Melissa + Jim

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How did you meet?

Jim and I met initially through work – we both work in finance so we had a lot in common initially.

How did you know they were the one?

On our third date he cooked us a classy dinner in his apartment – complete with wine and homemade dessert! We reminisce about this night all the time because it was such a memorable one. He still recreates the same meal and menu for us on special occasions. We ended up naming our dog after one of the dishes, Orzo.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

His motivation to always lend a helping hand and learn new things. His humor, he tells terrible, terrible dad jokes to literally anyone who will listen, and always seems to get people smiling. His lightheartedness and ability to not take life too seriously.

Who proposed and how?

Jim proposed to me in a private cabana in Tulum, Mexico. After breakfast we laid down in a cozy spot with champagne and before I knew it he was pulling out a ring! It was short, sweet, and perfect for us. From that point on the bubbly didn’t stop flowing the rest of the day/trip.

What was the best moment for you at the wedding?

After our first dance, we led everyone to the reception area to take their seats. I had this moment when Jim and I sat at our sweetheart table, and it was the first time seeing everything truly come together. The sun was setting, the lights twinkling, our bottle of wine was waiting for us at our table. We had a few moments to ourselves to just take it all in, that our wedding night was finally happening, and it was truly magical.

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

The Riley Luxe gown was the first I tried on of about 20 in Dallas, TX. I kept going back to it because I felt so myself when I wore it and could not believe how comfortable it was. I absolutely love the different textures across the front and it made me feel like an actual goddess. I was skeptical of wearing a veil to begin with, and when I saw the wings I knew they were the perfect substitute. When it was hanging in my closet pre-wedding, I would constantly try it on when nobody was home.

What were your favourite details?

I loved the greenery we had laced all over the venue, from the lights, fountain, and balconies. I loved the candles we had scattered everywhere, the cocktail napkins that had a picture of our dog on them, and definitely the florals – there is nothing like seeing all of your Pinterest dreams come to life.

What advice would you tell other brides?

Get your Fiance involved in the planning process! It felt so special to have both of us really represented throughout our wedding night and a lot of people said they noticed it afterward. I was surprised at how much fun he had making decisions and the end result was that our entire wedding was unauthentically us, like a party we’d throw in our own home.

Any standout vendors?

FLORAL was absolutely stunning and brought so much life, vibrance, and organic-ness to the venue. I also really loved how all of our rentals turned out aesthetically – lounge furniture, tables, chairs, and even the bar itself – everything was really beautiful and made me feel like I was at an upscale winery.