KELLIE AND NICK GOULD
WEDDING DATE: OCTOBER 3, 1999
NEW YORK, NY
When a modern couple in Manhattan set their sights on planning an "Old New York" wedding, the result was something chic, sophisticated and all their own. "We wanted our wedding to have a 1940s club feel, with an updated twist," says the bride. So Kellie (who heads up the editorial department at iVillage) and Nick saved up, planned carefully and brought their wedding vision to life -- together.
A spacious, all-white, downtown loft set the scene for Kellie and Nick's ceremony and reception. As the sun set, 110 guests enjoyed the New York skyline from the loft's penthouse terrace and danced under glowing paper lanterns to the sound of live jazz standards. Candles lining the casement windows and deep red flower arrangements on every table lent the room a stylish yet romantic ambience.
When she saw the room, she was thrilled. "It was the exact vision that I had dreamed of," remembers Kellie.
Kellie's first view of the flowers, lighting and overall mood came as she began her walk down the aisle. Dressed in a glamorous white sheath and a floor-length chiffon veil, the bride made her grand entrance from the loft's freight elevator. When she saw the room, she was thrilled. "It was the exact vision that I had dreamed of," remembers Kellie.
Believe it or not, this elegant and chic affair wasn't how the couple initially pictured their wedding day. "Nick is a wonderful cook, so we always thought that our reception would be based on our best social occasions, with family and friends around farmhouse tables full of food," Kellie explains. However, the more the couple planned, the more their elegant '40s theme unfolded. By including a rich antipasto as a first course, they found a middle ground between their original idea -- a Tuscan-style banquet -- and the sophisticated city scene they eventually created.
Because décor is an essential part of setting the mood, Kellie and Nick were very careful about choosing a florist who would listen to their ideas and wishes, and really be able to turn their dream into reality. "I didn't want him to create his idea of what my wedding should be. I was nervous at first, but he was great," says Kellie. Not only did he come with two glowing recommendations, he ended up decorating their dream room for less money than any other florist's quote. Their secret: establishing a good relationship. As Kellie and Nick knew, it's a mood-making must to hire vendors -- from florists to caterers to musicians -- who will create your wedding-day vision with you, not for you.
What's Kellie's advice for brides just starting to plan their wedding? "Be open-minded. You think you know what you want when you get started, but it's important to be responsive to new ideas." As you choose your dress and research other elements, you may very well change your mind, and your wedding vision will evolve as you work to make everything come together.
In the end, Kellie and Nick's wedding turned out exactly as they had hoped. "We wanted it to be a night everyone would remember," says Kellie. And they did. "My grandmother from Wisconsin is still saying, 'It was like being in a movie!'"
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