#realchicbride Vivian in Monique Lhuillier
Get to know real bride Vivian and her love story:
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Vivian and Max met while attending Boston College in 2012. After graduation, they moved to Los Angeles, where Vivian attended University of Southern California for graduate school and to complete her fifth year as a collegiate track athlete. Meanwhile, Max pursued a career in sports working for Los Angeles Football Club.
After a few years on the West Coast, Vivian decided to move back home to Naples, Florida and launch her own jewelry line, Henri Noël. Vivian is a third generation jeweler who specializes in creating bespoke engagement & wedding bands, in addition to her core jewelry collection. The family jewelry business was a staple of Vivian's upbringing and has been an inspiration to her own custom jewelry that holds long-lasting value and memories.
For the proposal, Max flew in his two siblings to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was living at the time, and had his sister convince Vivian to head to Lake Norman to model for her (she is a photographer and graphic designer for Casamigos Tequila). By Vivian’s own admission, she'd do “anything for tequila", so she was a willing participant.
Upon their arrival at Lake Norman, Max took Vivian to explore the lake while his sister got in position to photograph the proposal. After a short walk, Vivian turned a corner to find a gazebo decorated in rose petals. Right there and then, Max dropped down on one knee and popped the question! Shortly thereafter, Max took Vivian to dinner, where she was surprised by close friends and family.
Given that Vivian’s father is also a jeweler, Max had the perfect co-creator when it came to the engagement ring. Together, they sorted, color-matched and set each of the marquise diamonds to create this one-of-a-kind eternity band.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
Once engaged, the couple decided on Cutlass Cove Beach in Vivian’s hometown of Naples, FL for the wedding. After seeing the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian six months prior, the couple was unsure if they could still have their wedding on the property. Thankfully, however, with the help of close family friends, they were able to restore the area just in time.
To help bring their English garden vision to life, the couple enlisted the help of Kehrin Hassan as their wedding designer. She helped the couple throw the wedding of their dreams by putting on a ceremony that felt elegant yet relaxed.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
The couple shook things up in the layout of their wedding. On their invites, they told all guests the ceremony would start at 4pm but really they had the cocktail hour before the wedding ceremony. This allowed the guests to take photos and get a little loose before taking their seats for the ceremony. The signature cocktail was a ‘Spaghett’, a staple at the couple’s favorite restaurant in Charlotte, ‘Vana’. It mixes Miller High Life with Aperol, mimicking an Aperol Spritz, but replacing champagne with ‘The Champagne of Beers’, another subtle nod to the wedding’s elevated but informal feel.
The ceremony was not traditionally seated, but instead included long benches with accent pillows joined by areas for guests to stand. After the couple said “I do”, the music immediately kicked in, setting the tone for a night of dancing, highlighted by Max’s upbeat and choreographed dance with his mother, who herself used to be a professional dancer.
How did you decide on the location?
We decided on Cutlass Cove Beach Club. A beautiful setting in Vivian’s hometown that truly showed how beautiful Naples is.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
Vivian found her perfect dress early in the process - a Monique Lhuillier lace gown paired with light blue Manolo Blahnik heels. During a shopping trip with her mom in Miami, they shared a knowing smile when she tried on this gown, confirming it as "the one." Vivian once listened to a podcast once where Monique said, “If your dress is not filthy at the end of the night, you didn’t do it right”. Vivian connected with those words as she wanted a dress she wouldn't want to take off all night but also one that was comfortable to move in. Vivian’s after party dress was a light blue Rachel Gilbert ruffle dress - she wanted to bring a pop of color to the night once she took her wedding dress off.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
Vivian had 9 bridesmaids, each with their own unique personality. As such, she allowed them the freedom to choose their own dresses. And since no outfit is complete without some Henri Noël jewelry, Vivian created an iconic earring that each of the girls wore in the gold color of their choice.
One thing that was quite fun was Vivian’s mother-in-law, a former professional dancer, performed a dance with the groom to “I’m Holdin’ on to love” by Shania Twain. This set the tone for the evening, every guest was clapping, dancing and singing.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
The first look. Imagining the moment your soon-to-be husband sees you on your wedding day is something Vivian always dreamed of. Seeing the smile on her husband’s face and the warmth in his eyes is something she will never forget.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
Vivian always knew she wanted to still feel like herself and not worry about fixing anything throughout her wedding day. She went with a “party pony” so no matter the weather conditions, it would look good. For makeup, Vivian went with a very natural look, neutral tones and a subtle lip color.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
Kaleidoscope Floral! It is a good feeling when you can describe what you want and know it is going to be perfectly executed.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
Vivian and Max went to Zambia and Cape Town for their honeymoon. Many might say it is a trip of a lifetime, and they are certainly not wrong! The couple stayed at The Royal along the Zambezi River and loved how removed it was from inner city life. Each day out in the brush brought something new - an elephant spotting, a lion sprinting to kill its prey, monkeys swarming the trees - these unique moments creating unforgettable memories.