Jessica + Lee
Congratulations to our newlyweds Jessica & Lee! Thank you, Jessica for sharing all the wonderful information below.
What was the one moment on your wedding day that is most memorable?
There were so many wonderful, memorable moments, it’s difficult to pick just one! I’ll narrow it down to the three most memorable moments… My first look with dad, my husband and I reading our personal vows to each other, and dancing with my mom to a song she dedicated to me. I will cherish these moments forever.
Stacey’s most memorable moment: The moment between Jessica & her dad for their first look. It was very emotional filled with tears & smiles of joy.
Brandon’s most memorable moment: When Jessica touched Lee’s arm for him to turn around for their first look, she was glowing with a gorgeous smile seeing her groom for the first time.
Did you have something borrowed, something blue, and something new?
My something old was a piece of my mom’s dress that we was sewn in under my dress, something blue were my “I Do” stickers on the bottom of my shoes, and my something(s) new were my diamond earrings that my parents just gave me for my college graduation & beautiful bracelet that my hubby gave to me on the morning of the wedding.
Did you decide to do a “first look”?
Yes, & I’m so glad we did. This gave us the opportunity to have “private” time just to focus on us. We got so many great shots & also saved a ton of time after the ceremony, which allowed us to take more pictures with family and actually enjoy some time together alone and at cocktail hour before our reception. We were hesitant to do a first look, being a bit on the traditional side, but we are so glad we did!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding?
The biggest challenge was being 1500 miles away planning the wedding! Being up in Boston, we couldn’t just “pop in” to do something at the venue, see samples of different things like linens or flowers, or schedule face to face meetings. This makes working with the right vendors that much more important.
What advice do you have for couples currently planning a destination wedding?
Utilize the resources available to you, such as The Knot, Pinterest, and Wedding Wire. We found other reviews extremely helpful while planning. Also, get as organized as you can. We really found The Knot’s checklist very helpful. Work with vendors who you feel will be easy to communicate with and responsive to you. Since you are planning from afar, it’s important to work with people who are responsive to emails. I would also suggest giving yourself plenty of time to plan, and book your vendors early, as soon as you decide you want to work with them! We booked Stacey and Brandon 14 months before our wedding! If you can afford to, try to plan a visit to your destination and squeeze in as many appointments as you can while there.
Are there any more important details you would like to share?
Breath, stay calm, and really try to take everything in. The day will fly by, and soon enough you’ll be married for months and think to yourself how fast time flew by! Take a moment with your husband during the wedding to look around and appreciate of your hard work that you’ve done together. Look around the room at all of the people who love you and are there to celebrate you. Most importantly, try not to stress the little things that come up. You will laugh at those things later, promise! Your day will be amazing!
Ceremony/Reception: Wyndham Garden Hotel – Day of Coordinator: Danielle Pearson Events – Hair & Makeup: Makeup Services/Anna Wark – Florist: Creations by Blanca – D.J: Eddie B – Officiant: Ana Rosa Ramirez
