Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/322785
I looked at several options when choosing my dress and based my decision on the sketches designers sent to me, created from the description I gave them of our wedding. I did not have a silhouette or a solid idea in my head of what I wanted my wedding dress to look like. I wanted to be open to ideas and base my decision on the one sketch that would stand out. When I saw the Valentino sketch, I knew that was my dress immediately. I visited Valentino twice on Place Vendôme in Paris and the Rome headquarters twice on the Via Condotti, where Mr. Valentino's office was located. During my last fitting, I toured the entire atelier and glimpsed behind the scenes of couture making. I was amazed at the craftsmanship of the women who work on these dresses; it's truly an art form. During my first and last fittings, it was really something special to see a sketch slowly evolve into reality with a team of seamstresses in white, with pins and needles floating around me, fitting delicate pieces of fabric to my body and creating invisible lines that only their eye can see. THE VISION JUNE | PAGE 19 | 2014 GOWN A S T O L D B Y P A P E R C I T Y C O N T R I B U T I N G E D I T O R N A S I B A A D I L O V A T O M A X T R O W B R I D G E . P H O T O G R A P H E R T O M M Y T O N . A BRIDAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE HOUSE OF VALENTINO, AND HOW A DRESS EVOLVES FROM A SKETCH TO A BEAUTIFUL HAUTE COUTURE GOWN. The F or my husband and me, the idea of a dream wedding was being surrounded by our closest family in a place that we love. Our wedding was very small; only 15 family members. We wanted a day that we would both remember as one of the best days of our lives — no long ceremonies, no long guest list, no worries or stress. We wanted our wedding day to be about us celebrating one another. We married in St. Barts, which is a special place in our hearts; it's the place where we met. THE DETAILS THE GOWN: Custom-designed and created from a variation of laces that I selected with the Valentino team. My dress was a two-piece ensemble, a semi-sheer dress with a tulle bodice hand-pleated into tiny pleats and layered with cream Valentino lace, with hand- embroidered and beaded bustier and shorts. THE BRIDAL JEWELRY: I wore a Noor Fares headpiece with "something blue" in the middle of the crown, decorated with lily of the valley and sweet pea flowers. THE RINGS: Custom-designed by family friend, precious jewelry designer Sue Gragg. THE CLUTCH: My friend suggested this fun Charlotte Olympia crystal-clear clutch that reads "I do." THE HEELS: Edgardo Osorio of Aquazzura created a wonderful pair of custom shoes from the Valentino lace. THE SANDALS: Rene Caovilla. THE HAIRSTYLE: Natural loose waves with flowers from my bridal bouquet. THE BOUQUET & DECOR: My favorite flowers, lily of the valley and sweet peas, tied with a simple white ribbon. THE CEREMONY: With flowers everywhere, I walked down the aisle in front of my family to the sound of Bob Marley performed by a solo guitarist. A sea of white rose petals floated down from the sky.