SMP Blogger Bride ‘Dressed by Jess’ Wedding Reveal Part I

Categorized | Blogger Bride, Cinderella, Dressed by Jess, Fairytale Wedding, Jess Galfo, Real Wedding, Real Weddings, Romantic, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

Posted on 11 October 2016.

You guys, we’ve followed our girl Dressed by Jess since the very beginning. We followed her from the engagement to the bridesmaid ask, to the wedding planning, bridal shower, and bachelorette weekend. To say we’ve come to adore her is an understatement, and that’s why we’re nearly bursting at the seams for the wedding day reveal! Shot by Love & Light Photographs and filmed by Endless Wave Studios, it’s simply too good for one single post, so stay put for part two up next.

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From The Bride…The time has finally come to share all of the details from our wedding day. It’s been just about three months since we said “I do” and it was truly everything we could have imagined and so much more. We feel so consumed with love from our family and friends and we are so thankful for each and every person who helped our big day come to life. Here’s how our fairytale unfolded…

Our wedding celebration was inspired by the French countryside and the grand beauty of Paris. We were engaged in Paris during a vacation there in October of 2014, and it was one of the happiest times of our lives. Incorporating a touch of France into our wedding made the day even more sentimental. We scouted several venues in the tri-state area in search of a whimsical setting that felt special and reflective of our old-world kind of love. We chose a waterside estate, The Mallard, just south of where Rob and I grew up. It was an extremely romantic setting that felt straight out of a storybook.

Leading up to the wedding Rob and I poured our hearts into planning. I worked with Paige of Gilded Lily Events to design every last detail. We set the tone for the celebration with French blue, ivory, rich greenery, blush, and gold accents. Our invitations along with all of the signage for our wedding day were custom made by Victoria of Design House of Moira. The softest French blue was hand painted over gold foil invitations and finished with our initials in a floral embellished crest.

If I had to choose three favorite wedding planning moments, it would be customizing our invitations, working with Reynolds and Gilded Lily Events on the floral theme, and designing my dress alongside Mark Zunino. To be honest, while I enjoyed almost all of the wedding planning, these moments will always standout as my favorites. I’ve been waiting to talk about my dress for what feels like years now! Mark designed the dress of my dreams which featured a 9 foot detachable train delicately adorned with Italian 3D-cut lace which was scattered organically throughout the ballskirt and bodice. The A-line skirt fell softly on top of a fit-and-flare reception dress. The sleeves featured more lace to add softness and dimension and they were also detachable. Mark designed a cathedral veil to complement my dress (nearly 12 feet long) with a blusher. It was truly the dress of my dreams!

I woke up on the morning of our wedding to the bluest sky and to a cool ocean breeze. It was a perfect 73 degrees with zero humidity…totally not normal for New Jersey in June. I couldn’t even envision this weather if I tried to. I was surprisingly calm and collected throughout the day. I really wanted to enjoy every moment and absorb all the love and happiness that surrounded Rob and me. Getting ready with my girls in the bridal suite at the Mallard was magical. The suite is 3,000 square feet (it takes up the entire 4th floor!) and overlooks the bay. I truly felt like a princess in a palace sipping champagne and dancing around during my final moments as a Miss.

I treated each of my bridesmaids to custom robes by Cloud Hunter Co., accessories from Olive + Piper, a customized bridesmaid hanger, a gold clutch, and a delicate chain necklace with a pearl charm from Trollbeads as a keepsake. The girls each wore a different dress from Monique Lhuillier, and my Maid of Honor wore a sparkly Adrianna Papell gown that was complemented by the other girls’ gowns. They all looked so beautiful.

As hair and makeup wrapped up, the hours finally turned into minutes before seeing Rob for the first time. I’ll never forget stepping into my dress, slipping on my shoes and accessories, and holding my bouquet in front of the mirror. Seeing the full look come together brings out all the different emotions of the day in one glance- overwhelming relief, excitement, nervousness, and absolute joy. I opted for an all-white bouquet full of garden roses, peonies, sweet peas, and scabiosa, all tied with raw silk ribbon in the day’s signature color, French Blue. It was total perfection. The final few moments before I saw Rob surrounded by my mother, mother-in-law, and bridesmaids were so precious. My heart was beating so fast in anticipation of seeing him.

Our first look took place underneath beautiful stone arches next to the garden. The florist and Gilded Lily Events adorned this area with a vintage couch and a garland of roses and greenery. It felt as if we had been swept away to a French Chateau. As I walked towards Rob, his back to me, I could see him swaying back and forth. I knew he was just as excited and anxious to see me. I tapped his shoulder and when he turned to me we both smiled, hugged each other and then bawled our eyes out. It was a raw emotional moment that was so special. I fell madly in love with this man 7 years ago and we have shared many special moments together, but nothing compares to how I felt when I saw him for the first time on our wedding day.

The ceremony took place in a charming chapel surrounded by water, and we exchanged vows underneath a garland of garden roses, hydrangeas, and dahlias all carefully strung about over the stones. A gold vintage frame filled with flowers hung above the mantel and hundreds of lit candles overflowed the fireplace. Chandeliers intertwined with roses lined the aisle along with white rose petals. Tiny packets of lavender were placed on the guests’ chairs for a celebratory toss. A string quartet played traditional pieces as guests sipped on lemonade before heading into the ceremony. Once inside, the ceremony began. One of the most memorable lines the Reverend said while marrying us just so happens to be the opening frame to our highlight video and it was a piece of advice I will cherish forever: “When love lives, as it does here today, it reflects the deepest and most tender secrets of the universe. Devotion… Joy…and love can only grow if you nurture them together.”