#realchicbride Claudia in Berta

#realchicbride Claudia Johnsen dishes on her love story, wedding, engagement, etc!

Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal? 

Aiden and I met during law school at The University of Texas School of Law in 2019. 

We crossed paths during 1L oral arguments. Aiden had just finished his shift as “judge” for the day when I walked in. I overheard him discussing travel plans to Madrid and chimed in to offer some recommendations, but Aiden claims he could not hear a word over the sound of “Careless Whisper” by George Michael, which he swears mysteriously started playing when he saw me. Nonetheless, Aiden pulled it together and we exchanged contact info so we could “talk about Madrid.” 

Aside from the rich saxophonic melody and visible sparks flying around the room, it was a casual first encounter. Even so, we were mutually enamored and later admitted to texting our friends about it shortly afterwards. 

Not long after, Aiden and I began having “study” dates, which inevitably evolved into “real” dates. We quickly became inseparable. Side-by-side, we traveled to 12 different countries, graduated law school, and moved in together in Houston, TX. 

A little over two years after we met, we planned a bar trip to Santorini, Greece after I passed the bar exam. Unbeknownst to me, Aiden had other motives. On our second day in Santorini, we discovered an unbelievable sunset spot on a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea, totally secluded from everyone else on the island. I was standing there taking in a mesmerizing sunset when I heard Aiden say, “Claudia.” I turned around and saw Aiden on one knee holding up the prettiest diamond I’ve ever seen. 

When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision? 

I always envisioned an outdoor wedding with ocean views. I wanted the setting to be romantic with lots of natural beauty and minimalist décor. I think our wedding was just that! We chose Son Marroig because of its impressive ocean views and architecture. 

We highlighted the romantic nature of the venue by adding lots of candles to our “alfresco” reception. I decided on all white florals, mainly roses, because of their elegant and timeless feel. My floral arrangements reflected the minimalist look I wanted, allowing the venue’s breathtaking natural landscape to be the focal point. The rolling mountains, the piercing blue Mediterranean sea, the lush gardens, and the venue’s striking marble and Spanish stone already provided the perfect setting. 

What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding? 

We wanted to showcase the union of two cultures—I’m Cuban, and Aiden is from the U.S. We made sure our ceremony and speeches incorporated both English and Spanish, while also highlighting the common values we share. We also wanted to showcase some of the reasons why we fell in love with Spain, such as its amazing cuisine and music. To do this, we hired a Michelin star caterer and a Spanish guitarist who played during the cocktail hour.  

How did you decide on the location? 

I always dreamed of having a destination wedding, and Aiden supported that. Shortly after Aiden proposed, we started looking at venues in some of our favorite countries. We decided on Spain partly because of how much Son Marroig impressed us, but also because Spain is where we fell in love. Aiden studied abroad in Madrid during the early stages of our relationship, and I visited him so much that several people thought I studied abroad there too! 

Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets! 

I always pictured myself in a lace fitted wedding gown. I became obsessed with a Berta Privee dress I had seen on Instagram. I searched endlessly for boutiques in Miami and Houston that carried the dress. I finally found it at Chic Parisien and made an appointment to try on that particular dress. The day of my appointment, my amazing stylist, Katie, pulled out a few Berta dresses for me to try, including the one I had specifically gone to see. As soon as she put it on me, I knew it wasn’t the dress for me.

We tried around three other dresses, but I knew none of them were “the one.” However, we still had one more dress to try from the options Katie had pulled. When I saw that final dress on the hanger, I did not have a positive first impression. I told Katie I probably was not going to like it, but she insisted I should try it on anyway. I did. Before it was zipped up all the way, I knew it was the dress for me!

My grandmother, mother, and sister all agreed and were in awe of the dress. Every detail of the lace was breathtaking. The neckline was immaculate. I loved that it had delicate straps. The long train was everything I had dreamed of but even better. The dress was nude but not see through, and the bow that sits around the waist was the perfect finishing touch. I instantly pictured myself walking down the Son Marroig aisle in this flawless Berta dress. It was perfect.

How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day? 

My family played a large role throughout the wedding planning and wedding day. They supported me every step of the way. Both my parents and Aiden’s even traveled with us to Mallorca in October for our food tasting and venue walkthrough. 

My sister and Maid of Honor, Elizabeth, played a huge role through it all. She took her crafting skills to the next level and made all of the stationary. I bounced off every idea I had on her. On my wedding day, she decorated my “getting ready” suite, and along with my Matron of Honor, Laura, ensured I was taken care of and without a worry the entire day. 

What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget?

I will never forget the moment Aiden and I first saw each other as I walked down the aisle. The day was sunny, 70 degrees, and gorgeous as I approached the edge of the cliff where Aiden was waiting. All I could focus on was Aiden. He looked at me with a tender smile and sparkly blue eyes that made me feel so special. In that moment, I knew he was as happy as I was. 

At the same time, seeing the happiness of all our closest friends and family is a memory I will forever hold dear to my heart. Each of them traveled long and far to share that moment with us, and I am eternally grateful. 

How did you decide on your hair and makeup look? 

I wanted my hair and makeup look to be classic and elegant, so I decided on a texturized updo and soft glam that complemented my natural features. 

Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about? 

All of our vendors were absolutely amazing! In particular, my hair and makeup artist, Lucia Zima, was a gem to work with. She understood exactly what I wanted from our very first meeting and worked on accentuating my best features while at the same time maintaining a timeless natural look. Our catering team, Catering Marc Fosh, was also phenomenal! From the hors d'oeuvre at the cocktail hour to our midnight snacks, the food was incredible and our guests are still raving about it. Lastly, I want everyone to know about the sax player, Ramon Riera, and the DJ, Marc Oliver, who took our party to the next level during the reception. They were unbelievable, and no one left the dance floor all night! 

Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part? 

For our honeymoon, we went to Italy (Tuscany, Sicily, and Sardinia). Each place was unique and amazing, but Sardinia may have been the favorite. One highlight was renting a yacht that took us on a breathtaking journey in the Mediterranean. We spent all day jumping in the crystal clear waters of La Maddalena and sunbathing on the beautiful boat while sipping prosecco. It was magical. 

CREDITS

• Photo: @miguel.arranz.weddings

• Makeup & Hair: @zima_mua

• Catering: @cateringmarcfosh

• Music: @lomusic.es 

• Sax: @ramonrieramusic

• DJ: @djmarcoliver

•WP: @mc.eventplanner @nakar.events

•Decor: @enesencia_decora @exclusive4events

• Video: @alexandra_timelessweddings

• Venue: @son_marroig