Bride Of The Week: Larissa Bertoldi Fiala

Written By Kaileah Searcy

Introducing our stunning #GLBride of the Week, Larissa! With a breathtaking destination wedding in Brazil, Larissa walked down the aisle in our Blanche gown from the L'Étoile Bridal Couture collection. In this interview, she shares the details of her special day, offers advice for future brides, and takes us through her journey to becoming a #GLBride.

"I felt great, classic, and myself! Everyone loved it and was shocked at how beautiful my dress was."

Larissa

A moment of your wedding day will you never forget?
The moment that I entered the ceremony and had everyone’s eyes on me. My mom and dad, walked me down the aisle, arm in arm, and presented me to my future husband. It was a feeling of pure joy and happiness. I felt as if I was in a fairy tale. Nothing could ruin that moment, not even the weather!

One thing you wish you knew as a new bride? What advice would you give to future brides?
That the day of the wedding will FLY BY FAST! And so my advice is to take in every moment along the way. Enjoy the journey as much as the destination. The planning should be fun, so try not to let it be so stressful! And if it rains, don’t let it bother you, there’s nothing you can do. On the plus side, it makes all the pictures come out fantastic (due to a lack of glare and shadow)!

A detail that made your wedding special/unique?
The wedding weekend was quite the clash of cultures! We had 3 days of events in Balneário Camboriú, Brazil. Half the guest list were Americans who had never even been to South America, and the other half were local Brazilians who had never been to a Jewish wedding! Although there were a few people who were fluent in both English and Portuguese, we decided to hire several translators. They helped our families interact with each other by removing the language barrier. One was solely responsible for hours of conversation between my father-in-law and my dad! By the time the weekend was over, our families had grown quite close, embracing the values and qualities that we share in common.

"The whole set, light but beautiful makeup, elegant hair, and accessories with the dream dress were perfect."

Larissa

What was your favourite part of the wedding to plan/you were most looking forward to?
I really was excited for the entire day. But if I had to pick just one, it would have to be the vows. Words hold so much meaning for me, and to be able to express our love for each other in front of our friends and family was deeply meaningful.

How did you meet your husband? How did he propose?
We were at the same party over New Years weekend in Brazil. Although we had a great time together that evening, I didn’t think there was a future, since he lived in America and was there on vacation. And so I ended up leaving the club without so much as saying goodbye. How wrong I was! The next day he invited me to dinner. I informed him that I had returned home to Balneário, about two hours away. He insisted that he take me out for a proper date, and after considering the invitation (and some encouragement from a friend at work) I accepted and we met. I was so happy I did. We dated for a year long distance- he would come down to Brazil often, and twice I went up to Miami. Before the end of the year, he invited me to move to Miami with him, with the expectation that this would eventually lead to an engagement. 3 months later, I moved to Miami. The first night there, he proposed.

How did you find working with the team at Galia Lahav?
For my wedding dress, choosing a designer from Israel was something so special because my father in law is from there and the country represents so much to my husband’s family and now for me too. The team in Miami was courteous and friendly.

How did it feel when you put on your dress the day of the wedding? What was everyone's reaction to the dress?
I felt great, classic, and myself! Everyone loved it and was shocked at how beautiful my dress was. The whole set, light but beautiful makeup, elegant hair, accessories with the dream dress were perfect.

"I tried about 15 dresses! In all lot different styles to see how I would feel. The whole process was so much fun!"