Caroline + Nico

How did you meet?

My husband and I met way back in elementary school. He was a couple grades older, so we weren’t really friends then. But we reconnected back in high school – when we briefly dated and our friend circles overlapped. He went away to college and we lost connection. However, after college we reconnected in our hometown out at a bar. The spark for him came back immediately and he kept pursuing me. We dated for a couple of years long distance (living only a couple of hours away) and then I made the jump and we now live back in our hometown together.

When did you know they were the one?

His friends would say he knew he wanted to marry me back in highschool (but I can’t speak to that haha). I knew he was the one because he lets me be unapologetically myself and is always there for me every time I needed reassurance (due to past relationships) or a good laugh. His sense of humor aligns with mine and I don’t think a day goes by that we don’t laugh, which is super important to me. I knew he was the one when I couldn’t think about a day without him in my life.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

I think my favorite attribute of Nico is that he is very loyal. Loyal to his friends, his family and me. I also love his infectious smile and his sense of humor (or at least the fact that he laughs at my jokes). I know you said 3 but I also love how easy-going he is.

Who proposed and how?

He proposed. In kind of a chaotic moment when we were trying to get out the door to leave for the airport to visit one of our favorite places (Siesta Key, Florida – where we got married). He was very nervous about packing the ring on the plane, so panicked and proposed before we left so I could wear it on my hand. Even though it wasn’t “romantic” per se – it fits our relationship perfectly because we both go with the flow and being traditional isn’t as important to us.

What was the best moment for you at the wedding?

I have 4 top moments – haha sorry I can’t pick just one :). The first was walking out the door for our first look. I had complete butterflies up until this point and the moment Nico turned around, everything went away and all I felt was happiness. I could tell he felt the same because as soon as we looked at each other we just felt relief that we could hug. The second would be the ceremony. My brother was our officiant, and he is one of my very best friends – so this moment was very special to me. He wrote our entire ceremony and seeing all of the love he put into it was really something I will never forget. The third was our first dance because the song was by one of our absolute favorite bands who we have seen in concert a few times. The song was something we heard as a first release at a concert and the moment we heard it, we knew it had to be our wedding song (X Ambassadors – Hold You Down). The last was honestly seeing everything that I had cooked up in my mind come together – from the tropical linens, to the fun bar rental, to the neon sign – it was SO fun to see it all come together and be brought to life.

Where did you fall in love with your dress and why?

I fell in love with my dress the second I put it on at Ali Nicole Bridal in Grand Rapids, MI. I actually went to this stockist expecting to fall in love with a different dress – but immediately hated it. Next thing I knew, I had a dressing room full of MWL dresses and put on the Riley Luxe and never looked at another dress. It made me feel so beautiful, but also fit my personal style and the gorgeous wings absolutely sold me. I knew I couldn’t get married in any other dress. This dress made me feel like a bride.

What surprised you most at or about your wedding?

How quick it goes! They aren’t joking when they tell you it will fly by – but wow! Also how much everything else kind of faded into the background every moment I was just with my husband.

What advice would you tell other brides?

I would absolutely say to not sweat the small stuff. Up until the day of the wedding, my mind was constantly running and looking back that stress was so not worth it because everything will go perfectly the day-of (even if it doesn’t go exactly how you had planned). I would also say to focus on what is most important for the bride/groom and not the guests. For us, it was dancing and having more of a relaxed feel so that was a huge focal point in our set-ups, rentals and music list.

What was one thing you did differently for your wedding?

Our wedding was a destination wedding. While I know that is not different, it was a huge chance for us to take. We brought all of our friends and family to our favorite place and we wanted everyone to enjoy a vacation while also celebrating our love. We took a “relaxed” approach to the day itself – with food trucks, non-assigned seating, and conversation sets all around the venue space, which was super important to us because we are not super formal people. We got married on the beach and partied beach-side with a horse-trailer-turned-bar for the reception. We were SO unbelievably lucky to be able to celebrate our intimate wedding with friends & families in one of our favorite places right before the pandemic hit the US. We got married on January 18, 2020. We are so grateful that in what was a really challenging year, we will have this bright memory to hold onto for the rest of our lives.