Photos: Allison & Matt Edge

Sasha was taken by surprise when she immediately fell in love with a truly showstopping 2010 Reem Acra gown at Happy Isles LA. Read more about her gown, a sneaky proposal photoshoot, and a truly excellent wedding planning tidbit below…💛

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?

When we toured Quinta Bella Vista in Sintra, Portugal, we instantly knew it was the perfect place for our wedding. We wanted a completely different vibe from our bright, colorful, and airy welcome night, which took place at a Queluz National Palace with a regal atmosphere. For the wedding, we embraced deep, moody tones—rich purples and dark greens—that beautifully complemented the venue. As the night unfolded, a mystical fog rolled in during the cocktail hour and reception, enhancing the intimate ambiance and making the entire evening feel even more magical. The combination of the stunning location and our carefully chosen colors truly brought our vision to life!

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

We met through my step-brother! They were best friends and lived together during and after college.

TJ's sister in Austin, TX, organized a family photo shoot and included me in the plans. The whole family dressed in shades of white and blue, so when I was asked to wear white, I didn’t suspect a thing. I had really wanted my parents to be there for the proposal, but since they had a wedding that weekend, I didn’t expect it to happen.

As the photoshoot wrapped up and the sun began to set, TJ and I were the last to take “couple” photos—that’s when he proposed! The best part was that TJ had secretly flown my parents in from LA to surprise me, and they joined just as the photos finished. He also surprised his own parents, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines. Only his sister knew the plan, and it was so special to have our immediate family there for such a memorable moment.

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

I fell in love with my Reem Acra gown the moment I tried it on in the LA showroom. It had so much drama while still being light and airy, making it easy to dance in for over three hours! After trying on numerous designers, nothing felt right until this gown—it fit perfectly from the start, needing no alterations except for hemming the bottom. It truly felt meant to be, and I never experienced any dress regret, no matter how many other gowns I saw afterward.

For the sunset Farewell Party, I wore a stunning two-piece set from Happy Isles, which guests said was one of their favorite looks of the weekend. It made me feel like a mermaid and was perfect for our Greece-style beach club venue, completing the unforgettable experience!

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

He wore a custom Brioni black velvet tuxedo on our wedding day, which holds a special significance as it was my father's favorite brand. For the welcome party, he chose a cream silk corduroy Tom Ford double-breasted suit that perfectly fit the occasion. We shared outfit pics leading up to the big day and enjoyed picking and planning our looks together, although I kept my wedding gown a surprise!

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

My guests were thrilled that I didn’t stick to white all weekend! For the welcome party, I wore a yellow Valentino gown, then wore my stunning Reem Acra wedding gown on the big day, which wasn’t even a true white. I later changed into a lace Berta Privee gown for the reception and a custom pink dress by Undone by Kate for the after-party.

Everyone loved how fun and true to my style each outfit was, and they appreciated the uniqueness of every look! The standout favorites seemed to be my wedding gown, the yellow Valentino, and the two-piece set from Happy Isles for the farewell sunset party!

"My favorite detail, aside from my gown, was having my late father's signature embroidered into my veil, which made it feel like he was there with me as I walked down the aisle."

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

Each event had such a distinct vibe, and I wanted my looks to reflect that. For the welcome party at a palace near Lisbon, I chose a yellow Valentino gown that perfectly suited the garden chic theme. It was flowy and light—ideal for the windy evening. I paired it with an Anya Hindmarch bag and crawler earrings borrowed from my amazing longtime friend and stylist, Kristin Fernandez, who also helped style me for the entire weekend.

On our wedding day, I embraced a "ballet-core" aesthetic with a sleek, slicked-back bun and stunning diamond stud earrings that my husband gifted me as a surprise that morning. I opted for simple Saint Laurent platforms and maintained that look throughout the night. My favorite detail, aside from my gown, was having my late father's signature embroidered into my veil, which made it feel like he was there with me as I walked down the aisle. It added such a special touch, and I truly felt his presence throughout the day.

For the after-party, I switched to a slicked-back ponytail to match the lively vibe, and my HMU artist added winged eyeliner and a smoky eye to complete the look.

For the farewell event, I wore an incredible two-piece set from a Greek designer at Happy Isles, paired with Dior pearl earrings and an Olympia Le-Tan "Mermaid Song" bag. Tom styled my hair in a "wet" mermaid look, and he used blue liner to pull it all together.

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?

Dress shopping is such a fun experience, but it can also be stressful! What made it memorable for me was how my dress felt like it was just “waiting for me.” While buying from a well-known designer or bridal boutique is one thing, discovering a vintage piece adds an entirely different magic to the experience. You never know what you’re going to find! I loved how unique my dress was, knowing that no other bride would have it. It truly felt like it chose me, and it's incredible to think that if I had come a day earlier or later, it might not have been there. If I had the chance, I would choose my dress at Happy Isles all over again. I highly recommend that other brides keep an open mind and embrace the adventure of finding something one-of-a-kind!

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

Oh, this is tough! If my Happy Isles wedding dress were a person, she'd be named Eloise! I feel like she’d be super girly! Her perfect date? A cute picnic in the park followed by a fun bike ride—super sweet and playful!

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?

The entire wedding planning process can be overwhelming, especially with social media providing almost TOO much inspiration, leading to decision fatigue. The reality is that there are countless ways to plan a wedding, and I had to focus on what we truly wanted while resisting trends that didn’t feel authentic to me. From the beginning, we knew we wanted to incorporate color into our celebration, despite some voices around me suggesting a more classic, white wedding. There were moments when I questioned that choice, but ultimately, I’m so glad we stuck to our vision and trusted our planner! Not only did I love the final result, but our guests also appreciated the unique touch, saying it didn’t feel like every other wedding they had attended. Staying true to ourselves made the experience much more meaningful.

"Trust your instincts and focus on what makes you happy and what’s important to you rather than worrying about what everyone else is doing!"

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

Not a single thing went “wrong” during our wedding weekend; instead, we experienced some magical wild card moments that made it feel as if my late father was truly there, creating magic for us. I was genuinely surprised by how calm I felt throughout the entire weekend. With so much anxiety leading up to it, I expected to be frazzled, but during the events, I found myself completely present. I truly took it all in and enjoyed every bit of the hard work we had put into the weekend, celebrating with our wonderful family and friends who traveled from all over the world to be with us. It was a beautiful experience that felt surreal in the best way possible.

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

My advice is to unfollow Instagram and Pinterest accounts once you’ve gathered enough inspiration and started planning. Trust your instincts and focus on what makes you happy and what’s important to you rather than worrying about what everyone else is doing!

On the wedding weekend, just let go—after all the hard work you’ve put in, the best thing you can do is allow things to unfold as they’re meant to!

When it comes to finding your dress, you will discover the perfect one. Try on everything that catches your eye and choose what truly feels like you. I also recommend bringing just one or two people along for that journey; it’s so much fun to surprise your friends and family with your gown!

"...seeing the pure joy on everyone’s faces made it truly unforgettable, especially since we had envisioned this moment for years."

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

If I had to choose my single best wedding day memory, it would definitely be our first dance. We danced to "Treat You Better" by Rufus Du Sol, a song we’ve loved for as long as we can remember. After a few moments of dancing together, we invited everyone to join us, and seeing the pure joy on everyone’s faces made it truly unforgettable, especially since we had envisioned this moment for years. It was such a magical way to kick off the celebration.

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?

Now that the wedding chapter has closed, we're thrilled to be married and feel a strong sense of partnership. We’re looking forward to starting a family and continuing to travel and explore the world together!