Casey Bought The First and Only Dress She Tried on!
Real bride Casey does not shy away from the details of her stunning wedding in this little interview - you’ll want to keep reading this captivating story!
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
My new husband, Kevin, and I met through some of our best friends in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2015. I was born and raised there, and Kevin played for the St. Louis Cardinals at that time. We were out and about one summer night after one of his games, and, I think it’s safe to say, there was an immediate connection. Although we were intrigued by one another, we took our relationship very, very slowly after that first night. Through months and months of light texting about the weather, we finally went out on our first date. It was then, where I knew I had to know this incredible man even more. Timing was not on our side, because immediately following our first date, the baseball season ended, and Kevin had to move back home to Jupiter, FL, while I continued to work in St. Louis. It was more texting about the darn weather until the 2016 season started, when Kevin moved back to St. Louis. It was that year we finally could spend together and our relationship continued to grow. Shortly after, we decided to move in together, and have been together in Jupiter, FL, with our beautiful Siberian Husky, Maverick, ever since!
One weekend in October of 2018, Kevin and I drove from Jupiter to my grandparent’s vacation home in Navarre Beach to meet my parents for a mini break. This Navarre home is so special because my entire family has been visiting together since I was born. I was so excited to show Kevin the home where my family has built so many memories. Low and behold, it was that weekend, on October, 19, 2018, where Kevin got down on one knee on the white powder sand beach in front of my childhood vacation home, where the sun was setting and the moon had already risen, and told me he wanted to “make another memory at this home”. And boy, was this one the most memorable of all. It was an extraordinary moment, and I have never been more sure about saying “Yes” to anything in my whole life.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision? When I started planning our wedding, my original vision was “Fire and Ice.” I’d say we accomplished that vision and more, adding touches of romanticism and edge. Our invitations set the tone: a gorgeous clear acrylic print with embellished gold lettering and black envelope featuring a black crocodile leather and envelope liner by Penn and Paperie, based out of New Jersey. Our reception did not have a head table or centerpieces, rather, we had 22 round tables, each dressed with single white long-stem roses in glass vases and real candles encased in glass tubes and lucite candelabras. The candles reflected off the class tubes and then off one another, so it seemed as if there were twice as many candles as there actually were. We had crushed-white linens, lucite chairs, and the most breathtaking wedding cake you’ll ever see.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding? As a couple, it was important to us not to have a first-look prior to the ceremony. We both wanted our first look to be when they opened the doors at the church. I am so happy we stood firm on that decision, because it was such a magical moment. We locked eyes throughout my entire walk down the aisle, and we both had tears of joy.
How did you decide on the location? Since I am from St. Louis, and it’s also where we met, we decided to get married there. Also, my favorite Ritz Carlton is the one in St. Louis; there is something comfortable and magical about it. The service is always impeccable, and the unique and distinct smell will change your mood for the better instantaneously.
“When the day arrived, it was truly a five-star luxury experience. The service was outstanding, the gowns were insanely gorgeous (even more so in person.”
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
To be honest, the most important decision on my wedding day, other than my groom, was my dress. It was exceedingly important to have a dress that was unlike any other. I had been browsing for dresses for years, and the first dress I ever fell in love with was a Berta (a good 10 years before I got engaged ☺). I studied Berta as a designer and defined her as a true creative genius with a keen attention to detail and impeccable taste. She stunned me more and more every season with each new line of evening gowns and wedding dresses.
After our engagement, I kept my eyes peeled for a trunk show near my area in South Florida. Finally, Berta came to Chic Parisian in Miami, so I excitedly scheduled an appointment for my sister and I to visit the luxury bridal boutique. When the day arrived, it was truly a five-star luxury experience. The service was outstanding, the gowns were insanely gorgeous (even more so in person), and we had the honor of meeting Nir Moscovich, who was hosting the 2019 Berta Athens collection trunk show. As we were guided to through the line-up of delicate hand-made dresses which were glistening under the studio lighting, I found it hard to contain myself when I saw ‘my dress’; I reached for it, knew it was the one, and immediately began to tear up at its beauty as it danced effortlessly from its hanger. It was the only dress I tried on that day (even though people would think I am nuts for not trying on every single Berta dress possible!), but I knew I didn’t need to. I felt like the dress was made for me: a mermaid-style, with a plunging v-neckline and backless scoop back with sheer long sleeves and beaded appliques with a badass, cathedral-length cape overlay as my “veil”.
“It was the only dress I tried on that day (even though people would think I am nuts for not trying on every single Berta dress possible!), but I knew I didn’t need to. I felt like the dress was made for me.”
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day? My two sisters and my mom were my wedding planning squad. Who needs a wedding planner when you have a team comprised of:
A mother who is incredibly imaginative and can design anything on a dime
A younger sister who is the most organized, thoughtful, true voice of reason in any setting
An older sister who is a visionary and an insane cake artist
The three of them assured me when I felt fickle; they brought me ideas when I needed them, and assisted in executing every last detail. Flawlessly.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
The moments right before the doors opened in the church. Everyone wanted to rush in opening the doors for ‘the bride’s grand entrance’, but I insisted we take a few extra seconds to pause. I absorbedly listened to our captivating string quartet play Gabriel’s Oboe; I peeked through the tiny gap of the massive wooden doors at an attempt to wrap my mind around how blessed I felt that all the people we love the most, purposefully gathered together in one space to celebrate Kevin and me. Finally, I caught a tiny glimpse of my exceptionally handsome groom (who was wondering what the heck was taking me so long!) and that moment, I was resoundingly sure that I was making absolute best decision of my life.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look? I really did not decide until the day of which, I know, was a bit dicey. I did a ‘first look’ with my grandmother two days before my wedding, and two things you should know about my grandma:
She has exquisite taste
She has no problem telling anyone the truth; the good, the bad, and the ugly
When I did my first look with her, I shared with her that I planned to wear my hair down. She strongly suggested I wear my hair up, so as to show off my neckline and cape for the ceremony. So, I did what grandma advocated! I have always been a bit hesitant with updo’s because they are so darn risky (I am very comfortable in my long, wavy curls), especially since I did not want to try any updo whatsoever during my H&M trial!
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about? I was lucky enough to have TWO vendors I wish everyone knew about!!
Cake Artist: Cara Albertelli, owner of In Love in Food in Naples, FL:
Cara is an incredibly talented cake artist and also happens to be my sister (I know, I hit the jackpot with her). Cara is located in Naples, FL, and managed to design, fly, and execute my absolutely stunning wedding cake in St. Louis, Missouri. The entire progression of building this cake was kept from me so as to surprise me on our wedding day. I was purposely kept in the dark throughout my cake’s conceptual stages, including the flavor selection and final decorative elements. Most brides would find that stressful; we have a vision and our wedding is an investment of so much time and money, but I had trust that my cake artist knew the elegant and edgy, one-of-a-kind vibe I was going for even when I did not know how to put it into words for her. The moment the cake was revealed, both Kevin and I were shocked. We walked into our reception to see our dazzling 9 tier, gravity-defying, floating wedding cake with a ‘funfetti’ interior (another sneaky surprise in itself as funfetti is my favorite cake flavor). Our wedding cake was, deservingly, the focal point of the room. It had its own gathering of admirers at any given moment throughout the entire evening while the candle-lit room made our cake, which was dripping in crystals, dance. The visual concept of the cake elevated the beauty of the candle, lucite, and white rose-filled ballroom. I knew the cake would be incredible, but it was better than incredible; it was a unique and stunning work of art that captured my personality and vision of “fire and ice” for this once in a lifetime occasion.
Hair and Makeup Artist: Christine Diaz with Amped Artistry in Naples, FL.
Here is what I will say about Christine: she is a master of her craft. But that is an understatement. She has the gift of being a well-rounded, service-oriented artist with an eye for beauty. I threw Christine for a loop on my wedding day: my hair was the wrong color (she toned my hair after our rehearsal dinner at midnight, the night before the wedding to save me from any unnecessary stress), I changed my mind last minute and wanted an updo (thanks to Queen Grandma), and changed my idea for makeup…all within 24 hours of walking down the aisle. None of that seemed to phase Christine in the slightest. Christine also made me feel secure, confident, and supported, which is something I did not know I needed on my wedding day. With so many opinions and emotions, she was exactly what I needed: peace of mind that she would not let me walk dawn that aisle without feeling perfect. That is something you cannot put a dollar value on.
All that being said, put these two artists together you have the MVPs of your wedding day. These two do not come as a duo, but, they really are an unmatched pair. I honestly did not know how much I would need both of them, until I did. If you were to ask me where I got the most value from my investment, it would be hiring Cara and Christine. These two women are so special and made the ultimate difference on my wedding day.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part? Islamorada
We decided on a low-key, easy and relaxing honeymoon, and all signs pointed to The Moorings Village in Islamorada (yes, where Bloodline was filmed). It was the most perfect honeymoon for us. Coming off our wedding week in chilly St. Louis, one quick flight and short drive to 78-degree weather in Islamorada was exactly what we needed. Honestly, the best part was simply being together without distractions; no work emails (it felt so good to turn off my notifications!), having coffee in the morning on the front porch with the palm trees, a quiet beach, and the ocean as our daily view; quiet dinners with sunset views and healthy, fresh food; I could go on and on, but the full vibe was exactly perfect.