Bride Of The Week: Velia
Written By Pia Bildirici
July 7, 2024
Let us introduce Velia, our GLBride of the Week! The gorgeous Velia made a stunning entrance in our strapless Eve gown at her unexpected winter wonderland wedding in Colorado. In the following interview, Velia shares her favorite memories and the unique journey that led her to become a GLBride. As told by Velia:
"As Evan and I said our ‘I do’s’ snow flurries fell down around us. It was Magical!"
A moment of your wedding day you will never forget?
The week leading to our wedding we had serious concerns as Colorado was expecting to have a record snow fall and we were all traveling to remote Dunton Hot Springs, Co. As serendipity would have it, everything fell into place and we ended up having the winter wonderland wedding of our dream
One thing you wish you knew as a new bride? What advice would you give to future brides?
Stick to your gut! In the beginning, I felt the pressure of all the expectations of what our wedding would/should be like. There are so many opinions, factors and suggestions being proposed that I felt like my intuition was lost in the abyss of choice. I was loosing many nights of sleep, feeling like I would never find the right destination that met our requirements. I realized that the large wedding everyone expected from us was simply not what we wanted. Finding the courage to pivot and coming across the wedding venue of our dreams as a micro wedding, released all the stresses I was feeling and I regained the excitement of the wedding planning journey. Do what fits you best as a couple.
A detail that made your wedding special/unique?
Having a micro wedding allowed us to include everyone in a unique and special way. From the groomsman decorating the flowers on the ceremony arch, my dear friend serving as the officiant, to my maid of honor’s husband playing the guitar while I walked down the isle, the whole wedding felt like a shared communal experience.
How did you know your dress was 'the one'?
I tried on every dress under the sun. I wanted to feel like I wore the dress instead of the dress wearing me and nothing felt right. I also wanted to find a dress that mirrored my winder wonderland environment and the “Eve” fit all that and more.
"When I put the dress on, it made me feel so beautiful and strong. It was magical seeing everyone’s reaction!"
Would you have done anything differently?
No, because the journey guided me to my perfect dream wedding.
What was your favourite part of the wedding to plan/you were most looking forward to?
After we found Dunton, I was very much looking forward to creating the book we were going to write our vows in. As an environmental artist, I painted the exterior of the book with flora and fauna that mirrored our outdoor ceremony environment. Of course, I was looking most forward to marrying my best friend and to share our vows and also to dance the night away.
How did you meet your husband? How did he propose?
The good ol’ fashioned way during the pandemic, online. He recreated our first date on the beach and proposed by the Venice pier with our parents watching from afar.
How did you find working with the team at Galia Lahav?
They were all so lovely.
How many dresses did you try on before you found it?
Too many to count!