Bridal HI Brides

From Heartfelt Proposal to Romantic Wedding in Less than 12 Days

By HI TeamMar 20, 2026

Photos // Gianna Leo Falcon photography

Krista and Zach's wedding was a bittersweet affair snuck in during some of the hardest days of her family's life, making for a memorable and heartfelt affair. Because at the end of the day, weddings are a celebration of love, love for your partner - as well as your families, your friends, and the life you're building together.

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

Bittersweet is the best description I can give of our wedding day. Zach and I decided to get married so my mom would be able to be there as we were nearing the end of her battle with ovarian cancer.

Twelve days before our wedding, Zach proposed to me in my parents’ bedroom with my mom’s ring. We spent the following week and a half pulling together a wedding, the best we could.

It was a moment to smile and celebrate together with my mom, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

The day itself was the hardest, most incredible thing we’ve ever experienced. We got married at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Nyack, NY, with only our families and closest friends there.

The wedding was just a ceremony, no reception. Our “reception” consisted of Zach’s mom’s lasagna and a homemade wedding cake at my sister’s house.

Our wedding was about our families as much as it was about us; we were in the hardest days of our lives. It was a moment to smile and celebrate together with my mom, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Who says you can't plan a romantic wedding in less than 2 weeks?

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

Zach and I met at a bar in July of 2022. I had just moved to Hoboken a few days before and was having my first night out on the town. I saw him standing at the bar and swooped right in there. I ended up leaving in a hurry, but not before grabbing his number and making sure he had mine. He asked me on a date the next day, and the rest was history!

Zach poured out the most beautiful words and asked if he could borrow my mom’s ring. She practically threw it at him; she was so excited.

The proposal was on a Saturday morning in December. Zach and I were staying at my parents’ house, and when we opened our bedroom door that morning, we saw my mom open hers across the hall. We knew we were getting engaged, but just had to pick the right moment.

We sat on her bed in our pajamas as she and my dad sat in their chairs in the window. Zach poured out the most beautiful words and asked if he could borrow my mom’s ring. She practically threw it at him; she was so excited. He got down on one knee, and she got to watch the entire thing. It was so perfect!

Krista in the stunning Guzzo gown she found at Happy Isles New York.

Describe your Happy Isles dress! When did you know it was the one?

Before I was even engaged, I saw this dress on Happy Isles’ Instagram and sent it to my sisters. At that point, I was just dreaming…

Once we got engaged, I reached out to the NYC store and somehow got a last-minute cancellation appointment. I went into the appointment intending to try on this dress and praying it would fit.

When the girls zipped me up, and it fit perfectly, we all gasped. There was no question that this was my dress. It was so meant to be.

A true family affair. Krista's sister's house served as the location for the reception and the menu featured Zach's mother's lasagna.

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

Zach wore a rented tuxedo, easy-peasy! We picked his tuxedo out together, but my dress stayed a surprise until walking down the aisle.

The gorgeous newlyweds.

How did your guests respond to your gown? Were there any standout reactions?

I think the overall sentiment was “How did she get an actual wedding dress in 12 days?!”

Pale pink slingbacks complemented the blush details on the bodice of the gown.

Where did you shop for accessories? Give us the deets!

I wore my older sister’s veil, only fitting to steal her clothes even on my wedding day.

My jewelry was all from my mom, and my perfume was the same Monique Lhuillier scent we all wore on my sister’s wedding day.

My shoes were blush pink Manolo Blahniks. Once I saw the rosettes on the dress, I knew I was going with pink shoes!

What was the most memorable aspect of your dress shopping experience?

The sales associates were so warm and sweet when we arrived. It was just my sisters, my 2-year-old niece Harper, and me. I remember my sister’s faces and tears when they saw me come out in the dress; it felt like we were playing dress up again.

Harper calling me a princess in the dress totally sealed the deal.

My advice would be to listen to the Happy Isles girls and try a bunch of things on.

Even though I knew I had found the dress, they didn’t let me waste the appointment. I tried on some gorgeous other options, and it was such a fun afternoon.

Krista and her getaway car.

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

If my Happy Isles’ dress were a person, she would be me, Krista, but living in the 18th century. Her perfect date would be riding horseback across the countryside with her knight in shining armor, obviously!

Krista borrowed her sister's veil which perfectly paired with the florals of the Guzzo gown.

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?

Oh, in every way. Our wedding taught me so many invaluable lessons about expectations. Life is full of surprises, good and bad; it’s what you make of those moments that will stick with you forever.

I always dreamt of my wedding looking very different from this, but the important things like marrying a husband I love, both of my parents watching, and my siblings at my side were all that mattered.

An impromptu first dance as a married couple.

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

I wasn’t sure we would have a first dance, after the ceremony, the day was very loosely planned. After our guests had left and we’d finished taking photos, our videographer suggested we play our wedding song.

We danced to Hozier’s ‘From Eden,’ and that ended up being the only dance we had. I’m so grateful our videographer encouraged us to have that moment.

This screams, "We're married!!!"

HOT TAKES: Do you have any wedding planning or dress shopping advice?

Go vintage and trust the little girl inside of you!

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

I so clearly remember getting into the car after the ceremony with Zach, and we finally had a moment to ourselves.

We took a breath, and I felt this indescribable joy and gratefulness that we had made it. So many conflicting emotions, but none as strong as my love for him!