In a springtime ceremony Milan and David tied the knot, Texas style.

Milan, tell us about the location.

I knew I wanted to get married somewhere around my hometown of Dallas and David has always loved Fort Worth, so it was a perfect fit for us. We felt that Fort Worth truly encompassed the spirit of Texas, and we wanted all of our friends and family to be able to experience that.

Our Catholic faith was another thing we really connected on from the beginning. The moment we laid eyes on St. Patrick Cathedral downtown, we decided that this was the spot where we wanted to be married. Our reception was an even easier decision. Right in the heart of downtown Fort Worth is Reata restaurant. They offer delicious Southern cooking and they have this gorgeous two-level roof with a glass, domed dining room that is pure magic at night. We spent the evening dancing under the Texas stars with all of our closest family and friends.

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When asked for wedding day wisdom, brides always say, “The day will be over before you know it, try to enjoy it.” Even so, the day that you have spent months, even years, preparing for is guaranteed to go by in a blur of anticipation and celebration. Your photographer will capture moments and your guest book documents who showed up, but your wedding fragrance is all on you to orchestrate, and those olfactory memories will last a lifetime. The olfactory bulb, which processes smell, has direct connections to the areas of the brain that control our emotions and our memories. With just a whiff of a special scent, you travel through time and space to the very moment where that memory is anchored. Pretty powerful.

Ahead of my own wedding, I spoke with Céline Roux, head of fragrance development at Jo Malone London, about the sense of smell and how to scent a wedding.

FOR THE DAY YOU’LL REMEMBER FOREVER

Call it Murphy’s law or call it bad luck, but beauty blunders can strike at any moment, even on your wedding day. Whether you’re the bride or one of her guests, it’s important to be prepared for any unexpected twists, turns and blemishes that may occur by stocking your clutch with the necessary fixes. Here, we’ve tackled the most common wedding-day crises so you can plan ahead.

WHAT TO KEEP IN YOUR BAG

In a serene, Woodinville winery, Andrew and Keith tied the knot in a deeply personal ceremony, surrounded by their loved ones. 

Andrew, tell us about the location.

I had visited JM Cellars a couple times previously for wine tasting but upon visiting with co-workers about a year and a half from what would be our wedding day, I knew this place was the perfect wedding venue. It reminded me of where I grew up in Lake Tapps, WA. Right away my co-workers said, “You have to get married here!” and before I knew it they had found the events staff for me to talk to.

Keith and I visited together a couple weeks later and secured the location prior to even being formally engaged! The irony is that Keith doesn’t really care for wine, but we were both so taken with the space that he overlooked that small detail. A sense of calm came over us as we walked the grounds and tasting room. It made us feel like we were spending the afternoon at a best friend’s house having a glass of wine—which was the vibe we wanted for our wedding. We wanted our friends and family to just have a fun, relaxing evening, with plenty to see and do. 

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To Hayley Paige, there is nothing more beautiful than a woman in love. In what could be the most high-pressure position of all time, the bridal designer gleefully helps women dress for the day that most of them have been dreaming, planning and Pinning about for years prior to their first fitting. “Sometimes it feels like the most stylish trust fall of all time,” she says. Like a magical fairy godmother to each of her brides, it is easy to imagine Paige wielding a wand until the Lumi ballgown appears, shimmering and ethereal for the modern-day, fashion-forward Cinderella. 

HEAR MORE FROM THE DESIGNER

Hayley Paige designs have a magical quality to them: With billowing chiffon skirts, sparkling gossamer tulle and wildly romantic, plunging necklines, each of her gowns embodies a modern-day Cinderella story, with the designer as the princess’s loving and devoted fairy godmother. Since 2011, designer Hayley Paige has been responsible for thousands of fairytale endings, thanks to her enchanting and imaginative wedding gowns. 

When it comes to finding the one, Paige says, “It should be love at first sight.” Ahead, seven real brides share the Hayley Paige dress that swept them off their feet and made them feel like a real-life princess on their wedding day.

HERE COMES THE BRIDE

With their friends and family in attendance, Monica and Ryan became husband and wife in a romantic estate wedding in San Diego.

Monica, how did Ryan propose?

I love going to the Del Mar Horse Races and eating, so when he told me there was an event going on at the races where we could try tacos from more than 40 of the best restaurants and food trucks from San Diego, TJ and LA, I was in! After the races and taco eating, he told me he had to meet someone from work, which I totally believed. Apparently, the guy was “running late” so we took a walk on the beach and BOOM! There it was! A blanket set up with roses, candles and champagne. I was shocked and so excited! He got down on one knee and proposed. I don’t think I said anything, but I hugged him and he asked, “Is that a yes?” I responded, “YES!”

After the proposal we were supposed to meet his family for dinner, which had been planned for weeks. Little did I know that when I went to his parents’ to freshen up for the dinner, there was a surprise party with all our family and friends! It was such a great way to propose and throw an engagement party!

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Noel and Jean ruffled off-the-shoulder crepe mermaid gown

No one understands the modern bride like Katie May Neu, the designer and founder of Katie May Bridal and the Nordstrom-exclusive capsule collection Noel and Jean. Her entrée into the bridal industry happened in 2012 when her sister was getting married and couldn’t find the right dress to fit both her budget and her style. Katie May decided to make her sister’s fairy tale come true and designed the perfect gown for her. “For months I just walked around the Los Angeles garment district, searching. I found a patternmaker and I was able to find beautiful silk and the finest lace—I was just figuring it out,” says the designer. The gown her little sister wore on her wedding day is the now highly sought-after Princeville gown, a piece that defined the Katie May Bridal aesthetic. It launched a new career for the designer, whose sexy signature style appeals to soon-to-be brides searching for a gown that’s current, affordable and backless.

Katie May’s Noel and Jean capsule collection for Nordstrom maintains her feminine aesthetic, but what excites the designer most is its affordable price point. “It’s an opportunity to make bridal more accessible,” she says of the capsule. “I wanted to create gowns that won’t break the bank and are still really special.”

Here’s what else she had to say about these exclusive designs and what’s in store for the future of bridal.

HERE COMES THE BRIDE

Inspired by the Los Angeles sunset, Melanie and Michel exchanged vows during an intimate, golden-hour ceremony, surrounded by their friends and family. 

Melanie, tell us about the location.

We had a guerrilla wedding—meaning, we didn’t have any permits! We rented a big, yellow bus, ran atop a hill and just prayed for the best. We picked Bee Canyon Park in Grenada Hills based on quietness of the area and two giant trees right on the hill—a palm and a pine. We chose our reception venue, The Odyssey, because our original venue canceled on us eight weeks before the wedding! It turns out they had a sister venue in the area that was even more beautiful. We like to think The Odyssey chose us.

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