Photos: Brittany Boote

Hope shows us how to start your wedding weekend off with a bag! She wore an extra special 2006 Carolina Herrera polka dot gown to her rehearsal dinner that still has us swooning! 💛

Tell us about rehearsal night and surrounding events! Where did it all go down? Did you have any particular inspiration or musts when choosing the location?

I’ll start with the inspiration because this is what truly drove every decision regarding venue and vendors - Nick (my fiancé at the time and now husband) and I really wanted to have a romantic, Italian garden-inspired evening, with soft lights, intricate floral arrangements, and an enchanting atmosphere that felt intimate and inviting. 

For context, our wedding the next day was going to be inside, and the florals were all going to be white and green. The color palette of the wedding was going to be more simple, with creams, whites, and hints of green and navy. So, we wanted to do something completely different for the rehearsal and have more fun with it. 

We envisioned a space filled with lush greenery, twinkling chandeliers hanging above a long table, and regal décor that echoed the beauty of an Italian villa. 

To bring this vision to life, we searched for venues that had outdoor spaces and the capacity for quite a long table (fitting 50 people.) A ton of searching and vetting was done to find our rehearsal venue, as it also had to be in close proximity to the other wedding events that weekend. And then we found Natirar - We were so lucky to have secured the Pendry Natirar mansion for our rehearsal. The outdoor space, surrounded by blooming plants and trees, felt like a hidden oasis in New Jersey. Additionally, Pendry Natirar is known for its culinary expertise and has an authentic farm-to-table vision that influences all aspects of its menu.

"It was all about celebrating love in a beautiful, romantic setting."

We also prioritized selecting vendors who shared our vision - in particular, Jardiniere Fine Flowers, who exceeded our expectations. They custom-built the stunning hanging chandeliers we envisioned, truly bringing my Pinterest board to life. In addition to the chandeliers, we requested simple hurricane candles down the middle of the table, creating a romantic glow that lit the table throughout the evening. Since there was so much greenery outside, the only area we requested floral arrangements was inside at the bar. We wanted playful and artistic floral arrangements with colors including pinks, yellows, and greens. Jardiniere constructed these beautifully unique arrangements of green anthurium, dark pink butterfly ranunculus, peach stock, and orange eremurus (just to name a few) in these high black vases, which added a nice contrast. 

Ultimately, every detail, from the candlelit tables to the soft music playing in the background, was designed to create a magical experience that would transport our guests to a serene Italian evening. It was all about celebrating love in a beautiful, romantic setting. 

How did you and your partner meet? What was the proposal like?

Nick and I met at the Jersey Shore MDW 2019 - shoutout to Birds & Bettys on Long Beach Island! It was the classic story of boy meets girl. Both of our parents have houses down in LBI, so we were inseparable all summer and pretty much from that point on. 

Nick completely surprised me by proposing at the Skylark rooftop in Manhattan in April 2023. He had flower petals across the floor of the rooftop that led to the most gorgeous floral arrangements, and then he got down on one knee. It was private and intimate and so perfect. I was SO shocked! I didn't even know he had a ring yet - He and my family conspired for months and hid it so well. After the proposal, he had a car waiting for us outside to take us down to the place we met and love so much, Long Beach Island. There, both of our families were waiting at my house with a surprise party. It was one of those moments when I realized that this person knows me better than I know myself. I was so moved by everything he had done and all the details he had thought about. 

Describe your Happy Isles dress and/or dresses! When did you know it was the one? 

My Happy Isles dress is a stunning Carolina Herrera gown from the Spring 2006 collection. It features beautiful ruffles that cascade gracefully with a whimsical array of multi-color natural and brown polka dots. What makes this dress particularly special is that it deviates from my usual style. I typically gravitate towards more fitted silhouettes, perhaps with cutouts or sleek lines. However, that contrast is EXACTLY why I fell in love with this gown. Its beautifully unique and unexpected design felt like a breath of fresh air. As I mentioned earlier, we wanted to have fun with the rehearsal dinner, and this dress was perfect. It allowed me to embrace a playful elegance that aligned perfectly with the atmosphere and vibe of the whole rehearsal night. Ultimately, it was my aunt's heartfelt comment - “Your face completely lights up in the Carolina Herrera” - that drove me to make the final decision, and I couldn’t be happier that I did. 

What did your partner wear down the aisle [for the rehearsal], and did you share outfit pics before the big day?

Nick wore a custom navy suit from Indochino paired with a patterned Louis Vuitton tie. He searched forever to find the perfect tie that would bring together the evening’s color palette, particularly the rich browns that complemented my dress.

“It's so Gossip Girl, early 2000s”

How did your guests respond to your outfit/s? Were there any standout reactions?

The dress was the star of the show. Guests couldn’t stop raving about it, especially my aunts, who are all fashionistas and obsessed with all things vintage! People loved its elegance and how it perfectly complimented the mansion and the enchanting evening. One of my favorite comments was from my cousin, who stated, “It's so Gossip Girl, early 2000s.” When I turned to walk away, with the train of the gown elegantly sweeping behind me, I could hear excited gasps and enthusiastic comments about how beautifully it all flowed together. 

Where did you shop for accessories and how did you style your look/s?

Purchasing the vintage Carolina Herrera inspired me to be sustainable for a few of my other accessories. I found a pair of vintage silver metallic Chanel heels from The Real Real, along with the iconic vintage Kate Spade license plate clutch that read “BRIDE2BE”. To add a pop of color to my outfit, I chose these regal canary yellow drop earrings by Anna Zuckerman, which beautifully complemented my diamond tennis necklace - a wedding gift from my parents. 

What was the most memorable aspect of your dress shopping experience? Is there anything you would like to highlight or share with other brides considering an appointment at Happy Isles?

Walking into Happy Isles feels like a dream, surrounded by racks of unique, one-of-a-kind gowns - each more stunning than the last. While the beauty of it all can be overwhelming, the HI team couldn’t have been more kind, supportive, and attentive. They dedicated themselves entirely to my vision, allowing me to try on the same dress multiple times. In the end, I found myself torn between two dresses, but the HI team gave me all the time I needed to discuss my thoughts with my family and enjoy a private moment to reflect. Their care and understanding made the experience even more special.

Okay. Your HI rehearsal dress is a person. What is their name and describe their perfect date!

The dress, to me, is unique and fun but also has an elegance and regal-ness to it. I feel a name that incorporates all of these attributes would be Isabella. Isabella includes a blend of grace and individuality; her perfect date would be a private candlelit dinner outside; perhaps included would be a wine tasting - enjoying the evening as the sun sets; it would be intimate yet playful and fun. (Why did I just describe my dream date night?)

"Despite my tendency to push boundaries... I found myself admiring and respecting certain wedding traditions..."

Getting serious for a second. Did you ever feel like you were breaking the mold or challenging expectations while wedding planning? What were some ways you stayed true to yourself during what can be an emotionally complex experience? 

It’s interesting to reflect on this question because, as a person, I love breaking the mold. I constantly seek out ways to challenge something or someone throughout various areas of life. Yet, what surprised even me during the wedding planning process was my decision to go the more traditional route. Despite my tendency to push boundaries (which, by the way, I’m not exaggerating is ALWAYS; ask my family, lol), I found myself admiring and respecting certain wedding traditions, like getting married in a church, not seeing the groom until I walk down the aisle, a family member giving a wedding blessing before eating and cutting the cake in front of the whole party. Interestingly, in today’s modern world, some might argue that following these customs is, itself, breaking the mold, as many brides choose to forgo them these days. 

They say every wedding has a “wild card” moment. Did anything unexpected happen or surprise you during planning or day-of?

Luckily, nothing went wrong during the rehearsal. However, I was most nervous about the hanging chandeliers, as the florist had never done this before and didn't have any samples to show beforehand. I had only shared one grainy photograph of what we wanted, and from there, it was entirely in their hands to bring it to life. The first time I saw them was as I walked into the rehearsal dinner with our guests. For some, this might not be a big deal, but as a type-A personality, the unknown was definitely stressing me out! Thankfully, as the pictures show, they absolutely nailed it and exceeded all expectations. 

"When I picked the Carolina Herrera off the rack, my family gave me some side-eye because it was so different; however, the moment I walked out, everyone fell in love!"

HOT TAKES: Do you have any wedding planning or dress shopping advice? Please pay it forward to our future brides!

When shopping for my rehearsal dress, I knew I wanted something vintage and unique. The tricky part is that you can't really "plan" to try on specific dresses because vintage boutiques constantly have dresses coming in and out. So, for any bride searching for a vintage dress, my biggest piece of advice is to keep an open mind. As I mentioned earlier, I tend to go for the same types of sleek, form-fitting gowns, but when I went to HI, I made it a point to try on every single style. You never know what you will love - dresses can look completely different on the hanger, especially one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. When I picked the Carolina Herrera off the rack, my family gave me some side-eye because it was so different; however, the moment I walked out, everyone fell in love!

If you had to choose your single best rehearsal day memory, what would it be?

I’ll never forget the moment Nick and I walked into the mansion at Natirar and saw the patio doors wide open, revealing the most stunning tablescape I had ever seen. I was overwhelmed with emotion as I realized that all my dreams and visions had come together so perfectly, creating a scene more beautiful than I could have imagined.

Now that the wedding chapter has come to a close, what are some dreams you have for your future, both personally and as a couple?

I’m excited to focus on building a life together, one that we constantly talk about and set goals for. Personally, I want to continue to grow in my career and explore new creative outlets. As a couple, our dreams involve consistently pushing each other to be the best versions of ourselves and learning throughout the process - we are looking forward to creating new memories together, from traveling to new places to eventually starting a family. It’s exciting to think about all the adventures and possibilities ahead! 

And finally - shout out your rehearsal vendors!

Photography: Brittany Boote

Planning: No planner! Just me (with help from Nick and parents, of course!)

Venue & Catering: The mansion at Pendry Natirar 

Floral: Jardiniere Fine Flowers

Hair: Jilian Kaszka at Tre Chique salon in Hoboken, NJ

Makeup: Me

Music: Me

Stationary: Prettiest Pixel