Planning the Big Day

Alex and April’s wedding day was inspired by a classic French garden party. Alex speaks fluent French, he even used to teach at a Denver language school! Having a French-inspired soiree was the perfect way to incorporate Alex’s passion with April’s vision.

Loving all things purple, April chose a beautiful shade of light purple, reminiscent of the lavender fields of France, for her bridal party attire. Hosting their wedding at Villa Parker, a Denver wedding venue with a south of France-meets-Italy look, fit perfectly with her style.

For decor, they used mini Eiffel Tower place card holders for dinner and large gold sparkling Eiffel Tower figurines on the cake and dessert table. The gold sparkle represents the twinkling lights on the Tower — and who doesn’t love a little sparkle?

One of the greatest challenges was finding a Colorado wedding venue that would hold both the ceremony and reception outside. When the day arrived, it was too breezy to have dinner outside. However, that didn’t put a damper on their special day! The outdoor ceremony was a dream and dancing the night away under the Denver sky felt like a fairytale.

Finding the Dress

April’s best friend, who was married the year before, suggested she visit The Bridal Collection when looking for a gown. As she anticipated her wedding dress shopping appointment, she envisioned herself wearing a ballgown or A-line wedding dress with lots of sparkly details. Her stylist helped steer her in the right direction, considering budget and vision, and also pulled a few “wild-card” dresses.

After trying on a handful of beautiful gowns, April fell madly in love with an allover lace Madison James ballgown. Although it didn’t have the sparkle that she originally imagined, she knew it was the one. It reminded her of Belle’s dress in Beauty and the Beast, which happens to be her favorite Disney movie — which also just happens to be based in France! It all fit together perfectly. She knew that if there was ever a time to feel like a princess, this was her moment.

During the alterations process, her seamstress found a beautiful sparkle appliqué that she attached flawlessly to the sweetheart bodice. In the end, it was more than she had ever dreamed of! April wore a veil with subtle sparkle to complete the look. She loved her dress so much; in fact, the first thing she did when they returned from their honeymoon was put it back on!

A Special Gift

The couple didn’t have a particular family heirloom to incorporate into their wedding day, but April had a special surprise for her groom.

A few years prior to the wedding, Alex’s mother passed away. His cousin gave her wedding dress to April, who had the most thoughtful idea. She created a handkerchief for him using fabric from the gown, and embroidered Alex’s initials onto it, along with his mother’s and father’s.

When the wedding day came, April surprised Alex with the gift. He had no idea! It was such a special way to include his mother on the biggest day of his life.

Advice for Brides

“My advice for brides is to get a wedding planner. Even with having wedding planning/coordinating experience, I stressed myself out way more than I should have and didn’t always enjoy the process. Letting someone else take the reins and pressure off you can make your engagement experience a lot better, and have you less stressed out in the days/weeks leading up to the wedding. That is probably my biggest piece of advice to have a smoother, less stressful wedding planning experience so that you can fully enjoy your day without worry!” – April