jewelry - Bridal Styles Boutique

Piper & Carl, via Essence. Photography -  3 Photographers, dramatic hair accessory - Bridal Styles Boutique

Piper & Carl’s wedding, via Essence. Photography -  3 Photographers, bridal hair comb - Bridal Styles Boutique

Piper & Carl, via 3 Photographers, crystal hair comb - Bridal Styles Boutique

Every detail of Kim’s wedding was incorporated into her black and white theme: the tent, cake, linens, aisle runner and even her guests.

As we all know, Kim loves fashion, so of course she chose three Vera Wang wedding gowns. And, following the trend set by newlywed Kate Middleton, Kim’s bridesmaids wore beautiful ivory dresses.

For her something borrowed, jeweler Lorraine Schwartz lent Kim $15 million dollars’ worth of jewelry, including fantastic diamond drop earrings and a stunning diamond headband. All of those gorgeous jewels were incorporated into Kim’s three looks:

During her ceremony, Kim wore an airy, elegant princess gown paired with a beaded cathedral length veil. Complimenting this classic look, Kim wore her hair in a chignon adorned with a diamond band.

When Kim arrived at her reception, it was in an old Hollywood-inspired mermaid gown with a diamond comb tucked into her curls that fell down to one side. Then, she cut the cake wearing a glamorous sleek bias-cut gown.

To find your own dramatic hair pieces and jewelry similar to Kim’s, visit us at our New York bridal accessory boutique!

“We met at the airport, going to Israel for the Birthright trip. Ilya was very sweet, offering to carry my bag for me because I had over packed it and couldn’t lift it. I thought he was also the loudest most obnoxious person I had ever met, and completely not my type.”

Diana & Ilya,  crystal bridal headpiece – Bridal Styles New York, photography – Age Images

“When I got on the plane and saw that Ilya was sitting in the seat directly behind me I knew it was going to be a long, torturous flight. I was wrong however. We ended up talking the entire flight, and I discovered that Ilya is actually a nice and very funny guy. Our third night in Israel we all got dressed up to go to a club and I couldn’t believe how good he looked! It was the first time I felt a physical attraction to him and actually surprised myself. I had looked at him as a friend before, but now found myself wanting more. We spent the rest of the trip getting to know one another and were inseparable. As soon as we got back to New York he asked me out.

”

Diana,  elegant headband - Bridal Styles New York, photography – Age Images

Just like their trip to Israel, over time, Diana and Ilya realized that they had found something truly special and lasting in each other.

“I really don’t think there was any one moment, more of a slow realization. We started dating when we were 20 and were together for 5 years before we got married. It was a long journey filled with ups and downs. We broke up and got back together and then did it all over again. But over time we matured and our love matured. He’s my love, my best friend. I can be myself around him. He’s the first one I want to share good news with, and the only one I want comfort from when things are bad. Just being with him makes me feel calm and complete. He can make me happy with a hug and always knows how to make me laugh. He’s a funny guy and has such a good heart. It overwhelms me sometimes how much I love him, and knowing that he loves me just as much in return. I’m happiest when I am with him, and I know he’s the one, and will always be the only one for me.”

Diana & Ilya,  dramatic bridal hair Jewelry – Bridal Styles New York, photography – Age Images

On a beautiful summer evening, Diana got the surprise of her life!

“We were going to his co-worker’s engagement party. We were driving down the belt parkway and he suggested that we stop at one of the rest areas in Caesars Bay to watch the sunset since we were early and had some time. I kept thinking how it was the perfect setting for him to propose but I knew he wouldn’t do it since we had to go to this other engagement party and it would’ve been rude of us to show up there newly engaged. As the sun was setting in front of us, Ilya got down on one knee, pulled out a diamond ring, and asked me to marry him. I was speechless! His co-worker’s engagement party was a setup! He planned it perfectly and it was the best surprise of my life.
“

Diana & Ilya, photography – Age Images

The following nine months, with the help of their families and bridesmaids, Ilya and Diana worked together to plan their wedding. Everyone’s help must have had something to do with how smoothly the planning went.

“Everyone was surprised how calm I was about everything. My husband and I made all of the decisions together and moved very quickly. We got engaged August 14th, and 2 weeks later we had the venue, band, and photographer. I ordered my dress the first week of October and by the beginning of November the rest of our major vendors were booked. We did nothing until January when I booked the honeymoon (Greece and Turkey) and ordered bridesmaids dresses. In April, two months before the wedding things picked up again. I had my list of things left to do and together my husband and I tackled it. I was so well organized and had such help and support that I never felt stressed.”

Diana & Ilya, dramatic bridal hair jewelry - Bridal Styles New York, photography – Age Images

Finding her wedding gown and accessories was a breeze for Diana, but that may have had something to do with her mother, who knew exactly what Diana wanted.

“Choosing my wedding gown was an interesting experience. I loved Pronovias wedding gowns, and that was the first place I went to. I saw myself in a sweet romantic gown, with soft flowing material and ruffles. While I was explaining my perfect dress to the salesgirl, my mother was looking through the catalog. All of a sudden she goes “you have to try this dress on!” I look at the picture she was pointing to and thought she had lost her mind. It was nothing like I wanted or described.”

Diana & Ilya,  heirloom bridal accessories – Bridal Styles New York, photography – Age Images

“I ignored her suggestion since I didn’t like the dress and the salesgirl told us it wasn’t even available to try on because someone had bought the sample gown recently and they hadn’t received a new one yet. After trying on all of my top dresses I still didn’t feel like I found “the dress.” My mother was still upset that I wasn’t able to try on her choice and the salesgirl offered to go check if the dress had been picked up yet. It turns out that it was still in the store and she brought it up for me to try on. As soon as I had it on I was in love with it! I went to a few other stores to try on more dresses but my mind was always on the Pronovias dress. A few weeks later I came back to try it on again just to be sure and loved it even more. We ordered it right away. I guess the saying is true…mama knows best!”

Diana & Ilya,  unique crystal bridal headband – Bridal Styles New York, photography – Age Images

For her accessories, Diana knew exactly where to go. Twenty years earlier, Diana’s mother visited Bridal Styles Boutique and chose her own headpiece and accessories!

“For my headpiece we went to Bridal Styles. My mom had actually bought her wedding headpiece there 20 years ago. Picking a headpiece was harder than picking a wedding gown! Everything was so beautiful and it was impossible for me to pick my favorite. The salesgirl was wonderful and so helpful. She put my hair up for me so I would get an idea of how the different headpieces would look in my hair on my wedding day. After discarding several headbands, tiaras, and combs we found a winner. It was so beautiful. It was a delicate vine band with crystal flowers and complimented my dress perfectly. I took my dress to CT Couture for alterations. Originally the dress had no embellishments on it and I had wanted to have a crystal belt sown onto my dress, because I felt it needed a little sparkle. When the designer saw my headpiece she had the idea to do crystal vines on my dress instead of the belt, to mimic the headpiece. I was a little skeptical at first but absolutely thrilled when I saw the final result. I was told on my wedding day that I looked magical, and that’s exactly how I felt in my beautiful dress and accessories.
”

Diana & Ilya,  bridal accessories – Bridal Styles New York, photography – Age Images

Before anyone knew it, June 4th arrived and with it Diana and Ilya’s wedding day. With an evening poolside candlelit ceremony and reception at Woodbury Country Club planned, their day started early.

“My bridesmaids came to my house in the morning to get ready. We were picked up in the limo and taken to meet my fiancé and groomsmen close by for the first look. It was great seeing Ilya’s face light up with a big smile when he saw me for the first time. He couldn’t stop kissing me and I ended up with lip gloss smeared all over my face! Then we all went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park for picture taking. We got lucky with the weather. Even though it was a little cloudy the temperature was great. After taking a lot of pictures, we got back into the limo and headed to the Woodbury Country Club for the ceremony and reception. Everything was beautiful and we had so much fun. From our wedding favors that were photo coasters printed with various funny and cute pictures of ourselves to our flowers, it was amazing.”

Diana & Ilya,  crystal headpiece  - Bridal Styles New York, photography – Age Images

“The most memorable part for me was the ceremony. When I saw Ilya at the end of the aisle waiting for me to walk to him I felt so full of love and joy and I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. During the ceremony we kept looking at each other whispering “I love you.” One of Ilya’s cherished memories is walking into the reception hall and being introduced for the first time as husband and wife. He loved hearing the band call us Mr. and Mrs. Ilya Kats.”

Diana & Ilya,  photography – Age Images

With their wonderful, enchanted wedding (and the planning process) behind them, Ilya and Diana have this advice for other couples planning their weddings:

Diana: “Be organized and try to keep calm and not stress yourself out. I think most brides tend to get really stressed the last week over little things like favors and seating cards, but they don’t realize by that point even if they were to do nothing else the wedding can still happen. They need to remember that this day isn’t about the little things, its about marrying the person you love and want to spend the rest of your life with, and that’s all that matters.“

Ilya: “Don’t worry about every little thing, especially at the venue. The people that work there are professionals. They do weddings for a living and they know what their doing. Let them take care of everything so you can enjoy the day to the fullest. And don’t forget to eat!”

Diana & Ilya, spectacular bridal hair jewelry  - Bridal Styles New York, photography – Age Images

Thank you so much for sharing your day with us, and best wishes!
Diana and Ilya’s wedding vendors:

Photography – Age Images
Video – Myther Ganibe
Flowers – Events by Billy Vellios
Band – Douglas and Eddie Entertainment 

Julie & John, glamorous crystal headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, image – Gabelli Studio

Within a few dates, Julie realized that he was The One, so several months later when he proposed, she was totally overcome.

“After a full 7 course meal at our favorite restaurant, Seasonal in NYC, the waiter brought out a plate with ‘I Love You’ written on it in chocolate and the ring in the middle of the plate. John proceeded to proclaim his love to me and asked me to marry him, but at this point I was in a total daze. After asking me several times I finally came back to reality and said ‘YES!’”

Julie, vintage inspired crystal headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, image – Gabelli Studio

With a year to plan their June 11, 2011 wedding at The Hanover Manor, Julie got right to work!

“The planning process was both stressful and fun at the same time. I wanted to make sure that not one single detail was over looked and spent a lot of time researching wedding ideas. The style of the wedding evolved around plum and silver colors with crystal accents everywhere.”

Julie & John, crystal headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, image – Gabelli Studio

With most of the day’s details decided, Julie was ready for the best part – choosing her wedding day look.

“I wanted my look to be romantic and elegant with a touch of boldness and to exude my personality. I had envisioned my self in a dress with pick-ups and crystals that extenuated my petite body type and also flowed gracefully. I found my Pninia Tornai dress at Kleinfeld, the only boutique to carry her collection. I wanted my accessories to be exquisite, over the top and glamorous. I went with an antique style look that included chandelier earrings, a bangle bracelet and a stunning crystal headpiece, hand made at Bridal Styles Boutique. These pieces tied my look together perfectly and made me feel like a true bride on our wedding day.”

Julie, glamorous crystal bangle and headpiece, statement chandelier earrings,  – Bridal Styles Boutique, image – Gabelli Studio

Before Julie and John knew it, they were wed at the Greek Orthodox Church in Clifton, NJ and on their way to Hanover Manor for an incredible celebration that totally exceeded all their expectations.

“Our wedding day was one of the best and most meaningful days of my life. To see my vision and hard work come to life was amazing. I was overcome with intense feelings of gratitude, love, and devotion.

The reception was full of energy and excitement. The abundance of food choices during cocktail hour enticed my guest’s palates leaving them excited for more. The unforgettable Viennese Hour was the perfect ending to the night. Everyone has been raving about our wedding ever since.”

Julie & John, images – Gabelli Studio

Julie & John, crystal headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, image – Gabelli Studio

Julie & John, unique crystal headpiece, bangle and chandelier earrings – Bridal Styles Boutique, image – Gabelli Studio

Julie & John, elegant crystal headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, image – Gabelli Studio

Julie & John, glam crystal headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, image – Gabelli Studio

Best wishes to you both, and thank you for sharing your day with us!

Julie and John’s wedding vendors:

Photographer: Gabelli Studio Photography and Cinema

Band: Power Station Entertainment.com

DJ: Privilege Entertainment

Flowers and Design:  Shawn Rabideau Events and Design

Reception Space: The Hanover Manor 

Invitations and all stationary: Judy Polansky at The Paper Crane (973) 575-7775

Julie’s hairdresser of 8 years and great personal friend, who was also her bridesmaid- Tair: Hair by Tair

“I still remember on our first date, we sat in his car by a waterfront park in New Jersey. He put a song on that I never expected he would listen to, and started singing it to me. It’s hard to explain, but the feeling was unbelievable, and he still makes my heart flutter whenever he sings. A few days later, he called me to ask my favorite number – I told him 3. Later that day, he showed up at my apartment with three beautiful red roses (one of which I still have in a frame). It was those kinds of gestures, on top of him being the funniest and most caring person I have ever met, that made me fall in love with him quicker than I could have ever imagined. I knew very quickly that this was the man that I would spend the rest of my life with.”

Adelina & Agron, bridal veil, headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, image – Benchwerk Photography

For Adelina’s birthday in May, she and Agron spent the night at Caesar’s Palace in Atlantic City. They planned to have their families officially meet for the very first time at home the next day at her birthday dinner…which turned into a completely different kind of celebration!

“I remember waking up around 7 or 8am the next morning (May 15th), and seeing him standing by the window looking out, pacing back and forth in the room, already all dressed up. He said he was just awake and ready to go out and get some breakfast. So I got ready, to go. However, instead, he brought a blanket with him, and set up a breakfast picnic for us on the beach where there was nobody else there because it was so early. After breakfast, Agron said we should go take a walk by the beach, and next thing I know, as our feet are in the water, says how much he loves me and that he wants to “make it permanent” and gets down on one knee. I later found out he had a full speech he prepared to tell me, but in that moment, he just wanted to make it permanent. I loved it. The proposal was us, and we laughed, and hugged, and kissed, and just realized we were about to begin one amazing journey. That night, we met both of our families, and on top of it being a celebration dinner, it also became our engagement party — I can still remember that whole day by each second.”

Adelina & Agron, bridal veil, crystal headband and pearl earrings – Bridal Styles Boutique, images – Benchwerk Photography

Adelina and Agron knew they wanted an intimate spring wedding on a Saturday night. They chose April 30 as the big day, and together, with the help of their families, everything fell into place!

“The whole vision was simple intimate elegance. All we wanted was whoever was there to have an amazing time, and for us to have the most amazing celebration. The first place we visited was the Watermill. They had a new renovated room called the Carnegie room. The second we saw it, I was in tears. Without knowing any additional details, I knew this was the place. The room had white, gold and silver accents, wood floors, and the fancy chairs I always wanted without chair covers. It was perfect and I couldn’t see us being anywhere else but there. We booked it on the spot. Most of our vendors were the first ones we met with. First dress, first photographer, first florist, first videographer, etc. It made everything very easy.

Traditionally from my side of the family as well as Agron’s, having a ceremony is not something that was normally done. We knew before we even got engaged that we wanted to have a ceremony and to write our own vows. The rest of the decisions were made between the simple elegance vision and also our budget. Of course I got carried away with little details here and there, but in the end it all worked together and we couldn’t be more happier with how our day turned out.“

Adelina & Agron, romantic headband and pearl earrings – Bridal Styles Boutique, images – Benchwerk Photography

With the when, where, who and how taken care of, Adelina could focus on the best part – her wedding day look! All she knew was that her wedding gown had to have straps and that she felt her most beautiful, sophisticated self wearing it. So, the fall before her wedding, she went shopping with her sister and mother-in-law and fell in love…with the very fist dress she tried on!

“I knew I wanted to feel sophisticated, like myself, and a bit sexy also. The second I tried on this dress, it had it all – and it helped that I felt 10 pounds lighter wearing it! The dress then influenced the rest of my decisions about how I would look. I knew I wanted a soft updo so that I wouldn’t cover the straps, a tiara wasn’t for me, so I knew some kind of headband would probably be best. When I purchased my dress, I tried on a very detailed veil with it. That made up the whole look – I screamed from excitement and although it was the wrong store, I still said “Yes to the dress!” over and over again!”

Adelina & Agron, bridal veil, headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, images – Benchwerk Photography

Thanks to a referral from another bride, Adelina knew exactly where she wanted to go for her bridal accessories – Bridal Styles Boutique!

“The second I walked in, I felt like I was in bridal heaven. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was completely blown away by the beauty of the store and all the accessories. My dress had some pearl detailing in it, so I knew that I wanted pearl plus bling in one. The headpiece I ended choosing had pearl detailing with Swarovski crystals that looked like clusters of flowers similar to the detailing on my dress. After I put the piece in, along with the most gorgeous matching earrings, and a veil to top it off, I looked at myself in the mirror, and was overcome with emotion. This was the bride that I myself imagined to be, and it wasn’t until that moment that it hit me this is what I’m going to look like on my wedding day.”

Adelina,vintage inspired pearl earrings, romantic pearl & crystal headband – Bridal Styles Boutique images – Benchwerk Photography

The last detail of her wedding day look was just as important as her first – shoes!

“Purple was our color and I never saw myself as wearing white shoes, I wanted something with a little pop, and the shoes were perfect – purple with a little bow in the front to add some more femininity. “

Adelina,  freshwater pearl earrings, vintage inspired headband – Bridal Styles Boutique images – Benchwerk Photography

From beginning to end, every moment of Adelina and Agron’s wedding day was magic.

“It felt like a dream. That’s the best way to describe it. To this day, it still feels like we’re living in the dream. On the morning of, my mom and I woke up early and decided to go get bagels and orange juice for everyone that would be around that morning getting ready. It was as if it was just another Saturday, that’s how calm I was. Shortly after, the make-up artist and hair stylist came and that’s where it all started. Soon after, the photographers and videographers came, and that’s when I realized wow, this is all actually happening. I was still as calm as can be, and kept asking to know what Agron was up to only a few doors down from our room at the Marriott Islandia. I remember specific moments – my nieces getting their make-up done and feeling so excited that they got sparkly pink eyeshadow, my mom looking the most beautiful I can remember, and my sister laughing and looking astonishing by my side. It all felt too good to be true.”

Adelina & Agron’s wedding deatils, images – Benchwerk Photography

As the time to exchange vows with Agron approached, Adelina began to feel just a little bit of the nervous excitement wedding days are famous for.

“Before I knew it, the time was approaching for me to get my dress on and have our first reveal as bride and groom. That’s when I started getting the butterflies. I couldn’t wait to get it on and show him what I looked like. I can’t explain the happiness I felt that day, here I was, after months of planning, about to show my husband to be what I looked like. I approached the staircase leading to him, and below him at the bottom of the staircase were both of our immediate family members smiling, whistling, and clapping. I approached him, touched him on the shoulder and said ‘well what do I do now?’ He took my hand, closed his eyes, kissed it, and then turned to look at me. He was completely taken back, started crying, and we just hugged for a few minutes. This was it, I was his bride, he was my groom and this was our moment. He couldn’t’ stop complimenting me and couldn’t believe how I looked. I couldn’t believe how handsome he was. He always is, but this was so much more different than I have ever seen him. We then hopped into the limo with his best man (brother), my maid of honor (sister) and my two nieces (flower girls). We went to Northport Harbor to take our pictures. We had such a blast, it was so intimate and relaxing. We spent a few hours there, it was such a gorgeous day too – sunny and just the perfect amount of breeze. After our pictures, we headed back to the reception hall, took a few more family pictures (I’ve never seen any of our families looking more happy and beautiful than that day!).”

Adelina & Agron, bridal veil, headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, images – Benchwerk Photography

Before either of them knew it, the photo shoot was over, and Adelina found herself standing with her parents at the top of the aisle.

“The violinist was there (Marie Stack from MAS Music), I heard her violin playing “Heaven” by DJ Sammy. I knew it was time for my dad and mom to walk me down the aisle. The doors opened, and filling that gorgeous room were the 50 people that meant the world to us, smiling. At the end of the aisle, I saw the man that captured my heart. We were both in tears, and I felt as if I was up on a cloud with my parents supporting me as I made the best decision of my life. As we said our vows, my heart blossomed with every word he spoke, and was amazed that I had found someone to love me as much as he does and will forever. It was so hard to wait for our first kiss that we ended up kissing three times throughout the ceremony! “

Adelina & Agron, bridal veil, headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, images – Benchwerk Photography

Finally, they were officially wed, and it was time to celebrate!

“We walked into our reception room for a sneak peek of it, and there it was my vision fulfilled – intimate, elegant, and soon to be filled with 50 people looking to have an amazing party! We didn’t get off the dance floor for more than 5 minutes – we danced traditional Albanian music, reggaeton, Balkan, Greek, and anything else thrown in. I still remember my dance with my dad and seeing such happiness in his face, and the same with my dance with my brother and sister. It still all felt like a dream. Next thing we knew, we were smushing cake in each other’s faces, and having our last dance. We loved it all. In that day, all the small details we planned went away and all we cared about is seeing everyone on the dance floor celebrating with us. After all, that’s what it’s about isn’t it?”

Adelina & Agron, bridal veil, headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, images – Benchwerk Photography

After such an incredible day, Adelina and Agron have so many cherished memories it was hard figure out which was their favorite.

“His reaction to me was just unbelievable. I wish I could relive that moment each and every single day. The second most memorable (I can’t just choose one!) was when we decided to stop in the middle of our reception, take each other by the hand, and just look around at everyone there. We saw people laughing, smiling, dancing, toasting. It was amazing. Here we were, at our wedding, watching all these people celebrating our day. It really was an amazing feeling. For my husband, his most memorable moment was the first reveal and in his own words, ‘especially the way you looked when I turned around to look at you’ and also reading our wedding vows to each other.”

Adelina & Agron, bridal veil, headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, images – Benchwerk Photography

A few months after the wedding, these happy newlyweds have some advice for other couples planning their own wonderful weddings.

Adelaina: “Enjoy the day – in whichever way you need to, whether it’s dancing for 4 hours straight, or doing a fun dance like we did, do what will at the end of the night let you say ‘wow, that was the best night of our life!’ Take a moment to take a look at everything, to take it all in. It goes by so fast that a moment to digest it all is so important. And of course, don’t forget what the day is all about. It’s not the flowers, the cake, the place cards…it’s the everlasting promise you are making between each other. “

Agron: “Make sure that there’s someone else on your wedding day to worry about things, you should remain as calm as possible and truly enjoy the day.”

Adelina & Agron, bridal veil, headpiece and jewelry – Bridal Styles Boutique, images – Benchwerk Photography

Thank you for sharing your day with us, and the very best wishes to you both!

Adelina & Agron’s Vendors:

Photographers: Benchwerk Photography “Chris and Ray captured our day so beautifully (now looking at the pictures), but in day of, they were the super star team. They made us all feel at ease, but also just so special that whole day.”

Videographer: Myther Ganibe “Did an amazing job, and was always there to capture all of our special moments. We look forward to seeing our video.”

Flowers: Burton’s. “They did exactly what we wanted!”

Day of Coordinator: Simply Couture “They made sure our vision came to life and for that we can’t be more thankful.”

Officiant: Pastor April “We felt as if we knew her for years, words can’t explain how amazed we were by her kind words.”

Ceremony Music: Marie Stack from MAS Music “Captured the music we wanted for our ceremony so beautifully”

Reception Music: DJ Fati

Bridal Veil and Earrings: Bridal Styles Boutique “Made me feel like the bride I always imagined to be! They went above and beyond and I can’t imagine my wedding day without their jewelry.”

We’ve known Lana and Edward for twenty-seven years, and were even a part of their bridal party. We’ve had the pleasure of watching their beautiful family grow over the years, and can honestly say Lana and Edward are just as in love now as they were twenty-five years ago.

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, custom haircomb – Bridal Styles, images – Videomax Studios

It was such an honor to help such wonderful friends celebrate their silver anniversary earlier this year.

But before we tell you all about Lana and Edward’s magical 25th anniversary party, we have to share their sweet love story.

It all started with a photograph…

“Edward used to work as a photographer in a Russian restaurant called Paradise. I came there to a party with my parents. He was in the hallway taking pictures of the people that were coming in. When I came in, he asked my parents permission to take my picture, which he did. We talked for a while and at the end of the night he asked for my phone number.”

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, crystal encrusted haircomb  – Bridal Styles, images – Videomax Studios

When they started dating, Lana quickly knew he was the one “the way he loved me and treated me it couldn’t have been anyone else. 25 years later, nothing has changed.”

Edward felt the same way, expressing his intention with a proposal.

“It wasn’t so much of a proposal, but a statement. Two months after we started dating, we were sitting in his old car and out of nowhere he said ‘you know that I’m going to marry you and even though I don’t have the ring yet, I want to make sure that you know it’s only you that I want to be with.’ Because we were so young, I was 16 and he was 18, he wanted me to know that he is very serious. Ten months later he gave me the actual ring.”

After a year-long engagement, Lana and Edward were wed on March 15, 1986 at the Kingsway Jewish Center.

Lana’s wedding day was everything she had ever dreamed of. “For me, it was a very magical day. The wedding was like a royal ball, with a big gorgeous gown and a very handsome prince. Everything was perfect from beginning to end. It rained the whole week, but on our wedding day the sun was shining and so was I.”

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, images – Videomax Studios

Her enchanted wedding day had an amazing surprise in store!

“To top it all off, we also had a very special guest at the wedding who came to sing for us. It was someone whose music I loved for a long time, and by pure accident he happened to be in America performing. He is a singer from Israel and a big star there, named Shimi Tavori. My mom and I had to do a lot of persuading to have him agree to come and sing for us. It was very special to us to have him there, especially after seeing the looks of joy on all of our guests’ faces. When he sang it gave you goose bumps and sent shivers down your spine. It was an incredible evening filled the love and support of our family and closest friends. What more could we ask for? We were the happiest couple on earth.“

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, custom accesories- Bridal Styles, images – Videomax Studios

Twenty-five years (and three beautiful kids) later, it was time to celebrate their silver anniversary…and Edward thought a magnificent party was the only way to mark the occasion.

“I wanted to go away on a second honeymoon. I said that I was tired of planning so many parties. We just had our daughter’s wedding and our son’s Bar Mitzvah the year before, and I just wanted to get away. My husband is usually not into parties, but he was very persistent in having this one. He said that an occasion like this must be celebrated. It’s not every day that you can celebrate a quarter of a century with the same person and still be just as in love just as you were 25 years ago.“

Lana & Edward with their children, images – Videomax Studios

Since Lana and her mom traditionally plan all the family parties, they knew exactly where to start.

“When you are planning a big party, the first and most important thing to do is picking the right venue. I wanted to make sure our venue was big and spacious and that no matter where they are sitting, people can see everything, so I chose Rasputin. Next I made sure my video and photographer were available. After that, we decided on a theme and worked with my decorator, Aramat Events. Another important detail when planning a party is to have everything very organized and planned out for the whole night. Timing is very important. If you cant do it yourself – get a party planner. At the end of it all, enjoy your special day.”

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, crystal encrusted haircomb and caketopper – Bridal Styles, images – Videomax Studios

This time, though, Edward helped, even choosing the theme.

“At first I couldn’t decide on a theme, because I thought that similar to a wedding, a silver anniversary should be very elegant and beautiful with a silver color theme. Then my husband said, ‘why don’t you do something with clocks and watches?’ I was very surprised and said, ‘what does it have to do with the anniversary? It wont fit into the elegant theme.’ He said that clocks represent time, all the years that we spent together. Again he insisted that I give it some thought and try to incorporate it into the party. I told my decorator about this idea and we stared thinking and talking about it. We had to make sure that it fit and look good together. So we decided to keep one side of the room beautiful and very elegant, and the other a trip down memory lane, beginning with our wedding until the present day. We decided to get big clocks and put our pictures in them, and for the tables we had smaller clocks for table numbers. It worked out perfectly.”

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, one of a kind haircomb and caketopper – Bridal Styles, images – Videomax Studios

For such a special occasion, of course Lana had to have a spectacular outfit.

“I knew that I didn’t want a ball gown this time but a more slimming look that would be both sexy and elegant. It wasn’t easy finding a dress especially when you have an image in your mind, but after some serious searching, I finally found the style and color I wanted at Monica’s Bridal. It was perfect for the occasion. Not too bridal and not over the top. “

Most importantly, she had to have dazzling, gorgeous accessories!

“Then came time to choose my hair accessory. The only place that I would even think of going is Bridal Styles. I wanted a piece that would make a statement and could be seen from anywhere and also be elegant and classy. When I came into the store my head was spinning from all the beautiful pieces that were there. I didn’t know how to choose, every piece was more beautiful than the other. Then I explained the way I was planning to wear my hair and what I wanted the final look to be like. Edward and Elaine were very helpful and patient in the time they spent listening to what I wanted and gave me all the needed attention.
At the end they came up with the perfect piece. It was gorgeous, and the perfect accessory to finish my look.”

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, Swarovski crystal caketopper – Bridal Styles, images – Videomax Studios

On March 18th, Lana and Edward marked their 25th anniversary with a memorable, meaningful event that honored the past and celebrated the future.

“ One of the things that made that day our own is our first dance. It was so special because it was to the same song that we danced to on our wedding and even more so because we had a special choreography done to that song. My husband actually insisted on it and really wanted to do it. It was very important to him and he tried really hard because he knew it meant a lot to me. He said, ’I want to make you proud of me’ and laughed. He did an amazing job but I am always proud of him with or without the dance!!!”

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, elegant haircomb – Bridal Styles, images – Videomax Studios

Just like their wedding day, Lana and Edward’s anniversary had a big surprise in store.

“My mom wanted to bring the real memories back from our wedding so, she came up on stage and announced that we had a special guest who was also a guest singer at the wedding 25 years ago. And out comes Shimi Tavori. When I saw him tears started running down my face. My husband was just shocked. We couldn’t believe he was there. He came out with my favorite song. It was a very a difficult process getting him there, but my mom managed to do it. Seeing him and hearing him sing was like reliving our wedding day. It’s very hard to put into words how we felt. And the looks that I saw on people’s faces were the same as they were on my wedding day. The most awestruck were my children. They stood there and listened to him with joy and pleasure.  For me, it was so special to see that a quarter of a century later we had the same love and support from all the same people that were with us at the wedding. This was not just a regular party. It was a real stroll down memory lane, a celebration of life, your family and all the happy years you’ve spent together.

It was almost like a second wedding but with our children there. We are very proud and thankful for our beautiful family.”

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, haircomb  – Bridal Styles, images – Videomax Studios

Lana & Edward’s Silver Anniversary, custom made haircomb  – Bridal Styles, images – Videomax Studios

So what advice could a happily married (for 25 years!) couple offer others planning their weddings today?

“I would say to love and respect each other. Never take anything for granted. Try to spend as much time with each other as possible, because we never know what tomorrow brings. Listen to each other and try to meet in the middle without arguing. Time is very precious so use it wisely.”

Beautiful words and advice from a  wonderful couple we’re proud to call cherished friends. We wish you and your family love, happiness and joy!

- The Bishop of London
during Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding

The moment we’d all been waiting for arrived on Friday! After catching only a glimpse of Kate as she traveled to Westminster Abbey, the Rolls Royce in which she and her father were riding came to a halt.

She stepped out…and we, along with over 2 billion people in 180 countries, were wowed!

Glittering beneath a sheer, diaphanous veil of ivory tulle hand-embroidered with flowers was the diamond Cartier “Halo” tiara! Originally a gift from the Queen’s father to her mother in 1936, it was given to Queen Elizabeth on her 18th birthday. Imagine having something so spectacular as your “something borrowed”? It perfectly complemented the custom diamond drop earrings her parents gave her as a wedding gift.

After we stopped exclaiming how beautiful she looked, we took in her gorgeous gown. Inspired by Grace Kelly and designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, Kate’s gown was the perfect balance of modern, classic, and elegant…just like the bride. Wearing her gown crafted from silk gazar, hand-embroidered with lace, and fastened with 58 buttons and a blue ribbon, Kate took our breath away!

We’re not the only ones! During Kate’s four-minute walk down the aisle, Prince Harry looked back to see her and, with a smile, whispered something to Prince William. Then Will murmured,  “You look beautiful,” as she walked toward him.

After their traditional ceremony in Westminster Abbey, Will and Kate, now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and officially man and wife, walked down the aisle together. Outside, they climbed into a 106-year old open carriage for their trip back to Buckingham Palace, smiling, waving and clearly on cloud nine.

At 8:25am, the newlyweds appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for a kiss, and made history with a second. When Will kissed his bride for the first time, the crowd didn’t approve, chanting “one more kiss” until they kissed again, much to everyone’s delight.

Later that day, Prince William and Kate tooled around in an Aston Martin decorated in ribbons, balloons and a license plate that read JU5T WED!

We wish Prince William and Kate the very best, and hope their days are filled with as much love and laughter as their wedding day!

Visit us at our New York boutique to find bridal accessories that make you feel like royalty!