Bride Of The Week: Meaghan Cavaliere

#GLbride

Written By Kaileah Searcy

January 20th, 2025

A Wedding to Remember: One Bride's Unforgettable Day

A moment of your wedding day that you will never forget?
One moment from my wedding day that I will never forget is when I looked around the room during dinner and saw all the people we love gathered together. I felt an overwhelming sense of love and support when I looked around at all the familiar faces that had come together to celebrate this new chapter in our lives, each person holding a special piece of our shared history. It was a powerful reminder of how blessed we are to have such a wonderful circle of family and friends, and it made our wedding day truly unforgettable.

One thing you wish you knew as a new bride? What advice would you give to future brides?
As a new bride, it was so easy to get caught up in the details and the pressure to make everything perfect. As cliché as some of these sounds, here are a few things that I wish I knew/understood on my wedding day that I would recommend for future brides: Embrace Imperfections!

Things might not go exactly as planned, but that’s okay!! The little glitches turned into the best stories and memories. Honestly, no one will notice when something doesn’t go as planned, only you and (maybe) your husband.

Take Time for Yourself: I wish I had carved out a few quiet moments to soak it all in with my husband. It was so easy to get swept away in the hustle and bustle of the day and try to stay on schedule, but those few quiet moments that we did have were the most meaningful to us afterward.

A detail that made your wedding day special and unique?
One of the most special details of our wedding day was the choice of location: Montreal, Quebec. Although we are both from Ottawa, Montreal holds a special place in our hearts
because it is where we spent countless weekends early in our relationship. So the location wasn’t just a venue for us, it was a tribute to the city where we first started creating special memories together and it made our wedding day feel uniquely ours.

How did you know your dress was ‘the one’?
It all started when I shared my vision of the style I was looking for with the consultant at the bridal boutique. As she scrolled through Instagram, she pulled up a dress that instantly caught my eye. Even before I tried it on, I had a really strong feeling that this was the one. When I
stepped out of the changing room in the G-509 dress I saw the excitement on my mom and sister’s face and they both agreed that this was going to be my wedding dress. The dress was not only a perfect fit for me but also what I had always dreamed of for my wedding day – I knew without a doubt it was meant for me!

How did it feel when you put on your dress the day of your wedding? What were everyone’s reactions to the dress?
The moment when I put my dress on the morning of my wedding is when my wedding day started to feel very real. I was overwhelmed with so many emotions putting on my dress, I truly felt like myself and I felt like the dress captured my personality and style perfectly. The reactions from everyone around me were nothing short of perfect. Their faces lit up and their comments confirmed what I had hoped for—that the dress was not only beautiful but also uniquely me.

How did you meet your husband?
My husband and I have birthdays five days apart, and it turns out, we met because we're both
out celebrating our birthdays at the same venue in March 2021. I went to dinner to celebrate my birthday with my friends, thanks to my friend Karyna, who was determined to make sure we had a fun night out after dinner brought us to a bar downtown Ottawa and it wasn’t long before our paths crossed with Carlo’s group of friends. The night was filled with lots of laughs as our two groups merged and in a twist of fate, that same night also led to my best friend Cassidy meeting her now-husband, Brandin. It turns out that Karyna’s efforts to ensure we had a great time not only made my birthday unforgettable but also played a part in bringing two amazing couples together for life!

"Try to stay present and savor each moment. The day will go by SO quickly..."

How did he propose?
My husband’s proposal was intimate and perfectly suited to who we are as a couple. In February 2023, after my morning hair appointment, we went about our usual Saturday plans which were typically reserved for long walks with our dog, Ari. I always told Carlo that the trail we walked on every Saturday held a special place in my heart, as it was where we spent many afternoons enjoying each other’s company. Little did I know, this walk would become one of the most memorable moments of my life. Carlo paused in a spot that seemed perfectly chosen and with Ari by our side, he got down on one knee and proposed.

Would you have done anything differently?
No – my day went as planned and it was absolutely perfect.

What was your favorite part of the wedding to plan / you were most looking forward
to?
From the very beginning, I was most excited about seeing how our vision would come to life in the venue. I worked with Moe Signature Design who travelled from Ottawa to Montreal to make my vision come to life. Moe had a remarkable ability to understand our style and preferences, translating them into a beautiful design that exceeded our expectations.

As we approached the wedding day, there was a lot of anticipation about the décor coming all together as planned. When the wedding day finally arrived and I saw the venue transformed into the space we had always dreamed of, it was such a special moment. Every detail was perfectly executed, Moe’s creative touch and attention to detail made the decor not just beautiful, but it was such a meaningful and memorable part of our wedding that made everything feel even more special and personal.

How many dresses did you try on before you found it?
The G-509 dress was the second one I tried on at the very first bridal store I visited. It was an immediate “Yes!!”, but I decided to go to my other dress appointments over the next few weeks to try on other options. At the next appointments, no matter how lovely each new dress was, I would compare the dresses to the G-509 I had tried on at that first store. It became clear that none of the other dresses measured up to the G-509. All the comparisons made me realize just how special and perfect that dress was for me and my wedding day. It was not only the one that stood out among all the others but also the one that felt just right. Choosing it was a decision that felt both natural and SO exciting, and it was without a doubt everything I had envisioned for my special day!!

How did you find working with the team at Galia Lahav?
A dream! From the very beginning, the process was incredibly seamless and enjoyable. The team’s attention to detail made every step of the process feel effortlessly smooth. Each consultation was filled with excitement and the team ensured the dress was a perfect
reflection of my style and personality.

I wholeheartedly recommend Galia Lahav to anyone searching for their perfect wedding dress. Their ability to turn dreams into reality and their dedication to creating a personalized experience truly made my wedding day unforgettable.

" I truly felt like myself"

Meaghan Cavaliere