We sat down with another beautiful Wonderland bride to get her love story. Meet Carriette & Sebastien, who were married November 11, 2017.
When and how did you meet?
We met in pharmacy school during our orientation week at Nova Southeastern University. We were standing next to each other in line for food and he made a joke that caused me to laugh hysterically. When I got home, I had a friend request from him :)
How long did you date before he popped the question?
We officially started dating on 11/11/11. So the number 11 definitely has a significant place in our hearts. He proposed about 4 1/2 years later on my birthday 6/18/16.
How did he propose?
I really love to eat (it's literally my favorite thing to do) and Sebastien took me to a very nice restaurant near the beach for my birthday dinner. The atmosphere was perfect and it was probably one of the best meals I've ever had. Sebastien suggested that we go for a walk on the beach after dinner. After searching unsuccessfully for parking I convinced him to go home. I had an intimate, at-home proposal that was 100% perfect and absolutely what I wanted.
Where were you married and how did you pick the place?
We were both raised Catholic and it was important for us to get married in church. We got married at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Coral Springs. Our reception was about 10 minutes away at the Coral Springs Marriott.
What theme and/or colors have you chosen for your wedding and why?
Our theme was royal and elegant. We chose Gold, Purple, and Ivory which gave us the majestic feel we were going for.
Where did you go for your honeymoon?
My husband loves to travel. Our deal was that I would plan the wedding and he would plan the honeymoon. We went to Hawaii, Australia, Thailand, the Maldives, Venice and Portugal. It was the trip of a lifetime with the love of my life. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect honeymoon :)
Why did you chose Wonderland Bridal for your dream dress?
Wonderland Bridal was my first stop for wedding dress shopping because of the wonderful reviews I saw online. I called to make an appointment and Alicyn suggested that I come in for the Stella York Trunk show. She said that it would be an ideal time to come since it was my first time shopping and there would be a variety of styles to try on. She was super pleasant on the phone and it made me really look forward to visiting the store.
Share your experience about your time with Wonderland Bridal.
I felt so welcomed by Patti and Alicyn. The store was nicely designed, very clean and there were so many dresses on display. Patti helped me during my appointment. She helped me get an idea of exactly the style of dress I was looking for. She is very attentive in listening to what the bride wants and how they feel in the dress. We got down to one dress that I loved, but I just couldn't make a commitment my first time dress shopping. Seven stores later I was back to try on more dresses. I retried the Stella York dress and finally had my waterworks and say yes to the dress moment. There's a quote by Maya Angelou that says "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel". My experience with wonderland bridal exceeded expectations and it is such a memorable part of my journey to the big day.
What was the best part of your wedding day?
It was honestly the best day of my life from start to finish and I loved every minute. But walking down the aisle was so special. We didn't do a first look prior to the ceremony because we wanted to keep with tradition. When the bridal chorus started playing in church it finally hit me that this is it, it's finally happening! My mom and uncle walked me down the aisle. It was so exciting and emotional walking towards my future husband surrounded by all of our closest friends and family. And then finally locking eyes with Sebastien and seeing the look of awe on his face. I will treasure that moment forever.Any advice to future couples currently planning a wedding?
Give yourself time to enjoy being engaged, but start planning as early as you can. I started about a year before our wedding date because we were paying for the wedding ourselves and wanted to stay within budget. This will give you time to research and find the best vendors and packages without feeling any pressure. Reliable and supportive vendors are key! If at any time you don't feel comfortable with something go with your gut. I ended up canceling a DJ I hired 2 months prior to my wedding because the communication was not where it needed to be. The DJ I ended up going with was amazing and I have no regrets. This is one day and it goes by so fast. Think about what's most important for you and work to make it happen. Everything else will fall into place.
Photos by Poirier Photography [gallery ids="4858,4853,4854,4855,4856,4857,4859" type="rectangular"]Please specify any that apply
- Flowers/Decor: Flowers By Sandra
- Cake: Publix
- Catering: Coral Springs Marriott
- DJ/Photobooth: The PhotoBooth Bros
- Invitations: GreetingsIsland.com
- Day of Coordinator: Susan Marie Weddings
- Make Up: Cleo Jorge Makeup
- Photographer: Poirier Photography